8 Jax-area football teams are still perfect. Can they extend the run?

Five weeks into the Florida High School Athletic Association football season, the list of Northeast Florida's unbeaten teams has dwindled to eight.

How long can they keep going?

From West Nassau and Hilliard in the north to St. Augustine in the south, Northeast Florida's remaining Great Eight have paved their own paths to superb starts. Just how successful will these seasons turn out? That depends on the next two-plus months.

The Times-Union analyzes what's working, and what challenges remain, for the Jacksonville area's eight still-undefeated programs.

BRADFORD (5-0)

Coach: Ross Baker

Scores so far: 65-0 vs. West Port, 16-9 at Baker County, 56-0 vs. Zarephath Academy, 49-0 vs. Ocala Trinity Catholic, 48-10 at Tocoi Creek

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct.

23 vs. White.

What's working: Bradford is running teams over with a three-way ground attack. Iyen Addison is leading with 492 rushing yards and Drew Simmons has 474, while dual-threat junior quarterback Cy Cubbedge has added 237. Bradford's backs racked up 379 yards last time out against Tocoi Creek. And, as usual, the defense has been a brick wall: only 19 points allowed, while recording 14 sacks and forcing 14 turnovers.

Potential concern: Are they strong enough to challenge Florida's best? Other than Baker County, Bradford hasn't yet encountered a major test — yet. That changes fast, because the Tornadoes' second-half slate includes Madison County, University Christian and White. Those games will reveal whether or not Bradford is ready to make a deep push in 2026.

COLUMBIA (5-0)

Coach: Brian Allen

Scores so far: 20-19 at Bolles, 24-6 vs. St. Petersburg Lakewood, 27-13 vs. Madison County, 49-0 at Ribault, 27-20 at Trinity Christian

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 16 at White.

What's working: It's simple enough. Columbia's defense, particularly the front seven, is feared across Northeast Florida and beyond. Junior defensive end Mikel Morgan (12 TFL, eight sacks) is climbing the recruiting lists at a meteoric clip, defensive tackles Jaylen Underwood and Jaden McCray are bashing through lines with wrecking-ball force and Jaequan Wilson (six sacks, three fumble recoveries) is a magnet for takeaways. The Tigers have accumulated 15 takeaways and seven kick blocks, six of those from senior Mekah Combs-Turner. Fifty-nine years on from the magical 1967 season under Paul Quinn, Lake City is dreaming big.

Potential concern: The offense took a while to warm up against Madison County and last week against Trinity Christian, always a potential cause for concern. Even though Zion Walker (21 catches, 232 yards) and Maryland commit Kyren Caldwell (13 catches, 202 yards) are a potent receiving tandem, this is an offense more suited to the ball-control game with tailback Jerome Horne (513 yards), rather than playing from behind.

EPISCOPAL (5-0)

Coach: Marcus Wells

Scores so far: 27-26 vs. Westminster Academy, 42-6 at Providence, 47-0 at Englewood, 44-0 at KIPP Bold City, 61-6 vs. Westside

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 23 vs. Fernandina Beach.

What's working: It's breakthrough time for freshman quarterback Justice Turpin, completing 61.7 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and only one interception. Senior wideouts Brayden Wessinger and Luke Sarzier combine for more than 450 yards, sophomore Amir Allen is above 400 yards at running back and the defense has 17 sacks and 12 takeaways. That's brought a point differential of 221-38, and an undefeated regular season isn't out of reach.

Potential concern: Other than first-week opponent Westminster Academy, Episcopal's opponents so far all have sub-.500 records, so they'll likely encounter a sharp increase in difficulty when they enter the Sunshine State Athletic Association postseason.

HILLIARD (4-0)

Coach: Will Dyal

Scores so far: 37-13 at Winter Haven All Saints', 41-8 vs. First Coast Christian, 56-7 vs. Keystone Heights, 47-20 at St. Joseph

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 16 at Dixie County

What's working: The Red Flashes, who went 3-7 last year, are sticking with what works. That means a steady diet of carries for senior two-sport star DJ Alderman, who's up to 802 yards (more than 200 per game) and 13 touchdowns, and he's going to run it until somebody proves they can slow him down. Hilliard's defense is much improved, yielding only 48 points, and Carlton Hall, King McMillian and Brantley Wade each have double-digit interceptions.

Potential concern: The schedule points toward a potential 10-0 run, but beyond the regular season, this team is not equipped for a must-pass situation. Alderman and the ground game are cruising, but Hilliard has only completed 14 passes all season. That could spell trouble if they fall behind multiple scores in the late going.

RAINES (5-0)

Coach: Donovan Masline

Scores so far: 21-7 at Oakleaf, 52-14 vs. Baldwin, 21-12 at White, 43-8 at Parker, 31-13 vs. Mandarin

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 2 vs. Venice

What's working: The pass rush at 3663 Raines Avenue is ferocious. Super 11 edge Troy Butler and Chenaniah Doran are flattening quarterbacks from all angles, part of a seven-sack assault against formerly-perfect Mandarin a week ago, and it's also paying off in the turnover department with 13 takeaways thus far. All that pass pressure is making life easier as well for the secondary, where seniors Tacori Allen and Tre'vion Williams have added to a solid core that already included players like senior Travis Dixon Jr. and junior Zion Green. Nobody has scored more than 14 points against the Vikings, up to 19 wins in a row. Is a championship repeat within reach?

Potential concern: Although a now-healthy TJ Williamson continues to shine at running back, Raines' air game is still a work in progress. Against Mandarin, the Vikings connected on fewer than 40 percent of attempts, and the receiving corps hasn't yet produced a pass-catcher with more than 150 yards on the year. The talent is there, but the unit is still looking for the kind of rhythm they'll likely need against the state's best.

ST. AUGUSTINE (5-0)

Coach: Brian Braddock

Scores so far: 49-0 at Palatka, 28-22 vs. Nease, 34-8 at Menendez, 48-6 at Middleburg, 24-20 vs. Orlando Evans

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 30 at Mandarin

What's working: It's another case of defense making the difference. In spite of multiple injuries on the offensive end, St. Augustine continues to keep opponents out of the end zone. From the punishing hits of Brandon Whitfield Jr. to the relentless pursuit of Mason Beane to the toughness all across the defensive front, St. Augustine is making every yard a battle. Recruiters are taking notice, too: Junior corner Ka'Ron Robinson picked up a USF offer last week, and that list for the Jackets' defense will likely keep growing. And on offense, rising starters like Chance Carter (405 yards rushing) and sophomore receivers Anthony Washington, RyLend Williams and Ray'shawn Jeffries are showing they're ready.

Potential concern: The good news is that former Menendez quarterback Cash Downey (49 of 75, 765 yards, 10 TD, 0 INT) is not only playing well, but playing well under pressure. He's led the Jackets to late comebacks against Nease (from two scores down in the fourth quarter) and Evans. But when the knockout games arrive, can St. Augustine afford to keep relying on last-minute rallies?

SUWANNEE (5-0)

Coach: Kyler Hall

Scores so far: 35-0 at Crystal River, 38-6 vs. Mayo Lafayette, 15-14 vs. Gainesville, 20-6 vs. Palatka, 45-0 vs. Hamilton County

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 30 at Columbia.

What's working: For a one-win season a year ago, the Bulldogs have already shattered expectations, and the biggest reason is the defense. Suwannee has already grabbed 13 takeaways, five of them interceptions by Jarquez Gwinn, while wrapping up quarterbacks for 16 sacks, led by Marco Rojas and Kyler Watson. This team has allowed only 26 points to date.

Potential concern: The Bulldogs' 5-0 start has come against light opposition — so light that the MaxPreps rankings don't regard Suwannee as a top-eight squad in the region. It's going to get a whole lot tougher when Suwannee takes on district opponents Wakulla, Baker County and Tallahassee Godby, not to mention Columbia in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket. Will they be ready?

WEST NASSAU (4-0-1)

Coach: Gunnar Cox

Scores so far: 35-20 at Paxon, 14-14 (tie) vs. Charlton County, 55-6 vs. KIPP Bold City, 34-7 at Palm Bay Bayside, 28-7 vs. Yulee

Biggest regular-season test remaining: Oct. 10 vs. West Deptford (N.J.).

What's working: West Nassau's approach is no surprise: It's old-time Wing-T football, accumulating 1,808 yards and 21 touchdowns through five games. Halfback Smo Green (513 yards), wingback Avery Griffin (361 yards) and fullbacks Cameron Johns (303 yards) and Darren Driggers (297 yards) are doing serious damage, behind a line anchored by Times-Union Super 11 recruit and South Carolina commit Clayton Lee. Opponents know exactly what's coming. They just can't stop it.

Potential concern: If the Warriors fall behind multiple scores late, the passing attack doesn't compare to the run game in Callahan. They've thrown for only 222 yards with 12 completions all year, so this offense will go as far as the running backs and the blockers carry them.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 8 Jax-area football teams are still perfect. Can they extend the run?