Boone senior running back Aaron Hardy carried the load Friday night, rushing for 198 yards and two touchdowns to lead the No. 8 Braves past No. 12 Ocoee, 24-21. Boone improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2008.
In the other big game involving ranked teams in the Sentinel Super 16 Coaches poll, No. 3 Jones knocked off No 4 Osceola 28-14.
No. 9 The First Academy knocked off reigning Class 7A state champion Venice, No. 14 Windermere improved its winning streak to 15 games, and No. 16 Winter Park had four interceptions returned for touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory.
Boone coach Andy Johnson said prior to the game at Ocoee that until the Braves could get the passing game going they would ride Hardy, and he wasn’t kidding.
Hardy’s yardage wasn’t easy and was many times of the up-the-middle variety, as the Boone offensive line, led by Miami commit Rhys Woodrow, helped him plow his way to nearly 200 yards rushing. He’s not a big guy, listed at 5-foot-7, 170 pounds, but he’s definitely strong and often times drove forward with multiple Ocoee tacklers hanging on.
“It was very sloppy and we got a lot of things we gotta look at on both sides of ball,” Ocoee coach Buck Gurley said. “Boone came out and they ran the ball down our throat.”
It was an ugly game at times, including one player being ejected for throwing punches. There were 25 penalties and six turnovers.
High school football live: Big wins for Boone (5-0), Jones and TFA
Ocoee (3-2) was able to turn one big turnover into points just before the half. Boone was lined up to kick a 29-yard field goal when the snap was fumbled and the ball was picked up by Ocoee’s Dariyon Gordon, who returned it 79 yards for a touchdown. The Knights took momentum and the lead into halftime 14-9.
But Boone wasn’t fazed. The Braves went 69 yards on the first series of the third quarter, capped by Hardy’s second touchdown, take the lead. The Braves went ahead for good to start the fourth quarter on a gutsy call by Johnson.
The going wasn’t always easy for Boone running back Aaron Hardy against Ocoee on Friday night, but he did manage to gain 198 yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory over Ocoee. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
Facing 4th-and-6 at the Ocoee 9-yard line, Johnson decided to go for it. His quarterback son Sam Johnson hit Garrison Woods for the game-winning touchdown.
“They were resilient tonight. I told them you gotta take charge early. That was the goal tonight and then we kind of let them back in it, let them hang around. But I’m proud of the effort,” Coach Johnson said. “It’s like a woodpecker in a petrified forest. You just stay busy and find work and that’s what they did.”
Hardy shrugged off his performance like it was just another day at the office. He led the Braves in rushing in 2023, but Johnson needed him on the defensive side of the ball, so he relinquished his running back spot for the good of the team.
He’s back with a vengeance, carrying for 719 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games.
“I’m very proud of our team, especially the O-line because I love them boys so much,” Hardy said. “I’m pushing for 1,200 yards. I didn’t play much offense last year and I was a little upset about that, but I’m getting back into my groove. But I’m very tired.”
Trailing 24-14, Ocoee got close when QB Tyson Davison hit Elijah Thomas with a 64-yard touchdown pass to make it 24–21 with 7:14 left. On its final series, Ocoee had four straight incomplete passes and Boone ran out the clock. Davison and Thomas connected 5 times for 134 yards.
No. 1 Edgewater 35, Apopka 0: The Eagles scored three defensive touchdowns and quarterback Carter Emanuel threw TD passes to brother Cole Emanuel and Hanoj Williams. Durell Mitchell recovered a fumble in the end zone and Lawrence Pipkin and Octavius Lewis both had Pick-6s.
No. 2 Bishop Moore, 41, Melbourne Central Catholic 14: Amar’e Johnson rushed for 2 touchdowns, Kenyon Alston had an 80-yard TD pass from Blake McCullough and Trenton Gummer raced 47 yards for a TD on a fake punt as the Hornets improved to 5-0.
No. 3 Jones 28, No. 4 Osceola 14: Jones (3-2) jumped out to an early 21-0 lead on a 13-yard TD pass from Dereon Coleman to Tyler Coleman, a blocked punt and end zone recovery by Landen Gaines, and a 30-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery by Reggie Harris during a four-minute stretch.
“Some big plays by the defense gave us life, then it turned into a game between two state-final teams,” said Jones coach Elijah Williams, referring to appearances by his Tigers (Class 4A) and the Kowboys (Class 6A) in 2024 championship games.
Osceola quarterback Amaree Rutland hooked up with Alijah Jenkins for a 54-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, but the Kowboys (3-2) only managed one first down the rest of the way.
No. 11 West Orange 49, Lake Buena Vista 0: AJ Chung completed 11-of-14 passes for 128 yards and four TDs for the Warriors (4-1). Yuto Kawamura-Johnson had two TD catches. Jayden Ammons had a pair of TDs on 13 carries for 114 yards.
No. 16 Winter Park 45, Creekside 29: The Wildcats (3-2) had four interceptions for touchdowns, including two by Notre Dame commit Ayden Pouncey, who also caught a TD pass. Max Lennon and Johnny Slack had the other interception TDs.
Winter Springs 28, Gateway 20: The Bears improved to 4-1 and sophomore defensive back Jaylen Lowman nabbed his state-leading seventh interception of the season. Junior running back Omar Scott had four TDs. Winter Springs, which went four years with one victory (2020-23), has won 9 of its past 15 games.
South Lake 19, Mount Dora 10: Malik Holman had 153 yards rushing with two TDs. Rome McKinnon blocked a punt and a field goal try for the Eagles (4-1).
Super 16 scores
No. 1 Edgewater 35, Apopka 0
No. 2 Bishop Moore 45, Melbourne Central Catholic 14
No. 3 Jones 28, No. 4 Osceola 14
No. 5 Dr. Phillips 35, Wekiva 6
No. 6 Evans 44, Horizon 0
No. 7 DeLand 39, Deltona 0
No. 8 Boone 24, No. 12 Ocoee 21
No. 9 The First Academy 21, Venice 14
No. 11 West Orange 49, Lake Buena Vista 0
No. 14 Windermere 45, East River 6
Winter Park 45, Creekside 29
Elsewhere
East Ridge 49, Ridge Community 7
Lake Wales 38, Seminole 29
Space Coast 21, Celebration 7
Winter Springs 28, Gateway 20
Hagerty 40, Timber Creek 7
Lake Howell 26, Harmony 10
Lake Minneola 35, Lake Gibson 6
Lake Nona 31, Olympia 27
Land O’Lakes 42, Leesburg 0
South Lake 19, Mount Dora 10
Oak Ridge 28, Colonial 20
Southeast 52, Cypress Creek 6
Freedom 30, Liberty 20
Innovation 56, University (Orlando) 7
Neumann 31, Orlando Christian Prep 13
Poinciana 34, Haines City 15
St. Cloud 24, Merritt Island 21
Villages Charter 35, Tavares 14
Viera 44, Tohopekaliga 22
Mount Dora Christian 42, Pine Ridge 21
Seffner Christian 49, Orangewood 13
CFCA 42, Bronson 12
Lake Highland Prep 42, Cornerstone Charter 13
Foundation Academy 26, Eustis 7
Miami Country Day 39, Faith Christian 36
Boca Raton Christian 45, Geneva School 31
Father Lopez 39, Trinity Prep 14
Umatilla 55, Central (Brooksville) 6
Interlachen 38, West Oaks 18
Bishop McLaughlin 21, Windermere Prep 10
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
