10 Competitive Games To Watch In Week 5

As we are now at Week 5, district games and key matchups are taking place throughout the state.

With local, regional and statewide contests taking place, many Top 30 programs are facing off, and the attention is not only being focused in Florida, but many national analysts and recruiting experts are watching many of these mid-season games closely.

Because Prep Redzone Florida is fortunate to have watched many teams and players over the past nine months, leading up to the season, we have an insight into many of these games that are now taking place.

Each Friday, we take a look at 10 games that have interest to fans and those who follow high school football across Florida.

Check these 10 matchups out:

No. 1 Bradenton IMG Academy (3-0) at Jacksonville Mandarin (3-0). While the Mustangs have played well and will be at home, do not lose sight of the fact that the Ascenders are playing at another level with some of the best talent in the country.

No. 4 Miami Central (2-0) at No. 22 Plantation American Heritage (1-2). This is an unusual game that while both are talented, there is much we do not know about either program. While the Rockets have had a tough time getting games in, the Patriots have played some impressive competition. Maybe the toughest three games in the state!

No. 13 Saint Augustine (4-0) at No. 26 Ponte Vedra Nease (4-0). Huge northeast Florida matchup will have two programs that are well coached and loaded with talent. The Yellow Jackets have been down this road plenty in the past and feel that this could be the year. The Panthers have played some quality teams so far and can make a HUGE statement here.

No. 15 Jacksonville Bolles (3-1) at No. 30 Orange Park Oakleaf (4-0). After a huge win against Rural powerhouse Hawthorne, the Knights believe that this could be a defining win at home against a team that many felt was one of the best in the state before losing to Saint Augustine. Last year the Bulldogs won this game, 57-50!

No. 20 Orlando The First Academy (2-2) at No. 18 Venice (2-1). While getting to their fourth straight state finals is the objective the Indians started the season with, the road has not been as easy as many felt – with a loss on opening night to Tampa Bay Tech and two other close games. For The First Academy, the schedule has tested them, and this will be no picnic – especially on the road where Venice does not lose. It should be a true four quarter game.

No. 23 Orlando Jones (2-2) at Kissimmee Osceola (3-1). Before the season began, there were some who felt that the defending state 4A runner up Tigers could be as good as any team in the state, but the past two weeks have proved otherwise. The Kowboys have a long road ahead if they are to gt back to the state finals in 6A. Huge game for both teams.

No. 24 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (3-1) at No. 28 Tampa Jesuit (3-1). There is a chance that the “experts” may have sold the Tigers short in 4A. Their only setback came at Valdosta in a contest that they could have emerged with a win. The Crusaders' lone lost came to Philadelphia power Roman Catholic – and they feel that they have the talent to make a run in 1A. Is Tampa Jesuit for real? We will find out tonight about both programs.

Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (4-0) at Niceville (2-2). Losing to Tallahassee Lincoln and Crestview were no on many bingo cards at the start of the season for the Eagles who do not lose much during the regular season. They are at home against a program looking for state approval as a budding power and have not yielded a point in three weeks. Something has to give here between two solid programs.

Madison County (1-3) at Panama City Bay (4-0). The best 1-3 team in the state – hands down – will go on the road to play a program that has been a huge surprise. The Tornadoes have plenty of talent, but the Cowboys are defending Rural state champions that only lost three times all of last season. Interesting matchup against a team that has been in the spotlight for decades against one who has not been in this situation for a long time.

Richmond Hill, Georgia (4-0 at Gainesville Buchholz (3-1). While they come into this game unbeaten, the visitors from Georgia will face a team that is truly one of the best in the state, losing only to unbeaten 7A Vero Beach by just four points. This is a statement game for the Bobcats as their schedule has been much tougher than the Wildcats. A home game with Nease and Gainesville coming up over the next two weeks.

THURSDAY FLORIDA SCOREBOARD

Bradenton Bayshore 57, Bradenton IMG Academy State 7

Coconut Creek Monarch 54, Fort Lauderdale 0

Delray Beach Atlantic 43, Miami Norland 20

Dunedin 34, Seminole 6

Jacksonville Stanton Prep 28, Jacksonville Harvest Community 12

Miami Belen Jesuit 47, Miami BridgePrep Village Green 0

Miami Braddock 42, Miami Coral Park 7

Miami Edison, 20, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace 14

Miami Ferguson 42, Southwest Miami 6

Miami Palmetto 42, Miami Killian 21

Miami Southridge 42, Doral Academy 7

Miami Varela 7, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0

Palm Harbor University 35, Clearwater Countryside 13

Ponte Vedra 49, Saint Augustine Menendez 6

Port St. Lucie Centennial 61, Palm Bay Bayside 14

South Miami 46, Westland Hialeah 28

South Plantation 40, Coral Springs 18

St. Johns Beachside 35, Jacksonville Bishop Kenny 31

WEDNESDAY GAME

Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 35, Hialeah Gardens 0

Statewide Coverage Daily. https://prepredzone.com/florida/

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