Football Games to Watch in Central Florida Week 8

Apopka, Lake Mary, Mount Dora play big district games

ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s now or never for many Central Florida high school football teams, which tackle all-important district contests on Friday night.

At stake for schools are positioning in district races and a chance to improve their standing in the FHSAA Power Ranking. This week’s games mark a big stretch of district contests for many schools, which will conclude regular-season play on Nov. 4.

Here are the games to watch in Central Florida for Friday, Oct. 14:

Vero Beach (7-0, 1-0) at Port St. Lucie Centennial (5-1, 2-0)

The unbeaten Indians face a serious challenge for the first time this season in this Class 4 Suburban, District 12 game. The winner likely will win the district championship.

Centennial has won four consecutive games since falling to DeLand on Sept. 2. The pass-heavy Eagles are led by quarterback Malik Torres, who has passed for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns, with six interceptions. Five of his teammates have 131 receiving yards or more, led by Isaiah Roberts, who has 325 yards and four TDs.

DJ Dunbar leads the Eagles’ defense with 58 tackles. Centennial has made eight interceptions.

The Eagles will be tested and then some against Vero Beach, which is averaging 40 points per game and allowing just 6.29 points per game. The Indians have three shutouts.

Vero Beach is led by quarterback Tyler Aronson, who has passed for 1,501 yards and 20 TDs, with just five interceptions. His top target is Vandrevius Jacobs, an FSU commit who has 841 yards receiving and 15 TDs. Quincy Rodgers has rushed for 354 yards and four TDs for the Indians.

Apopka (3-2, 0-0) at Lake Brantley (4-2, 1-1)

This Class 4 Metro, District 2 game becomes extremely important for Lake Brantley, which was upset by Evans, 13-8, on Monday night. Apopka, meanwhile, will be looking to move into first place in the district. The Blue Darters finished as Class 8A state runner-up last season.

“These young men are ready to get back on the field after not playing up to our potential against Evans,” said Lake Brantley assistant coach Mike Mitchell. “We’ve had some good practices this week, and they are super focused and motivated to get back on track against Apopka.”

Lake Brantley is led by senior dual-threat quarterback Braxton Woodson, a Navy commit who has rushed for 683 yards and 11 TDs and passed for 203 yards and four scores. Landen Paquette and Tavin Hebert have combined to rush for nearly 800 yards for the Patriots.

Defensively, UCF commit Michael Harris has 58 tackles for Lake Brantley.

Apopka’s run-heavy offense is led by Zeldrick Roberts, Noah Morgan and Kaleb Hicks. Rashad Watson has 51 tackles for the Blue Darters, who have played in three one-possession games this season.

Lake Mary (4-1, 0-1) at Evans (2-5, 1-1)

Lake Mary will be looking to get back into the Class 4M, District 2 race after falling to Lake Brantley earlier this season. But the Rams face an Evans team that has won two straight and seemed to find its mojo after a rough start.

“Defensively, we must eliminate their big plays,” said Lake Mary coach Scott Perry. “Offensively, we need to continue to improve, build off our successes last week, learn and grow.”

The Rams, who are coming a big win against North Miami Beach, feature a balanced offensive attack led by senior running back Manquez Lang, who has rushed for 423 yards and six TDs.

Lake Mary freshman Noah Grubbs has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in Seminole County by passing for 568 yards and six TDs, with just two interceptions.

Teammate Caden Harshbarger has caught 19 passes for 329 yards and three TDs.

Defensively, the Rams are led by freshman phenom Michael McClinton, who has 41 tackles and three sacks.

Evans is led by dual-threat quarterback Chris Peterson, who has passed for 527 yards and one TD, and run for 379 yards and three scores. Jermaine Hardy has rushed for 263 yards and three TDs, and Antoine Demps has 223 yards receiving for the Trojans.

Defensively for Evans, Anton Holland and Brandon Jacob have combined for 64 tackles.

“Lake Mary is a very well-coached team,” said Evans coach Kenard Lang, “with a veteran head coach who puts his players in position to make plays. They have a good wide receiver, defensive back and quarterback.

“For us to be successful, we have to control the clock, and have no turnovers and self-inflicted wounds.”

Daytona Beach Mainland (4-1, 0-0) at Deltona (5-1, 0-0)

The winner of this Class 3S, District 9 game will likely be the district champion. Deltona is off to one of its best starts in years, while Mainland is accustomed to making a run for the playoffs.

Mainland is led by star quarterback Damarcus Creecy, who has passed for 1,343 yards and 13 TDs, and rushed for 171 yards. His top target is senior Ajai Harrell, a speedster who has caught 34 passes for 593 yards and nine TDs. Teammate James Randle Jr. has 374 yards and four TDs.

Defensively for the Bucs, Ty Richmond has 39 tackles and three sacks.

Deltona counters with a team that is loaded on both sides of the ball. The Wolves are led by senior athlete Jude Santana, who has rushed for 386 yards and eight TDs, and has 407 yards receiving and six scores.

Anthony May has 360 yards rushing and five TDs, and quarterback Isaiah Robinson has passed for 495 yards and six TDs.

Defensively, Aidan Gilbert has 35 tackles for Deltona. “We’re excited to show what we can do and bounce back from last week,” said Deltona defensive end/linebacker Carson Nichols, referring to the loss to DeLand.

The Villages (2-3, 0-0) at Mount Dora (4-2, 1-0)

This Class 2S, District 10 showdown figures to decide the district champion, although there’s several more weeks of football to play.

Mount Dora enters the game red-hot with a four-game win streak. The Hurricanes are led by sensational running back Dante Johnson-Turner, who has rushed for 1,112 yards and a whopping 17 TDs.

Quarterback Matt Butler has passed for 864 yards and 10 TDs, with his top target being Tanner Waring, who has 25 catches for 428 yards and six scores, for Mount Dora.

Defensively, Russell Fickett has been a wrecking machine this season for the Hurricanes with 49 tackles and two sacks.

The Villages is led by athlete Alvon Isaac, who has rushed for 452 yards and five TDs, and has 276 receiving and three scores. Quarterback Danny Bitting has passed for 369 yards and three TDs.

Defensively for the Buffalo, Jake Phillips has 47 tackles.

“The keys for us are to maintain a balanced offense and to control the line of scrimmage,” said Mount Dora coach Luke Hutchinson, “Defensively, we have to limit the explosive plays and get off the field after third down. We focus heavily on special teams with the emphasis placed on winning the field position battle.”

Edgewater (7-0) at Ocoee (5-1)

Unbeaten Edgewater faces a huge task in stopping Ocoee, which has won 5 straight after losing to Apopka in the season-opener, in this non-district showdown.

It’s unknown if Edgewater will have star running back CJ Baxter or starting quarterback Chase Carter after both suffered injuries last week. Ocoee last week edged Winter Park in overtime.

Sanford Seminole (5-1) at DeLand (3-2)

Seminole is coming off a wild overtime victory against small school power Cocoa, while DeLand last week knocked off previously unbeaten Deltona. This also is a non-district game.

Central Florida

Football schedule

Week 8

(Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River counties)
All games start at 7pm unless otherwise indicated

Thursday, Oct. 13

Celebration at Kissimmee Osceola

Port St. Lucie Tradition Prep at Vero Beach-St. Edward’s

Friday, Oct. 14

Edgewater at Ocoee

Sanford Seminole at DeLand

Jones at Boone

Apopka at Lake Brantley

Lake Minneola at South Lake

Lake Mary at Evans

Wekiva at Horizon

Oviedo at Lake Howell

Colonial at Hagerty

West Orange at Windermere

Dr. Phillips at Olympia

University (Orlando) at Timber Creek

Cypress Creek at Oak Ridge

Freedom at Lake Nona

East River at Lyman

Eustis at Umatilla

The Master’s Academy at Orangewood Christian

Mount Dora Christian at Lake Highland Prep

Orlando Christian Prep at Bishop Moore

Deltona Trinity Christian at Trinity Prep

Lake Wales at Kissimmee Gateway

Auburndale at Kissimmee Liberty

Belleview at Leesburg

Villages Charter at Mount Dora

Daytona Beach Mainland at Deltona

Hollis Christian at Faith Christian, at Ocoee Bulldogs Field

Keswick Christian at First-Academy Leesburg, at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex

Santa Fe Catholic at Central Florida Christian Academy

Ambassadors Christian at St. Cloud

Harmony at Viera

Poinciana at North Port

Tavares at Ocala Vanguard

East Ridge at Ocala Forest

Cornerstone Charter at Palm Beach Christian

The First Academy (Orlando) at Florida A&M High School

Deltona Pine Ridge at Daytona Beach Seabreeze, at Daytona Municipal Stadium

University (Orange City) at Port Orange Spruce Creek

West Oaks Academy at Jordan Christian Prep

Astronaut (Titusville) at Space Coast

Merritt Island at Bayside

Titusville at Cocoa

Cocoa Beach at Out-of-Door Academy

Melbourne at Heritage

Daytona Beach Father Lopez at Holy Trinity Episcopal

Melbourne Central Catholic at St. Francis

Satellite at Rockledge

Vero Beach at Port St. Lucie Centennial

New Smyrna Beach at Sebastian River

The Master’s Academy-Vero Beach at Lake Mary Prep

West Melbourne Calvary Chapel Academy at Kissimmee City of Life Christian Academy

Eastland Christian at Merritt Island Christian

St. Petersburg Canterbury at Clermont Real Life Christian Academy