Week 5 Football Preview: Who and what to watch for in during Pensacola-area's five-game slate
There isn't much of it, but football once again takes center stage.
Week 5 of the 2023 high school football season has arrived with just five games involving Pensacola-area FHSAA teams. Eight local teams will be in action on Friday as four others are enjoying scheduled bye weeks. Meanwhile, Booker T. Washington is off this week after its originally-scheduled contest with LeFlore (Ala.) is no more. The Rattlers have decided to play in-state opponent Gulf Shores instead.
Still, even with a limited slate, there's plenty to look forward.
Can Pensacola Catholic remain undefeated when it plays its home opener against a Georgia high school powerhouse? Each coming off losses in their last games, can West Florida continue to be a thorn in Pine Forest's side?
Is there a right way to coach a rout?: Bell, Douglas and Lindsey weigh in on managing blowouts
Coaching news: Pensacola High School football head coach Cantrell Tyson resigns from position heading into Week 5
Lastly, with an interim head coach taking over the reigns, how will the Tigers look in their first game under Martes Wheeler when the team travels to Gulf Breeze.
Here's a look at the Week 5 with previews and predictions of the five-game slate.
Pine Forest (3-1) at West Florida (1-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Marlon L. Bullock Field
Key players: Pine Forest - Jonathan Daniels (OL, Sr.), Miequle Brock (RB, Sr.), Zion Legree (QB/RB, So.), R.J. Payne (MLB, So.), James Clark (QB, Sr.), Tyquan Hunter (RB/SS, Sr.), Xavier Thompson (CB, Jr.), Charleston Floyd (DB, Jr.); West Florida - Marquez Jones (RB, Sr.), John Nicholas (QB, Sr.), L.J. Aples (LB, Sr.), Trevon Knott (CB, Sr.), Wyatt Casey (ATH, Sr.), Josh Spears (WR, Jr.), Joseph Jones (WR, Jr.)
Last week’s results: Pine Forest - 35-14 loss at Choctaw; West Florida - Bye
Last meeting: Sept. 23, 2022 - Pine Forest 35, West Florida 21
The skinny: An Eagles regular season loss is rare. How rare? Prior to its 35-14 loss to Choctaw last week, Pine Forest had not dropped a regular season game since Sept. 3, 2021. The opponent that night? The Jaguars. No area team has played the Eagles better in recent years than West Florida. Last season during its undefeated regular season, Pine Forest earned a two-score victory only after the team produced a touchdown-scoring drive late to seal the win. Can the Jaguars capture its third triumph in their last four games against the Eagles?
Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Pine Forest 40, West Florida 24
Navarre (2-2) at Carroll (Ala.) (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Matthews Stadium
Key players: Navarre - Terence Marshall (ATH, Sr.), Tyrell Marshall (ATH, Sr.), Hunter Pfiester (QB, Sr.,) Connor Mathews (RB, Jr.), Charlie Cottrell (OL, Sr.), Andre Spence (LB/RB, Jr.) Josh Wilson (LB/RB, Jr.); Carroll - Keyshawn Cole (QB, Sr.); Lakeith Person (RB, Sr.), Peyton Plott (WR/RB, Jr.), Quadarious Lightner (DB, Sr.), Shuntavious Steward (OL/DL, Sr.)
Last week’s results: Navarre - 45-42 win vs. Tate; Carroll - 34-24 win vs. Charles Henderson
Last meeting: N/A
The skinny: The Raiders have enjoyed the confines of their home stadium through three regular season games and a Kickoff Classic contest so far in 2023. In its latest contest, Navarre survived a nail biter against Tate where a last-second field goal was blocked by Tyrell Marshall to help preserve a 45-42 victory. Looking to climb above the .500 mark for the first time this season, the Raiders hit the road for a two-and-a-half-hour trip to Ozark, Alabama. The Eagles are led by Keyshawn Cole. The senior quarterback has thrown four touchdowns and added another six on the ground this season.
Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Navarre 34, Carroll 27
Escambia (3-1) at Milton (2-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Haywood Hanna Panther Stadium
Key players: Ethan Diamond (QB, Sr.), Tate Williams (QB, Jr.), Kaiden Hall (WR/DB, So.), Tommy Walker (OL, Sr.), Rayvon Conttrell (WR/DB, Jr.), Kaden French (LB, Sr.), Manny Kimmons (DL, Sr.)
Last week’s results: Escambia - 37-0 win at Fort Walton Beach; Milton - 73-42 loss vs. Gulf Breeze
Last meeting: Sept. 23, 2022 - Escambia 41, Milton 0
The skinny: Following a 37-0 shutout win in his team’s district opener at Fort Walton Beach, Escambia head coach Mike Bennett cautioned his players about being overconfident heading into the team’s Week 5 game at Milton. Although the Gators did earn a 41-0 shutout the last time these two teams met, Bennett believes the Panthers are dangerous, particularly after they had a 42-point effort in a loss against Gulf Breeze. Losing the last four meetings, Milton last defeated Escambia in 2013. The team will need to slow down Anthony Hall if it hopes to snap the skid. The Gators senior quarterback has completed 66 percent of his passes for 610 yards, six touchdowns to just one interception in the previous two games.
Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Escambia 35, Milton 14
PNJ Football Leaderboard: Escambia, Santa Rosa County stats after Week 4 of 2023 season
PNJ Power Poll: Catholic sits at No. 1, Gulf Breeze up two spots after record performance
Pensacola (0-4) at Gulf Breeze (1-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Dolphin Stadium
Key players: Pensacola - De’andre Barr (WR/DB, Jr.), T.J. Bowens (LB/TE, Sr.), Dequan Gaddy, (LB/WR/P, Sr.), Dominique Hughley (WR/RB, Jr.), Jamarcuz Fountain (WR/CB, So.); Gulf Breeze - Battle Alberson (QB, Sr.), Jake Frazetta (ATH, Sr.), Bryson Rouillier (WR/DB, Sr.), Gavin Quenneville (RB/DB, Sr), Jake Hooten (WR/FS, Jr.), Shamane Walker (DL, Sr.), Luke Denby (OL/DL, Sr.), Londen Taylor (OL, Sr.)
Last week’s results: Pensacola - 35-0 loss at Bay; Gulf Breeze - 73-42 win at Milton
Last meeting: Sept. 22, 2022 - Gulf Breeze 38, Pensacola 8
The skinny: The Tigers will have a new leader on the sidelines when the team walks into Dolphin Stadium. After 14 regular season games since the start of the 2022 campaign, Cantrell Tyson resigned from his position as Pensacola High’s head coach. Stepping into the role in an interim status is Martes Wheeler, a former UWF linebacker who previously served as the Tigers defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Gulf Breeze is coming off a record-breaking performance in its latest game. The team tied the program mark for points in a game in a 73-42 win at Milton.
Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Gulf Breeze 49, Pensacola 6
Prince Avenue Christian (Ga.) (5-0) at Pensacola Catholic (3-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Gorecki-LeBeau Stadium
Key players: Prince Avenue Christian - Aaron Philo (QB, Sr.), Christian Garrett (DL, Jr.), C.J. Dockery (WR/DB, So.), Blaine Pittman (DL, Sr.), Luke Darling (DB/WR, Jr.), Kyler Giddens (LB/RB, Jr.); Pensacola Catholic - Jayvion Showers (WR, Sr.), Demontrae Gaston (LB/WR, Sr.), C.J. Nettles (RB, Jr.), Ryland Bragg (OL, Sr.), Desjon Robertson (DL, Sr.), Nigel Nelson (LB, Jr.), Ryan Huff (QB, Jr.), Courtney Clark (DL, Sr.), Turner McLaughlin (LB, Sr.)
Last week’s results: Prince Avenue Christian - 58-18 win vs. Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy Ga.); Pensacola Catholic - Bye
Last meeting: N/A
The skinny: In its first home game of the season, the Crusaders will welcome a Georgia powerhouse into Gorecki-LeBeau Stadium. The Wolverines are coming off a state title in 2022 and currently are on a 19-game winning streak, beating opponents by an average of 27.7 points during that stretch. Offensively, senior quarterback Aaron Philo leads the Prince Avenue Christian. The three-star Georgia Tech commit has thrown for 20 touchdowns to just one interception while adding seven more scores on the ground this season. Philo has thrown 123 touchdown passes in his career, which is good for sixth all-time in Georgia high school state history. Meanwhile, Christian Garrett is the team’s defensive standout. The four-star junior defensive lineman has offers from the likes of Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee.
Patrick’s prediction (sure to be wrong): Pensacola Catholic 24, Prince Avenue Christian 21
Patrick's prediction record after Week 4: 24-9
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Football: Eight Pensacola-area teams in action during limited Week 5 slate
