QUICK HITTERS: First Coast Region – Week 4

We have come up with a new way to get the information that we wan to give to our Premium Subscribers in a much quicker and easier to read version. Welcome to Quick Hitters, giving you a quick rankings run down for each and the top five games. We might also include a few tidbits on what is going in the region as well depending on what it is about.

Here is this week’s Quick Hitters for the First Coast Region for Week 4.

Quick Hits

Singing the blues

After three weeks, it’s not uncommon to see teams still winless on the season; however nobody expected to see usual area powers First Coast (0-2), Ed White (0-3) and Ribault (0-3) on the lists.

First Coast has opened the season with strong competition going against state heavyweights Gainesville and three time consecutive state champion Miami Central. The Bucs should be okay and be able to turn things around.

The stunning firing of head coach Paul Pierson and sudden departure of numerous players to top teams Oakleaf and Trinity Christian has been too much to overcome for the Commanders. The usual high scoring lethal wing-t offense has been grounded against Lakeland, Mandarin and Raines combining for just 27 points in three games; while the fearless defense has surrendered 35 points every game.

The problems are Ribault are quite simple, hold onto the dang ball. Through three games the Trojans have turned the ball over at least three times a game if not more and teams have taken advantage of the mistakes for easy points.

Cruising along

Going into the season, we knew this would be one of Raines best teams on paper, but can they knock off Bolles when it matters the most in the playoffs.

The problem is we likely won’t know just how good the Vikings really are as they likely won’t play a team with a winning record at game time until Week 6 showdown with First Coast.

Through three weeks the Vikings have outscored their opponents 149-10 against lesser teams Lee (2-1), North Miami Beach (0-3) and Ed White (0-3).

Keep an eye on

While everyone keeps talking about Raines and Bolles in District 2-4A and rightfully should, West Nassau (2-0) could be a sleeper team to keep an eye on.

The Warriors feature the one-two combination of senior skill players Davion Dubose and Ke’shan Pennamon to go along with senior quarterback Bryce Jenkins and have put 74 points in two games.

We’ll find out soon enough when the Warriors travel to Bolles (Oct 2) and hosts Raines (Oct 23).

Top 10 Rankings

1. Trinity Christian, 3-0
2. Oakleaf, 3-0
3. Bolles, 3-0
4. Raines, 3-0
5. St. Augustine, 3-0
6. Sandalwood, 3-0
7. Bartram Trail, 2-1
8. Mandarin, 3-0
9. University Christian, 2-1
10. West Nassau, 2-0

Conference Standings

Gateway Conference
Conference Overall
Mandarin 3-0, 3-0
Sandalwood 3-0, 3-0
Raines 2-0, 3-0
Lee 2-1, 2-1
Englewood 2-1, 2-1
Fletcher 2-1, 2-1
Baldwin 1-1, 1-2
Parker 1-1, 1-2
Paxon 1-1, 1-2
Westside 1-1, 1-2
First Coast 0-1, 0-1
Atlantic Coast 0-2, 1-2
Jackson 0-2, 0-2
Ribault 0-2, 0-3
Ed White 0-2, 0-3
Stanton 0-2, 0-3
Wolfson 0-1, 0-3

St. Johns River Athletic Conference
Conference Overall
St. Augustine 1-0, 3-0
Orange Park 1-0, 2-1
Nease 1-0, 2-1
Matanzas 0-0, 3-0
Bartram Trail 0-0, 2-1
Fleming Island 1-0, 1-1
Menendez 1-2, 1-2
Palatka 0-0, 0-2
Middleburg 0-2, 0-3

Top Games

Columbia (3-0) at Lee (2-1): Columbia rolled into the backyard last season and handed Lee a humiliating 56-10 loss to knock the Generals out of the playoffs. You can bet that will still be on the minds of the Generals coaches and players this week. Lee has rebounded nicely since a humiliating loss to Raines in the season opener and has put up back-to-back wins along with 40 points or more in both games. Can Lee limit the turnovers and put up 40 points a game and take control of District 2-7A?

DeLand (1-2) at Mandarin (3-0): Don’t let the record fool you Deland is a very solid team with losses to two state ranked teams No.1 Mainland and Apopka. Mandarin is on a role and will be heavily tested in their 1-8A opener.

Buchholz (2-1) at Oakleaf (3-0): Buchholz has looked good so far with dominating wins over Citrus (44-0) and city rival Eastside (48-13) and nearly gave Columbia its first loss before falling 39-27 last week. Despite being undefeated Oakleaf hasn’t been impressive for the most part of its season struggling offensively in wins over Westside (21-0) and Wayne County, GA (14-5). Is the game the offense finally clicks and puts it all together?

Spruce Creek (2-2) at Sandalwood (3-0): Sandalwood has looked unstoppable so far against lesser competition. This is a must have for the Saints a slip here would be disastrous in the big picture of winning the District 1-8A title.

Bishop Kenny (1-2) at Westside (1-2): Neither team is playing that well but the season can be quickly turned around with a win here. The loser will have a tough hill to climb in District 4-5A with a game against undefeated Ponte Vedra still looming.

St. Joseph (3-0) at Oak Hall (2-0): First place in the East Division is at stake in this early conference showdown. Are the Flashes for real? We will find out a lot more this week.

West Orange (3-0) at Trinity Christian (3-0): West Orange stunned many by upsetting Dr. Phillips 41-34 to regain the Old Crate back while also ending the Panthers 35 game regular season winning streak. Now the task is trying to stop a Trinity offense that is loaded and can score from any direction. Both are coming off huge wins last week, will there be a letdown for either team?