FloridaHSFootball.com’s Top 10 Statewide Games of the Week Preview

Here are FloridaHSFootball.com’s Top 10 Games of the Week Preview, which will feature several games between ranked teams either in FloridaHSFooball.com’s Classification Rankings or Sunshine State 25 rankings. Predictions included are from Joe Pinkos, USA TODAY High School Sports’ Score Predictor and our own Prediction.

#7 (7A) First Coast vs. Gainesville at Citizens Field
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: WGGG 1230 AM, Gainesville; WMOP 900 AM & 100.1 FM Ocala; Internet Stream: The Prep Zone
Comments: After having their first game washed out due to weather last week, First Coast is looking to hit the field for the first time this season and it couldn’t come at a much tougher time on the schedule with Gainesville this week and Miami Central next week. However, first things, first, First Coast will need to come out of the gate in this game really quick to build some momentum to get not look rusty. Gainesville will be coming into this game after suffering a 57-38 shootout loss to rival Columbia last week to open the season. The Hurricanes will have to score early and often, otherwise it could be a seriously long night against the Buccaneers.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: First Coast 14 over Gainesville
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: First Coast 41, Gainesville 18
FHSF Prediction: First Coast

#2 (4A) Bolles at #18 Palm Bay Heritage
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: WFXJ 930 AM, Jacksonville; WPIO 89.3 FM Titusville; WEJF 90.3 FM Palm Bay; Internet Stream: Friday Night Locker Room
Comments: Bolles won a 49-29 thriller last week against a Class 8A Lake Mary team and will head down to Palm Bay this week to face a very strong Heritage team that has several running back that can be thrown into the rotation to create havoc for opposing defenses. For Heritage, there is a risk taking on Bolles, the winner of record 11 state championship games, 10 which have come under legendary coach Corky Rogers. Bolles has never been afraid to travel anywhere to play games against any team, big or small and given what Bolles can do, this will be a hard fought game for both teams.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Bolles 1 over Palm Bay Heritage
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Bolles 35, Heritage 20
FHSF Prediction: Bolles

#7 (5A) Coconut Creek at #2 Flanagan
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Internet Stream: High School Programming Network / FloridaHSFootball.com
Comments: Coconut Creek and Flanagan are off to hot starts after winning their opening week games last week. For Coconut Creek, they will have to show they have the better talent on the roster for the majority of the game. That will also mean frustrating Flanagan both offensively and defensively which could be seriously difficult to do. Overall, we expect a great game from both of these teams in Week 2.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Flanagan 16 over Coconut Creek
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Flanagan 37, Coconut Creek 21
FHSF Prediction: Flanagan

Miramar at #1 St. Thomas Aquinas
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Comments: Miramar is coming off 38-14 defeat to IMG Academy on Sunday and is looking to rebound by trying to get a knock-off win against St. Thomas Aquinas. Miramar has traditional played closed with St. Thomas Aquinas over the years and even had a little winning streak going against the Raiders before it ended last year. If the Patriots want to win against one of the top teams and make some noise after blundering this week, they will have control the line of scrimmage on both side of the ball or otherwise it could be a long game. As for St. Thomas Aquinas, they are coming off a a big 35-3 win over Booker T. Washington last week.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 17 over Miramar
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Miramar 10
FHSF Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas

#15 Niceville at #8 (6A) Escambia (Pensacola)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. CT
Radio: WTKE 100.3 FM Niceville Internet Stream: The New Fish Radio
Comments: A big Panhandle Region showdown featuring two top-10 teams in Class 6A. Niceville which won in a 26-14 game last week against Lincoln, will be looking to continue to build the great start of 2015. The Eagles, which relied upon the running game a lot, will have to call upon again in this game and they might find worth the success. Escambia is coming off a 16-7 win against a solid West Florida team that put up a defensive battle against the Gators last week. However, Escambia can’t afford a defensive battle in this game with Niceville as it could be costly to getting the win.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Escambia 1 over Niceville
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Niceville 30, Escambia 21
FHSF Prediction: Niceville

#5 (1A) Madison County at Brooks County
When: Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Radio: WMAF 1230 AM, Madison
Comments: Madison County is not afraid to play anyone big or small and it did so last week against a Class 5A Rickards team which the Cowboys lost 20-14. This week, the Cowboys take a quick drive over the state line to Quitman, Georgia to find the Brooks County Trojans waiting on them. Brooks County is already off to a 0-2 start to on the season in Georgia, so for Madison County they will need to come in and establish the kind of the game they willing to play to build a lead. Otherwise, the Trojans could be looking to sneak an upset on the Cowboys and it could make the season longer than what the Cowboys want in their first year in Class 1A.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Madison County 14 over Brooks County
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Prediction not available
FHSF Prediction: Madison County

Immokalee at #4 (4A) Clewiston
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Radio: WMYE 90.5 FM, Immokalee; WAFC 590 AM & 100.5 FM, Clewiston, 92.5 FM Belle Glade; Internet Stream: The Call FM
Comments: Immokalee and Clewiston are fierce rivals with the rivalry going back for many, many years with Clewiston leading the way by a record of 24-10-1. Immokalee would like to forget about the 43-28 lost last year and instead get a big win on the road by upsetting a ranked Clewiston team that some have pegged as possible team to knock off Booker T. Washington. Clewiston started of the season last week with a big 42-6 win over rival LaBelle last week while Immokalee got a big win over Golden Gate. Both teams are hungry for more so this battle should only be one that will have fans on edge the entire game.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Clewiston 13 over Immokalee
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Clewiston 35, Immokalee 18
FHSF Prediction: Clewiston

# 9 Columbus (Miami) vs. Miami Northwestern at Traz Powell Stadium
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Internet Stream: NFHS Network (requires subscription)
Comments: Columbus will look for win No. 2 on the season after knocking off a very strong Miami Jackson team last week in a game that stretched over three days and two football fields. This week’s game shouldn’t be like that and although Columbus is the road team for this game, the Explorers are very familiar playing the atmosphere that surrounds Traz Powell. Miami Northwestern got a big victory against American last week and they could be contending for the second playoff spot in District 6A-16, but a Bulls win here over the Explorers will certainly set the tone going into Week 3.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Columbus 14 over Miami Northwestern
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Columbus 28, Miami Northwestern 24
FHSF Prediction: Columbus

Winter Park at #20 West Orange (Winter Garden)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Comments: Both Winter Park and West Orange were big winners last week to start the season, but both teams are going to find themselves trying to out do each other this week. The biggest question will be is who will have the least amount of turnovers, while scoring the most amount of points. West Orange has been capable of putting a ton of points on opponents over the last year, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they did it here against Winter Park. However, Winter Park is an improving team and could pull off the upset here.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: West Orange 7 over Winter Park
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: West Orange 26, Winter Park 14
FHSF Prediction: West Orange

Bartram Trail vs. #3 Mainland at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Radio: WNDB 1150 AM Daytona Beach; Internet Stream: WNDB Daytona’s News Station
Comments: Both Bartram Trail and Mainland got off to a hot start last week by winning their opening games against Bishop Kenny and DeLand respectively. However, for Bartram Trail, Mainland’s defense is going to put a serious test to the two-quarterback system the Bears use last week and it could favor into defensive points for the Buccaneers. For Mainland, if the Buccaneers get rolling early, this game could be one that is over pretty early, but we are not totally expecting that as Bartram Trail has been known in the past to give great teams like Armwood and Choctawhatchee a run for their money in games.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Mainland 23 over Bartram Trail
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Mainland 33, Bartram Trail 7
FHSF Prediction: Mainland