Week 3 of the high school football season features a Friday night matchup of 2024 state runner-up teams, Lake Mary and Lakeland – one of a number of intriguing rematches.
Check back here often to get “live” news from that game and others.
Jones, 2-0 and No. 1 in the Sentinel Super 16 area rankings, will host No. 14 Evans (1-1) in Orlando’s “Soul Bowl” game, set for 10 a.m. on Saturday.
No. 8 The First Academy made a Thursday road trip to Port St. Lucie and scored its first win of the season, 57-7, against Treasure Coast (0-3).
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All games are scheduled for 7 p.m. kickoffs unless noted otherwise. Rankings in bold are from this week’s Sentinel Super 16 coaches poll.
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No. 3 Lake Mary (2-0) at Lakeland (1-1), 7:30
Coverage by Bill Kemp
PRE-GAME NOTES:
This is a rematch of an epic game between 2024 state final teams. On the way, the Dreadnaughts pulled out a 35-34 overtime win at Lake Mary in their regular season collision.
The Rams led until Lakeland scored on an 80-yard TD pass in the final minute of regulation. Both scored in overtime, but Lake Mary’s attempt for a game-winning two-point conversion failed.
The Rams, the Class 7A runner-up last season, are ranked No. 1 in that class by MaxPreps. Lakeland is No. 2 in 5A but has a higher rating than Lake Mary.
Lakeland, which has won nine state championships, lost 10-6 last week at California power De Lasalle, which is ranked No. 28 nationally.
Week 3, Super 16 Coaches Poll: Jones, Edgewater 1-2; the rest shuffle
No. 12 Oviedo (1-1) at No. 11 Lake Brantley (2-0)
Coverage by Chris Hays
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Oviedo crushed the Patriots 55-0 last season but finds itself as the underdog a year later against a Brantley team that has a lot of new faces.
Lake Brantley routed its first two opponents with sophomore quarterback Jackson Stacher completing 23 of his 26 pass attempts (88.5%) for 455 yards, 7 TDs and no interceptions.
Oviedo is averaging 45 points per game but was outscored 68-35 by Bishop Moore in Week 1.
The Lions have won the past four meetings.
No. 10 Ocoee (2-0) at Lake Nona (2-0)
Coverage by Chris Martucci
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Ocoee overpowered the Lions 30-6 last season but Lake Nona is on a 6-1 streak dating to 2024 — losing only in a first round playoff game — and would vault into the Super 16 with a win.
Tyson Davison, a multi-dimensional senior quarterback who departed Apopka to play for Ocoee, has passed for 210 yards and run for 132.
Tohopekaliga (2-0) at Hagerty (1-1)
Coverage by Philip Rossman-Reich
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Tohopekaliga ramps up the degree of difficulty against the Huskies, who topped the Tigers 26-14 last year on the road.
Hagerty is coming off a tough 22-16 loss to ranked Boone.
Sabby Meassick, Tohopekaliga’s prolific passer, has completed 48 of 65 attempts (73.8%) for 854 yards and 11 touchdowns without throwing an interception according to MaxPreps.
Other Super 16 games
No. 2 Edgewater (2-0) at Freedom (0-2)
Edgewater is No. 5 in 5A.
Titusville (1-1) vs. No. 4. West Orange (2-0)
West Orange is No. 8 in 7A.
No. 5 Bishop Moore (2-0) at Bartow (1-1)
Bishop Moore makes its first road trip to face a team it beat 19-9 in 2024.
The Hornets are also ranked No. 5 in 5A.
No. 6. Kissimmee Osceola (1-1) at Winter Haven (2-0)
Osceola is No. 5 in 6A.
Winter Haven was 1-9 last season.
This game starts at 7:30.
Apopka (0-2) at No. 7 Dr. Phillips (1-1)
DP ended a 10-game losing streak against the Blue Darters with a 6-3 defensive duel win a year ago.
No. 8 The First Academy defeats Treasure Coast, 57-7
TFA got a break from its difficult schedule Thursday night, putting away Treasure Coast in easy fashion.
Junior quarterback Landen Holley threw 3 long touchdown passes on 8-of-11 passing for 295 yards, and also ran for a short TD. Senior Pittsburgh commit Demetrice McCray caught a 65-yard TD pass, junior Brian Dillard scored on a 61-yard catch-and-run and junior Mannie McKinney had a 59-yard scoring catch.
The Royals shared the wealth in the running game, with seven different players getting carries. Junior Jaelyn Powell led the way with 35 yards and 2 touchdowns on 2 carries. Dillard scored on a 17-yard run and freshman Caleb Postell scored on a short run.
Senior Alabama commit Brian WIlliams had 3 catches for 86 yards.The TFA defense allowed only 103 total yards on 34 snaps, and only 38 rushing yards on 29 tries.
Senior DL Alex Willis, senior DL CJ McCoy, junior DL JP Furtado, senior LB Ryon Smith and junior LB Kyler Priester were all touted as having good games defensively for the Royals.
Merritt Island (1-1) at No. 9 DeLand (2-0)
DeLand is No. 8 in 7A.
Olympia (0-2) at No. 13 Boone (2-0)
Boone plays its first regular season home game against a team it beat 27-7 last season.
Lyman (0-2) at No. 16 Seminole (1-1)
Seminole is No. 5 in 7A.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
