Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Central Florida high school football Player of the Week? (10/21/2024)

Cast your vote to decide who had the best performance during Week 9 of the 2024 season

Lake Mary middle linebacker Eli Straker had 10 tackles against Seminole. / Eli Straker Instagram

After most area schools had games postponed the first week of October because of Hurricane Milton, athletes returned to the field in a big way last week.

We looked at schools in seven counties (Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard and Indian River) and nominated 29 athletes for games played Oct. 14-19.

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

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Congratulations to last week's winner: Zach Smith of Mount Dora.

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High School on SI voting polls are intended to be a fun way to create fan engagement and express support for your favorite high school athletes and teams. Unless expressly noted, there are no awards for winning the voting. Our primary focus is to highlight the abilities and accomplishments of all the athletes and teams included in our poll. You can vote as often as you wish and are encouraged to share our polls with others. The use of voting bots and other forms of automated voting are not allowed. Individuals will be removed from the poll if any form of automated voting can be verified. 

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Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. The winner will be announced in the following week's poll. Here are this week's nominees:

Ja’Torian “Duke” Mack, S/MLB, Edgewater 

Super senior and Appalachian State commit went wild in a 44-18 victory against Dr. Phillips, recording a punt return for a touchdown and two interceptions, including a pick-6.

Josh Perry, RB, Edgewater

Speedy senior raced for more than 120 yards and a TD against Dr. Phillips.

D’Marion Simmons, RB, The Master’s Academy (Oviedo)

Sophomore ran wild, rushing for more than 300 yards and five TDs to propel the Eagles past Mount Dora Christian, 42-14, in a Sunshine State Athletic Association game.

Trey Butkowski, K, Lake Nona

The senior five-star Kohl’s kicker boomed a 58-yard field goal to set a Central Florida record for longest field goal, lifting the Lions past Timber Creek, 36-7. He also added a 51-yarder in the game. The previous record of 57 yards was set by two players – Orangewood Christian’s Alan Gendreau in 2006, and Lake Brantley’s Jacob Godek in 2015 – according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Malachi Walters, QB, University High School (Orange City)

Star senior ran for two TDs and passed for two more scores to lead the Titans past Oviedo, 30-20, in a battle of 6-1 teams.

Jayden Ammons, RB/SB, West Orange

Sophomore ran 15 times for 125 yards and two TDs to march the Warriors past Olympia, 35-0.

Bryson Furrey, MLB/TE, West Orange

Senior recorded eight tackles, including six solo and four for loss, and a sack against Olympia.

Alex Johnson, QB, New Smyrna Beach

Stellar dual-threat signal-caller passed for four TDs and ran for another to lead the Barracudas past Deltona, 35-0.

Kwasie Kwaku Jr., RB/SS/WR, Mainland

Senior made an interception to help the defending state champ Bucs shut out Heritage, 9-0.

Cayden McCoy, K, Mount Dora

Junior made a 23-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining to help the Hurricanes beat Tavares, 15-12, in a key Class 3A, District 6 game.

Evan Wassom, DE/NG, Mount Dora

Senior recorded 11 tackles, including eight solo and 3.5 for loss, against Tavares.

Landon Towns, ATH, Lake Highland Prep

Rumbled for more than 200 yards and four TDs to lead the Highlanders past Pine Crest, 28-10.

Jaquail Smith, RB, Jones High School

Star senior ran for more than 120 yards and three TDs to power the Tigers past two-time defending state champ Lake Wales, 31-19, and to the Class 4A, District 7 title.

Deandre McDaniel, Jr., LB, Jones High School

Senior came up big on special teams, blocking a punt against Lake Wales.

Bjorn Jurgensen, QB, Bishop Moore

Virginia commit had another stellar game, passing for 258 yards and three TDs and rushing for 25 yards to lead the Hornets past Tavares, 41-14, and win the Class 3A, District 6 championship.

Amar’e Johnson, RB, Bishop Moore

Junior rushed 15 times for 100 yards and three TDs to guide the Hornets past Tavares.

Dane Thompkins, RB, The First Academy (Orlando)

Ran for more than 120 yards and three TDs to march the Royals past Seminole, 36-25.

Juan Berchal, DB, Seminole

Recorded five tackles, two solo, and a pick-6 for a TD against The First Academy (Orlando).

Noah Grubbs, QB, Lake Mary

Notre Dame commit passed for 226 yards and two TDs and ran for 17 yards to power the Rams past rival Seminole, 29-14, in a Monday night makeup game.

Eli Straker, MLB, Lake Mary

Senior recorded 10 tackles, including four solo, against Seminole.

Dylan Jansen, ATH, Holy Trinity Episcopal

Caught a 45-yard TD pass and returned a blocked punt 35 yards for another score to power the Tigers past Cocoa Beach, 14-12.

Brady Hart, QB, Cocoa

Michigan commit passed for 330 yards and four TDs to help the two-defending state champ Tigers beat The Villages Charter, 54-0.

Cameron Barlowe, SS/MLB, Cocoa

Senior made seven tackles, three solo, and one for loss against The Villages.

Joseph Allen, QB, Eau Gallie

Sophomore passed for three TDs and ran for a score to propel the Commodores past Palm Bay, 43-0, and to the Class 3A, District 8 championship.

Caleb Puzie, DB, Eau Gallie

Senior recorded a pick-6 to lead the Commodores past Palm Bay.

Dee Parker, WR/FS, Space Coast High School (Cocoa)

Senior returned a kickoff 70 yards for a TD to lead the Vipers past Oxbridge Academy, 25-0.

Elijah Harvey, QB, Titusville

Ran for a TD and passed for another score to lead the Terriers past Merritt Island, 17-14.

Nate Sparkman, QB/FS, St. Edward’s (Vero Beach)

Star senior passed for 157 yards and three TDs to march the Pirates past Berean Christian, 41-0.

Ethan Ball, ILB/RB, St. Edward’s (Vero Beach)

Senior made eight tackles, including seven solo, against Berean Christian.