High School Football Predictions: Your Simple Guide to Week 0 in Jacksonville

Welcome! Think of this like a weather forecast, but for football games. A sports expert named Justin Barney looks at all the teams, checks how they played before, and makes his best guess on who will win and what the score might be. This guide explains everything in a super simple way so you can follow along—even if you’ve never watched a game before!

What Is This All About?

Every Thursday during high school football season, News4JAX shares predictions for local games happening that weekend. This article covers Week 0 (the very first games of the season) played on Friday, August 14.

Key things to know:

• (Number) next to a team name = Their rank in the "Super 6" (a list of the top 6 teams in the area).
• "N4J pick" = The predicted score from News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney.
• Independent programs = Teams that don’t play in a big district league; they make their own schedules.

The Expert’s Track Record (Why You Can Trust These Guesses)

Justin Barney has been doing this for years. Here is how often his picks have been correct in past seasons:

Simple Translation: He gets it right about 3 out of 4 times. That’s really good!

This Week’s Game Predictions (Friday, Aug. 14)

Here are all the games Justin picked for Week 0. The bold team is the predicted winner.

1. Bishop Snyder vs. Port Orange Atlantic

• The Story: Atlantic didn’t win a single game last year.
• N4J Pick: Bishop Snyder 23, Atlantic 17.

2. Christ’s Church Academy vs. St. Joseph

• The Story: St. Joseph (the Flashes) didn’t lose a single game until the playoffs last year.
• N4J Pick: St. Joseph 21, Christ’s Church 20. (Super close!)

3. Crescent City vs. Bayside (7:30 PM)

• The Story: Bayside (the Raiders) are expected to be good this year, but maybe not quite ready for Week 1.
• N4J Pick: Bayside 28, Crescent City 21.

4. Eagle’s View vs. Old Plank Christian

• The Story: Old Plank (the Defenders) are expected to start strong.
• N4J Pick: Old Plank Christian 31, Eagle’s View 20.

5. (2) Fernandina Beach vs. Keystone Heights

• The Story: Fernandina Beach (the Pirates) are ranked #2 in the Super 6 and are one of the best "independent" teams around.
• N4J Pick: (2) Fernandina Beach 28, Keystone Heights 14.

6. First Coast Christian vs. Harvest Community

• The Story: Harvest Community (the Warriors) are predicted to win as many games in this one night as they did in all of last season.
• N4J Pick: Harvest Community 27, First Coast Christian 20.

7. Interlachen vs. Trenton (7:30 PM)

• The Story: Expected to be a nail-biter.
• N4J Pick: Trenton 21, Interlachen 20. (Just a 1-point difference!)

8. Lafayette vs. (3) Union County (7:30 PM)

• The Story: Union County (ranked #3) has a new coach, Robby Pruitt, starting his first game.
• N4J Pick: (3) Union County 34, Lafayette 21.

9. Stanton vs. Duval Charter

• The Story: Stanton (Blue Devils) should win this one, but Duval Charter (Panthers) might have a good season overall.
• N4J Pick: Stanton 27, Duval Charter 20.

10. (1) West Nassau vs. (4) Paxon (6:30 PM) — GAME OF THE WEEK

• The Story: The #1 ranked team (West Nassau) vs the #4 ranked team (Paxon). This is the biggest matchup of the week between independent teams.
• N4J Pick: (1) West Nassau 35, (4) Paxon 20.

11. Westminster Academy vs. Episcopal

• The Story: Westminster Academy (Lions) vs Episcopal (Eagles).
• N4J Pick: Westminster Academy 30, Episcopal 21.

How to Read These Predictions (A Quick Cheat Sheet)

1. Find the Game: Look for the two teams playing.
2. Spot the Bold Name: That is who Justin thinks will win.
3. Check the Score: The numbers (e.g., 28-14) are his exact guess for the final score.
4. Read the "Story": The italic text explains why he picked that way (injuries, new coaches, last year’s record).
5. Watch the Game: See if he was right!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• These are guesses, not promises. Even experts get it wrong 25% of the time.
• "Super 6" Rankings are just a local popularity/strength contest for the top 6 teams.
• Week 0 means these are the very first games. Teams might be rusty or trying new players.
• Times listed (like 7:30 PM) are kickoff times. Get there early for a good seat!
• Copyright 2026 WJXT News4JAX. All rights reserved.

Summary

• Who: News4JAX Sports Editor Justin Barney.
• What: Predictions for Week 0 High School Football (Friday, Aug 14).
• Track Record: ~75-83% accuracy over the last 7 years.
• Biggest Game: #1 West Nassau vs #4 Paxon at 6:30 PM.
• Closest Games: St. Joseph vs Christ’s Church (1 pt) & Trenton vs Interlachen (1 pt).
• Use this guide to pick which games to watch or just to impress your friends with the "expert" pick!

FAQ (Questions You Might Have)

1. What does "Week 0" mean?

Most seasons start with "Week 1." Week 0 is an extra bonus week where teams play one game before the official season schedule really kicks off. It’s like a preseason scrimmage that counts for real.

2. What is an "Independent Program"?

Most schools are in a "District" (like a conference) where they have to play certain teams. Independent programs (like Fernandina Beach) are free agents—they can schedule whoever they want, whenever they want, often seeking tougher competition.

3. Why are some scores so close (like 21-20)?

When an expert predicts a 1-point game, it means they think the teams are almost exactly even. It’s a "toss-up"—literally a coin flip could decide it.

4. Can I bet money on these predictions?

No! High school sports betting is illegal in Florida (and most places). These picks are for fun, bragging rights, and deciding which game to attend only.

5. Where can I find next week’s picks?

Come back to News4JAX every Thursday during the season. Justin Barney updates his record and releases new picks for the upcoming Friday/Saturday games.

Enjoy the start of the season! Go support your local team!