PODCAST · sports
News4JAX Varsity 4
by News4Jax and Graham Media Group
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. The Varsity 4 podcast brings great, in-depth coverage to that scene, with experienced contributors covering every angle. We’ll talk recruiting, spotlight the area's top performers and speak with the area's best players and coaches.
Episodes
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Making sense of a chaotic Week 1 and the upsets that it included
The opening week of the high school football regular season was a wild one. Top-ranked Raines battled past Oakleaf in a defensive slugfest. Farther down the Super 10, Columbia clipped Bolles and Creekside upset Nease. Those two games featured blowouts a year ago to the tune of 81-8 in wins for…
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Let's get this high school football season started! Best of Week 1, short list of top players
It's Week 1 of the high school football season and the kickoff classics are behind us. How seriously should you take those Week 0 games? Always take 'em with a grain of salt. The Week 1 slate includes some bangers, including our Game of the Week, Raines and Oakleaf. Plus, our early season look at...
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What area teams have a shot at the Open division and the march towards kickoff
The 2026 high school football season is right around the corner with a handful of regular season independent teams kicking things off this week. There's some big changes this year, including the introduction of the eight-team Open division in the playoffs. Do teams like Raines, Mandarin and…
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Loss fueled Raines to make things right and it became one of the best teams in area history
A blowout loss in the 2024 state title game was a dose of humility for Raines. The Vikings could have easily let that loss define them. Instead, head coach Donovan Masline, the Raines staff and players, set out on a revenge tour and stamped it with a 23-22 win over the same Miami Northwestern…
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Bolles and Raines are still dancing. Why we think it will be a good week in Miami for the local teams
It's state championship game week and Bolles and Raines are the last area teams still standing. The Bulldogs face Cardinal Mooney on Wednesday night in Miami and Raines gets its rematch against Miami Northwestern. Do our local teams have a chance to bring home titles? Why Justin Barney and Sponge...
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The importance of quality coaching in high school and our picks for state semifinal winners
We've got four teams still standing as the high school football season makes the turn into the state semifinals. Bolles, Ponte Vedra, Raines and Trinity Christian are in the final four. Plus, the importance of just how much quality coaching means in high school football. Justin Barney and Sponge...
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Black Friday football: Some big-time matchups headline third round of playoffs
The third round of the playoffs are here and we've got some seriously strong matchups. Bradford-Cocoa. Mandarin-Buchholz. Trinity Christian-University Christian. St. Augustine-Choctaw. Talk about some good ones. How many teams will be left standing after Black Friday? Justin Barney and Sponge...
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Playoffs reach second round. Is Bolles still our top pick for a championship?
It's the second round of the high school football playoffs and we've got some big games on the horizon. Beachside visits Ponte Vedra, Ed White travels to St. Augustine and Impact Christian visits University Christian. Plus, have our views changed on who will win a state title? And how about West...
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Is Bolles the area's best pick for a football title and the ridiculousness of Orlando's First Academy
Breaking down the playoff brackets. ... How many teams we think will play for (and win) state championships. The ridiculousness of The First Academy's appeal to get into the playoffs and more from Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin in this episode of the Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more about your ad...
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Playoffs arrive. Super 10 moves. FHSAA tinkers with classifications. Who will play for titles?
It's the bye week before the playoffs begin and the Varsity 4 podcast has a lot of ground to cover. Our best picks for state title games. Plus, the FHSAA tinkers with its classification system again. Movement in our Super 10 and more from Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin. Learn more about your…
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Final week of the regular season is here and our best picks for state titles
With all but one district championship decided, the final week of the high school football regular season is here. It's headlined by a huge slate of games on Thursday night, including a Mandarin-St. Augustine showdown. Plus, what happened to Oakleaf in Week 10, a new No. 1 team and our best picks...
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District championship week arrives! Mandarin-Oakleaf clash headlines high stakes Week 10
There's only two more weeks left in the high school football regular season, and this happens to be the biggest one of the year. Week 10 will decide the fate of several area teams as playoff spots are on the line. Plus, an update on coaching situations at Nease and Bartram Trail and more from...
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Playoffs come into view and our thoughts on the new invitational football tournament
We've got five teams who have clinched district championships already as the state playoffs come into view. Plus, our thoughts on the new invitational tournament in high school football that will see the playoffs grow by 32 teams. And a look at Week 9 of the season. All of that and more in this...
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Major district games headline Week 8 and the FHSAA has some decisions to make on local cases
Some huge district games headline the Week 8 high school football schedule. A handful of teams can wrap up district titles and playoff sports this week. Plus, the head coach at Bartram Trail will miss this week's game against Nease after the school self-reported a possible violation. What to make...
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Xander Edwards' career game, a new No. 1 team and a light Week 7 of football
Bolles running back Xander Edwards had the best rushing performance in area history in Week 6, erupting for 522 yards and eight touchdowns in win over Baldwin. He'll go into the NFHS record books with that one. Also, St. Augustine knocks down another ranked team and a light Week 7 in the area....
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Our top players at midseason, and could a local all-star team beat IMG Academy?
St. Augustine-Nease lived up to the billing. Bolles-Oakleaf was a one-sided romp and did not. Plus, could we build a local team that could beat IMG Academy? And our top players at the halfway mark of the regular season include names like Brysen Wright, Somourian Wingo, Naeem Burroughs, Jacob…
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Raines sends a statement, huge games in Week 5 and results from players, coaches survey
Week 5 includes two massive showdowns in Bolles at Oakleaf and St. Augustine visiting Nease. Plus, Raines lays the hammer on Lake Mary to state its case as area's best team. Plus, results from our preseason survey among players and coaches from Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin. Learn more about...
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New No. 1 team, a surge in Nassau County and why teams should try and schedule better
We've got a new team at the top of our Super 10 and a surge in Nassau County football. Plus, we make the case for Gateway Conference teams to build stronger schedules by dropping some of their weaker opponents. And some thoughts on some big Week 4 games. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin make the...
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St. Augustine-Bolles collide and Brysen Wright has been a monster on defense, too
It's Week 3 of the high school football season and there's a major Super 10 collision on tap when St. Augustine visits Bolles. Plus, Brysen Wright is making a massive impact for Mandarin everywhere, but he has been elite in the secondary. How special is what we're seeing with him? Justin Barney…
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Nease not ready to take a step back; Brysen Wright shines and tough week on national stage for state teams
A big win for Nease over Ponte Vedra. Brysen Wright's potential is off the charts. A new Super 10 rankings from area head coaches. And state teams fared poorly in their matchups on the national stage. Plus, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin look back on Week 1 and look ahead to Week 2 in this...
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We're talking top players, the ceiling for the best teams and more as high school football kicks off
The high school football season is here! Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin are talking the top players in the area, mega recruit Brysen Wright, the ceiling and the floor for the area's best teams and our top 10 teams in the area. Buckle up and let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Unveiling our top 16 football players of the 2024 season and our players of the year
The 2024 high school football season is in the books and we're unveiling our top 16 players and our Varsity 4 All-News4JAX football teams. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break down our top 16 players and what those athletes did to turn heads in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Ways to solve the area's playoff problem and a new idea for creating the FHSAA postseason bracket
It was a tough finish for the Raines football team in a 41-0 loss to Miami Northwestern in the Class 3A state championship game. The title games as a whole were dominated by South Florida teams. In this era of football, how can teams like Mandarin, Oakleaf, Raines and St. Augustine be better...
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Championship edition: Raines tackles a giant in Miami Northwestern for Class 3A state title
Three local teams played in the state football semifinals and only one made it through. The Raines Vikings head to Pitbull Stadium on Saturday night for a date with Miami Northwestern in the Class 3A state championship game. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break down the matchup in this episode...
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Raines, St. Augustine and Trinity Christian are in the state semifinals. Who stands the best chance at moving on?
Only three local teams are still standing in the high school football state playoffs — Raines, St. Augustine and Trinity Christian. The Vikings are the lone area program to be playing at home. Which team or teams will be moving on to championship games? Plus, our best guesses at an early signing...
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Is Raines unstoppable this season? Plus, looking at the rest of the third round of the playoffs
Raines has been on a tear the likes of which we haven't seen in quite some time. The Vikings are 11-0 and walloping opponents in the playoffs. Can Bishop Kenny cool off the Vikings in the regional finals? Plus, looks at the other classifications and which teams we think will be playing on into...
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All-local matchups headline second round of the playoffs and an update on head coaching pay in Florida
After a very good opening week of the high school football playoffs, we're in the second round of the postseason with some excellent local showdowns on tap. Plus, an update from a state representative on how the low pay issue in Florida could be approached next year. All that and more in this...
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Does FHSAA playoff system need to be more transparent and looking at our favorite first-round games
The high school football playoffs are here. There were some grumbles around the state after the brackets were announced, with some very valid points. Should the FHSAA be more transparent in how its formula with MaxPreps works or is it balanced already? What about going to a system like the one in...
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Pup Howard. Orel Gray. Drake Stubbs. Our top 12 players of the last five years and more as playoffs arrive
Who are our favorite and top high school football players of the last five seasons? Names like Grayson Howard, Orel Gray and Drake Stubbs come to mind. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin talk about the final week of the regular season, our Super 10 teams, a questionable sideline forearm and then...
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Teams button up district championships and why it makes sense for small schools to play as an independent
It's the final full week of the regular season in high school football and just about every district title has been decided. Plus, why teams like Christ's Church, Paxon, Stanton and West Nassau provide the blueprint on what smaller programs should consider doing. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin...
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Our high school football playoff contenders and pretenders and looking ahead to Week 10
It's Week 10 of the high school football season and the playoff picture is coming into focus as district races wind down. Plus, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin discuss which of our Super 10 teams can make it at least two rounds deep into the postseason. Do Raines, Nease and St. Augustine shape…
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One team we think could end up playing for a title in Miami and recapping a hurricane-marred stretch
After weeks of hurricane and weather cancellations, postponements and delays, we should be back on track with a normal high school football schedule. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin recap a wild Monday night of football in Week 8 and look ahead to Week 9. Plus, one team we think could wind up…
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Another hurricane scrambles schedule and drafting our top players, coaches to start a team
Hurricane Milton is shaking up the high school football Week 8 schedule. Plus, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin draft our top four players and three coaches to start their own high school football franchise. All that and our updated Super 10 rankings in this week's Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more...
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Nease is surging, surprising small school teams and making the turn into Week 7
Nease has been on a tear and its 20-17 OT win over Buchholz on Monday night is further proof that the Panthers just may be the area's best team. Plus, small schools St. Joseph, Union County and Zarephath Academy are having excellent seasons and can the Raines defense turn up the pressure a little...
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Our most surprising teams of the first half and another big change in our Super 10
Hurricane Helene has shaken up Week 6 of the high school football season, but we do have some games of merit. Plus, how the surging Nease Panthers have rocketed up to state prominence under coach Collin Drafts. Plus, it's been tough to see the injuries stack up on the preseason No. 1 Mandarin...
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Do our preseason title contenders still stack up at the halfway point of the regular season?
We're almost at the midway point of the high school football regular season and the heavyweights are beginning to step forward. Bradford knocked off top-ranked Mandarin to trigger a big shakeup in the Super 10. Plus, we look at our preseason candidates for state championship seasons and if we…
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Is Mandarin still a championship contender and the dated way of placing teams by enrollment numbers
Weather has been uncooperative early in the high school football season, with a handful of games taken off the books in Week 3. Plus, how does an injury to Mandarin QB Tramell Jones change the championship forecast for the Mustangs? And does school size really mean what it used to on the field or...
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Bolles-St. Augustine headlines Week 3 and a tough injury for Mandarin star QB
The Varsity 4 podcast heads into Week 3 of the high school football season and we've got a headliner clash between No. 2 St. Augustine and No. 4 Bolles. Plus, a look back on some big performances, including a five-TD game for Tae'shaun Gelsey of Riverside and a tough injury to Mandarin…
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Raines looks better than advertised, a new Super 10 and rushing into Week 2
It was a blockbuster opening week of the high school football season, including a tense Raines win over Bolles in a classic that turned heated from things off the field. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin recap a stellar 2024 opening week and look ahead to a big Week 2 in this episode of the…
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Best games in Week 1 and games we'd love to see as the high school football season kicks off
The high school football regular season is here. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break down our top four games and list the four games that aren't scheduled this season that we'd love to see in this Varsity 4 podcast that kicks off the 2024 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Mandarin, St. Augustine, Raines, Bolles and how many area teams have legit shot at title
The high school football regular season is just over a week away. Every team thinks it can win a championship but few have a realistic opportunity to win it. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break down the contenders and the pretenders in this episode of the Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more about...
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New season on the horizon: Our best teams, big changes and looking ahead to 2024 football
The high school football regular season is less than a month away. We kick off our new brand in Varsity 4, unveil our preseason Super 10, kick around name, image and likeness in Florida and what we're looking forward to this season. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin kick off the march to the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
The Varsity 4 podcast brings great, in-depth coverage to that scene, with experienced contributors covering every angle. We’ll talk recruiting, spotlight the area's top performers and speak with the area's best players and coaches.
HOSTED BY
News4Jax and Graham Media Group
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does News4JAX Varsity 4 have?
News4JAX Varsity 4 currently has 95 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is News4JAX Varsity 4 about?
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. The Varsity 4 podcast brings great, in-depth coverage to that scene, with experienced contributors covering every...
How often does News4JAX Varsity 4 release new episodes?
News4JAX Varsity 4 has 95 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to News4JAX Varsity 4?
You can listen to News4JAX Varsity 4 on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts News4JAX Varsity 4?
News4JAX Varsity 4 is created and hosted by News4Jax and Graham Media Group.
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