Big Thursday, Friday night games slated for Central Florida

OCOEE, FLORIDA – Winter Park High’s football team has met little resistance in racing to a 5-0 record this season. But the Wildcats face a whole different team on Thursday night: the Ocoee Knights.

Ocoee (4-1) is red-hot entering Week 6 with a four-game win streak since losing to Apopka, 13-12, in a wild nail-biter in the season-opener.

The Knights are considered one of the area’s dark horse postseason contenders this year and have shown why. Ocoee has steadily improved over the last month, averaging 38.7 points in the last three games and allowing just 6 points per game in that same span.

The all-Orlando showdown is one of multiple games involving Orange County schools on Thursday as Friday is a teacher workday for the district.

“We have our work cut out for us, especially on two days of prep work,” Winter Park assistant coach Kit Hill said. “They are 4-1 and could very easily be undefeated. They just let the Apopka game slip through their fingers.”

Ocoee is led by a trio of transfers: quarterback Darien Wharton, who came over from Lake Minneola and has passed for 818 yards and nine touchdowns with just one interception; running back Keyondray Jones, a former Apopka player who has rushed for 519 yards and five TDs; and wide receiver Asaad Waseem, a former West Orange athlete who has caught 29 passes for 551 yards and six TDs.

Defensively, the Knights are no less impressive with senior defensive end Calvin Smith (6-foot-3, 230 pounds), an Illinois commit who has 44 tackles and a whopping 8.5 sacks; and sophomore Joshua Gerrier, who has three interceptions.

“They are really good defensively,” Hill said. “They are fast and aggressive on the defensive front. (Smith) is a gifted athlete and Ezekiel Brinson is nothing short of a bull in a china shop. They bring timely pressures and stunts that in previous games get them to the quarterback.

“Offensively, they like to be physical, but they also have a great ability to hurt you with the pass,” Hill said. “(Waseem) is a very viable deep threat. As usual, we will have to be able to run the ball and avoid turnovers, while getting some turnovers from them in order to be successful. Should be a riveting contest.”

Winter Park counters with some talent of its own. The Wildcats, led by quarterback Aidan Warner, who has passed for 552 yards and nine TDs; running back Amaris Shaw, 271 yards, four TDs; and wide receiver Oliver Van Dyke, six catches for 173 yards, average an impressive 36.7 points per game. Winter Park has three receivers with more than 100 yards in receptions.

Defensively, senior linebacker Parker Clem leads the Wildcats with 23 tackles. Winter Park also features a solid secondary.

“Winter Park is a fast and athletic team,” Ocoee coach Aaron Sheppard said. “They are well-disciplined and well-coached. We have to play clean football and limit their explosive plays.”

Timber Creek (2-3) at Edgewater (5-0)

Unbeaten Edgewater faces yet another tough opponent in Class 4M Timber Creek, which is one class higher than the Eagles. The Wolves are 2-1 against Orange County schools, including a 24-22 win against perennially tough Dr. Phillips.

Timber Creek loves to throw it around the yard with junior quarterback Aaron Williams, who has passed for 904 yards and seven TDs. His primary target is Marcus Kral, who has 24 receptions for 386 yards and four TDs. Kral is one of three receivers with more than 155 yards.

Defensively, the Wolves are led by Michael Barlowe, who has 28 tackles.

“Timber Creek is a solid program and Coach (Jim) Buckridge has done an outstanding job there for a very long time,” Edgewater coach Cameron Duke said. “We have to play clean football, win the turnover battle and be better in special teams.

“They are talented at wide receiver, quarterback and have a solid offensive line and good running back play, so we must play great on defense and get 11 hats to the ball constantly.”

Edgewater, meanwhile, brings an offense that is led by elite running back CJ Baxter, a Texas commit who has rushed for 1,066 yards and 10 TDs. Senior quarterback Chase Carter has passed for 354 yards and three TDs, and wide receiver AJ Howard, nine receptions for 156 yards and one TD.

“Offensively we need to be able to establish the line of scrimmage and make plays on the perimeter as well,” Duke said. “They have been in every game this year and they are a well-coached, hard-nosed team. We are fortunate to have them at home and have our work cut out for us.”

Edgewater has played one of the area’s toughest schedules in becoming one of the nation’s best teams. The Eagles have defeated crosstown rival Bishop Moore, Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey, West Orange, Jones and Apopka.

Cocoa (2-2) at Seminole (4-1)

Seminole is coming off its first road loss in years, 24-17, to defending Class 8A state champ Venice. But the Seminoles don’t get a breather this week when they host four-time state champ Cocoa (2-2), one of the nation’s top small schools. The Tigers have become an annual participant in the state’s semifinals for more than a decade.

Cocoa once again has played a tough schedule, losing to Jones and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. Since then, the Tigers have been on a tear, outscoring their last two opponents, 120-3, including a 44-3 rout of 2021 playoff team Melbourne.

“They are a very athletic and explosive team that’s well-coached,” Seminole coach Eric Lodge said. “To win, we will have to play with discipline and toughness.”

Cocoa’s pass-heavy team is led by quarterback Blake Boda, a Daytona Beach Seabreeze transfer who has passed for 1,066 yards and 10 TDs. Six receivers have 148 yards or more in receptions, led by junior Dayday Farmer, who has 21 catches for 346 yards and two TDs. Dai’veon Parham leads the Tigers’ defense with 30 tackles.

Seminole counters with one of the most balanced offenses in Central Florida. Senior quarterback Luke Rucker, an FAU commit, has passed for 1,050 yards and 10 TDs; running back Rory Thomas, 202 yards rushing, two TDs; and wide receiver Michael Key, 25 catches, 423 yards, five TDs, lead the Noles.

Seminole senior wide receiver Goldie Lawrence, who sat out a few games earlier in the season, has nine receptions for 192 yards and three TDs. He is an FSU commit.

Defensively for the Noles, sophomore defensive back Ethan Prichard has 40 tackles, and Jordyn Perkins, 3.5 sacks.

Hagerty (4-0) at Harmony (3-1)

The unbeaten Huskies travel to Osceola County to play Harmony. Running back Anthony White, wide receiver Chance Bennett and quarterback Anthony Benzija lead Hagerty.

Running back Tyler Emans leads a run-heavy Harmony team. Dalten Phelan paces the Longhorns’ defense.

Central Florida Week 7 High school football schedule

(also includes makeup games from Week 6 due to Hurricane Ian)

(Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties)

All games at 7 pm unless otherwise indicated

Monday, Oct. 3

Edgewater at Wekiva, postponed

East River at Oviedo, postponed

Port Orange Spruce Creek at DeLand, postponed

Lake Highland Prep at Bishop Moore, postponed

Orlando Christian Prep 31, The First Academy 7

Tohopekaliga at Celebration, postponed

Oak Ridge at Freedom (Orlando), postponed

Kissimmee Liberty at Kissimmee Gateway, postponed.

Mount Dora Christian 13, Gainesville P.K. Yonge 12

East Ridge at Hudson Fivay, postponed

Deltona at Daytona Beach Seabreeze, at Daytona Municipal Stadium, postponed

Clermont Real Life Christian Academy at St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep, TBD

Merritt Island 14, Eau Gallie 13, overtime

Astronaut (Titusville) at Palm Bay, Oct. 17

Bayside 7, Satellite 3

Viera at Heritage, postponed until Oct. 21

Daytona Beach Halifax Academy at Holy Trinity Episcopal, postponed

Daytona Beach Father Lopez 54, Melbourne Central Catholic 6

Melbourne at Harmony, postponed to Oct. 18

Eastland Christian 18, Calvary Chapel 13

Lake Weir at Port Orange Atlantic, postponed

Vero Beach 47, Fort Pierce Central 7

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Faith Christian 22, Riverview Bell Creek 6

Mount Dora 45, Umatilla 36

Titusville 40, Space Coast 0

Leesburg 46, Tavares 20

Thursday, Oct. 6

Timber Creek at Edgewater

University (Orlando) at Jones

Winter Park at Ocoee

Olympia at Apopka

Wekiva at Windermere

Lake Nona at Orlando Dr. Phillips

Colonial at East River

Evans at Oak Ridge

Horizon at Cypress Creek

Lake Buena Vista at Lake Howell

Lyman at Clermont East Ridge, 7:30 pm

Lake Mary Prep at Jacksonville Duval Charter, 4 pm

Davenport Four Corners at West Melbourne Calvary Chapel Academy, 6 pm

The Master’s Academy-Vero Beach at Winter Haven All Saints’ Academy

Friday, Oct. 7

Cocoa at Sanford Seminole

Kissimmee Osceola at Sarasota Riverview, canceled

Lake Minneola at Fleming Island

North Miami Beach at Lake Mary

Hagerty at Harmony

Deltona at DeLand, at Spec Martin Stadium

The First Academy (Orlando) at Trinity Prep

Lake Highland Prep at Windermere Prep, at Scott Pine Community Park

Legacy Charter at The Master’s Academy

Mount Dora at Deltona Pine Ridge

Orangewood Christian at Foundation Academy

St. Cloud at Kissimmee Gateway

Braden River at Bishop Moore

Davenport at Poinciana

Daytona Beach Father Lopez at Faith Christian

Ocala Forest at Leesburg

Merritt Island at Eustis

Vero Beach St. Edward’s at Central Florida Christian Academy

Clearwater American Heritage at West Oaks Academy, 6 pm

Wesley Chapel at Tohopekaliga

Cornerstone Charter at Cocoa Beach

First Academy-Leesburg at Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian

Kissimmee Liberty at Flagler Palm Coast

Umatilla at Holiday Anclote

University (Orange City) at Daytona Beach Mainland, at Daytona Municipal Stadium

Deltona Trinity Christian at Bronson

Winter Springs at Astronaut (Titusville)

Viera at Bayside

Eastland Christian at Winter Haven Oasis Christian

Jacksonville Old Plank Christian Academy at Clermont Real Life Christian Academy, 5:30pm

Eau Gallie at Palm Coast

Heritage at Sebastian River

Palm Bay at Melbourne

Rockledge at Bradenton Manatee

Daytona Beach Seabreeze at Satellite

Port Orange Atlantic at Titusville

Ave Maria Donahue Catholic at Merritt Island Christian.