It's Week 5 on the high school football schedule for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, and the midway point isn't far away.
Notable games on the schedule include a road trip for Super 11 running back Caleb Mattison and Bishop Kenny to Merritt Island, which is ranked in the USA TODAY Florida Network Super 10; a Florida-Georgia contest between high-scoring White and a Camden County team that edged Tallahassee Godby last time out; and a battle of Ponte Vedra's air game against Fleming Island's multi-pronged ground attack.
Here's a closer look at six of the Jacksonville area's best games this week.
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Mandarin (3-0) at Raines (4-0), 6:30 p.m.
The big one in the Gateway Conference, sold out a week in advance. Mandarin hasn't lost to a Duval
County public school since 2021. Raines, reigning state champion, has beaten its last 18. They haven't met since both teams won their respective FHSAA classes in 2018. Will No. 1 national prospect Brysen Wright and Shaunqueze Foster take over another game, or will the Vikings' punishing defense overcome another foe?
Bartram Trail (3-1) at Creekside (3-1), 7 p.m.
It's the Battle of Longleaf Pine Parkway, which has swung Creekside's way the last two years after long Bears dominance. Vincent Correale, Gunner Lee and Trent Porter were among the top Knights in last week's district-opening win over Tocoi Creek. For Bartram Trail, sophomore Cam Ganther is quickly developing into one of St. Johns County's top pass-catchers.
Columbia (4-0) at Trinity Christian (2-2), 7 p.m.
A matchup that's better than the records might indicate. Trinity is only two overtime finishes away from their own 4-0 start. A fumble recovery from Jaylen Underwood and a 157-yard rushing night from Jerome Horne helped Columbia edge the Conquerors in their 2025 meeting, 27-20. Trinity's Za'khari Greene, then a sophomore, was among the stars of that game with two interceptions.
Oakleaf (2-1) at Bolles (2-1), 7 p.m.
A quality matchup: Oakleaf dual-threat quarterback Jaidan Delaune and proven senior receivers Mike Conner and Syncere Murphy against five-star edge rusher Asher Ghioto and several more standouts on Bolles' defense. Bolles rolled to the victory last year, but the teams' 2024 contest was a 57-50 thriller not decided until the Bulldogs' final touchdown.
Orlando Evans (2-2) at St. Augustine (4-0), 7 p.m.
Still 4-0 despite injuries at various positions, St. Augustine keeps on winning. Brandon Whitfield Jr., now contributing on offense as well, and Ma'kari Spencer are among several top players on a defense with 10 takeaways. They'll need more of the same against Evans and former Camden County QB William Jackson, a Maryland commit who just torched Winter Park for 398 yards.
Yulee (3-1) at West Nassau (3-0-1), 7 p.m.
Always an intense matchup in Nassau County. West Nassau's ground game, leaning last week on the trio of Darren Driggers, Smo Green and Avery Griffin, already has 1,476 yards rushing this year. Who can compete with that? Perhaps Yulee, which shut out the Warriors 17-0 in 2025. Hornets sophomore Jayden Timmon followed up his 310-yard rushing game by gaining 139 receiving against Baker County.
Full Week 5 high school football schedule and predictions
Times-Union predicted winners for Florida games in CAPS. All kickoff times subject to change.
Friday, Sept. 18
FLORIDA
BAKER COUNTY (3-1) at Palatka (1-3), 7 p.m.
Bartram Trail (3-1) at CREEKSIDE (3-1), 7 p.m.
BEACHSIDE (2-1) at Englewood (1-2), 6:30 p.m.
Bishop Kenny (1-2) at MERRITT ISLAND (3-1), 7 p.m.
BRADFORD (4-0) at Tocoi Creek (0-4), 7 p.m.
CLAY (3-1) at Fernandina Beach (1-3), 7 p.m.
COLUMBIA (4-0) at Trinity Christian (2-2), 7 p.m.
DUVAL CHARTER (1-3) at First Coast Christian (1-3), 7 p.m.
Eagle's View (0-5) at WOLFSON (2-2), 6:30 p.m.
FLETCHER (3-1) at First Coast (0-4), 6:30 p.m.
FORT WHITE (3-0) at Alachua Santa Fe (3-0), 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton County (0-3) at SUWANNEE (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Harvest Community (1-4) at BRONSON (1-4), 7 p.m.
HILLIARD (3-0) at St. Joseph (2-2), 7 p.m.
Jackson (2-1) at PAXON (4-1), 6:30 p.m.
Joshua Christian (2-1) at COTTONDALE (3-0), 7 p.m.
Keystone Heights (1-3) at BELL (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Lake Weir (3-0) at UNION COUNTY (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
MANDARIN (3-0) at Raines (4-0), 6:30 p.m.
MENENDEZ (1-2) at Matanzas (0-3), 7 p.m.
Newberry (2-2) at MIDDLEBURG (2-2), 7 p.m.
North Florida Educational (3-0) at UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
Oakleaf (2-1) at BOLLES (2-1), 7 p.m.
OLD PLANK CHRISTIAN (2-2) at Cornerstone Classical (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
ORLANDO EVANS (2-2) at St. Augustine (4-0), 7 p.m.
PARKER (0-4) at Orange Park (1-3), 7 p.m.
PONTE VEDRA (1-3) at Fleming Island (2-2), 7 p.m.
PROVIDENCE (1-3) at Impact Christian (1-3), 7 p.m.
RIBAULT (2-1) at Ridgeview (1-2), 7 p.m.
STANTON (4-1) at Bishop Snyder (0-4), 7 p.m.
Westside (0-4) at SANDALWOOD (3-1), 6:30 p.m.
White (2-1) at CAMDEN COUNTY (3-1), 7:30 p.m.
YULEE (3-1) at West Nassau (3-0-1), 7 p.m.
GEORGIA
Bradwell Institute (2-1) at Glynn Academy (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Brunswick (1-2) at Grovetown (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
Early County (0-3) at Charlton County (2-1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Groves (0-3) at Ware County (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
OFF: Atlantic Coast, Baldwin, Christ's Church, Episcopal, KIPP Bold City, Nease, Riverside, Zarephath Academy
Last week's predictions: 31-2 (.939).
Season predictions to date: 126-23-1 (.843).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mandarin-Raines headlines major Week 5 football matchups. Who will win?
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