With three area teams having bye weeks, this is a lighter schedule in Week 3 of Pensacola-area high school football.
There are two games on Sept. 4, as both Tate and Milton try to remain undefeated in separate matchups. The Aggies will complete a three-game home field start to their season against Pensacola, while Milton travels to Booker T. Washington.
It has been a terrific start for new Milton coach Ronnie Douglas; the Panthers went winless last year and has now won its first two games. Washington got a big win in their opener last week against West Florida.
On Sept. 5, Tallahassee Godby brings a prolific offense into town to face Pensacola Catholic in the Crusaders first home game this season.
Another intriguing matchup is Pine Forest and its defense going against Niceville and the Niceville Eagles talented freshman running back Jakobe Gilyard.
Sept. 4 games
Pensacola (0-2) at Tate (2-0)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Pete Gindl Stadium.
Last meeting: 2024 — Tate 27, Pensacola High 22.
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Key players: Pensacola RB Courtney George, QB Jamarcuz Fountain, LB Noah Jones, LB Rashad Williams; Tate RB Tanner Clark, QB Miles Delarosa, WR Elijah West, LB Brody White.
Quick look: Tate was led a week ago in blowout win against Gulf Breeze by sophomore Tanner Clark, who rushed for 151 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. Delarosa completed 7-of-12 passes for 140 yards and four touchdowns. Delarosa has completed 11 passes in two games — seven of those for touchdowns. On defense, seniors Samir Muhammad and Maliek North both have 13 tackles and combined for nine tackles for loss. PHS has struggled offensively in its first two games, scoring just six points. George has been a bright spot rushing for 98 yards combined in two games for a 4.5 yard average.
Milton (2-0) at Booker T. Washington (1-0)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Sherman L. Robinson Stadium.
Last meeting: 2024 — Washington 16, Milton 7.
Key players: Milton QB Kaiden Hall, RB Kyle Paul, LB Mathew McDonald, LB Aiden Spratt; Washington WR Gionni Lewis, RB Da’Sean Bohanan, DB Darius Stallworth, QB Trae Townsend.
Quick look: The Wildcats opened their season on Aug. 29 with their first win over West Florida in four years. This week presents another intriguing matchup against Milton, easily the comeback team of the year so far. The Panthers’ two wins have featured several outstanding performance — Hall has rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 146 yards and a touchdown. Paul has rushed for 151 yards and two TDs. Spratt has 26 tackles, three for a loss.
Sept. 5 games
Tallahassee Godby (0-2) at Pensacola Catholic (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Gorecki-LeBeau Stadium.
Last meeting: Unknown.
Key Players: Godby WR Jamarin Simmons, QB Landon Dougherty, RB Kamren McMillan, LB Jaylen Lawson; Catholic QB Jaylin Brown, WR Caden Jasso, RB Caleb Willoughby, DB Jayden Coleman.
Quick look: The Crusaders play their first home game, before what will likely be a packed crowd. Catholic lost to Pace last week, 41-20, but has shown its offensive potential under first-year coach Bobby Clayton. Godby has scored 70 points in two games, both losses. It fell, 43-36, in their opener to FSU High and 41-34 last week to Tallahassee Rickards. Simmons has 254 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Dougherty has completed 34 of 66 passes for 277 yards and five touchdowns.
West Florida (1-1) at Fort Walton Beach (0-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Steve Riggs Stadium, Fort Walton Beach.
Last meeting: 2024 — Fort Walton Beach 14, West Florida 0.
Key players: West Florida LB Ashton Caldwell, DT Cayden McNeil, QB Xavier Finley, RB Charles Benson; Fort Walton Beach QB Cannon Wilbur, WR Dantay Walker, CB Keelan Shy,
Quick look: Fort Walton Beach has lost to Tate (21-7) and South Walton (29-16). Wilbur has completed 21 of 44 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in two games. Walker has eight receptions for 84 yards. West Florida has been led by Benson, who has 147 yards rushing and three rushing TDs and one receiving TD in two games. Sophomore QB Joseph Soho has completed 10 passes for 162 yards. Caldwell has 16 stops in two games.
Pace (1-1) at Gulf Breeze (0-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Dolphin Stadium.
Last Meeting: 2024 — Pace 55, Gulf Breeze 0.
Key players: Gulf Breeze WR Troy Matlock, WR Caleb Carter, DB Cooper Allison, LB Jaxson Rich; Pace RB Makael Williams, RB/QB Brooks Washington, LB Braiden Cheshire, LB Darren Duqette.
Quick look: The Patriots, as expected, have been led by Williams, who has rushed for 518 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. Washington has 78 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Senior offensive lineman Grant Wise, a Clemson commit, has produced 33 pancake blocks, double more than anyone else on the team. It has been a rough start for Gulf Breeze, which has been outscored, 83-19, in its first two games under new head coach Erik Harris.
Niceville (1-1) at Pine Forest (1-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Lon Wise Stadium.
Last meeting: 2024 — Niceville 36, Pine Forest 14.
Key players: Pine Forest QB Jacorie Thomas, QB ZaKavius Andrews, DE Trenton Henderson; Niceville QB Deagan McCoy, WR/DB Justin Weatherall, WR Robert Oliver, WR Jayden Tercero, RB Jakobe Gilyard.
Quick look: Pine Forest has been led by Thomas, who has completed 25 of 47 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 82 yards and a TD. On defense, Weatherall has seven solo tackles, along with four receptions for 75 yards in two games. Niceville has a youth movement with talent in its starting lineup. McCoy has passed for 435 yards in two games and six touchdowns without an interception. Gilyard has rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Oliver, a senior, has caught 10 passes for 162 yards and three scores.
Freeport (2-0) at Northview (0-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Last meeting: 2024 — Freeport 36, Northview 26.
Key players: Freeport WR Julius Miles, QB Carter Nunes, RB Dyland Louthain, LB Donnie Couitt; Northview WR/CB Nate Duffy, LB/TE Sam Reid, RB/CB Jeremy Thomas.
Quick look: This is going be a big challenge for Northview’s defense. Miles has 16 receptions in two games for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Nunes has completed 28 of 40 passes for 306 yards and six touchdowns. Louthain has 31 carries for Freeport and three touchdowns. Duffy scored both of the Chiefs’ TD in the 26-14 loss to Opp (Ala.) last week. The Chiefs lost their season-opener, 37-2, to Destin.
Baker (2-0) at Central (0-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Central High School.
Last Meeting: 2024 — Baker 42, Central 7.
Key players: Baker QB Justice Baldwin, RB Calvin Wilks III, RB/WR Riley Renfro, WR-DB Wyatt Straight; Central RB Baxley Carson, WR Jayden Joyner, RB Kaleb Smith, LB Gandy Garrett.
Quick look: Baker has scored 82 points in two games with a deep, balanced offense full of seniors. One of those seniors is Baldwin, who has passed for 374 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. He has also rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown. Straight has rushed for 121 yards in two games and three TDs. Renfro has caught eight passes for 182 yards and five touchdowns. Central’s offense got its only TD last week in lost to Uriah (Ala.) Blacksher.
Bye week
Escambia (0-2): The Gators are preparing for Sept. 12 at against Panama City Bay.
Navarre (0-2): The Raiders are preparing for Sept. 12 matchup against Panama City Mosley.
Jay (1-1): The Royals are preparing for Sept. 12 matchup against Baker.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida high school football preview: Friday Night Lights a day early for big games
Reporting by Bill Vilona / Pensacola News Journal
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