By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
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The Teams
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Nease, Fla. (5-0) at St. Augustine, Fla. (6-0)
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The MaxPreps USA Football Tour rolls into St. Augustine, Fla., Friday for the renewal of a series that is developing into one of the Sunshine State's premier rivalries.
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For the second time in three seasons, both Nease and St. Augustine - located just 13 miles apart - enter their annual regular season showdown undefeated. It would be tough to find a pair of schools carrying more momentum into a game anywhere in the country this weekend. ÿ
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Nease, Florida's defending 4A state champions, has won 14-straight games and 29 of 33 dating back to 2004. The Panthers have steamrolled to a 5-0 record this season, winning by an average margin of 32 points per game.
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St. Augustine, the state's defending 3A state champion, boasts a 21-game winning streak. The Yellow Jackets have lost one game in their last 32 outings. Head coach Joey Wiles' program didn't exactly bust out of the gates in 2006, beating First Coast and Bartram Trail by a combined 11 points, but have since caught stride, winning the last four by an average of 30 points.
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And speaking of momentum, the Yellow Jackets have it in a big way over Nease. St. Augustine handed the Tim Tebow-led Panthers a pair of losses in 2004, including a 35-28 playoff decision when both schools played in Florida's 3A classification. St. Augustine followed that up with a 20-14 win a year ago.
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The Players
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Neither team is lacking in the talent department. Both Nease and St. Augustine have rosters lined with playmakers and Division I-A prospects.
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The Panthers feature three players already committed to BCS conference schools in defensive backs Mario Butler (Georgia Tech) and Justin Grant (Florida), and offensive lineman James Wilson (USC).
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Tebow's successor at quarterback is junior Ted Stachitas, who has performed admirably in filling the shoes of one of Florida's most celebrated high school signal callers.
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Stachitas has combined for 1,142 passing and rushing yards with 15 touchdowns. In 81 pass attempts he has thrown just one interception.
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The Panther running game will feature senior Zach Tronti and emerging freshman Chris Johnson, a duo that has produced 678 yards and eight touchdowns through five games.
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In addition to Butler and Grant, juniors Riley Haynes and Hunter Bates have been strong for the Nease defense, tallying 81 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
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Expect to see a lot of senior quarterback Quinterrance Cooper when St. Augustine has the ball. Another major Division I-A recruit, Cooper has thrown for over 500 yards and ran for over 200 so far this season. He's even caught four passes for 45 yards.
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Wiles has a pair of quality senior running backs at his disposal in Rai-Shawn Wilson and Kevis Streeter, who have run, caught, and returned their way to nearly 950 all-purpose yards.
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Big offensive lineman Robert Petry is another Yellow Jacket that has drawn Division I-A offers.
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Defensively, Stachitas better be aware of senior defensive lineman Gerard Oxendine, who has eight sacks in six games.
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MaxPreps Predicts.
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The MaxPreps "Pregame/Team Matchup" feature likes Nease to come out on top, 26-24.
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The computer is looking to go 2-0 after correctly predicting the correct outcome a week ago in Texas with Euless Trinity defeating South Grand Prairie. The formula is based on previous results in the 2006 season, and doesn't take into account previous years or series history.
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Maybe it should. Do the Yellow Jackets simply have the Panthers' number? Or can Nease end the streak with its cadre of Division I-A recruits? Find out Friday here at MaxPreps.com.
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MaxPreps USA Football Tour
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Photo: St. Augustine quarterback Quinterrance Cooper (By Gray Quetti).