It\u2019s a strange week upon us in high school football in the Orlando area, as 27 teams will be idle.<\/p>\n
The scarcity of games is in part due to difficulties in making schedules within this season\u2019s realigned districts. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d said Jermel Jones, who has coached Orangewood to a 5-1 mark in the first six weeks. \u201cSometimes if it\u2019s too late, with the injuries you\u2019ve had during the season, you can\u2019t rest up before the playoffs and it\u2019s hard. And, if it\u2019s too early, then you gotta go the whole season without a break.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orangewood is a top contender in the FHSAA\u2019s new Independent Football League this season after 11 years in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do like being back in the (FHSAA) because you do get that bye week before the playoffs if you don\u2019t have to make up any games. So we\u2019ll go four more weeks and then get another break before we start the state championship series,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
Week 6 Super 16 Coaches Poll: DeLand reigns; TFA, Jones, Seminole, Bishop Moore follow<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s Super 16 Coaches Poll<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n This district became slim because Orlando Christian Prep dropped to eight-man competition and Melbourne Central Catholic dropped to Class 1A.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 33-0 win over Kathleen in Lakeland. Since the first-week loss, Jones\u2019 celebrated defense has only given up 15 points in three games.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n