Lake Mary, the No. 1-ranked team in the Sentinel Super 16 rankings, warmed up for its biggest game of the regular season with a 34-13 road win at Flagler Palm Coast in high school football on Friday night.
The Rams improved to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in Class 8A District 2 going into a showdown next Friday with backyard rival and reigning state champ Sanford Seminole (7-1, 2-0). The ‘Noles won 51-14 Oviedo on Friday.
Lake Mary quarterback Gunnar Smith threw two TD passes, leaving him one short of the Seminole County record set last year by Seminole’s Timmy McClain, who is now the freshman starting QB for USF.
Smith also had a 6-yard TD run vs. FPC. Caden Harshbarger and Markel Jones caught his TD tosses.
FPC dropped to 2-4 and 0-3 in the district.
More ranked teams win
No. 5 Apopka cruised to a 44-0 home win against Ocala West Port (0-7, 0-2). The Blue Darters (5-2, 2-0) lead Class 8A District 3 ahead of Lake Brantley (4-3, 1-0) and Ocoee (5-1, 1-0). Apopka is off next week before playing at home vs. Brantley on Thursday, Oct. 28.
No. 6 West Orange posted its second 8A District 9 victory in a span of four days, winning 55-8 at Celebration (4-3, 2-1). The Warriors shut out Ocoee 28-0 on Monday night.
West Orange (7-1, 3-0) plays at home vs. No. 7 Kissimmee Osceola (6-1, 3-0) next Friday with the district title on the line.
No. 10 Lake Minneola scored a 34-0 homefield win against Groveland South Lake (1-6, 0-3) in 6A District 6. The Hawks are 5-2, 2-1 in the district going into a home game against district frontrunner Jones (5-2, 3-0) next Friday night.
No. 15 Timber Creek won 45-22 at Orlando University for its second Class 8A District 4 victory of the week. The Wolves (6-2, 3-0) are off next week and then will likely be playing for the district title on Thursday, Oct. 28, at home vs. Winter Park (5-2, 2-0). University is 2-5, 0-2 in district play.
Elsewhere in Metro Conference
CJ Brooks threw five touchdown passes to lead Olympia (4-3, 2-1) to a 55-10 win at Windermere High (2-5, 0-3) in an 8A District 9 game. Victor Jones had two of the TD receptions for 36 and 35 yards. David Dupuis, Jalen Coutain and Romelo Walker had the other TD catches. Walker also had a 78-yard punt return for a score while Ashton Davis added a 37-yard TD run.
Horizon handed Lake Buena Vista a 43-6 defeat in the first varsity football clash between the two new Orange County schools that opened in August. It was the first win in program history for the Hawks (1-6).
Lake Buena Vista dropped to 0-7 but also made some history. The Vipers scored their first touchdown.
Bishop Moore slips
Bishop Moore lost 31-7 at Daytona Beach Seabreeze and is in danger of seeing a streak of 13 consecutive state playoff appearances come to an end.
The Hornets dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in Class 5A District 7.
Seabreeze (4-4, 2-0) can clinch the district title and automatic playoff berth if Bishop Moore eliminates Port Orange Atlantic (1-5, 0-1) from title contention next week. Seabreeze concludes its district play with an Oct. 29 game vs. Atlantic.
Only district champions are assured of reaching the playoffs in the upper four classifications (5A-8A). Four additional teams per region will qualify as wild cards based on FHSAA power rankings and the Hornets are on the bubble.
Khari Renne scored on two 4-yard runs and connected with Carson Pielock for a 52-yard touchdown pass as Lake Nona won 31-3 at Freedom (4-4, 1-2). The Lions improved to 4-3, 2-1 in Class 8A District 5.
District dates
Tavares improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in 5A District 3 with a 42-0 homefield win against Mount Dora (1-6, 1-1). The Bulldogs host Eustis (6-2, 2-0) next week in a district championship game. The Panthers won 38-6 against Williston (0-7) on Friday.
Hagerty (3-4, 1-2) got three touchdown passes from Anthony Benzija in a 35-7 win over Colonial (2-5, 0-2) in 8A-4. Two of Benzija’s TD tosses went to Jeremy Jacobs for 35 and 45 yards while the other was thrown to Caleb Barber for 25 yards.
Oak Ridge (3-4, 2-1) won 14-10 at Cypress Creek (2-5, 0-3) in 8A District 5.
Deltona won 39-0 at Pine Ridge (2-4, 0-3) in 5A-7. The Wolves (5-3, 2-1) have won nine straight in Deltona’s Battle of the Boulevard rivalry.
East River (3-5, 1-2) won 13-3 at home against St. Cloud (2-5, 0-2) in a 7A-6 game.
Lyman scored its first win of the season, 28-21, at home vs. Winter Springs (1-5, 1-1). The Greyhounds are 1-6, 1-2 in 7A District 4.
Harmony (4-3, 0-2) lost 49-7 at Melbourne (5-2, 3-0) in 7A District 7
Close calls
Leesburg pulled out a 10-9 win at Kissimmee Liberty with a rare game-winning safety. The host Chargers (3-4) were leading 9-8 in the fourth quarter when Leesburg’s defense forced a punt deep in Liberty territory. The snap went out of the end zone to result in two points and the eventual game clincher for the Yellow Jackets (4-2). Nykese Williams had the touchdown and two-point conversion for the Yellow Jackets.
Umatilla (4-3) won 20-14 at Bell (3-5) in non-district play.
The defense came through for Orlando Christian Prep (5-1) in a 21-19 victory at Ft. Pierce John Carroll (2-2). OCP was up by eight late in the fourth quarter when the Rams scored and went for two points to tie the game but were stopped. The Warriors, winners of five consecutive games, got an all-around effort from Stanley Ihekwoaba on defense with three sacks, four tackles-for-loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Private school results
Foundation Academy (5-2), the No. 1 team in the Sentinel’s Small School Super Six rankings, lost 41-13 on the road against perennial power Jacksonville University Christian (5-2). The are 0-5 against UC, including a 28-14 Class 2A state semifinal loss last season.
Lake Highland Prep (7-0) won 36-3 at The Master’s Academy (3-4) in a Sunshine State Athletic Conference game.
Mount Dora Christian (5-1) scored a 55-17 home win against Cocoa Beach (1-6).
Orangewood Christian posted a 45-6 home win against Faith Christian (2-4). The Rams are 4-3 with four wins in a row.
Jakiryn Hawkins had two rushing touchdowns and Jakin Hawkins added a TD run and TD reception to lead Deltona Trinity Christian (2-5) to a 41-21 win over Trinity Prep (1-6). Saints quarterback Chance Bennett tossed three TD passes in the loss, with two going to Nick Pohlod and the other caught by Hadyn Nutcher.
Central Florida Christian (5-1) won 71-21 against Bell Creek (2-5) of Riverview.
Legacy Charter improved to 5-2 with a 27-9 win at Santa Fe Catholic (4-2) of Lakeland.
West Oaks (3-4) won 40-0 against Jordan Christian (4-3) of Auburndale in a game that was shortened to a half.
This report was first published at Orlandosentinel.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
