JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school football season is going strong. We will spotlight our top four games, followed by our next best options. All games are at 7 p.m. unless indicated. (Indicates Super 6/10 rankings). See the 2026 week-by-week season results and schedule for how the season has gone. That link includes TV highlights from each week.
Four to watch in Week 9(5) Bolles (5-1) at (9) Trinity Christian (3-4)
Watch it: The Varsity 4 Game of the Week will be streamed at News4JAX.com, on Youtube and on the Sports4JAX Instagram page
Perhaps the area’s best private school rivalry featuring programs with a combined 20 state championships (11 for Bolles and nine for the Conquerors). The teams went nearly 17 years without meeting before moving to the same district in 2017 forced the reunion. Since then, the teams have gone 5-5 on the field (Trinity’s 2017 regular season win was later turned to a forfeit loss). Bolles has won the last three meetings, two of those comfortably. The Bulldogs have needed a little more time to hit their stride this season after heavy graduation losses, including basically their entire offensive line. RB Xander Edwards (756 rushing yards, 10 TDs) is averaging 126 yards per game, nearly 50 less than last year. But he’s still clocking 9.2 ypc, not far down from last year’s ridiculous pace. QB Luke Toland (13 TD passes) leads the passing attack, with Truett Henderson (5 TD catches) his favorite target. Defensively, Asher Ghioto has 19 tackles for loss and eight sacks. LBs Christian Hayes and Brett Bearden have combined for 97 tackles and 14 for loss. After flipping from QB to the defensive side of the ball, Jaxon Flowers not only positioned himself as a blue-chip defensive back but a gamechanger on that unit. He’s got 35 tackles and six interceptions in six games. Flowers’ move has been a blueprint for area players to look and learn from. If one position doesn’t work out or has limited opportunities, take advantage of another one. … Which Trinity Christian team will show up this week? The Conquerors had been on the receiving end of some bad luck early in the season (two losses in OT on two-point conversions, another by a TD to unbeaten Columbia) before the wheels fell off in Week 7 in a running clock blowout against Carrollwood Day. Was that the result of the midseason wall or were the Patriots, a possible opponent of Trinity in the state series round, just that much better? Trinity is set up as an offense to grind it out on the ground behind Hicks Zarah, Christian Washington and Terel Dallas. Having to play from way behind doesn’t play to Trinity’s strengths this season. Dylan Richards’ two TD catches lead the team. Trinity wants to chip away on the ground and play hard-hitting defense, which it does well behind LB William Striglers (62 tackles, 4 sacks), LB/S Terrell Pinkney (33 tackles) and DB Za’khari Greene (4 INTs). The Conquerors need to drag this into a smashmouth game and try and rein in Edwards.
Recent Bolles-Trinity historyYearResult2025Bolles 35, Trinity Christian 122024Bolles 41, Trinity Christian 72023Bolles 26, Trinity Christian 212022Trinity Christian 27, Bolles 142021Bolles 35, Trinity Christian 02020Bolles 36, Trinity Christian 122018Trinity Christian 41, Bolles 132018 playoffsTrinity Christian 34, Bolles 72017Trinity Christian 40, Bolles 28 (later changed to forfeit)2017 playoffsTrinity Christian 24, Bolles 21 (2 OT)2000Bolles 28, Trinity Christian 211999Bolles 28, Trinity Christian 211999 playoffsTrinity Christian 17, Bolles 71998Bolles 45, Trinity Christian 201997Bolles 50, Trinity Christian 27(2) Columbia (7-0) at (4) Ed White (6-1), 6:30 p.m.
A massive showdown to decide the District 3-4A title. The Tigers have quietly pushed themselves to the cusp of the eight-team playoff Open division (they’re currently ninth among eligible teams) but they’re ranked as the top team in Class 4A if that doesn’t work out. The Tigers would be the top seed in Region 1-4A if the season ended today followed by Choctawhatchee, St. Augustine and Ed White. … The Commanders faced an elite defense when they slugged it out with Raines this season and committed five turnovers. Columbia may not have the overall ferocity of the No. 1 Vikings from front to back, but it isn’t far behind. The Tigers have DEs Jaequan Wilson and Mikel Morgan and DT Jaylen Underwood headlining a front that is among the scariest of groups in the region. They’ve combined for 57 tackles for loss and 28 sacks. They make things easier for the players behind them in the Columbia defense. The Tigers have picked off 12 passes. Wilson has three of Columbia’s six fumble recoveries. Columbia is sneaky good on offense. Amari Green has 16 TD passes and he’s added 241 rushing yards. RB Jerome Horne has fronted the ground attack (613 rushing yards, 3 TDs). Green’s favorite options through the air are WRs Kyren Caldwell, Zion Walker and Antonio Days. They’ve combined to catch 12 of Green’s TD passes. Can the Commanders, the highest-scoring team in the regular season in state history in 2025 (537 points in 10 games), find their way to the end zone frequently? QB King Boylston missed last week’s romp over Ribault with an injury. It didn’t drain Ed White’s ability to find the end zone (52-7). The offense is exceptional when Boylston, Vedo Jones and Rontrez Loyd take turns with the big plays. Mike Hinson has done well in filling in for Boylston because his ability to run the ball is very good, too. But Boylston, even though his passing numbers are down this year, does give Ed White the ability to dial up a pass every so often. King Mercer and Loyd have both hauled in four TD passes. DB Jacquari Parks should get a challenge from Columbia WR Caldwell in what should be an excellent head-to-head battle.
Players on the Ed White High School football team during a summer photo shoot. (News4JAX)(10) Nease (4-3) at Bartram Trail (6-1)
These teams first met in 2001, one season after Bartram opened to help alleviate overcrowding at Nease. Since then, it’s been nothing but a series of streaks. Bartram leads the all-time rivalry 14-6 but it has been as cyclical a series as any in the area. Bartram won the first two meetings and Nease won the next four. The Bears then ripped off 12 consecutive Ws followed by the Panthers winning the last two. That suggests a Nease win or Bartram kickstarting a new streak in the series. No doubt a bit of a disappointing start for Nease, which has clawed its way from underneath a 1-3 start with three straight wins. It has positioned itself well for a playoff spot due to its strength of schedule. QB Aidan Phifer (14 TD passes), RB Enrique Ordonez (620 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and pass catchers Tyshawn Ford (490 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and Chase Phifer (405 receiving yards, 5 TDs) have been the constants for the Panthers. LBs Chase Bogle (12 tackles for loss) and Devon Wentley (62 tackles) lead the defense, but it has been a quieter season all around for Nease. … For Bartram, talk about a 180 from how last year’s 4-8 season looked and felt. The Bears have taken the long road to success this season. That has been head coach Cory Johns building out his offense behind a underclassmen-heavy lineup. That can be a boom or bust scenario for teams, but the Bears have thrived. QB Xander Camus (1,237 passing yards, 12 TDs), RB Brady Soares (632 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and WR Cam Ganther (509 receiving yards, 5 TDs) have been excellent. TE Leo Marucci (305 receiving yards) has a game-winning TD grab on his resume this year. All are underclassmen. Several area coaches have mentioned that if Bartram can keep this offensive nucleus together, the Bears could be scary good a year from now. Defensively, LBs Major Granados and Griffin Szekeres and S Dillon Caldwell lead the team with a combined 149 tackles and 23.5 TFL.
All-time Bartram Trail-Nease football seriesYearResult2025Nease 10, Bartram Trail 02024Nease 56, Bartram Trail 422020Bartram Trail 42, Nease 132019Bartram Trail 52, Nease 222018Bartram Trail 54, Nease 172017Bartram Trail 56, Nease 212016Bartram Trail 36, Nease 142015Bartram Trail 27, Nease 142014Bartram Trail 14, Nease 02013Bartram Trail 31, Nease 172012Bartram Trail 54, Nease 172011Bartram Trail 39, Nease 02010Bartram Trail 16, Nease 72009Bartram Trail 27, Nease 202008Nease 24, Bartram Trail 142007Nease 44, Bartram Trail 72006Nease 24, Bartram Trail 172005Nease 7, Bartram Trail 62002Bartram Trail 42, Nease 02001Bartram Trail 38, Nease 7(8) University Christian (6-2) at (7) Bradford (8-0), 7:30 p.m.
Another major Super 10 clash. The Tornadoes are currently the No. 2 seed in Region 1-2A behind Bolles, and they’ll more than likely stay there barring a chain reaction of events. The only common opponent between these teams is Madison County. The Tornadoes won that game 52-24, while UC dropped a 22-16 game to the Cowboys. The Christians feel like they’ve figured things out since that loss. They’ve throttled three overmatched opponents since then, but the quality W in that stretch was a big one – a 24-7 game against previously unbeaten Florida High. ATH Kyree Wilson has been strong all over the field. Expect to see him get a larger role on offense as the season gets deeper. Wilson (636 rushing yards, 9 TDs) is the bullseye that Bradford has to account for. QB Harrison Leddy (1,534 passing yards, 17 TDs) has nice targets in Jacoby Walker and Jake Contner (6 TD catches apieces). The Christians want to play their traditional ‘bully ball,’ and they have got the horses on defense to rein in most teams. LBs Zion Davis and Uriah Caguimbal and defensive linemen Julius Larosa and Gavin Craig have combined for 46 tackles for loss. LB Matt Hammett has another 9.5 for loss. As good as Bradford has been under first-year head coach Ross Baker, the Tornadoes still may not have peaked. QB Cy Cubbedge has evolved as a passer (1,177 yards, 19 TDs) and has pocket-leaving speed (326 rushing yards, 6 TDs). RBs Iyen Addison and Drew Simmons have combined for 1,589 rushing yards (12 TDs). Not typically known as a heavy passing team, Cubbedge and WR Kaidrin Jackson (350 yards, 8 TDs) have given Baker’s offense the vertical package to complement the strong ground game. On defense, Bradford DL Danny Torres and LBs Parviele Lee and Graceyn McClellan have a combined 45 tackles for loss. DB Caiden Carn has five takeaways (4 INT, fumble recovery) to front a unit that has 22 on the season.
University Christian School football players during summer workouts. (News4JAX)Next four to watch
Creekside (5-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (6-1): The Knights hadn’t won a district championship until last season. A win here will give them back-to-back district titles. A Bulldogs victory will push District 1-6A into the coming weeks with Tocoi Creek still alive in that scenario.
Fletcher (4-3) at Ponte Vedra (2-5): A huge game for both teams because of how tight Region 1-5A is. The Senators would be in the playoffs right now as the No. 7 seed, but that’s a precarious spot because a team like Niceville (ranked lower) could get in as a district champ and push Fletcher to No. 8 (or out) of the bracket. The Sharks (currently No. 9 in the region) are in position to make the bracket if they can somehow stack some wins down the stretch.
Fort White (5-2) at Baker County (5-2): Playoff-bound Indians and Wildcats both in for a test in this one. Baker County likely won’t win its district, but head coach Jamie Rodgers’ crew has been in every game down to the wire.
Jackson (6-1) at West Nassau (6-1-1): The Warriors are the area’s top Super 6 team, but the gap is closing. The Tigers are on a tear behind QB Hans Price (21 total TDs). They’ve got a quality win over Super 6 No. 3 team Paxon this season, too. Can RB Smo Green and the Warriors solve a defense that has allowed just 73 points this season?
Week 9 schedule, Florida
Thursday, Oct. 15
Episcopal (8-0) at Eagle’s View (0-8)
Friday, Oct. 16
Atlantic Coast (0-7) at Tocoi Creek (2-5)
Bolles (5-1) at Trinity Christian (3-4)
Christ’s Church Academy (7-1) at True Institute (1-4)
Columbia (7-0) at Ed White (6-1), 6:30 p.m.
Cornerstone Classical (5-2) at Duval Charter (4-4)
Creekside (5-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (6-1)
Englewood (1-6) at Baldwin (2-5), 6:30 p.m.
Father Lopez (3-4) at Union County (4-4), 7:30 p.m.
First Coast Christian (1-7) at Harvest Community (2-7)
First Coast (1-6) at Sandalwood (4-3), 6:30 p.m.
Fletcher (4-3) at Ponte Vedra (2-5)
Fort White (5-2) at Baker County (5-2)
Hilliard (7-0) at Dixie County (5-2), 7:30 p.m.
Impact Christian (1-7) at Menendez (3-4)
Interlachen (5-2) at Wildwood (5-1)
Jackson (6-1) at West Nassau (6-1-1)
Keystone Heights (2-6) at Paxon (6-2), 6:30 p.m.
KIPP Bold City (0-7) at Stanton (8-1), 6:30 p.m.
Mandarin (6-1) at Beachside (3-3)
Matanzas (1-6) at Oakleaf (3-4)
Middleburg (4-2) at Fleming Island (3-3)
Nease (4-3) at Bartram Trail (6-1)
Old Plank Christian (4-2) at Bishop Snyder (1-7)
Orange Park (2-4) at St. Augustine (7-0)
Palatka (3-4) at Newberry (3-4)
Providence (3-5) at Fernandina Beach (2-6)
Ribault (5-2) at Yulee (4-3)
Ridgeview (1-6) at Clay (4-2)
Riverside (2-5) at Raines (7-0), 6:30 p.m.
St. Joseph (4-4) at Oak Hall (4-2)
Taylor County (3-3) at NFEI (3-3)
Umatilla (3-4) at Crescent City (2-5)
University Christian (6-2) at Bradford (8-0), 7:30 p.m.
Wolfson (3-5) at Parker (0-7), 6:30 p.m.
Zarephath Academy (1-5) at Bishop Kenny (2-4)
OFF: Suwannee, Westside.
Week 9 schedule, Georgia
Friday, Oct. 16
Frederica Academy (3-5) at Savannah Country Day (2-6), 7:30 p.m.
Glynn Academy (3-3) vs. Brunswick (2-4), 7:40 p.m.
Richmond Hill (5-2) at Camden County (4-3), 7:30 p.m.
OFF: Brantley County, Charlton County, Pierce County, Ware County
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