Central Florida football district races taking shape after Week 8

Oviedo, Hagerty, Mainland, Apopka win key games; Central Florida recap

OVIEDO, FLORIDA – Two schools only five miles apart are tackling their district games with authority this football season.

Hagerty, which competes in Class 4 Metro District 3, and Oviedo, which plays in Class 3 Metro, District 2, both won Friday night to remain in first place in their respective districts.

Hagerty, also located in the City of Oviedo, routed Colonial, 55-0, to remain unbeaten at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in 4M-3. It was the Huskies’ second shutout and largest margin of victory this season.

The Huskies can take a huge step toward winning the district title on Monday night when they take on Winter Park (5-1, 1-0), whose only loss has come to Ocoee in overtime.

Oviedo, meanwhile, overwhelmed Lake Howell, 43-0, to run its record to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in 3M-2. It was the Lions’ third straight victory and first shutout this year.

The two games were part of a big weekend for many Central Florida schools, which are jostling for position in their district and the FHSAA’s Power Ranking, which helps determine postseason placement.

Here is how some of the big district games and others shook out:

Hagerty 55, Colonial 0

The Huskies got scoring from 10 players in blowing out Colonial (0-7, 0-2).

Anthony Benzija and Vaughn Poorman combined to throw three TD passes to Caleb Barber, Demestrious Howard and Jeramiah Williams; Anthony White, Jalon Lewis, Nicholas Roman and Renaldo Rosado ran for TDs; Caden Chapman had a pick-6; and two players had PATs for Hagerty.

Oviedo 43, Lake Howell 0

The Lions showed they may be the team to beat in district play with an overwhelming win against Lake Howell.

Senior running back DJ Scott turned in another superb game for Oviedo, rushing for 102 yards and one TD, and recording 60 receiving yards. Also for the Lions, Jackson LaTour completed 10 of 19 passes for 154 yards and three TDs; Omari Wyatt ran for 60 yards and a TD; Jacob Thelen, 11 catches for 69 yards and a TD; Cameron Keels, TD catch; and Marquet Williams, TD catch and TD run.

“We played well in all three phases of the game,” said Oviedo coach Greg Odierno. “Defensively, we held them to six first downs all game. Our O-line came ready to play. We averaged 13 yards per carry. It was good to play a game after 20 days off.”

Oviedo's Brady Manning (3) and Timothy Benedick (85) swarm a Lake Howell ball carrier on Friday night. The Lions won 43-0 / Photo courtesy of Oviedo Football Pics Facebook

Daytona Mainland 42, Deltona 17

The Buccaneers (6-1, 1-0) continued their rampage through Volusia County by overwhelming Deltona (5-2, 0-1) in a big district game.

“It was a good team win and a great start for our first game,” said Mainland quarterback Damarcus Creecy, who threw two TD passes and ran for a score in the first half. “We got a lot of different players involved on the offense, which is going to make it more difficult for any defense to concentrate on (wide receivers) Ajai Harrell and James Randle Jr.”

Quarterback Isaiah Robinson scored multiple TDs for Deltona.

Lake Mary 26, Evans 0

The Rams pitched a shutout in one of their best defensive performances of the season. In snapping Evans’ two-game win streak, Lake Mary (5-1, 1-1) solidified itself as a contender for the Class 4M, District 2 title with two district games to play.

The Trojans (2-6, 1-2) are off this coming week.

Apopka 20, Lake Brantley 13

The defending Class 8A state runner-up Blue Darters (4-2, 1-0) opened Class 4M-2 play with a big win against Lake Brantley (4-3, 1-2), which has lost two straight after a fast start.

Apopka rallied for the victory behind multiple TDs from Zeldrick Roberts. Lake Brantley got a TD run from quarterback Braxton Woodson, a Navy commit, and a pick-6 from Anthony Gray.

Wekiva 34, Horizon 7

Wekiva (4-4, 1-1) knocked off previously unbeaten Horizon (6-1, 0-1) to remain alive in the Class 3M, District 3 standings. Horizon, a second-year school, has been one of Central Florida’s biggest surprises this season.

UCF commit Sincere Edwards had a huge game for Wekiva with a TD run, multiple tackles on defense and a blocked punt.

Ty’Ray Davis threw for more than 225 yards and a TD and ran for a score, and Tyree Fillus returned a kick 98 yards for a TD for the Mustangs.

Lyman 30, East River 20

The Greyhounds are the Cinderella story of Seminole County, racing to their sixth victory in a hard-fought Class 3M, District 3 win against the Falcons (3-4, 1-1).

It is the most wins for Lyman since the 2009 season and the Greyhounds remained in the hunt for a district championship.

“Friday night was a great night to see our team fight a little adversity and overcome,” said Lyman coach Jermel Jones, “from losing one of our star players for the second half to going into halftime being down 20-13.

“We talked before the game about being on the right side of history and history belongs to those who make it,” Jones said. “We wanted to make history Friday night by being the first Lyman team to win six games since 2009. So, after a few halftime adjustments, the boys played lights out in the second half to make history.”

Mount Dora 42, The Villages 7

The red-hot Hurricanes (5-2, 2-0) won their fifth consecutive game and remained atop Class 2S, District 10 with a big win against the Buffalo (2-4, 0-1), who played without starting quarterback David Bitting, who sat out with a concussion sustained the week before.

Senior running back Dante Johnson-Turner continued his gallop into the record books for Mount Dora, rushing for 238 yards and three TDs. Quarterback Matt Butler passed for a TD and ran for two more scores for the Hurricanes.

Lake Nona 36, Freedom 33

The Lions (3-3, 2-0) won a wild district game against the Patriots (3-4, 1-2) to remain in the hunt for the district championship.

West Orange 35, Windermere 3

The Warriors (3-3, 1-0), who last season advanced deep into the Class 8A state playoffs, picked up a big district win against Windermere (2-4, 0-2).

Lake Highland Prep 28, Mount Dora Christian 7

LHP remained unbeaten (6-0) with a big win against MDC. The Highlanders last season won the Sunshine State Athletic Conference Class AAAA state championship.

Rockledge 42, Satellite 7

The Raiders (6-1, 2-0) continue to rank among Brevard County’s best teams by running away from Satellite.

Traven Green scored multiple TDs, and Jaylen Howard ran 52 yards for a TD for Rockledge.

Cocoa 47, Titusville 0

Last year’s Class 4A state runner-up Tigers (3-3, 2-0) remained on track for yet another playoff berth by shutting out the Terriers in a Class 2S, District 12 game.

Blake Boda, a transfer from Daytona Beach Seabreeze, threw four TD passes for Cocoa. Malachi Coney, Ryder Varis and Anthony Bridgewater ran for scores for the Tigers, who are coached by former UCF quarterback Ryan Schneider.

Melbourne 27, Heritage 19

The Bulldogs picked up a big Class 4S, District 11 win behind the play of Hunter Turner, who threw multiple TD passes.

Merritt Island 28, Bayside 13

The defending Class 5A state runner-up Mustangs keep getting better and better under first-year coach Tyler Murray.

Luke Knight passed for two TDs and ran for two scores to lead Merritt Island (5-2, 2-0) to a big Class 3S, District 10 win.

Garret Louks had a TD pass for the Bears (4-3, 1-2).

Holy Trinity Episcopal 40, Daytona Beach Father Lopez 12

Hurlie Brown, who last season coached Merritt Island to the Class 5A state championship game, is working his magic now at Holy Trinity. The Tigers picked up a big Class 1S, District 4 win against Father Lopez.

Brogan McNabb ran for multiple TDs to lead Holy Trinity.

Vero Beach 41, Port St. Lucie Centennial 13

The Indians (8-0) continued their remarkable season with a big Class 4S, District 12 win over Centennial.

EJ White, Quincy Rodgers, Tyler Aronson, Kevin Pollock all scored for Vero Beach. Aronson, a junior quarterback who ran for multiple scores, is an SMU commit.

In non-district games:

Edgewater 23, Ocoee 13

The Eagles ran their record to 8-0 without the services of star running back CJ Baxter, a Texas commit who is still recovering from a leg injury. Edgewater got two TDs from quarterback Chase Carter, who came back from injury, and a TD from Kaden Shields-Dutton, in beating an Ocoee team (5-2) that had won five straight after falling to Apopka in the season-opener.

Keyondray Jones, a transfer from Apopka, led Ocoee with more than 120 yards rushing and a score, and Ahlston Ware caught a TD pass.

“I feel though as everyone doubted us this game,” said Edgewater defensive back Duke Mack. “We still came out strong and passed on Ocoee for a great win.”

Seminole 27, DeLand 10

The Seminoles (6-1) went on the road with a backup quarterback and pulled out a hard-fought win against the Bulldogs.

Sophomore David Parks turned in a strong performance at quarterback in relief of Luke Rucker, an FAU commit who sat out with an injury, by passing for more than 100 yards and rushing for a score for Seminole.

Tyrone Williams ran for two TDs, and star wide receiver Michael Key added a TD run for the Noles.

TJ Moore had a solid showing for DeLand with more than 100 yards rushing. Javon Ross scored on a TD run for the Bulldogs.

“We knew what we were going against when going against DeLand and we prepared heavily for it,” said Seminole defensive lineman Preston Watson. “It was a great game plan by the coaches, and we just executed.

“It felt like we were way more physical against them and that’s why we won,” Watson said. “And the offense, even with a backup quarterback, performed great. Couldn’t ask for a better win.”

Jones 13, Boone 9

The Tigers (5-2) rallied in the fourth quarter to upend upset-minded Boone (3-3). Maxson Jean-Denis and Dylan Wade scored for the Tigers.

Elijah Rooney threw a TD pass for Boone.

The First Academy 44, Florida A&M High 6

It was a long road trip to the Panhandle, but the Royals (6-1) still had plenty of energy to score a season-high in points for one game and recorded their biggest margin of victory this season.

“It was good to make such a long trip and come back with a win,” said TFA sports director Bo Burgess. “Our kids got some great experience playing in a college stadium.

“We have our last district game of the year this week against Foundation,” Burgess said. “We’re looking for a big win to hopefully increase our playoff hopes.”

Leading TFA offensively were Derrick Callwood, who ran for two TDs; Ryon Smith, 13 carries for 83 yards and a TD; Grady Rewis, four catches for 76 yards and two TDs; and James McGinn, 8 of 16 passing for 116 yards and two TDs.

Defensively for the Royals, Elliot Jamison had 16 total tackles, five for loss, and an interception; Smith, eight tackles, three for loss, and a pick-6; Trey Newsome, six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and an interception; and Minor Jones, seven tackles and an interception.

Bishop Moore 20, Orlando Christian Prep 14

The Hornets once again received stellar play from quarterback Riley Willis to win their Homecoming and run their record to 5-3. Willis scored three total TDs.

OCP got TD runs from Vilay Nakkoun and Elijah Hickson.

Central Florida Christian Academy 66, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 0

The Eagles (6-0) continued to soar with a blowout of Santa Fe Catholic (5-2). CFCA competes in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference.

Week 8 Central Florida Football schedule

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

Thursday, Oct. 13

Kissimmee Osceola 56, Celebration 0

Vero Beach-St. Edward’s 34, Port St. Lucie Tradition Prep 22

Friday, Oct. 14

Edgewater 23, Ocoee 13

Sanford Seminole 27, DeLand 10

Jones 13, Boone 9

Apopka 20, Lake Brantley 13

Lake Minneola 62, South Lake 14

Lake Mary 26, Evans 0

Wekiva 34, Horizon 7

Oviedo 43, Lake Howell 0

Hagerty 55, Colonial 0

West Orange 35, Windermere 3

Olympia 11, Orlando Dr. Phillips 0

Timber Creek 35, University (Orlando) 3

Cypress Creek 19, Oak Ridge 16

Lake Nona 36, Freedom 3

Lyman 30, East River 20

Eustis 30, Umatilla 22

The Master’s Academy (Oviedo) 27, Orangewood Christian 22

Lake Highland Prep 28, Mount Dora Christian 7

Bishop Moore 20, Orlando Christian Prep 14

Trinity Prep 35, Deltona Trinity Christian 0

Lake Wales 42, Kissimmee Gateway 0

Auburndale 44, Kissimmee Liberty 0

Belleview 28, Leesburg 0

Mount Dora 42, The Villages 7

Daytona Beach Mainland 42, Deltona 17

Hollis Christian 38, Faith Christian 14

First-Academy Leesburg 35, Keswick Christian 8

Central Florida Christian Academy 66, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 0

St. Cloud 41, Ambassadors Christian 12

Harmony 38, Viera 13

Poinciana at North Port, rescheduled for Oct. 24

Ocala Vanguard 62, Tavares 8

Ocala Forest 42, East Ridge 7

Palm Beach Christian 40, Cornerstone Charter 0

The First Academy (Orlando) 44, Florida A&M High School 6

Daytona Beach Seabreeze 42, Deltona Pine Ridge 0

Port Orange Spruce Creek 19, University (Orange City) 7

West Oaks Academy 42, Jordan Christian Prep 0

Astronaut (Titusville) 34, Space Coast 7

Merritt Island 28, Bayside 13

Cocoa 47, Titusville 0

Out-of-Door Academy 54, Cocoa Beach 10

Melbourne 27, Heritage 19

Holy Trinity Episcopal 40, Daytona Beach Father Lopez 12

Melbourne Central Catholic 14, St. Francis 13

Rockledge 42, Satellite 7

Vero Beach 41, Port St. Lucie Centennial 13

New Smyrna Beach 29, Sebastian River 7

Lake Mary Prep 33, The Master’s Academy-Vero Beach 8

West Melbourne Calvary Chapel Academy 22, Kissimmee City of Life Christian Academy 0

Merritt Island Christian 48, Eastland Christian 14

St. Petersburg Canterbury 56, Clermont Real Life Christian Academy 0