Apopka, Seminole win big district games

Blue Darters, Seminoles face off for 4M-2 title on Nov. 2

ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida schools won big games last week, setting up even bigger contests on Tuesday.

A lot of eyes will be on Class 4M (Metro) on Nov. 1 when Apopka and West Orange host district title games. The Blue Darters (6-2, 3-0), who last season finished as Class 8A state runner-up, will entertain Seminole (8-1, 3-0) for the District 2 championship in a rematch of last year’s regional final that Apopka won 28-27 in overtime.

Apopka got quite the scare last Thursday when Evans (2-7, 1-3) took a 12-0 lead in the first half. But the Blue Darters roared back to win the district game, 23-12.

“I am ready for this game,” said Apopka 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior defensive end Kaven Call, a UCF commit. “Been waiting on this one all year, so I think it will be a good one, for sure.”

Seminole, meanwhile, overpowered Lake Mary 43-6 in a district contest last Friday to set up an all-or-nothing showdown with the Blue Darters. The Rams (5-3, 1-3) are still hoping for a playoff berth as an at-large qualifier.

“We knew going into the game that we had beaten Lake Mary before and we did just that,” said Seminole junior defensive lineman Preston Watson (6-2, 270). “We believe Apopka is our actual rival and we are gonna game plan, accordingly.”

Meanwhile, West Orange (5-3, 3-0) will host Ocoee (6-3, 2-1) for the District 5 title. The Warriors, who are coming off a decisive 37-14 victory last Thursday against rival Olympia, have won three straight under head coach Geno Thompson, a former West Orange player.

Ocoee will be trying to bounce back from a crushing 28-25 district loss last Thursday to Dr. Phillips, which scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to pull off the upset.

“Proud of the team for the way they played versus Olympia,” Thompson said. “It was our best game as a team, hands down.

“In order to be successful versus Ocoee, we have to continue to play for each other and stay positive throughout the course of the game.

“Ocoee is a quality team and will make plays,” Thompson said. “They have a solid D-line and some playmakers on offense. We need to play sound football.”

In Class 4S (Suburban), District 9 in Volusia County, DeLand (5-3, 2-0) set up a Nov. 1 title showdown with Port Orange Spruce Creek (4-2, 2-0) after edging New Smyrna Beach 35-28 in a wild overtime game last Thursday.

Spruce Creek is coming off an equally wild non-district game against Hagerty, which beat the Hawks on a Hail Mary pass 22-21 last Friday.

In Lake County, Mount Dora (6-3, 2-1) had its six-game win streak snapped last Friday in a shocking 49-3 Class 2S, District 10 loss at Eustis (4-4, 2-0). The Panthers can clinch the title with a win at The Villages Charter School (3-5, 1-1) on Nov. 1.

If The Villages upsets Eustis, that would force a three-way tie for the title and the FHSAA Power Rankings would determine final placing.

Here is a snapshot of other key Central Florida games last week:

Winter Park 47, Timber Creek 3

The Wildcats (8-1, 4-0) got two rushing TDS from Amaris Shaw, two TD passes from Aidan Warner, a punt return for a score and a sterling defensive effort that included a pick-6 to win the Class 4M-3 title.

Kissimmee Osceola 62, Tohopekaliga 7

The Kowboys (6-3, 3-0) won the Class 4S-10 title with a blowout of fellow Kissimmee school, Tohopekaliga (5-4, 1-2). It was the fourth consecutive victory for Osceola, which led 49-0 at halftime and won the game on a running clock.

Oviedo 55, Winter Springs 0

The Lions (8-1, 4-0) rolled their arch-rival in their final Class 3M-2 game of the season. Oviedo clinched the district championship the week before with a win against Lyman.

Winter Springs (0-9, 0-4) will try to pick up its first win of the season on Friday against visiting Palm Coast Matanzas (3-6).

Jones 47, Horizon 14

The red-hot Tigers (7-2, 2-1) scored three times on special teams to win this Class 3M, District 3 game – their sixth consecutive victory.

Backup quarterback Christopher Tooley had almost 150 total yards and three touchdowns for Jones, which also got a score from Jayden Gillens.

Horizon star running back Trei Ginn rushed for more than 160 yards and two scores.

Hagerty 22, Port Orange Spruce Creek 21

The Huskies (8-1) likely solidified its chances for an at-large berth out of Class 4M with a last-second Hail Mary pass from Anthony Benzija to Ian Miller.

Spruce Creek will be looking to beat DeLand for a district title on Nov. 1.

Orlando Christian Prep 62, Trinity Prep 0

The Warriors (5-4, 4-0) finished perfect in Class 1M, District 2 play with a shutout of the Saints. They finished just ahead of The First Academy of Orlando (8-1, 3-1), which blanked Winter Haven Akelynn’s Angels 39-0 in a non-district game.

Rockledge 35, Eau Gallie 0

The Raiders (8-1, 4-0) made a big statement with their blowout of Eau Gallie (7-2, 2-2) to win the Class 3S-10 championship. Rockledge’s only loss came to Osceola.

Cocoa 35, Palm Bay 0

The four-time state champ Tigers (5-3, 4-0) locked in yet another playoff berth by routing the Pirates (6-3, 3-1) and clinching the Class 2S-12 title.

“We are in a really good rhythm right now,” said Cocoa coach Ryan Schneider, a former UCF quarterback, “and we need to trust our routine and concentrate on being the best student-athletes we can be. Just play Cocoa Tigers football every day.”

Melbourne 49, Viera 7

The Bulldogs (7-2, 3-0) are going back to the playoffs after finishing perfect in 4S-11.

Holy Trinity Episcopal 35, Melbourne Central Catholic 0

The Tigers (5-3, 2-0) clinched the Class 1S-4 title with a big win over the Hustlers. Former Merritt Island coach Hurlie Brown coaches Holy Trinity.

Vero Beach 10, Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast 7, overtime

A week after being stunned by district rival Stuart Martin County, the Indians (9-1, 3-1) concluded their regular season by capturing the Class 4S-12 title.

In Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) playoff games, Central Florida Christian Academy (8-0) overwhelmed Gainesville Oak Hall, 50-6, to remain unbeaten; Mount Dora Christian (5-4) edged The Master’s Academy of Oviedo, 14-13, in a rematch of a regular-season game that the Eagles won; and unbeaten Lake Highland Prep (8-0) rolled past Fort Myers Canterbury, 52-16.

Central Florida

Football results

Week 10

Monday, Oct. 24

Daytona Beach Mainland 66, Deltona Pine Ridge 0

Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne) 50, Space Coast 27

Tuesday, Oct. 25

Boone 48, Lake Nona 21

Thursday, Oct. 27

Dr. Phillips 28, Ocoee 25

West Orange 37, Olympia 14

Apopka 23, Evans 12

DeLand 35, New Smyrna Beach 28, overtime

Colonial at Orlando University, postponed to Nov. 1

Bishop Moore 49, Lake Buena Vista 12

Sebastian River 28, Clearwater American Collegiate Academy 20

Friday, Oct. 28

Winter Park 47, Timber Creek 3

East River 10, Lake Howell 0

Cypress Creek 14, Freedom 13

Seminole 43, Lake Mary 6

Eustis 49, Mount Dora 3

Jones 47, Horizon 14

Kissimmee Osceola 62, Tohopekaliga 7

Oviedo 55, Winter Springs 0

Hagerty 22, Port Orange Spruce Creek 21

Lake Brantley 47, Port St. Lucie Centennial 24

Boone 43, Oak Ridge 0

Orlando Christian Prep 62, Trinity Prep 0

Clermont East Ridge 26, Groveland South Lake 21

St. Cloud 32, Celebration 6

Deltona 69, Deltona Pine Ridge 0

Foundation Academy 38, West Oaks 36

Windermere Prep 28, Orangewood Christian 21

The Villages 27, Umatilla 14

Palm Bay Heritage 35, Harmony 3

The First Academy 39, Winter Haven Akelyunn’s Angels 0

Poinciana 42, Winter Haven Ambassadors Christian 0

Winter Haven 27, Lake Nona 0

Davenport 38, Kissimmee Gateway 16

Belleview 48, Tavares 0

Eagle Lake-Lake Region 39, Kissimmee Liberty 6

First Academy-Leesburg 14, West Palm Beach Berean Christian 8

Cornerstone Charter 43, Deltona Trinity Christian 0

Faith Christian 36, Jacksonville Eagle’s View 0

Sarasota Christian 49, Clermont Real Life Christian Academy 17

Legacy Charter 25, Jacksonville Bishop Snyder 13

SSAC Quarterfinal: Central Florida Christian Academy 50, Gainesville Oak Hall 6

SSAC Quarterfinal: Mount Dora Christian 14, The Master’s Academy 13

SSAC Quarterfinal: Lake Highland Prep 52, Fort Myers Canterbury 16

Titusville 34, Astronaut 0

Jensen Beach 16, Bayside 8

Cocoa 35, Palm Bay 0

Rockledge 35, Eau Gallie 0

Palm Bay-Heritage 35, Harmony 3

Holy Trinity Episcopal 35, Melbourne Central Catholic 0

Melbourne 49, Viera 7

Satellite 22, Merritt Island 14

Jacksonville Paxson 52, Cocoa Beach 20

Merritt Island Christian 46, Kissimmee City of Life Christian 6

Lake Mary Prep 30, West Melbourne Calvary Chapel 12

Vero Beach 10, Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast 7, overtime

SSAC playoff game: Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy 36, Vero Beach-St. Edward’s 14

The Master’s Academy-Vero Beach 44, Eastland Christian 12