FOOTBALL: The Blitz – Northeast Florida Pick Six recap for Week 2

Another week of Florida high school football brought plenty of excitement, and The Blitz – Northeast Florida Edition is here with this week’s Pick Six Recap. We take a closer look at six matchups that stood out across the Northeast Florida region, highlighting big moments, key performances, and games that kept fans talking.

MANDARIN 54, ATLANTIC COAST 16

Sophomore Brysen Wright returned an interception 102 yards for a touchdown and added a punt return score to account for 18 points as host Mandarin (2-0) dominated Atlantic Coast (1-1) in Friday’s Jacksonville rivalry matchup. … Junior Shaunqueze Foster rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries while sophomore quarterback Knox Annis completed eight of 12 passes for 122 yards and two scores to lead the Mustangs’ balanced offensive attack. … Wright also hauled in four receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown, giving him three total touchdowns in the lopsided victory over the visiting Stingrays. … Junior Kyree Wilson added 62 rushing yards and one touchdown while freshman Chris Harrison contributed 58 rushing yards and one score as Mandarin accumulated 431 total yards. … The Mustangs defense forced two interceptions and limited Atlantic Coast to 16 points while extending their perfect start to the season with the convincing home victory in the crosstown rivalry game.

NEASE 50, CREEKSIDE 8

Sophomore quarterback Aiden Phifer completed 17 of 26 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown while adding a rushing score as host Nease (2-0) dominated visiting Creekside (0-2) in Friday’s St. Johns County rivalry matchup. … Senior Vernon Stephens led the Panthers with six receptions for 106 yards while senior Brayden Felder hauled in six catches for 96 yards and one touchdown to pace the receiving attack. … Junior Tyshawn Ford returned a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown and added two catches for 20 yards, while junior Enrique Ordoñez contributed 27 rushing yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. … The Panthers defense forced three interceptions, with senior Damion Bridges recording two picks and also scoring on an interception return for a touchdown. … Nease accumulated 361 total yards while building a commanding 16-0 halftime lead before adding 27 points in the third quarter to put the game away against the winless Knights.

PONTE VEDRA 48, BARTRAM TRAIL 14

Junior Alex Winkles accounted for three touchdowns with 67 rushing yards and one score plus two receiving touchdowns on four catches for 74 yards as host Ponte Vedra (1-1) dominated Bartram Trail (0-2) in Friday’s St. Johns County rivalry matchup. … Senior quarterback Cole Rosendahl completed 19 of 27 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Sharks’ aerial attack that accumulated 432 total yards. … Junior Caleb Stanton hauled in three receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns, including a 68-yard scoring strike, while senior Angelo Kekelik added three catches for 87 yards for Ponte Vedra. … Bartram Trail senior quarterback Coleson Baum completed 11 of 19 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards, with sophomore Brady Soares catching two passes for 39 yards and one score. … The Sharks built a commanding 38-7 halftime advantage and coasted to victory while limiting the Bears to 284 total yards in the decisive St. Johns County showdown.

FLEMING ISLAND 42, RIVERSIDE 33

The Golden Eagles held off visiting Riverside in Friday’s high-scoring victory, securing the win in a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams combine for 75 points. … Fleming Island managed to outscore the Generals throughout the game while maintaining enough of an advantage to preserve the nine-point victory. … The Golden Eagles controlled the pace at home against Riverside, generating sufficient offensive production to stay ahead of the visiting Generals. … Fleming Island’s offense found success against Riverside’s defense while their own defense made key stops when needed to secure the victory. … The Golden Eagles earned the win in the competitive matchup between the Clay and Duval County programs in Orange Park.

BOLLES 35, TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 12

Senior quarterback Jaden Weatherly completed 15 of 25 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns while adding 12 rushing yards and one score as host Bolles dominated Trinity Christian in Friday’s Jacksonville private school rivalry matchup. … Sophomore Xander Edwards rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries while senior Naeem Burroughs led the receiving corps with six catches for 88 yards for the Bulldogs. … Senior Corbyn Fordham hauled in four receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown while junior Camden Tietze added three catches for 27 yards and one score in Bolles’ balanced passing attack. … Trinity Christian freshman Micah Anderson rushed for 76 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries while adding two catches for 28 yards, but the Conquerors were limited to 243 total yards. … The Bulldogs defense forced two interceptions, with senior Santana Starks returning one 71 yards and sophomore TJ Williamson adding another for 35 yards, while recording three sacks and seven tackles for loss in the decisive victory.

BISHOP KENNY 21, UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN 20

Senior linebacker James Davis III recorded two critical sacks and a blocked extra point to help host Bishop Kenny hold off University Christian in Friday’s narrow victory in the Jacksonville private school rivalry. … The Crusaders built a 14-0 first-quarter lead before University Christian rallied with seven points in the second quarter and 13 more in the third to take a 20-14 advantage. … Bishop Kenny answered with seven points in the fourth quarter to reclaim the lead and secure the one-point victory over the visiting Christians. … Davis III’s defensive playmaking proved pivotal in the Crusaders’ ability to limit University Christian’s scoring opportunities and preserve the narrow margin in the closely contested matchup. … The Crusaders earned the hard-fought victory in the back-and-forth battle that saw both teams combine for 41 points in the competitive Jacksonville rivalry game.