High school football Week 1 previews

Brooksville Nature Coast at IMG Academy White

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: Nature Coast made the second round of the Class 5A playoffs last season after winning a district title for the second straight year. The Sharks were outmatched in a Kickoff Classic loss to Tallahassee Godby last week. Godby stifled Nature Coast’s run-heavy offense to negative rushing yards before some late chunk yardage against backups took place, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. ... This is IMG Academy’s first game for its second varsity team. QB Bryson Lucero leads the offense, and the Ascenders feature talent at many spots.

Jason Dill’s prediction: IMG White 35, Brooksville Nature Coast 14

Windermere Prep at Saint Stephen’s

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: These teams were expected to play for the Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship in 2016. Saint Stephen’s carried its end of the bargain, winning the conference title, while Windermere Prep fell short in the SSAC semifinals. ... Windermere Prep’s offense is paced by the electric Kai Patterson (1,923 yards, 27 TDs in 2016), while Saint Stephen’s counters with an explosive offense in QB Fred Billy and RB Chase Brown. The Falcons have other weapons, too, and are looking to begin their SSAC title defense in style.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Saint Stephen’s 40, Windermere Prep 31

Out-of-Door Academy at Fort Myers Canterbury

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: The triple-option experiment fell flat last Friday for Out-of-Door Academy. Last season, the Thunder struggled on both sides of the ball. They had trouble stopping opponents on defense and lacked offensive firepower. ... The triple-option look is supposed to create deception, but there was no deceiving Naples Saint John Neumann last week. ODA’s offense mustered just 52 rushing yards and 134 total yards.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Fort Myers Canterbury 35, ODA 14

Cardinal Mooney at Fort Myers Bishop Verot

When: 7 p.m.

The scoop: These longtime rivals used to be district opponents. Bishop Verot now plays in Class 4A, while the Cougars remain a 3A program. ... Mooney will look to RB Bryce Williams to carry the offense. The Minnesota commit tallied 130 rushing yards on 16 carries, including a touchdown, during last week’s 35-7 rout over 5A Arcadia DeSoto. ... Bishop Verot’s offense took a huge hit when senior QB Korey Besse was lost for the season after suffering a right leg injury last week against Englewood Lemon Bay, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. ... Besse threw for more than 1,800 yards and tossed 17 TDs as a junior.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Cardinal Mooney 42, Fort Myers Bishop Verot 7

Lakeland at Manatee

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: Two of the richest traditions in Florida renew a once-regular rivalry. Lakeland brings a physical group behind legendary head coach Bill Castle. ... The Dreadnaughts top commit is linebacker Ja’Qurius Smith (Syracuse), while dual-threat QB Kevaris Thomas is a danger with his arm and legs. Lakeland’s offensive line returned two starters with Robert Hardy and Aleek Saint-Aime. ... Manatee is very young, with most of the team getting varsity experience for the first time in last week’s preseason loss to Seffner Armwood. The effort against Armwood, though, was a positive for first-year head coach Yusuf Shakir. The Hurricanes will get better as the season wears on, but expect some growing pains out of the blocks.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Lakeland 24, Manatee 7

Palmetto at Southeast

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: After last week’s preseason game against Lennard was moved to Ruskin, Southeast’s Paul Maechtle Field at John Kiker Memorial Stadium is fit for action after new sod was planted during the summer. ... The Seminoles and Tigers should provide one of the more compelling, competitive games in the area. ... Southeast QB Alex Taylor enters with a full season under his belt at the position and leads an improved offense against an experienced Palmetto squad with plenty of returners off last year’s stout defense. ... Palmetto’s defense produced 27 turnovers in 2016 and features a strong linebacker unit and secondary with Derrick Bradley and Sidney Pompey. ... The Palmetto offense, led by Anthony Marino and Jason Spicer Jr., feasted on Sarasota Booker last week.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Palmetto 20, Southeast 14

Lakewood Ranch at Cape Coral Ida Baker

When: 5 p.m. Monday

The scoop: Save for a desperation heave that went for a tipped touchdown catch last week, nothing went right for the Mustangs in their preseason game against Sarasota Riverview. This week’s opener, though, gives Lakewood Ranch a more competitive opponent. Winning the battle up front is imperative to establish the running game, which saw RB Mason Fischer and QB Justin Curtis carry the ball at times last Friday. ... Ida Baker played Lakewood Ranch’s East Manatee rival, Braden River, the previous two seasons without any success. The Bulldogs struggled during last week’s preseason game, scoring their lone touchdown following a muffed punt. ... Still, Ida Baker is favored at home.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Cape Coral Ida Baker 31, Lakewood Ranch 19

Inverness Citrus at Bayshore

When: 7:30 p.m.

The scoop: It’s a homecoming of sorts for Citrus head coach Nate Varnardore. He spent several years as a Palmetto High assistant coach and is a multi-generational Palmetto native. ... Citrus and Bayshore had disappointing seasons last year, with the Bruins failing to win a game. Both teams are on the rebound in 2017, and both are coming off preseason victories. Citrus took care of Leesburg with a late touchdown and two-point conversion for a one-point victory. Cody Russell ran for 107 yards on 23 carries as Citrus also featured a run-heavy offense during the spring, according to the Citrus County Chronicle. ... The Bruins, behind second-year head coach John Biezuns, are in the second phase of the rebuilding plan. Equipped with solid quarterback play is key to that, and the Bruins should compete in more games this season. That should begin Friday.

Jason Dill’s prediction: Inverness Citrus 20, Bayshore 19

IMG Academy Blue at Chandler (Ariz.)

When: 10:30 p.m. Saturday

The scoop: It’s fitting this matchup is on Saturday night, because there are so many marquee Division I college prospects dotting the rosters. ... IMG’s national schedule truly gets going with this week’s trip to Arizona. Both teams are ranked in USA Today’s Super 25 rankings – the Ascenders are No. 2 and the Wolves are No. 7. ... IMG possesses three of the top 50 players in the 247Sports composite rankings. RB Noah Cain, a junior with 20 Power 5 offers, tallied two touchdowns in a comfortable victory last week over Miami Carol City, the defending Class 6A state champ. ... Chandler QB Jacob Conover tallied 333 passing yards with two TDs in the Wolves’ season-opening victory last week.

Jason Dill’s prediction: IMG Blue 35, Chandler 24

This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 1:08 PM with the headline "High school football Week 1 previews."