St. Johns County high school football kicks off Week 7 on Friday. Key games to watch

Here's a look ahead to the Friday night schedule as St. Johns County high school football rolls into Week 7.

St. Joseph (1-4) at Duval Charter (0-4), 4:30 p.m.

It's afternoon football for the Flashes against a Duval Charter team that has mustered only 24 points on the season, losing 20-12 last week to Palm Beach Christian Prep. Junior Jeremiah Kes has been St. Joseph's top weapon on offense, gaining 297 yards as a receiver, and junior Jack Fox has six and a half sacks on defense.

IMG Academy (4-0) at Bartram Trail (3-2), 7 p.m.

Whenever national superpower IMG Academy rolls into town, it's a big occasion. The Ascenders bring eight of Florida's top-30 prospects into St. Johns County, including five-star recruits Ellis Robinson IV (committed to Georgia) at cornerback and David Stone (committed to Oklahoma) on the defensive line. That means the biggest challenge of the season for a Bartram Trail offense that topped 600 yards last week against Fleming Island. Navy commit Laython Biddle is coming off a career-best 298 yards for the Bears.

St. Augustine (5-0) at Nease (4-2), 7 p.m.

The oldest of the active St. Johns County rivalries, held continuously since 1987 with a 32-6 edge for the Yellow Jackets. St. Augustine won last year as well, a wild 58-41 battle noted as the first of many 100-yard receiving games for Nease's Maddox Spencer as well as a career night (287 yards rushing) for Jackets running back Devonte Lyons. St. Augustine's Carl Jenkins Jr., Trenton Jones and Myles Simmons all rank among Northeast Florida's receiving leaders. This marks 20 years since Tim Tebow first lined up for Nease against St. Augustine, and the Jackets came out on top each time: 52-35 in 2003, 33-30 in 2004, 35-28 in the 2004 regionals and 20-14 in 2005.

INSIDE THE RIVALRY: LAST 10 MEETINGS

Oct. 4, 2013: St. Augustine 42, Nease 0

Oct. 3, 2014: St. Augustine 58, Nease 0

Oct. 23, 2015: Nease 23, St. Augustine 20 (OT)

Oct. 21, 2016: St. Augustine 34, Nease 14

Oct. 20, 2017: St. Augustine 35, Nease 23

Oct. 19, 2018: Nease 14, St. Augustine 13

Oct. 18, 2019: St. Augustine 55, Nease 45

Oct. 23, 2020: St. Augustine 49, Nease 16

Oct. 8, 2021: St. Augustine 28, Nease 21

Oct. 7, 2022: St. Augustine 58, Nease 41

Bishop Kenny (4-1) at Ponte Vedra (4-1), 7 p.m.

A rematch of a thriller from last year, when Ponte Vedra carried the Sharks from two touchdowns down for a 32-31 comeback that handed the Crusaders their first loss. Burk is back in 2023, as is Bishop Kenny's Iowa-committed James Resar, in a matchup of mobile quarterbacks. Both defenses have been playing well, too: Ponte Vedra has two shutouts in its last three games, and Bishop Kenny held Wolfson to 63 yards in a 41-0 shutout.

Menendez (2-4) at Tocoi Creek (3-3), 7 p.m.

It's year three in this St. Johns series, which the teams have split so far. Tocoi Creek, whose losses have come by six, three and two points, got big nights from Carson Collins (one sack, two forced fumbles) and Vincent Galella (184 yards rushing) to inflict a first defeat on Palatka last Friday. Menendez breathed new life into its offense against Gainesville, including a pair of Jason Watson touchdowns from freshman quarterback Cash Downey.

BYE: Beachside (5-1), Creekside (3-3)

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football 2023: Week 7 St. Johns County preview