Bishop Moore got into a dogfight it probably wasn’t expecting Friday night at Tavares.
Tavares showed off its new single-wing offense, highlighted by junior running back Tamauri Collins. The Bulldogs were dominating Bishop Moore for a while, but even with 314 yards and 3 touchdowns from Collins, the Hornets eventually had too much firepower in its passing game and its own running star in Amare’ Johnson, and pulled away 54-33 to win the Class 3A, District 6 championship.
Two other district titles were determined Friday. Orlando Christian Prep was stunned by Melbourne Central Catholic. MCC came into the game having won only once this season, but the Hustlers rolled past OCP 38-14, so now OCP will have to hope for a playoff rematch with MCC, just like last year.
In Class 7A-10, St. Cloud captured its first district title in 10 years with a 44-21 victory over Tohopekaliga.
Independent Windermere kept its winning streak rolling at 17 straight games, dominating McLaughlin of Lake Alfred 55-0. Meanwhile, Cypress Creek’s losing streak reached 29 games with a 37-0 loss to East River.
Eight Orlando-area teams remain undefeated: Edgewater, Bishop Moore, Boone, DeLand, Windermere, Innovation, Central Florida Christian and Umatilla.
High school football: Bishop Moore, South Lake, Winter Park all finished strong to win
Bishop Moore 54, Tavares 33: The Bulldogs took it right at unbeaten Bishop Moore (8-0, 3-0 in 3A-6), opening the game with a 73-yard touchdown run by Collins on the third play. That set the tone for the first half, as Tavares (5-3, 2-1) pushed the Hornets around in the early going. The lead changed hands three times before halftime.
It’s Bishop Moore’s 13th district title in the past 14 years.
If not for a red-zone interception by Bishop Moore’s Jack Schellenberg, the Hornets may have been looking at a halftime deficit, but they led 26-21 at the break. In a wild scenario at the end of the first half, there were three touchdowns scored in the final 2 minutes and 14 seconds.
Johnson scored on a 1-yard plunge at 2:14, but three plays later, Collins, set up by a 32-yard run from Camare Williams, scored from 15 yards out. On the very next play, Bishop Moore quarterback Blake McCullough hit Magnus Talma for an 80-yard touchdown pass.
“They were good. They played hard, And they were physical and aggressive and athletic,” Bishop Moore coach Matt Hedrick said of Tavares.
Johnson ended up scoring 4 touchdowns and had 156 yards on 25 carries to counter what Collins was able to do.
Junior running back Tamauri Collins ran for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns Friday night, but Tavares could not keep up with Bishop Moore, losing 54-33. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
Hedrick tipped his hat to Collins, who also had an 80-yard touchdown run.
“He was awesome and he’s only a junior, huh?” Hedrick said. “Goodness gracious.”
The difference, despite all of the running by Collins and Johnson, turned out to be the passing game. Bishop Moore quarterback Blake McCullough completed 13-of-21 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, including the 80-yarder to Talma and two to Kenyon Alston for 42 and 22 yards.
St. Cloud 44, Tohopekaliga 21: St. Cloud (6-2, 2-0) intercepted Toho (4-4, 101) quarterback Sabby Meassick four times, with Bryce Williams picking off two and returning both for touchdowns. Running back Cameron Dalton ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns, and St. Cloud quarterback Jeremiah Lattier threw for 288 yards and a touchdown. Williams was all over the field. He also had a fumble recovery, 6 tackles on defense and caught 5 balls for 98 yards on offense.
Week 9 Super 16 Coaches Poll: Edgewater continues residency at No. 1
No. 8 Evans 40, No. 10 Lake Mary 14: Senior running back Li’Darious Pryor stomped all over Lake Mary’s defense to the tune of 233 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Pryor had five runs over 20 yards. The Trojans (7-1) defense forced six turnovers, including three fumbles. Evans picked off Lake Mary (5-3) quarterback Noah Grubbs three times, with Demetre Pryor snagging two interceptions.
“We know how good our team is. When we play clean football, we can be really special,” Evans coach Karlos Odum said. “We let everybody in the state of Florida know that we are a real team.”
Orlando Area 2025 District Football Standings
No. 1 Edgewater 35, No. 4 Dr. Phillips 6: Damian Moore rushed for 122 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries in the first half. Moore and quarterback Carter Emmanuel, who threw for 67 yards on 8-for-11 passing, did not play in the second half after the Eagles (8-0) posted a 35-0 halftime lead.
No. 15 Winter Park 39, No. 12 Ocoee 28: Ayden Pouncey took over for Winter Park (4-4). The senior Notre Dame commit had eight catches for 132 yards and one touchdown. He also ran the ball 10 times for 62 yards and a touchdown, and in the fourth quarter, he returned a kickoff 90 yards for another score to seal the victory.
“He [Pouncey] is the best player without a doubt in Central Florida,” Winter Park coach Tim Shifflet said. “All the things he can do offensively, defensively, special teams. He’s our best weapon on offense.”
No. 16 South Lake 49, East Ridge 35: South Lake (7-1) trailed by two touchdowns at halftime, but the Eagles scored 28 unanswered points in the second half. East Ridge (6-2) receiver Tony Brown had three touchdowns and well over 200 yards in the first half, but was held in check by Rome McKinnond in the second. East Ridge (6-2) quarterback Karon Palmer was 10-of-16 with 342 yards in the first half, but he was limited to under 20 yards after the break. South Lake QB Tre Kelly had 53 yards and 3 touchdowns rushing, and running back Malik Holman ran for 139 yards and a score. Jesse Barker and Ramond Carter each had four sacks for South Lake.
Lake Brantley 58, Orlando University 0: Jackson Stecher threw for 380 yards and 5 touchdowns, 2 to Aidan Greer.
Week 9 Football Scores
Wednesday’s Score
West Oaks Academy 41, Geneva School 7
Friday’s Super 16 Scores
No. 1 Edgewater 35, No. 4 Dr. Phillips 6
No. 2 Jones 56, Wekiva 0
No. 3 Bishop Moore 54, Tavares 33
No. 5 Boone 58, Colonial 0
Springfield (Va.) St. James Performance Academy 41, No. 6 The First Academy 40
No. 8 Evans 40, No. 10 Lake Mary 14
No. 9 Osceola 50, Apopka 7
No. 11 West Orange 48, Olympia 0
No. 15 Winter Park 39, No. 12 Ocoee 28
No. 13 Seminole 16, Spruce Creek 10 (OT)
No. 14 Oviedo 55, Orange City University 7
No. 16 South Lake 49, East Ridge 35
Elsewhere Friday
Hagerty 37, Mount Dora 21
Lake Brantley 58, Orlando University 0
Lake Nona 48, Timber Creek 8
Melbourne Central Catholic 34, Orlando Christian Prep 14
St. Cloud 44, Tohopekaliga 21
Harmony 28, Celebration 14
New Smyrna Beach 28, Deltona 7
Rockledge 41, Pine Ridge 24
Gateway 19, Poinciana 8
Horizon 59, Lake Minneola 8
Leesburg 42, Lyman 13
Westwood 40, Kissimmee Liberty 6
Windermere 55, Lake Wales McLaughlin 0
Innovation 35, Lake Buena Vista 8
East River 37, Cypress Creek 0
Freedom 20, Oak Ridge 18
CFCA 71, Boca Raton Christian 42
Christ’s Church Academy 24, Cornerstone Charter 17
Cambridge Christian 51, Faith Christian 0
Foundation Academy 37, Cocoa Beach 34
Lake Highland Prep 20, Pine Crest 10
Seffner Christian 48, Master’s Academy 7
Orangewood Christian 45, Bishop McLaughlin 7
Trinity Prep 42, Cedar Creek Christian 0
Umatilla 42, Pierson Taylor 0
Windermere Prep 34, Bronson 0
Eight Man
TFA Leesburg 30, Lakeland Geneva Classical 28 (OT)
Real Life Academy 45, City of Life Christian Academy Football 8
Open date: DeLand, Eustis, Lake Howell, Mount Dora Christian, Winter Springs.
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
