Mark your calendars, here's 10 games to watch during the 2018 high school football season

Schedules are set and locked in for the 2018 prep football season, which is going to be here a lot sooner than we all realize ... which is exactly 69 days as of Thursday afternoon, if your'e counting at home.

And while there will be plenty of intense games under the Friday (or Thursday) night lights in the PNJ area this fall, here’s 10 to look out for in chronological order:

West Florida at Escambia, Aug. 23: “Rare Thursday” returns for the third year as area powers meet to kick off the season. The Thursday opener tends to draw a large crowd as it is the only show in town that night. This year, the Pensacola area will get back-to-back Thursdays with football, with the University of West Florida opening its season one week later on Aug. 30 against Carson Newman at Blue Wahoos Stadium. 

Tate at Gulf Breeze, Sept. 7: This was a new one on the schedule last year, but the game was never played due to hurricane cancellations. Gulf Breeze and Tate met for a thriller in the playoffs in 2016, and this game was going to be an anticipated rematch in 2017. Hopefully mother nature will allow us to get this game in 2018.

Navarre at Escambia, Oct. 5: There’s been plenty of thrillers – playoff games and regular-season contests – between these teams in the last four years. Last season’s win for Escambia over Navarre was an instant classic and perhaps the best regular season game over the year with the Gators staging a huge rally. Reigning PNJ Player of the Year Dante Wright will aim to help Navarre get revenge this time around.

West Florida at Pine Forest, Oct. 5: The neighboring schools will clash in Week 7 in a battle for Longleaf Parkway. Both teams have second year head coaches, reached the playoffs last fall and return a variety of starters in 2018.

Jay at Northview, Oct. 5: Few residents of Jay, Century and Bratt will miss this one. Though Northview had controlled the rivalry since 2004, Jay shocked the area with a win last season. Jay used that momentum to close the season strong and make an impressive playoff appearance.

Gulf Breeze at Navarre, Oct. 26: Considering all sports competitions, this is one of the area’s greatest rivalries … hands down. This game has been the District 2-6A championship the past two years and has yielded a standing-room only crowd.

Pace at Milton, Oct. 26: Whether both teams are undefeated or winless, the “Battle for the Bronze Helmet” is usually the local game with the highest attendance each year. The team and community that wins will have valuable bragging rights for one year following this game.

Tate at Pine Forest, Oct. 26: In recent history, this match-up has been one of the hardest to predict. We’ve seen overtime thrillers, tales of two halves, shootouts and defensive struggles. One thing is for sure: these District 1-6A rivals won’t disappoint their spectators.

West Florida at Pensacola, Oct. 26: This game posed as the District 1-5A championship last season, which West Florida won in convincing fashion. Pensacola High has reloaded its roster this year, including three-star recruit and Clemson commit Hunter Rayburn, who will face his old team in this game.

Escambia at Pensacola, Nov. 2: The “Battle for Ye’ Olde Wash Boiler” is historic as local rivalries come. With the FHSAA’s new playoff system in its second year, Mike Bennett will coach Escambia against his former team as both squads aim to add to playoff resumes in the final week of the regular season.

Brian Achatz can be reached at bachatz@pnj.com or 850-435-8521