Vote Now: Who is Central Florida High School Football Player of the Week? - Oct. 13, 2025

Cast your vote to decide who had the best performance during Week 8 of the 2025 season

Vero Beach wide receiver Xavier Stinson caught seven passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Indians past Rockledge, 42-0, on Oct. 11. / KAILA JONES /TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Central Florida high school football players rose to the occasion during a number of huge district games in Week 8.

We looked at schools in seven counties (Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River) and nominated 21 athletes for games played Oct. 9-11, 2025.

We ask you to check out the nominees below and cast your vote for Central Florida Player of the Week, which covers offense, defense and special teams.

Congratulations to the winner for games played Oct. 2-4, 2025: Space Coast RB/OLB Bradyn Cook

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19. The winner will be announced next week. Here are this week’s nominees:

Logan Engel, DB, Hagerty

Senior returned an interception for a touchdown to lead the Huskies past Lake Brantley, 24-7, in a Class 7A, District 3 game.

Noah Grubbs, QB, Lake Mary

Notre Dame commit threw a TD pass and ran 14 yards for the game-winning score with less than 3 minutes remaining to power the Rams past rival Seminole, 24-21, in a huge Class 7A, District 3 game.

Zion Matthews, RB, Dr. Phillips

Senior exploded for more than 190 yards rushing and four TDs to guide the Panthers past East Ridge, 49-0, in a big Class 7A, District 9 showdown.

Aaron Hardy, Jr., RB/CB, Boone

Senior ran 26 times for 176 yards and two TDs, including the game-winning score with less than 2 minutes left, to rally the unbeaten Braves (7-0) past Winter Park, 44-38, in a key Class 7A, District 4 game.

Decorie Johnson, RB/SS, Winter Park

Senior rushed 16 times for 180 yards and three TDs in a close loss to Boone.

Daunte Wallace, RB, Jones

Senior ran for three TDs to power the Tigers past Lake Wales, 48-22, in a big Class 4A, District 7 game.

Janari Lofton, FS, Kissimmee Osceola

Senior recorded two interceptions in a stellar defensive effort to lead the Kowboys past Viera, 13-10, and help the school clinch the Class 6A, District 5 title.

Damian Moore, RB/LB, Edgewater

Senior continued his assault on defenses, rushing 17 times for 181 yards and three TDs and catching four passes for 33 yards to help the unbeaten Eagles (8-0) soar past Winter Springs, 47-0, and clinch the Class 5A, District 5 title.

Blake McCullough, QB, Bishop Moore

Sophomore completed 17 of 24 passes for 261 yards and four TDs and ran three times for 20 yards to propel the unbeaten Hornets (7-0) past Eustis, 48-0, in a Class 3A, District 6 game.

AJ Chung, QB, West Orange

Super sophomore completed 17 of 22 passes for 261 yards and five TDs to lead the Warriors past Ocala West Port, 57-0, in a Class 7A, District 5 game.

Steven Malone, DL, Oviedo

Senior made three tackles and came up with a huge special teams play when he blocked a punt and took it to the house to power the Lions past Lake Howell, 43-20, in a key Class 6A, District 4 game.

Nydrell Thigpen, RB, Kissimmee Gateway

Sophomore exploded for more than 300 yards rushing and five TDs to lead the Panthers past Lake Placid, 42-13.

Xaevez Brown, RB, Tohopekaliga

Senior caught four passes for 128 yards and three TDs and ran 13 times for 123 yards and a score to power the Tigers past The Master’s Academy (Oviedo), 42-8.

Jahamri Hammonds, RB/FS, Central Florida Christian Academy (Ocoee)

Fantastic freshman rumbled 28 times for 215 yards and two TDs to guide the unbeaten Eagles (7-0) past Cornerstone Charter Academy, 32-24.

Tamauri Collins, RB/WR, Tavares

Junior ran wild against Mount Dora, rushing 33 times for 266 yards and five TDs to power the Bulldogs to a 41-7 Class 3A, District 6 victory.

Tre Kelly, QB, South Lake

Junior completed 19 of 25 passes for 301 yards and four TDs and ran six times for 21 yards and a score to help the Eagles soar past Horizon, 54-14, in a Class 6A, District 6 game.

Todd Cutler, Jr., RB, New Smyrna Beach

Super sophomore ran 21 times for 170 yards and two TDs to propel the Barracudas past Pine Ridge, 28-14, in a Class 4A, District 6 game.

Zion Sandy, QB/SS, Space Coast

Star sophomore completed 16 of 21 passes for 143 yards and four TDs and ran five times for 35 yards to power the Vipers past Kissimmee Liberty, 39-6.

Daniel Negron, OLB/MLB, Melbourne

Senior made 10 tackles, nine solo, and one sack to lead the Bulldogs past East Ridge, 49-7.

Rico Buitrago, QB, Holy Trinity Episcopal

Senior passed for two TDs and ran for another score to power the Tigers past Cocoa Beach, 41-10.

Xavier Stinson, WR/RB, Vero Beach

Senior caught seven passes for 113 yards and two TDs to lead the Indians past Rockledge, 42-7.

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes, one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports.Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

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Jeff Gardenour can be reached via email at jgardenour1962@gmail.com or X @JMarkG1962