It’s the Wolves versus the Bobcats for county football supremacy.
Palm Valley Academy will face Liberty Pines at Ponte Vedra High School on Wednesday night in the county championship games for both the varsity and junior varsity levels.
The JV (6–7th grade) and varsity (8th grade) squads from each school fought their way into the deciding contests after months of practice, preparation, and playoff rounds.
PVA Head Coach Jeff Whitaker, a St. Johns County native who played football at the University of Florida, is encouraging locals to come see neighborhood kids shine under the lights.
“We really feel like we’ve created something special in the community here,” Whitaker told The Citizen. “This is an opportunity for everyone to come out and support student-athletes, even if you don’t have kids at the schools. It’s a special event for the county.”
Spectators can expect a full evening of entertainment in Shark Tank, including performances from cheerleading and dance squads during the gridiron gala.
PVA also has a notable pigskin pedigree in its administrative ranks. Principal Zack Strom played on a football scholarship at the University of Missouri and graduated in 2005 before moving to Jacksonville.
Whitaker has also established a new tradition in which football players, parents, and cheer squads march to school together through the Twenty Mile neighborhood in Nocatee on game days.
“It’s a really cool vibe, all of us together” he said. “And for tomorrow night, we’re bringing everybody out.”
Tickets for Wednesday night’s games are available here.
The JV game kicks off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7.
