Week 1 football: Picking winners for the opening week of the season
Week 1 of the high school football season has arrived!
Two heavyweight tilts headline the opening week on the Treasure Coast but there's already one team in the win column without having to hit the field.
South Fork received a forfeit after Viera's program is currently suspended indefinitely after a hazing incident took place within their program last week.
On the field, Vero Beach and Treasure Coast will be hosting state stalwarts Miami Northwestern and Osceola with both teams having a golden opportunity to show they have the chops to be a state contender in Class 4S.
Games begin Thursday across the area with four games in town and then five more games are in town Friday night.
TCPalm's Bryan Cooney dives into this week's matchup, predicting who else begins their season 1-0.
Thursday's games
More: Friday Night Lights: Your essential guide to Treasure Coast high school football in 2023
More: Week 0 high school football rankings: Who kicks off the year at No. 1?
Jensen Beach at Fort Pierce Central, 6 p.m.
What to watch for — Both teams performed well defensively in preseason losses but will each be looking for more offense to begin their regular seasons. Everything starts and ends with Dennis Palmer, Jr.'s availability for Jensen Beach, which is in question after he did not play in the Falcons' preseason game. So much of the Falcons' offense is set around his playmaking ability and if he cannot go, the Cobras have the athletes that can cause problems. Jensen Beach's defense is one of the best in the area, giving the Falcons the upper hand.
TCPalm's pick: Jensen Beach 27, Fort Pierce Central 9
Benjamin at John Carroll Catholic, 7 p.m.
What to watch for — A win in this same matchup was the beginning of a great year for the Rams, but 12 months later, the talent gap is glaring between these two teams. Georgia running back commit Chauncey Bowens has a big offensive line to run and hide from and John Carroll's defense will immediately see how well they can hold up against an elite unit. Emboldened by their preseason win last week against Holy Trinity, being competitive for the Rams will be a win in itself to begin 2023.
TCPalm's pick: Benjamin 38, John Carroll Catholic 10
St. John Paul II at Port St. Lucie
What to watch for — Positive signs scoring 37 points in a preseason loss for the Jaguars will hope to continue, hosting an Eagle program that went 3-7 last year. Tweaking on the defense and figuring out where players fit is all part of first year head coach Kimberry Lubin's learning curve as there's little question as to talent existing on the roster. How well adjustments are made will be a good proving ground for the rest of the season.
TCPalm's pick: Port St. Lucie 30, St. John Paul II 6
Sebring at Centennial
What to watch for — Going up against Pahokee in their preseason game was a tough ask for a young Eagle program and it won't get any easier in a game that counts. Sebring is always a physical program with skill position players year in and year out and Centennial's first-year head coach Jacob Turay will want to see his kids bring the fight regardless of the outcome.
TCPalm's pick: Sebring 45, Centennial 10
Friday's games
Miami Northwestern at Vero Beach
What to watch for — There isn't a better way to signify you're a legitimate state title contender by beating a Miami-Dade power even if the Bulls aren't at their peak. Miami Northwestern, outside of UAB quarterback commit Adrian Posse, relies on young players at skill positions and that is where Vero is at an advantage with its experience. Offensive line play has to be better for Vero Beach, as it did struggle at times with Dwyer's pressure allowing sacks and committing penalties last week.
TCPalm's pick: Vero Beach 31, Miami Northwestern 16
Osceola at Treasure Coast
What to watch for — These two teams met twice in Orange County last year with the Titans right there both times only to fall short. Osceola's star running back Taevion Swint, a UCF commit, is likely out that is a big blow to the Kowboys but that won't mean it will come easy for Treasure Coast. The Titans blanked Lake Wales in three and a half quarters in the preseason in impressive fashion and in what should be a low-scoring game, the Titans need to cash in red zone chances at all costs.
TCPalm's pick: Treasure Coast 19, Osceola 16
Bartow at Martin County
What to watch for — In what figures to be a very competitive matchup, the ground game for both teams is what will likely be their strengths. The Tigers have a veteran and rugged offensive line and a host of skilled running backs they rode last week to great affect in their win over Seminole Ridge. Bartow only played one half against Fort Meade but their defense gave up zero points and is one of Polk County's top units with a number of returners plus a few key transfers on board.
TCPalm's pick: Martin County 26, Bartow 20
Royal Palm Beach at Fort Pierce Westwood
What to watch for — If the preseason is any indication, this could look like a lopsided opener with the Wildcats getting steamrolled by West Boca Raton but the Panthers at times had trouble handling success from week-to-week. Consistency is what Fort Pierce Westwood needs all season long and with the talent on the roster, accountability should be expected from within to ensure each game is taken seriously.
TCPalm's pick: Fort Pierce Westwood 39, Royal Palm Beach 6
Sebastian River at Specialty Fit Academy
What to watch for — A 14-7 preseason loss at Bayside surely gives the Sharks a glimpse at what went well and what didn't moving into games that matter. Sebastian River had success moving the ball on offense but drives weren't polished off for points. Cleaning up execution errors should in turn help out the Shark defense that performed very well outside of one long run given up for a touchdown.
TCPalm's pick: Sebastian River 24, Specialty Fit Academy 13
Okeechobee at DeSoto County
What to watch for — The Brahmans felt good about their prospects for the season and another solid performance in the preseason should embolden the program's momentum they have. Creativity on offense is what Okeechobee is hoping will make them more dynamic, with more chances for explosive plays in 2023. A 19-8 loss to the Bulldogs in last year's meeting was one of a few games the Brahmans had in their sights so an early chance to make a statement on the road is one BJ Pryor's kids will be eager for.
TCPalm's pick: Okeechobee 22, DeSoto County 17
St. Edward's at Orangewood Christian
What to watch for — The Pirates showed signs of promise in a modified preseason game last week and in particular, the offensive line had success throwing their weight around. St. Edward's has essentially had two scrimmages against different teams and simulating game action especially for a team with limited depth should be to their benefit. A lengthy road trip to start the season is never easy but playing a program that went 2-8 in 2022 should provide the Pirates a chance to start its year strong if they limit their own mistakes.
TCPalm's pick: St. Edward's 27, Orangewood Christian 14
Tradition Prep at Zephyrhills Christian
What to watch for — The Pirates were one of the only area teams to not have a preseason game, opting to do an intrasquad scrimmage. Their season opener against a quality program in Class 1S will be a great indicator of what head coach Shawn McGrath has to work with, and Tradition Prep feels good about their skill position pieces. Both lines of scrimmage will be tested against live action for the first time and how well both units can hold up will determine if the Pirates can hang tough on the road.
TCPalm's pick: Zephyrhills Christian 30, Tradition Prep 20
Saturday's game
Master's Academy at Geneva, 6 p.m.
What to watch for — In 8-man football, the AA champion Patriots get a shot to take on a program returning to their level for the first time in a while. Master's Academy looks to have the pieces for another successful run as evident by a big win in their preseason game.
TCPalm's pick: Master's Academy 49, Geneva 6
Bryan Cooney is the high school sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at bcooney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Football: See who TCPalm calls on to win Week 1 games
