Bishop Moore wins Class 2M-4 championship, honors fallen QB

Hornets roll past Lake Buena Vista 49-12

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – While some schools had district games washed out by bad weather on Thursday night, the Bishop Moore Hornets were capturing a football championship – and honoring a fallen quarterback in the process.

Senior quarterback Riley Willis threw four touchdown passes, Heath Hedrick scored twice, Nolan Munroe caught two TD passes and Gabriel Diaz scored to lead Bishop Moore to a 49-12 blowout victory against host Lake Buena Vista, clinching the Class 2M (Metro), District 4 championship.

Members of Bishop Moore wore red number 8 stickers on the back of their helmets, paying tribute to East River High’s Nick Miner, who died in a car accident last Sunday morning.

“Our guys played very well and we’re continuing to build momentum heading into the playoffs,” said Bishop Moore running backs coach Micah J. Davis. “Great win for our school and our community, overall. We’re aiming toward finishing strong with a great opponent next week, as well.”

The Bishop Moore football team wore a No. 8 red decal on the back of their helmets in honor of East River quarterback Nick Miner, who was killed last week when his vehicle was struck while he was attempting to help a stranded motorist / Photo courtesy of Bishop Moore Football Twitter

It was the fourth straight win for Bishop Moore, which next hosts Lakeland Kathleen on Nov. 4 for its regular-season finale. The playoffs follow.

Meanwhile, at least three games were postponed because of lightning and heavy rain.

Winter Park’s home Class 4M-3 game against Timber Creek was postponed until Friday at 7 p.m. Winter Park (7-1, 3-0) can clinch the title with a victory. A Timber Creek (4-4, 2-1) victory would force a three-way tie for the title with Hagerty.

The Wildcats boast one of Central Florida’s most balanced offenses with quarterback Aidan Warner (1,094 yards, 15 TDs), wide receiver Izaiah Jean-Baptiste (456 yards, seven TDs), running back Amaris Shaw (612 yards, six TDs), linebacker Parker Clem (45 tackles) and defensive backs Torian Roberts and Hudson Gibbs (two interceptions each).

Timber Creek is led by quarterback Aaron Williams (1,238 yards passing, 12 TDs) and wide receiver Marcus Kral (481 yards, five TDs). Running back Nathaniel Hull (302 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and defensive back Alejandro Bello (two interceptions) also are playing well for the Wolves.

“Timber Creek is dangerous,” said Winter Park assistant coach Kit Hill. “Their coach does a good job getting their defense ready to play us. Defensively, if we do not control the line of scrimmage, it will be a long night. Trace Scott, Jayden Pack and Jayden Smith are tough, quick, and physical kids. And, Michael Barlowe is a big linebacker who will be a problem.

“Offensively, they have big-play potential,” Hill said, “especially (wide receiver) Marcus Kral, who is probably the most underrated player in Central Florida.

“We have to control the line of scrimmage on both fronts and create turnovers while not having our own,” Hill said. “Should be a good game as it always is. To the best of my knowledge, since I got here in 2008, there have only been two lopsided games with each team winning one of those but all the rest were close and some even nail-biters. I don’t see this one being any different.”

Four district champions and four at-large qualifiers from each region earn berths to the playoffs, which begin in November.

“They are very good on both sides of the ball and are well-coached,” said Timber Creek coach Jim Buckridge. “We would have to play error-free football to beat them. Their skill kids are some of the best in the Central Florida area.”

East River had its Homecoming game against Lake Howell Thursday night postponed to Friday at 2 p.m. The Falcons had planned on honoring Miner during the game.

Cypress Creek also had its Thursday night game against Freedom (Orlando) moved to Friday at 7 p.m.

Colonial’s game against University (Orlando) was moved to Nov. 2.

In games that got completed Thursday night, West Orange (5-3, 3-0) inched closer to the Class 4M-5 championship with a big 37-14 victory against Olympia (5-4, 2-2) in a game tabbed as “The Backyard Bowl.”

The Warriors will go for the title on Monday in a Halloween battle with Ocoee.

Standout quarterback Trever Jackson threw two TD passes and ran for another score, and Nathaniel Worrell and Thomas Jones each ran for TDs for West Orange, which has won three straight.

Josh Evans and Juan Gainous threw TD passes for Olympia.

Ocoee (6-3, 2-1), meanwhile, was stunned by Dr. Phillips 28-25. The Knights, however, can still win the 4M-5 title with a win against West Orange on Monday.

DP (4-5, 2-2) rallied from a 25-7 deficit by scoring 21 unanswered points. Jimez Hamilton had a spectacular game for DP with three TD catches. Stanley Anderson also scored for the Panthers.

Keyondray Jones, a transfer from Apopka, scored two TDs, and quarterback Darien Wharton ran for a score for Ocoee.

In a 4M-2 game, Apopka (6-2, 3-0) got quite the scare against visiting Evans (2-7, 1-3), falling behind 12-0 before scoring 23 unanswered points to win it 23-12.

The defending Class 8A state runner-up Blue Darters trailed 12-7 at halftime but slowly fought back into the game. Zeldrick Robinson scored two TDs, Rashad Watson scored once and Apopka added a field goal.

DeLand (5-3, 2-0), coached by former Apopka head coach Rick Darlington, blew a 21-7 lead in regulation but rallied to beat New Smyrna Beach 35-28 in overtime in a key Class 4S (Suburban), District 9 game. The Barracudas (4-4, 0-2) dropped out of the running for the district title.

TJ Moore accounted for multiple TDs, including the game-winner in overtime, for DeLand. Wyatt Darlington and Javon Ross scored on TD runs, and Allen Reed caught a TD pass for the Bulldogs.

New Smyrna Beach’s Malakai Hudson had a superb game with three TDs, including a kickoff return for a score. Armani Spurlock also scored for the Barracudas.

DeLand will play Port Orange Spruce Creek for the title on Nov. 2.