Week 9 high school football play began Monday, with Jones defeating Edgewater in a clash of downtown Orlando powers. In another big game on Thursday undefeated Sanford Seminole rolled to a 44-0 win over Spruce Creek in Port Orange.
That set the stage for an eventful Friday night that got spoiled in a number of stadiums due to lightning. A number of games were completed but others were halted. The Edgewater at Evans game was halted at the half and postponed.
CHECK HERE FOR SCOREBOARD UPDATES ON ALL GAMES
Go to the Sentinel Varsity home page for news on all high school sports. Games listed are scheduled for 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
Rankings in bold are from this week’s Sentinel Super 16 coaches poll. Teams are listed with win-loss records in parentheses. District records are included for district games.
Marquee matchups
West Boca Raton (6-1) at No. 2 The First Academy (6-1), incomplete
Coverage by Chris Martucci
West Boca (6-1) led 17-10 at halftime against the Royals (6-1). But lightning strikes brought the game to a half. It is set to be completed Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m.
More details to come, including postgame comments. …
IN-GAME UPDATES:
We are now 45 minutes into a lightning delay here at TFA. It is still up in the air what the plan is but optimistic that we will get the rest of the game in tonight. Bus drivers for West Boca are getting a bit antsy though, so it is a fluid situation right now.
8:59 p.m. – Coaches for West Boca and First Academy are meeting with each other right now. About what, we are not sure.
Teams were ready to kick off second half, but lightning detection put a stop to things.
West Boca to receive the opening second half kickoff.
It’s halftime. West Boca leads 17-10.
Deuce Woods Jr is the leading rusher for TFA with 51 yards and a touchdown.
FIELD GOAL: TFA’s Vance Fones nails a 29-yard field goal attempt to narrow the gap. 17-10 West Boca with 22 seconds left in the first half.
West Boca’s Trey Moran coughs up the ball and TFA recovers the fumble. First down First Academy at the West Boca 14. 1:50 2Q.
FIELD GOAL: West Boca Raton’s Kyle Allers hits a 23-yard field goal to increase the Bulls’ lead. 17-7 West Boca. 4:22 2Q.
TOUCHDOWN: TFA quarterback Deuce Woods Jr. turns what would have been a short loss into a 37-yard touchdown run to put the Royals on the board. Extra point good. 14-7 West Boca. 8:00 2Q.
Jaiziah Battle returns the kickoff to the TFA 47. A 51-yard return.
TOUCHDOWN Quinton Miller Jr extends the West Boca lead with a 1-yard touchdown run. Extra point good. 14-0 West Boca. 10:14 2Q.
West Boca leads 7-0 heading into the second quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: On 4th and goal, West Boca quarterback Trey Moran finds running back Anderson Gracilien for the 2-yard touchdown pass to draw first blood. Extra point good. 7-0 West Boca with 1:09 left in the first quarter.
TFA punts after three straight passes fall incomplete. West Boca to start at its 19.
Underway at TFA.
Seniors are being recognized right now.
Checking in from The First Academy. Partly cloudy skies but perfect weather for football as First Academy takes on two-time defending Class 6A champion West Boca Raton.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Two candidates for the eight-team Open Division playoffs collide.
West Boca, winner of the past two 6A state titles, is 34-3 over three seasons and is No. 3 in the MaxPreps’ rankings for FHSAA contenders. TFA is No. 8 on that list.
Week 9 Football Preview: TFA hosts West Boca in possible Open Division preview
No. 7 Edgewater (4-3) at No. 10 Evans (4-3), incomplete
Coverage by Jean Racine
8:53 p.m.: Game is postponed. No makeup date set as of yet.
7:43 p.m.: We have a lightning delay here at Evans High School. It’s at least a 30-minute delay from the last lightning strike. There is currently no rain in the area.
Edgewater is forced to punt. Evans takes over at its 21-yard line.
Evans leads 6-3 going into the second quarter.
Edgewater returns kickoff to its 19-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN: Evans quarterback William Jackson connects on a slant with Brian Dillard for an 11-yard TD. Extra point is no good. Evans leads 6-3 with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.
Evans returns kickoff to its 22-yard line.
FIELD GOAL: Edgewater kicker Jacob Lue Pann knocks boots a 53-yard field goal. Eagles lead 3-0 with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.
A fumble. Evans return man muffed the catch and Eagles recover and take over on the Trojans’ 38.
Trojans force another three and out
Trojans are force to punt from Edgewater’s 43-yard line. Punt goes out of bounds at the Trojans’ 12.
Evans forces a three-and-out. Trojans return the punt to their 40.
Edgewater won the toss and chose to receive. Kick goes out of bounds and Eagles choose to start on their 35-yard line.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
A storied Metro Conference rivalry is revived with both teams state-ranked. Edgewater is No. in 6A and Evans is No. 10 in 5A.
It’s the first meeting since Edgewater won in 2014.
The Eagles won the first 17 meetings (1959-1976) before Evans turned the tables and won 14 in a row (1979-1988; not played every year). For the decades the school’s shared Double-E Stadium on the Trojans campus.
No. 5 Bishop Moore defeated Hagerty, 42-0
Coverage by Chris Hays
Bishop Moore linebacker Giacomo SanFilippo picked up a fumble and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown with only 3 1/2 minutes gone in the game and the Hornets were on to the races, Eventually, shutting out Hagerty on the road 42-0.
Bishop Moore did not punt in the game, scoring on every possession. Junior running back Donovan Ferrufino had a big game, rushing for 106 yards and one touchdown of 11 carries, and he also caught a 16 yard touchdown pass from Junior Blake McCullough.
McCullough was equally impressive, engineering all six scoring drives on 11-of-12 passing for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The biggest completion came on a 3rd-and-19 after Hagerty had backed the Hornets up to their own 3-yard line.
McCullough found speedy senior Magnus Talma, who is committed to Boston College, and hit him on a slant route at about the 15-yard line. Talma did the rest, going the full 97 yards for the touchdown.
McCullough’s other touchdown passes were to Drew Follett and Ferrufino. Deuce Bronson scored a late touchdown from two yards out after the Hornets were set up by 29 yard pass from McCullough to Matthew Sullivan.
The Bishop Moore defense was stout all night with Noah Prince leading the way with a pair of sacks. The Hornets totaled five sacks, with Deion Plummer, Lucas Bower and Philip Ferragala also coming up with quarterback takedowns.
“I feel good about our team. I think the guys are doing a good job and getting a little bit better game by game,” Bishop Moore Coach, Matt Hedrick said.
Hagerty Coach Steve Mikles knew what his team was in for against a Bishop Moore team that has high hopes in the Class 4A playoffs.
Next week, Hagerty will be going after his first district title since 2018 in a showdown with Timber Creek in 6A-4.
“I think we came out on the first drive and got a little shell shocked when we had the fumble and they returned it for the touchdown,” Mikles said. “We knew how good they were. They’re the real deal.
“The good thing about this is that it doesn’t affect us. In all reality, we’ll probably go up in the rankings just from playing them. But you know, everything we do is for next week.”
Bishop Moore plays for its own district championship next week in 4A-6 when they travel to New Smyrna Beach.
IN-GAME UPDATES:
Bishop Moore takes a knee and this game is gonna be in the books, 42–0 Hornets as they move to 6-2 on the year. Hagerty falls to 5–2.
A big sack by Bishop Moore’s Philip Faragalla backs Hagerty up and the Huskies turn the ball over on downs. It’s still 42–0 Bishop Moore 8 minutes left in the game.
Some fireworks for Hagerty as Charlie Beniot hits freshman AD Santiago-Lopez for 77 yard gainer to the Bishop Moore 3 yard line.
TOUCHDOWN: Deuce Bronson gets in on the action with a 9 yard touchdown run and Bishop Moore leads 42-0 with two minutes left in the third quarter. Running clock.
Sophomore Charlie Beniot takes over quarterback duties for Hagerty in the second half.
TOUCHDOWN: Bishop Moore opens the second half with a 62 yard scoring drive capped by Donovan Ferrufino 2 yard TD run, we have a running clock at Hagerty 10 minutes left in the third quarter, 35-0.
Halftime statistics for Bishop Moore: Donovan Ferrufino has 7 carries for 90 yards. Quarterback Blake McCullough is 6 of 7 passing for 141 yards and three touchdowns.
Halftime: Bishop Moore leads 28-0.
TOUCHDOWN: After Bishop Moore holds Hagerty to a three and out, the Hornets make short time of a 57 yard scoring drive and McCullough hits Drew Follett with a 13 yard touchdown pass. Bishop Moore leads 28–0 at Hagerty, 1:29 left first half.
TOUCHDOWN: Blake McCullough throws a 97 yard catch and run touchdown pass to Magnus Talma after Bishop Moore was backed up with a third and 19 at the 3 yard line. Hornets take a 21-0 lead at Hagerty with 4:27 left in the first half.
Ferrufino with most of the work on the scoring drive of 80 yards with 63 yards on six carries.
TOUCHDOWN: Bishop Moore quarterback Blake McCullough throws a 16 yard touchdown pass to Donovan Ferrufino and the Hornets lead Hagerty 14–0, with 10:30 left in the second quarter.
Headed to the second quarter at Hagerty. Hornets lead 7-0.
Hagerty’s 29 yard field goal attempt by Isaac flowers is no good. Bishop Moore leads 7-0 with 2:47 to go in the first quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Bishop Moore strikes early as the Hornets Giacomo SanFilippo picks up a fumble and goes 22 yards for a touchdown, 7–0 Bishop Moore, 9:34 left in the first quarter.
PRE-GAME NOTES
Bishop Moore, ranked No. 5 in 4A, is on a five-game win streak and Hagerty has won three in a row.
These teams split games in 2013 and 2014 in their only meetings.
No. 6 Lake Nona defeated Gateway, 43-18
Coverage by Ken Jackson
Lake Nona overcame a slow start to score 40 unanswered second-half points in its victory over upset-minded Gateway. The Lions (7-1, 3-0) wrapped up their second 6A District 5 title in three years.
Lions quarterback Eli Nickerson was 11-for-17 for 114 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another on a night the Lions defense produced two scores, an 86-yard interception return by Taebor Williams and a Charles Woodson, Jr. fumble recovery.
Lions Coach David Aubrey said he and his coaches didn’t “fuss at” his team at the half when it trailed 12-3.
“We just told the kids that we got Gateway’s best shot and to settle down and play Lake Nona football. And if it was good enough they could win. The kids told their own story.”
Gateway (6-2, 1-2) held the ball for 12 of the game’s first 13 minutes, and led early on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Aristotle Span Jr, to Jesan Hernandez early in the second quarter. The Panthers made it 12-3 prior to halftime on Nydrell Thigpen’s five-yard run. Thigpen is Osceola County’s leading rusher but was held to 22 yards on 16 carries.
“You wonder if the lights got too bright for the kids,” Gateway Coach Marlin Roberts said. “But you hope these young kids learn from that experience.”
In-Game Notes:
TOUCHDOWN: Gateway quarterback Aristole Span passes to Johnny Reyes, who fumbles into the end zone at the 2. His teammate, Jesan Hernandez, recovers in the end zone for the Panthers first score in the second half. Lake Nona leads 43-18 with 1:19 left as rain begins to fall.
TOUCHDOWN: Eli Nickerson passes for 17 yards to Nick Lora and Lake Nona leads Gateway 43-12. The Lions trailed 12-3 at the half. They’ve scored 31 consecutive points.
TOUCHDOWN: In short order, Lake Nona converted an onside kick after Gateway was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on the touchdown. Eli Nickerson tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Josiah Hall, and Lake Nona went for two on a fake kick. It’s 37-12 with 10:1 left for three scores in two minutes.
TOUCHDOWN: Lake Nona safety Charles Woodson Jr. scores on a 16-yard fumble return to make it 31-12 over Gateway with 10:22 left in a game quickly getting away with lightning lighting up the sky to the west.
TOUCHDOWN: Eli Nickerson bulls in from the 2 on fourth down to give Lake Nona a 24-12 lead with 10:49 left until it can clinch another 6A District 5 title.
Lake Nona used the third quarter to completely swing this game their way. After trailing Gateway 12-3, Lake Nona now leads 16-12 and has the ball on the Panthers 5-yard line.
Taebor Willaims breaks up Aristotle Span’s fourth-down pass and Lake Nona is back in business in Gateway territory looking to add to a 16-12 lead.
TOUCHDOWN: It took just two plays, a 26-yard run by Noah Green and a 35-yard Daryn Hodge touchdown run, and Lake Nona leads Gateway for the first time, 16-12 after the two-point conversion fails. 6:32 left in the third quarter.
Lake Nona forces a three-and-out and gets the ball back at its 39 with 6:50 left in the quarter and all the momentum on its side.
Trying to get something out of the turnover, Gateway passed on 4th-and-11, but Lake Nona free safety Taebor Williams came up with the interception and returned it 85 yards for a score that may have changed the momentum here at Lake Nona. Gateway still leads 12-10 with 9:52 left in the third quarter.
Gateway recovers a Lake Nona fumble on the second half kickoff and gets a bonus offensive drive.
Lake Nona to receive the second half kickoff down 12-3 to Gateway.
Halftime: Gateway is halfway to its upset bid with a 12-3 lead. With the Lions working to bottle up Osceola County rushing leader Nydrell Thigpen (nine carries, 34 yards, 1 TD), the Panthers have broken out a passing game. Aristotle Span Jr. is 7-of-10 for 101 yards and a touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN: After a roughing the punter call kept Gateway’s drive alive, the Panthers drove to the Lions 5, and with no timeouts, Coach Marlin Roberts’ staff called a running play on third down. Nydrell Thigpen got to the pylon for a score. The two-point try was no good, and the Panthers lead 12-3.
Gateway starts its ensuing drive at its 27 with 6:25 left in the first half.
FIELD GOAL: After Lake Nona’s red zone drive stalls, the Lions get a 23-yard Drew Koller field goal to cut into Gateway’s lead, 6-3.
End of first quarter and Gateway leads 6-0. Lake Nona has the ball, but has to this point gained 2 yards on 4 plays.
TOUCHDOWN: After the Panthers forced a 3-and-out, Gateway QB Aristotle Span Jr. steps up in the pocket on third-and-16 and hit Jesan Hernandez over the middle for a 51-yard touchdown pass The PAT was blocked. The Panthers lead 6-0 with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.
After Gateway gained a first down on a fourth-down offsides call and six runs that took nearly six minutes off the clock, Lake Nona will start its first offensive drive at its 25.
The threatening weather report of storms tonight hasn’t panned out and we have a gorgeous night for football at Lake Nona. The Lions look to win their second 6A District 5 title in three years with a victory vs. Gateway, which has an outside shot at its first district title ever with an upset win.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Lake Nona is favored to claim only its second football district final — and first since 2016.
Gateway, which has never worn a district crown, can wrap up the championship with an upset win.
Lake Nona clinches if they win and St. Cloud (4-3, 1-1) prevails at Tohopekaliga (4-3, 1-1). If the Lions and Toho both win, the race goes on to next week’s Lake Nona at Tohopekaliga game.
Other Super 16 games
No. 4 Sanford Seminole defeated Spruce Creek, 44-0 (Thursday)
The ‘Noles (8-0), No. 4 in the MaxPreps’ Class 6A rankings, spanked the Hawks with a special-team showcase.
Special teams leads undefeated Seminole to blowout at Spruce Creek
No. 1 DeLand defeated Tavares, 73-0
DeLand (7-1) put up 45 unanswered points in the first quarter of a game that was called complete with 6:50 remaining in the fourth quarter due to inclement weather.
It only took the Bulldogs four offensive plays from scrimmage to score three touchdowns, and three 2-point conversions, to build a 24-point lead. Gardner Nordman threw long TD passes to Leighton Hill (26 yards) and Cristian Baez (55 yards) in the first half.
Kaveon Jackson had three rushing TDs, including the first two of the game. Taihj Moore added a paid of TD runs, and he returned the second half kickoff for a TD. Chico Apakama and Jahvonte Wheeler added rushing TDs for DeLand.
The Bulldogs came in averaging 393 yards and 44.6 points per game.
Tavares is 4-4.
No. 3 Jones defeated Brandon, 62-13
The Tigers (6-2, 2-1) were way late for arrival due to a bus breakdown on this lengthy road trip. But they easily won once they got to Brandon (3-5, 2-2), a Tampa area school.
That meant a 2-0 week for Jones, which won against Edgewater on Monday.
Ayden Edgecombe connected with Devin Coleman for an 8-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. After a Brandon rushing TD, Jones responded with one of its own on a 15-yard scamper by Elijah McCluster.
Edgecombe added four more TD passes with two of them going to Cameron Tooley, while McCluster had another rushing TD.
Jones also got an interception return for a touchdown by Charrod Wilson, and two long field goals from Spencer Bartholomew (45 and 47 yards).
South Lake (2-5) at No. 8 West Orange (6-1), incomplete
South Lake leads 10-6 in the third quarter of a game that will resume Monday where it left off.
West Orange opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Yuto Kawamura-Johnson, but South Lake responded by scoring on its next two drives.
First was a 23-yard field goal by Marchello Cortez, then a 45-yard touchdown run by Sam Wood with about 10 minutes left in the second quarter.
South Lake was driving at West Orange’s 25-yard line with 6:50 left in the half before a lightning delay that eventually resulted in postponement.
West Orange is No. 13 in Class 6A rankings.
First teams they’ve played since splitting games in 2009-2010.
No. 9 Oviedo defeated Lyman, 57-7
The Lions (6-2, 4-0) are are alone atop 5A District 5.
Oviedo has now won six in a row and 14 in the past 15 games against the Greyhounds (2-6, 1-3).
Boone (3-4) at No. 12 Ocoee (4-3)
Boone converted a fourth down play that set up a late touchdown as the Braves beat the Knights 24-21 last year.
Ocoee has lost only to teams that were top 10 in their class.
No. 15 Innovation defeated Oak Ridge, 23-6
The host Bulls (8-0), a third-year program, are No. 1 in the FHSAA Independent League standings.
Oak Ridge (3-5) is also in position to make the Independent playoff cut.
Innovation beat Oak Ridge 41-12 last year after losing to the Pioneers the previous two seasons.
Viera (3-4, 1-2) at No. 16 Lake Howell (4-3, 2-1)
Lake Howell leads 28-14 in a game not completed.
The Silver Hawks need a win to extend the 5A District 5 race into the Silverhawks’ home game against frontrunner Oviedo next week.
Other key games
Dr. Phillips defeated Windermere, 31-0
The game was stopped at halftime but ruled complete. DP improved to 5-3 and is now 6-0 vs. the Wolverines (5-3).
Poinciana (5-2, 3-0) at Haines City (4-3, 3-0), postponed
This important game is rescheduled for Monday night. It is the 6A District 9 championship game.
A football title for Poinciana would be a first for the Eagles, dating to the school’s 1993 debut.
The Hornets stung the Eagles in a 36-13 win at Poinciana last season.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.