‘26 Week 0 Ignites: Independent Titans Collide Head-to-Head
News4JAX High School Football: Week 0 Predictions for Jacksonville Area Games
Welcome to the 2025 high school football season! Every Thursday, News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney shares his expert picks for local games. Think of this as your friendly neighborhood guide to which teams might win this weekend.
Justin Barney’s Overall Prediction Record
Justin has been doing this for years, and he’s pretty good at it! Here’s how his picks have performed over the last seven seasons:
| Season | Wins | Losses | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 383 | 77 | .832 (83.2%) |
| 2024 | 357 | 89 | .800 (80.0%) |
| 2023 | 353 | 94 | .790 (79.0%) |
| 2022 | 309 | 102 | .751 (75.1%) |
| 2021 | 296 | 104 | .740 (74.0%) |
| 2020 | 273 | 91 | .750 (75.0%) |
| 2019 | 291 | 105 | .735 (73.5%) |
Important Point: A win percentage above .700 (70%) is considered excellent in sports predictions. Justin has been above 73% every single year!
Week 0 Predictions – Friday, August 14
Here are Justin’s picks for the opening weekend. Teams with numbers in parentheses (like (1) or (2)) are ranked in the "Super 6" – our list of the top 6 teams in the area.
1. Bishop Snyder at Port Orange Atlantic
- Storyline: Atlantic didn’t win a single game last year. Snyder looks stronger.
- N4J Pick: Snyder 23, Atlantic 17
2. Christ’s Church Academy at St. Joseph
- Storyline: Christ’s Church (the "Flashes") went unbeaten until the playoffs last season. This should be close!
- N4J Pick: St. Joseph 21, Christ’s Church 20
3. Crescent City at Bayside (7:30 p.m.)
- Storyline: Bayside (the "Raiders") might win early in the season, but probably not this week.
- N4J Pick: Bayside 28, Crescent City 21
4. Eagle’s View at Old Plank Christian
- Storyline: Old Plank Christian (the "Defenders") start strong with a big win.
- N4J Pick: Old Plank Christian 31, Eagle’s View 20
5. (2) Fernandina Beach at Keystone Heights
- Storyline: Fernandina Beach (the "Pirates") are ranked #2 and are one of the best independent programs around.
- N4J Pick: (2) Fernandina Beach 28, Keystone Heights 14
6. First Coast Christian at Harvest Community
- Storyline: Harvest Community (the "Warriors") match their entire 2025 win total in just Week 0!
- N4J Pick: Harvest Community 27, First Coast Christian 20
7. Interlachen at Trenton (7:30 p.m.)
- Storyline: A nail-biter! Trenton (the "Tigers") edge it out.
- N4J Pick: Trenton 21, Interlachen 20
8. Lafayette at (3) Union County (7:30 p.m.)
- Storyline: New coach Robby Pruitt begins his era at Union County (ranked #3) with a statement win.
- N4J Pick: (3) Union County 34, Lafayette 21
9. Stanton at Duval Charter
- Storyline: Stanton (the "Blue Devils") start 1-0, but Duval Charter (the "Panthers") are set up for a good season.
- N4J Pick: Stanton 27, Duval Charter 20
10. (1) West Nassau at (4) Paxon (6:30 p.m.) GAME OF THE WEEK
- Storyline: The #1 ranked West Nassau vs. #4 ranked Paxon. Best Week 0 matchup among independent teams!
- N4J Pick: (1) West Nassau 35, (4) Paxon 20
11. Westminster Academy at Episcopal
- Storyline: Westminster Academy (the "Lions") get the Week 0 win over Episcopal (the "Eagles").
- N4J Pick: Westminster Academy 30, Episcopal 21
How to Read These Predictions
- Home team is listed second – The format is "Visitor at Home"
- Super 6 rankings – Numbers in parentheses (1) through (6) mean the team is in our top 6
- Scores are predictions, not guarantees – Football is unpredictable!
- Independent teams – Some schools don’t play in a traditional district; they schedule their own games
Summary
- Season kickoff: Week 0 starts Friday, August 14
- Expert picker: Justin Barney, News4JAX Sports Editor
- Track record: 73–83% accuracy over 7 years
- 11 games predicted this week
- Marquee matchup: #1 West Nassau vs. #4 Paxon at 6:30 p.m.
- New coach watch: Robby Pruitt’s debut at #3 Union County
- Check back every Thursday for updated picks throughout the season!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does "Super 6" mean?
A: The Super 6 is News4JAX’s ranking of the top 6 high school football teams in the Jacksonville area. Teams with a number like (1) or (4) next to their name are currently in that elite group.
Q: What is an "independent program"?
A: Most high schools play in a district (like a conference) with a set schedule. Independent programs don’t belong to a district—they create their own schedule and can play whoever they want, whenever they want.
Q: Why are there so many games on one night?
A: Week 0 is the very first week of the season. Many smaller schools and independent teams play this week before the bigger district schedules start in Week 1.
Q: How often are these predictions updated?
A: Every Thursday during the football season, Justin Barney releases a new set of picks for that weekend’s games.
Q: Can I trust these predictions for betting?
A: These are for entertainment and informational purposes only. Justin has a great track record, but sports are unpredictable—upsets happen every week! Please don’t use these for gambling.
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