Episodes

  • Unveiling our top 16 football players of the 2024 season and our players of the year

    Unveiling our top 16 football players of the 2024 season and our players of the year
    Jan 16 2025
    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 megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Ways to solve the area's playoff problem and a new idea for creating the FHSAA postseason bracket

    Ways to solve the area's playoff problem and a new idea for creating the FHSAA postseason bracket
    Dec 17 2024
    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 prepared for the state series-level games? Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin offer some suggestions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Championship edition: Raines tackles a giant in Miami Northwestern for Class 3A state title

    Championship edition: Raines tackles a giant in Miami Northwestern for Class 3A state title
    Dec 12 2024
    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 of the Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • Raines, St. Augustine and Trinity Christian are in the state semifinals. Who stands the best chance at moving on?

    Raines, St. Augustine and Trinity Christian are in the state semifinals. Who stands the best chance at moving on?
    Dec 3 2024
    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 day flip as Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break things down in this Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Is Raines unstoppable this season? Plus, looking at the rest of the third round of the playoffs

    Is Raines unstoppable this season? Plus, looking at the rest of the third round of the playoffs
    Nov 28 2024
    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 December. Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break the brackets down in a Thanksgiving edition of the Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • All-local matchups headline second round of the playoffs and an update on head coaching pay in Florida

    All-local matchups headline second round of the playoffs and an update on head coaching pay in Florida
    Nov 19 2024
    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 episode of the Varsity 4 podcast with Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Does FHSAA playoff system need to be more transparent and looking at our favorite first-round games

    Does FHSAA playoff system need to be more transparent and looking at our favorite first-round games
    Nov 12 2024
    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 Georgia? Plus, Justin Barney and Sponge Franklin break down our favorite first-round matchups and how many local teams will move on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 mins
  • Pup Howard. Orel Gray. Drake Stubbs. Our top 12 players of the last five years and more as playoffs arrive

    Pup Howard. Orel Gray. Drake Stubbs. Our top 12 players of the last five years and more as playoffs arrive
    Nov 5 2024
    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 discuss our top players from 2020-2024 in this episode of the Varsity 4 podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins