St. Johns County's high school football season is here. Here's what to watch in Week 1
The 2023 high school football season opens Friday in St. Johns County. Here's a look ahead to games in and around St. Augustine.
St. Augustine at Bolles, 7:30 p.m.
Two of Northeast Florida's best in action at Skinner-Barco Stadium. This one includes future college quarterbacks (St. Augustine's Locklan Hewlett and Bolles' D.J. Moore are committed to Wake Forest and Coastal Carolina, respectively) and young receiver prospects, including Carl Jenkins and Trenton Jones for the Jackets and Naeem Burroughs and Chase Collier for the Bulldogs. Burroughs was too hot for the Jackets to handle last year, catching six passes for 178 yards to spark a 34-13 Bolles win in his high school debut.
Palm Beach Central at Creekside, 7 p.m.
A bruising schedule for the Knights starts with a 2022 state semifinalist in Central. But just which Central team will march into the Castle? The visitors' program has been roiled by eligibility concerns in a turbulent preseason. It's been a more settled start for Creekside, which topped Fletcher in its opener with touchdowns from Sean Ashenfelder and Nicholas Williams among the highlights.
Bartram Trail at Ponte Vedra, 7 p.m.
A nail-biter waiting to happen? Five of the team's last six meetings have come down to a single score, including last year, when Bartram Trail won 13-7 with two touchdowns from Super 11 quarterback Riley Trujillo. Another Super 11 recruit, Jake Guarnera, helps lead a Ponte Vedra offense that caused a lot of problems for Mandarin in the kickoff classic, in notable performances for running back Brian Case and receiver Cole Madson. The Bears lead the all-time series 11-2.
Tocoi Creek at Beachside, 7 p.m.
It's only been around one year, but the rivalry of the Toros and Barracudas already has a fun name: the Surf 'N' Turf Bowl. Scores soared high in their kickoff classics, including 43 for Beachside's offense against Gainesville Eastside, and the air game could ignite fireworks. Tocoi Creek won 36-19 in last year's season opener despite a 305-yard passing night from the Barracudas' Brick Balcita.
Jackson at Nease, 7 p.m.
Nease's Panthers started 2023 well, beating Menendez with award-winning performances from Maddox Spencer on offense and Noah Hellyer on defense. But this meeting was advantage Jackson last year. Quarterback King Johnson completed 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards to beat the Panthers 30-10 in 2022, and he's back to try to repeat that feat in his senior season.
Menendez at Ridgeview, 7 p.m.
The head coaching debut for Anthony Rivers at Menendez pits the Falcons against a Ridgeview team coming off consecutive 1-9 seasons. But they can't underestimate the Panthers, particularly senior edge rusher Jairus Moore. Menendez rolled 43-0 last year, limiting Ridgeview to 35 total yards.
Gainesville Oak Hall at St. Joseph, 7 p.m.
The Flashes enter with good momentum for the first regular-season head coaching game under Cash Forbrich, rolling over Cedar Creek Christian 54-0 in their kickoff classic. Last year's game was halted in the opening half due to weather.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football: Week 1 game previews, St. Johns County
