It’s the midway point of the football season and time for district football play to begin around the Orlando area. Several teams are lined up for some serious midterm testing Friday night.
Two Class 7A district openers have huge ramifications, with Lake Brantley (4-0) at Seminole (2-3) and DeLand (5-0) at Spruce Creek (5-0). Super sophomores, quarterback Jackson Stecher at Brantley and running back Taihj Moore at DeLand are in the spotlight.
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Upstart Brantley, ranked No. 10 in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll, will be getting its first real test of the season against Seminole. The ‘Noles have fallen upon hard times, but the they are looking for a reason to get things turned around. Brantley provides the motivation and has become an instant contender in Class 7A District 3 since head coach Garrett Kruczek moved over from The Master’s Academy.
Lake Brantley is looking to stir up a district that has been dominated by Lake Mary and Seminole in recent years.
“We feel great,” Kruczek said about sitting 4-0 heading into the big matchup. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to play a tradition-rich program. This will be a good gauge to see where we are at.”
DeLand (5-0) hopes for a different sequel when it goes to Port Orange for a rematch against Spruce Creek (5-0). The Hawks defeated DeLand 48-13 on its way to the 7A-2 title last year.
The matchup pits two of the most successful coaches Central Florida has had. DeLand coach Rick Darlington has produced a 261-101 record, a 72% winning percentage, including stints at Eustis, Apopka, Valdosta (Ga.) and Enterprise (Ala.).
Spruce Creek’s Andy Price has run up a record of 201-100 (67%), including stints at Warner Christian and Titusville.
“They do a good job with moving the ball around to different guys, both in the run game and the passing game,” Darlington said of Spruce Creek. “The X-factor with them is their quarterback [PJ Miller]. He can run it and he can throw it, so it’s difficult to defend that.”
Darlington knows how quickly a season can turn. the Bulldogs started 4-1 last year, but lost five of their last six to finish 5-6.
“It’s been no different than normal, just one game a week and try to win on Friday,” Darlington said. “The wheels can come off quick if you start looking down the road or looking in the rearview mirror thinking you’ve done something. We’re still in September. There is a lot of ball to be played.”
Lake Nona (3-2) is on the road at St. Cloud (3-2) in another big district matchup. St, Cloud, frustrated when it was left out of the playoffs last year due to the FHSAA power rankings, knows there is only one way to make sure it reached postseason play. Win the district and you are in. Lake Nona did just that when it beat the Bulldogs 23-10 and claimed the 7A-10 title a year ago.
Lake Howell is sitting at 4-1 after four straight wins vs. some easy competition. The Silver Hawks midterm test is a doozy to open district play as they travel to Evans (4-1), which has been impressive, already knocking off previous Sentinel Super 16 Coaches Poll No. 1 Jones.
Jones (3-2), a reigning 4A district and region champ, opens leagues play against upstart Auburndale (3-1) and the Tigers have not been invincible this year.
Week 6 Football Schedule
All games are set for 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, Sept. 25
Tohopekaliga (3-2) at Harmony (3-2)
Gateway (1-4) at Kissimmee Liberty (0-4)
Friday, Sept. 26
Super 16 Games
Lyman (0-5) at No. 1 Edgewater (5-0)
Tampa Catholic (1-4) at No. 2 Bishop Moore (5-0)
Auburndale (3-1) at No. 3 Jones (3-2)
No. 4 The First Academy (3-2) at Gadsden County (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
Olympia (1-4) at No. 5 Dr. Phillips (4-1)
No. 6 Boone (5-0) at Timber Creek (2-3)
Lake Howell (4-1) at No. 7 Evans (4-1)
No. 8 DeLand (5-0) at Spruce Creek (5-0)
No. 9 Osceola (3-1) at Melbourne (4-1)
No. 10 Lake Brantley (4-0) at Seminole (2-3)
No. 11 West Orange (4-1) at Apopka (1-4)
Hagerty (3-1) at No. 12 Lake Mary (2-2)
No. 13 Ocoee (3-2) at Ocala Westport (1-4)
No. 14 Oviedo (2-2) at Wekiva (1-4)
Freedom (1-4) at No. 15 Winter Park (2-2)
No. 16 East Ridge (5-0) at Celebration (0-4)
Elsewhere
Lake Nona (3-2) at St. Cloud (3-2), 7:30
South Lake (4-1) at Ocala Forest (3-1)
Deltona (2-2) at Rockledge (1-3)
Tavares (2-2) at Eustis (1-4)
Winter Springs (4-1) at Horizon (2-3)
Windermere (5-0) at Lake Buena Vista (3-2)
Lake Minneola (1-4) at Davenport (2-3)
Pine Ridge (1-4) at Lake Weir (3-2)
Orange City University (1-3) at Flagler Palm Coast (1-3)
Lake Highland Prep (3-1) at Mount Dora (0-4)
Cypress Creek (0-5) at Colonial (1-4)
Innovation (5-0) at East River (1-4)
Oak Ridge (2-3) at Orlando University (0-5)
Windermere Prep (3-1) at CFCA (4-0)
Geneva School (0-5) at Cornerstone Charter (3-2)
Faith Christian (1-4) at Joshua Christian Academy (2-2)
Master’s Academy (3-2) at Mount Dora Christian (5-1), 7:30
Keswick Christian (5-1) at Orangewood Christian (2-4)
Umatilla (5-0) at Crystal River (2-3)
West Oaks Academy (1-4) at Zarephath Academy (1-4)
OPEN DATE: Leesburg, Orlando Christian Prep, Poinciana, Trinity Prep.
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays
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