News4JAX Varsity 4

News4JAX Varsity 4

By News4Jax and Graham Media GroupSports
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News4JAX Varsity 4 episodes

  • Wild finish in St. Augustine-Mandarin classic; playoffs come into focus as Raines moves into Open division

    The final week of the regular season had a wild finish, including a chaotic OT ending in St. Augustine-Mandarin that came with its own controversy. And Raines hammered Ribault in the Northwest Classic to win its 24th consecutive game. That win helped push the Vikings into the newly formed Open division, at least for the time being. Plus, there's got to be a better way to determine playoff teams besides MaxPreps.

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    25 min
  • Open division squeezing out local teams as regular season hits final week

    It's a longshot for local teams to make the newly formed Open division, and that's perfectly fine. Schools like Bolles, Columbia and Raines will have good opportunities to win state championships in classifications that suit them better. Let the all-star teams of South Florida have their own tournament. Plus, a huge Week 11 on deck and some must-win games for teams like Ponte Vedra, Fletcher, Clay and Jackson. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin make the rounds as the season winds down.

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    44 min
  • Columbia serves notice as one of the state's best teams, and will Raines make the Open division?

    Columbia drove home the point in Week 9 that remains one of the best teams in the state. We've known that all season about Raines. If the season ended today, the Vikings would be in the new Open division as one of the top eight teams. How will that look the rest of the way? Plus, Trinity Christian's wild OT win over Bolles and Ed White has to end the season strong.

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    30 min
  • Trying to make more sense of the Open division chaos and massive slate of games in Week 9

    Week 9 has no shortage of huge games including three Super 10 matchups (Bolles-Trinity Christian; University Christian-Bradford; Ed White-Columbia). Plus, are the 7-0 Tigers from Lake City now the area's top contender for the newly created and somewhat controversial Open division? They enter this week ranked ninth as Raines dropped to 13th somehow. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin make the trip around the 904 and 386 in the Varsity 4 podcast.

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    42 min
  • Raines remains unbeatable after massive win over Venice; MaxPreps rankings are head scratching

    Ed White and Raines locked in huge wins in Week 7, including the Vikings' 20-17 W over Venice that stretched their winning streak to 20 games. But did those wins do anything for the Commanders and Vikings in the MaxPreps rankings? The MaxPreps rankings have been one of the most confusing metrics around. They'll be used to determine the state's inaugural Open division playoffs. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin weigh in on the week and the confusion of the MaxPreps rankings.

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    34 min
  • Raines gets a massive test against Venice and making sense of the MaxPreps rankings for the playoffs

    State powers Raines and Venice headline the Week 7 high school football slate in what is a huge clash with Open division implications. The Vikings have won 30 consecutive regular season games. Ed White and Oakleaf lock up in the Varsity 4 Game of the Week. Plus, is MaxPreps really the best way to determine the playoff field in Florida? Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin make the rounds in the Varsity 4 podcast.

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    25 min
  • Raines makes its statement as area's best. Huge Ws for Columbia, Ed White in Week 6

    We're past the midway point of the high school football regular season, with top-ranked Raines unequivocally the area's top team. The Vikings used their relentless defense to lower the boom on No. 2 Mandarin in a 31-13 romp in Week 5. Just how good are the Vikings this year? Troy Butler,

    Chenaniah Doran, Zion Green and Co. have answered all questions on defense. Plus, Columbia, St. Augustine and West Nassau stay perfect and Ed White with a major win in the Peach State.

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    35 min
  • It's here! Game of the year as Raines and Mandarin face off for first time since 2018

    Raines and Mandarin haven't met on the football field since both brought home state championships in 2018. There have been insinuations among fans about the schools ducking each other since then. Well, they square off in Week 5 with years-long Gateway Conference winning streaks (Mandarin is unbeaten against DCPS teams since 2021 and Raines since mid-2022) and a lot to prove. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin on who has the edge in this colossal clash.

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    41 min
  • Raines shows why you should never bet against 'em in a local game

    Raines made a statement last week in running its Gateway Conference winning streak to nearly four years in a 21-12 win over Ed White. Why you should never count out the Vikings in a local game of that magnitude. Plus, Stanton and Paxon are surging as the Brain Bowl arrives. Sandalwood is on a winning streak. And Fletcher with a huge win over Creekside. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin make the rounds in Week 4.

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    21 min
  • Who has the edge in Raines-Ed White and the power of Mandarin junior Brysen Wright

    Our Game of the Week is a big one between Ed White and Raines. Plus, Mandarin receiver Brysen Wright is one of the most well-known high school football players in the country. He reached rare air last week when Battle released a signature BFye custom cleats. Where does Wright rank in terms of the top recruits of the 2000s? Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin make the rounds in the Varsity 4 podcast.

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    44 min

About News4JAX Varsity 4

From the publisher's feed

High school sports in the River City are some of the best in the country. We're also home to two Heisman Trophy winners and some of the most successful athletic programs in the nation.