It is Week 2 in Florida and there is another slate of great games on the list and once again it was hard to choose just ten games. Here is our Top 10 games of the week for Florida.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the impending effects of Hurricane Hermine, some of these games have the potential either being rescheduled or canceled. Please continue to check the FloridaHSFootball.com Forums thread for the latest updates over the next 48 hours. A strikethrough on a game means it has been canceled for this week.
1. Cocoa (1-0) at Bishop Gorman, Nev. (1-0)
Last Week: Cocoa defeated Jacksonville Trinity Christian 26-23; Bishop Gorman defeated Cedar Hill, Texas, 44-14
When: Friday, 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. MT
Where: Fertitta Field, Las Vegas, Nev.
Why: A national spotlight game this week after Cocoa knocked off Trinity Christian at home on ESPN2, while Bishop Gorman literally dropped one of the best teams in Texas in Cedar Hill on ESPN2 just two days prior. Watch for Tigers QB Bruce Judson (171 passing, 91 rushing, 2 total TDs last week) and Gales RB Biaggio Ali-Walsh (200 rushing, 2 TDs) to be the biggest starts and threats to each team’s chances of winning this week.
Predictions
Josh’s Prediction: Bishop Gorman 38, Cocoa 10
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Bishop Gorman 47, Cocoa 12
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Bishop Gorman 21 over Cocoa
2. Don Bosco, N.J. (0-0) at Plantation American Heritage (1-0)
Last Week:This is Don Bosco’s Season opener; Plantation American Heritage defeated Colquitt County, Ga. 17-14
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Heritage Field, Plantation
Why: Consider this another national spotlight game despite the fact it won’t be on television. Anytime you play a nationally relevant team you have to be ready for them and that is the case here for American Heritage with Don Bosco. A player to keep an eye on for American Heritage is QB Jason Brown who threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns last week at Colquitt County. Brown also had 80 yards rushing. The only thing the Patriots don’t want to repeat is a one-point home loss like they did last year to DeMatha, Md.
Predictions
Josh’s Prediction: American Heritage 24, Don Bosco 17
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Don Bosco, 28, American Heritage 14
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: American Heritage 5 over Don Bosco
3. Mainland (1-0) at Bartram Trail (1-0)
Last Week: Mainland defeated DeLand, 35-0; Bartram Trail defeated Bishop Kenny, 34-14
When: Monday, 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Bear Stadium, Fruit Cove
Why: This has been an anticipated match-up ever since the Buccaneers defeated the Bears 56-24 in Daytona Beach this year. However, this year the Bears get to host and they are a much improved team, while the Buccaneers reload the roster. Expect Mainland to be balanced on offense with QB Denzel Houston and C.J. Wilson taking on the majority of the load, while the Buccaneer defense figures out how to put brakes on the Bears’ rushing game that was highly effective last week against Bishop Kenny that saw the three potential DI quarterbacks on the roster not take attempts at very many passes.
Predictions
Josh’s Prediction: Mainland 38, Bartram Trail 27
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Mainland 38, Bartram Trail 14
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Mainland 17 over Bartram Trail
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (0-1) at Miramar (1-0)
Last Week:St. Thomas Aquinas was defeated by Booker T. Washington, 27-23; Miramar defeated Mater Academy, 28-7
When:Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Branca Stadium, Miramar
Why: St. Thomas Aquinas is looking to forget about last week’s loss to Booker T. Washington that ultimately cost them a shot at the national championship this season. Miramar enters the game defeating what was expected to be a solid Mater Academy team that had picked up a ton of transfers during the off-season. Given the nature of this highly heated Broward County rivalry, expect anything to happen in this game.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Miramar 21
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: St. Thomas Aquinas 33, Miramar 7
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: St. Thomas Aquinas 17 over Miramar
5. Raines (1-0) at Wakulla (1-0)
Last Week: Raines defeated Robert E. Lee 32-28; Wakulla defeated Trenton, 16-0
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: J.D. Jones Stadium at Jerry Reynolds Field, Crawfordville
Why: A solid match-up of two state runner-ups from last season that still have some talent left on the roster. Last week Raines had to fend off a much improved Robert E. Lee team at home while Wakulla had Trenton rounded up and shutout without much issue. Neither team last week was given a lot of hope to win their games, but now with both 1-0 coming into this game, someone will have to walk away with a loss this early in the season. Expect defense to likely rule the day for both teams with the score being close.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: Raines 28, Wakulla 27
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Wakulla 27, Raines 20
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Raines 3 over Wakulla
6. Escambia (0-1) at Niceville (1-0)
Last Week: Escambia was defeated by West Florida, 28-27; Niceville defeated Lincoln, 30-20
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. CT
Where: Eagles Stadium, Niceville
Why: Considering this game last year ended in a road loss for Niceville, there is nothing to chance on this game this year. The Eagles, however, do want revenge on the Gators. Last week some miscues by Escambia cost them the game against West Florida, while the Eagles held off a late surge by Lincoln. Watch out for RB Jordan Tinder for Niceville who rushed for 122 last week and a touchdown, while keeping an eye out for the duo of Steven McGhee and Ray Samuel who both showed flashes of speed for Escambia last week.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: Niceville 28, Escambia 21
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor:Niceville 27, Escambia 14
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Niceville 3 over Escambia
7. Camden County, Ga. (0-2) at Columbia (1-0)
Last Week: Camden County was defeated by Venice, 46-17; Columbia defeated Gainesville, 17-12
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Tiger Stadium, Lake City
Why: This marks the third game of a three-game road trip in Florida for the Camden County Wildcats. The Wildcats which have so far been defeated by Oakleaf and Venice are looking to salvage the trip against Columbia. However, Columbia has been known to apply a ton of pressure at home against opponents, making the crowd noise hard to escape. Columbia will have to be prepared for an upset and hungry Camden County team that would like to get their first win of the season on the board and after the dismal performance last week at Gainesville, the Tigers will have to be ready for anything and everything.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: Columbia 30, Camden County 24
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Camden County 28, Columbia 27
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Columbia 24 over Camden County
8. Jesuit (1-0) at Trinity Catholic (0-1)
Last Week: Jesuit defeated Lakewood Ranch, 39-3; Trinity Catholic’s game at Admiral Farragut canceled due to weather
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Dunlap Field, Ocala
Why: Jesuit easily won last week against a subpar Lakewood Ranch team. However, this week they are going to be facing a Celtic team that is ready to beat up on someone other than themselves after their season opener was a washout in St. Petersburg. The Tigers will rely on Malik Davis who ran for 195 yards and four scores last week, one player that the Celtic defense will have to gang up early and often to keep him out of the end zone and off the field.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: Jesuit 35, Trinity Catholic 21
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Jesuit 35, Trinity Catholic 13
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Jesuit 21 over Trinity Catholic
9. Miami Jackson (0-1) at Bolles (1-0)
Last Week:Miami Jackson was defeated by Columbus, 21-13; Bolles defeated Lake Mary, 62-24
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Skinner-Barco Stadium
Why: The first female head football coach in Florida will go up against the all times wins leader in this Friday night showdown. Miami Jackson didn’t disappoint in a 21-13 loss to Columbus and has already showing they are a team that could get better and better each week. Bolles easily ran over an underachieving 8A Lake Mary team last week, but playing a team from South Florida is not the same as playing a team from Central Florida. Expect this game to be a battle in Jacksonville.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: Bolles 35, Miami Jackson 28
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Bolles 34, Miami Jackson 28
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Miami Jackson 1 over Bolles
10. Baker (1-0) at Blountstown (1-0)
Last Week: Baker defeated Holmes County, 30-14; Blountstown defeated Walton, 26-13
When: Friday, 7:00 p.m. CT
Where: Ted Cooper Stadium at Bowles Field, Blountstown
Why: Both Baker and Bloutntstown are coming off over convincing season opening wins and are two teams to keep an eye on in the 1A playoff hunt early on this season. Watch out for Baker QB Kalee Ciurleo who threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns last week while watching out for Blountstown QB Bryson Home who threw for 163 yards and two touchdowns last week as well. Both quarterbacks will be looking to put up the same kind of performance or better in these games.
Predictions:
Josh’s Prediction: Blountstown 28, Baker 21
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Blountstown 34, Baker 14
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Blountstown 14 over Baker
