It’s a strange week upon us in high school football in the Orlando area, as 27 teams will be idle.
The scarcity of games is in part due to difficulties in making schedules within this season’s realigned districts. It’s also the midway point of the season, which many coaches see as an ideal week for a bye week, so players can get rejuvenated and heal.
“I try to get mine right around (week) 5 or 6, so that hopefully, with your dings and bruises, you can get a week off to rest up and then finish off the rest of it,” said Jermel Jones, who has coached Orangewood to a 5-1 mark in the first six weeks. “Sometimes if it’s too late, with the injuries you’ve had during the season, you can’t rest up before the playoffs and it’s hard. And, if it’s too early, then you gotta go the whole season without a break.”
Orangewood is a top contender in the FHSAA’s new Independent Football League this season after 11 years in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
“I do like being back in the (FHSAA) because you do get that bye week before the playoffs if you don’t have to make up any games. So we’ll go four more weeks and then get another break before we start the state championship series,” Jones said.
Week 6 Super 16 Coaches Poll: DeLand reigns; TFA, Jones, Seminole, Bishop Moore follow
There are still several interesting matchups Friday night, and one game will have serious implications. The First Academy (4-1), ranked No. 2 in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll, hosts Cocoa (1-3) in the championship game of the two-team Class 2A District 5. The winner is the automatic district qualifier for the FHSAA state playoffs.
This district became slim because Orlando Christian Prep dropped to eight-man competition and Melbourne Central Catholic dropped to Class 1A.
Also Friday, Ocoee (3-2) will host Jones (3-1) in another tough test for a Knights team that took West Orange to the wire before losing a controversial 13-12 decision three weeks ago.
Both teams opened district play last week. Ocoee is coming off a 27-0 victory over Horizon. Jones started the season with a 27-0 loss at Santa Margarita, California, but the Tigers have won three straight, including last week’s 33-0 win over Kathleen in Lakeland. Since the first-week loss, Jones’ celebrated defense has only given up 15 points in three games.
Elsewhere, Gateway (5-0 overall, 1-0 in 6A-5) will put its unbeaten record on the line in a district game at home against St. Cloud (3-2, 0-1), which is coming off a demoralizing 43-8 district loss to Lake Nona.
Gateway running back Nydrell Thigpen is averaging 196 yards and two touchdowns per game and has rushed for over 200 yards in three straight games.
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Orlando’s University High (4-1) is off to its best start to the season since former UCF quarterback Kyle Israel was at the school in 2003. The Cougars, under second-year coach Dave Carrington, will be looking to extend their record start at Wekiva (2-4). University is led by senior quarterback Cesar Ramirez (817 yards, 11 touchdowns) and the junior running back tandem of Carter Hill (141 yards, 4 TDs) and Josiah Gomez (128 yards, 1 TD).
Another interesting matchup has veteran coaches facing off in Kissimmee as Johnny Wilkinson brings his New Smyrna Beach Barracudas (4-1) to town for a showdown with Tohopekaliga (4-1). Toho and coach Anthony Paradiso are at it again with the Air Diso passing game. Junior quarterback Gabriel Velez has taken over this season, with the graduation of Sabby Meassick, and has thrown for 1,518 yards and 18 touchdowns in five games.
Week 7 football schedule
(All games start at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted)
Thursday’s game
Trinity Prep (3-2) at Harvest Community (2-5)
Friday’s Super 16 games
Centennial (1-4) at No. 1 DeLand (4-1) #
Cocoa (1-3) at No. 2 The First Academy (Orlando) (4-1)*
No. 3 Jones (3-1) at No. 12 Ocoee (3-2)
Wiregrass Ranch (2-3) at No. 11 East Ridge (4-2)
No. 14 Hagerty (3-1) at Seabreeze (3-2) #
St. Cloud (3-2, 0-1) at No. 16 Gateway (5-0, 1-0)*
Friday’s other games
CFCA (3-2) at Bronson (2-5)
Deltona (2-3) at Matanzas (1-4)
Satellite (6-0) at Eustis (1-4)
Faith Christian (0-4) at Master’s-Vero Beach (0-6)
Freedom (2-3) at Timber Creek (3-2)
Horizon (2-4) at Boone (2-3)
Lake Highland Prep (2-3) at Bishop Snyder (0-6)
Lake Mary (1-4) at Mandarin (4-1)
Liberty (1-4) at Celebration (0-5)
Mount Dora (2-3) at Crystal River (0-6)
Indian Rocks Christian (2-4) at Mount Dora Christian (4-1), 7:30 p.m.
Oak Ridge (2-3) at Olympia (2-4)
Osceola (2-4) at Dr. Phillips (3-2)
Pine Ridge (0-5) at Umatilla (2-4)
Boca Ciega (3-2) at South Lake (1-4), 7:30 p.m.
Tavares (3-2) at Leesburg (0-5)
New Smyrna Beach (4-1) at Tohopekaliga (4-1)
Flagler Palm Coast (4-1) at University-Orange City (1-4)
University (Orlando) (4-1) at Wekiva (2-4)
Windermere Prep (2-3) at Foundation Academy (2-2), 5:30 p.m.
Winter Springs (1-4) at Ridge Community (0-5), 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s 8-man games
City of Life Christian (1-3) at Classical Academy (3-2)
Eastland Christian (0-1) at Cornerstone Academy-Gainesville) (1-2)
First Academy-Leesburg (4-2) at Merritt Island Christian (6-0)
Ave Maria (0-4) at Lake Mary Prep (1-5), 6 p.m.
OCP (0-3) at Hernando Christian (2-4)
Geneva Classical (2-3) at Real Life Christian (4-1)
*— denotes district game.
# — DeLand games are at Spec Martin Stadium, Seabreeze at Daytona Municipal Stadium, First Academy-Leesburg at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.
OPEN DATE: Apopka, Bishop Moore, Colonial, Cornerstone Charter, Cypress Creek, East River, Edgewater, Evans, Harmony, Innovation, Lake Brantley, Lake Buena Vista, Nova Lakes, Lake Howell, Lake Minneola, Lake Nona, Legacy Charter, Lyman, The Master’s Academy, Orangewood Christian, Oviedo, Poinciana, Seminole, West Oaks, West Orange, Windermere, Winter Park.
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.