The high school football regular season officially kicks off this week with myriad narratives covering two nights.
We have Thursday night football with 2025 Final 4 qualifier Choctaw traveling to Tommy Oliver Stadium for a highly anticipated matchup with three-time defending district champ Mosley, which dropped to District 2-4A in the offseason. We have Alabama Prattville coming to Eagle Stadium Friday with at least 10 future D1 signees, Adron Robinson’s tenure kicking off as an underdog.
Crestview welcomes perennial playoff qualifier Lincoln Friday over at Jack Foster Stadium, while South Walton’s run at 10-0 begins by welcoming Gulf Breeze to the light show at the Hawks Nest. Freeport, now under Bobby Johns, travels to Arnold in a statement game, while Josh Pulliam looks to make a statement of his own as the Vikings welcome Pensacola High to Steve Riggs Stadium.
Walton hosts West Florida looking to avenge last year’s 35-6 defeat, while Navarre hits the road for perennial power Florida High. Meanwhile Destin hosts Port St. Joe, while 1A powerhouse Baker begins a new era versus Jay at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium.
Last year I went 75-17 in my picks on the season, an .815 win percentage I wore proudly. While I think it’ll be hard to replicate that level of prognostication, I’m sure going to try. To boot, I’ll add in a sentence or two with my reasoning for each pick. Agree or disagree, let me know in the comments on Facebook.
Fort Walton high school football Week 1 predictions
Crestview 42, Lincoln 14
Reasoning: Wake Forest commitment Zy Tassin is still that dude, Crestview’s veteran-laden O-Line is stacked and Thomas Grant is loving this team. This could get out of hand early.
Pratville 28, Niceville 21
Reasoning: Prattville is loaded with commitments to Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, an O-line with three-D1 offers including Alabama, and a defensive line with at least four D-I bound players. Niceville can compete, four-star running back Jakobe Gilyard anchoring the offense and Georgia Tech-bound Noah Renes the defense. But an Eagle win is a lot to ask for in Adron Robinson’s debut.
Choctaw 31, Mosley 24
Reasoning: It’s hard to pick against Mosley at Tommy Oliver Stadium, which shows you the talent I see in the Big Green. The Dolphins return 1,000-yard back Sam Chisolm and the talented JP Holsombake (35 TDs, 2,773 passing yards) under center. Choctaw had too many personal foul penalties in the Kickoff Classic, so that’s something Frank Beasley’s crew needs to watch. Oregon State-bound Amire Reese and Co. are in for a test after losing seven/eight starters from last year’s vaunted defense, as is first-year Choctaw QB Baker Giles and a backfield featuring Dante Whidbee, Carter Marracco and Von Keller. Mosley gets points based on location, but gotta lean Choctaw.
South Walton 42, Gulf Breeze 6
Reasoning: Seahawks won 35-6 last year, got better in offseason and are dialed in for a 10-0 season.
Freeport 35, Arnold 21
Reasoning: The post-Julius Miles era will feature a Bulldogs offense committed to establishing the run Behind Dylan Louthain and a vastly-improved O-line. I think Freeport’s offense can post a big number here after committing to the weight room.
FWB 21, Pensacola 14
Reasoning: FWB went 2-8 last year, Pensacola 2-9. The advantage here rests on home-field advantage and a hunger for the Vikings, who attacked the offseason by giving Lavin McDaniel weapons and strengthening the weight room with the hire of Joe Brunson.
Florida High 42, Navarre 14
Reasoning: Sure, Florida High went 5-7 last year, but it was against a brutal schedule among the Panhandle and central Florida elite. I expect Florida High QB Jayme Miller to have a fun night after throwing for 2,684 yards and 26 touchdowns last year.
Baker 28, Jay 21
Reasoning: After a perfect regular season last year and an 11-1 campaign, Baker graduated the majority of its offense in QB Justice Baldwin, RB Wyatt Straight and WR Riley Renfro. But Baker doesn’t rebuild, it reloads. Running back Calvin Wilks will be leaned on heavily by first-year starting quarterback Dawson Mitchem. Baker still has the edge here.
Port St. Joe 28, Destin 14
Reasoning: Destin dropped this matchup 30-7 last year and lost 1,000-yard tailback Junior Harris.
West Florida 28, Walton 21
Reasoning: West Florida Charles Benson went off last year with 122 yards and four TDs in a 35-6 win. I expect Whitton West and Co. to make this one closer.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Week 1 predictions for high school football on the Emerald Coast
Reporting by Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News | USA TODAY Network
