Orlando’s The First Academy, ranked No. 2 in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll, became the first district champion of the season Friday night, clinching the two-team Class 2A District 5 with a 49-3 victory over Cocoa.
St. Cloud handed Gateway its first loss of the season 28-21 in the only other district game this week, as 27 Orlando-area teams were idle. No. 3 Jones defeated No. 12 Ocoee 15-6, No. 11 East Ridge rolled past Wiregrass Ranch 57-14, and No. 14 Hagerty toppled Seabreeze in the only other Super 16 games.
First Academy 49, Cocoa 3
Freshman running back Hyquez Russell had a big night as the Royals won their first district title since 2016. An automatic FHSAA state playoff berth comes with the district championship. It will be TFA’s first postseason appearance since 2022.
TFA (5-1) is ranked No. 3 in the FHSAA 2A rankings, according to MaxPreps, behind nine-time state champ Chaminade-Madonna of Hollywood and Cardinal Newman of West Palm Beach, which upset Chaminade in last year’s 1A state title game.
Russell ran for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. Quarterback Deuce Woods added a pair of rushing touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass to Zechariah Jean-Bart.
Bam Whitfield scored a touchdown on a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter.
“I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of the way that so many of these guys continued to battle through the journey of not being able to play in a district championship. And now being able to compete in a district championship, and winning, it just makes it a whole lot more special,” First Academy head coach Jeff Conaway, said of his team being banned from postseason play the past two seasons. “We’re not necessarily chasing championships as much as we’re trying to develop champions, but I’m really proud that our work over these last three years has finally felt like it’s kind of paid off. So it’s very special to have the trophy in our grasp again.”
St. Cloud running back Eli Manning rushed for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown as St. Cloud defeated Gateway 28-21 Friday night. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
St. Cloud 28, No. 16 Gateway 21
Colton Sklarek’s quarterback sack with time running out saved St. Cloud (4-2, 1-1), stopping a Gateway scoring threat to preserve the Bulldogs’ Class 6A-5 victory. It was Gateway’s first loss of the season.
Gateway (5-1, 1-1) drove the ball 89 yards to get to the 8-yard line with 18 seconds left. The Panthers even overcame a second-and-25 situation at their own 3-yard line. But on the last two plays, Nydrell Thigpen was stopped for no gain and quarterback Aristotle Span Jr. was sacked by Sklarek.
“We hung around and the defense finally rose to the occasion there at the end,” St. Cloud coach Mike Short said. “I’m proud of the fight. We came alive with a run game and I think that kind of threw them off guard.”
Short needed someone to step up for injured running back Michael Cuyler (collar bone) and Eli Manning did so in a big way. The 5-foot-8, 190 pound junior carried 18 times for 88 yards and a TD. A lot of his yardage was tough to come by in a very physical game.
Gateway running back Nydrell Thigpen tries to get to the outside around St. Cloud defender Marcus Saintil during St. Cloud’s 28-21 victory Friday night, Oct. 2, 2026. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
“Fantastic game,” Short said of Manning. “Mike (Cuyler) is kind of beat up a little bit and Eli, I challenged him earlier in the week. I said, ‘Look man, you’re the lead dog now. You gotta go take care of business.’
“His four or five yards, with those little bitty legs he’s got, turns into 14 yards real, real quick. He did a fantastic job. I’m proud of that kid.”
Gateway had St. Cloud stopped on two different fourth-down situations, but penalties gave the Bulldogs new life. They capitalized with a go-ahead touchdown with 6:28 left in the game — a 1-yard run by Owen Sullivan.
Thigpen came into the game having rushed for more than 200 yards in three straight games. St. Cloud held him to 87 and two touchdowns on 32 carries.
Jones High quarterback Peyton Carroll scrambles during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee halfback Matthew Haynes (0) leaps for extra yardage during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Students cheer during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jones High quarterback Peyton Carroll (1) runs through the3 tackle of Ocoee defensive end Cornelius Laney (4) during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee tight end Cornelius Laney (4) yells during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jones High Bennie Johnson (24) runs during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jones High quarterback Peyton Carroll (1) scrambles during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee quarterback Nathaniel Watkins (1) throws during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee cheerleaders cheer during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee High defensive end Cornelius Laney (left) grabs the jersey of Jones High running back Marvin Brown (right) during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jones High receiver Damir Williams (3) runs for a touchdown past Ocoee defensive back Drayden Drayton (10) during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee player Trey Taylor celebrates after a play during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jones High quarterback Peyton Carroll (1) throws during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The Jones High band performs during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jones High wide receiver Damir Williams (3) runs for a touchdown during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ocoee High quarterback Nathaniel Watkins (1) throws over the Jones High line during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Jones High quarterback Peyton Carroll scrambles during the Jones High at Ocoee High varsity football game on Friday, October 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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No. 3 Jones 15, No. 12 Ocoee 6
Damir Williams, who transferred from Evans just before the season and received his transfer appeal approval last week, rushed for 116 yards and two TDs on 19 carries. The stout Jones defense once again was successful in the game at Ocoee (3-3). Jones (4-1) has allowed just 21 points in its last four games.
Williams, a senior who played at North Marion last season, broke free for a 40-yard TD in the second quarter. He scored his second TD on a 10-yard run midway through the third quarter.
“(Williams) came out red hot,” said Jones assistant coach Clim Robbins Sr. “He’s a powerful runner. He finds the hole and he gets through.”
Ocoee was held scoreless until the Knights blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone with 4:37 remaining in the game.
The Knights forced a punt on the next possession and had the ball with 3:08 to go, but Jones’ defensive back Rome McKinnond intercepted a pass to end any comeback thoughts.
University (Orlando) 27, Wekiva 22
Orlando’s University High won its fourth straight game and improved to 5-1, equaling the best start in school history, stretching back to 2003, when former UCF quarterback Kyle Israel was running the show for the Cougars.
In a game that was delayed in the second half due to a power outage, University was aided by running back Carter Hill’s two TDs. Aiden Rosario also caught a touchdown from quarterback Cesar Ramirez. Jonathan Martucci kicked field goals from 30 and 42 yards.
Winter Springs 41, Ridge Community 0
Winter Springs seems to be rejuvenated under interim head coach Al Green. The Bears (2-4), a 2025 playoff team, have won two straight games since coach Tim Dycus resigned after an 0-4 start. Sophomore Jake Lowery threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Jordan Woods and one to Cameron Mungovan. Oman Scott ran for a pair of scores.
Week 7 football results
Thursday’s games
Trinity Prep 42, Harvest Community 7
Deltona 21, Matanzas 12
Cornerstone Charter 44, West Oaks 8
Friday’s Super 16 games
No. 1 DeLand 57, Centennial 0
No. 2 TFA (Orlando) 49, Cocoa 3*
No. 3 Jones 15, No. 12 Ocoee 6
No. 11 East Ridge 57, Wiregrass Ranch 30
No. 14 Hagerty 34, Seabreeze 20
St. Cloud 28, No. 16 Gateway 21*
Friday’s other games
CFCA 54, Bronson 0
Satellite 49, Eustis 6
Master’s (Vero Beach) 48, Faith Christian 14
Timber Creek 44, Freedom 0
Boone 20, Horizon 0
Lake Highland Prep 35, Bishop Snyder 19
Mandarin 33, Lake Mary 17
Celebration 7, Liberty 0
Mount Dora 35, Crystal River 30
Mount Dora Christian 32, Indian Rocks Christian 21
Olympia 41, Oak Ridge 13
Dr. Phillips 13, Osceola 0
Umatilla 17, Pine Ridge 10
South Lake 28, Boca Ciega 22
Tavares 35, Leesburg 0
New Smyrna Beach 35, Tohopekaliga 14
Flagler Palm Coast 38, University (Orange City) 10
University (Orlando) 27, Wekiva 22
Foundation Academy 37, Windermere Prep 0
Winter Springs 41, Ridge Community 0
Friday’s 8-man games
Classical Academy 30, City of Life 0
Merritt Island Christian 31, First Academy-Leesburg 16
Lake Mary Prep 51, Ava Maria 34
Hernando Christian 67, OCP 20
Real Life Christian 42, Geneva Classical 12
*denotes district game.
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.