It’s a tradition that goes back to 1967, when Evans and Jones first played football game against each other, long before the game was dubbed as Orlando’s Soul Bowl rivalry.
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This year’s game is as big as ever with the teams standing as two of the marquee programs among Orange County Public Schools’ 23 schools. Jones visits Evans on Saturday with a 4 p.m. kickoff for the 49th game between the two Orlando teams.
Jones, playing an extremely difficult schedule to start the season, is 0-1 and ranked No. 3 in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll. that record does not including a 27-18 Kickoff Classic preseason road loss to Miami Central. The Tigers opened the regular season with another road 27-0 loss at the hands of California power Santa Margarita, the nation’s No. 3-ranked team according to MaxPreps. Jones is rated No. 14 in Florida; No. 2 in Class 4A.
Evans is 1-1 after suffering a season-opening upset loss to Lake Nona, 31-27. The Trojans, are No. 8 in the Sentinel Super 16 and No. 21 in 5A. They bounced back in Week 2, throttling Boone 42-13.
The rivalry was set aside for five seasons beginning in 2010, renewing in 2015. Last season marked the first time the two schools played each other since a 2019-24 break.
Evans has a 36-13 record against the Tigers, but the series is tied 7-7 since 2002. Jones won five in a row until the Trojans pulled off a 28-25 upset on the Tigers field last year.
The teams feature entirely different rosters this season. Evans has 20 transfers and Jones has 12.
Evans, Jones rekindle football rivalry
There are two other Super 16 matchups Friday. No. 5 Lake Mary (2-0) will host No. 15 Osceola (1-1). Lake Mary won the matchup last season 17-12.
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No. 11 Oviedo (0-2) hosts No. 13 Lake Brantley (2-0). Oviedo lost its first two games with field goals in the waning seconds of games against Titusville and Lake Mary.
No. 4 Edgewater (1-1) is home against Windermere (1-1), which is coming off its first loss in 22 games, a 29-26 defeat to Innovation.
Innovation now looks to get to 3-0 for the first time in their three-year history in a game at University (Orlando), which is 2-0 for the first time since 2015.
Wekiva is 2-0 for the first time since 2019, but faces a very tough challenge at No. 6 West Orange (2-0).
Two other intriguing matchups feature No. 7 Seminole (2-0) hosting Eau Gallie (1-1) and No. 10 Bishop Moore (0-2) hosting Melbourne Central Catholic (2-0), the No. 6 team in 1A. The Hustlers’ new coach is former UCF record-setting quarterback Ryan Schneider.
No. 1 DeLand is idle.
No. 14 Evans pulls off huge upset vs. No. 1 Jones
Here’s the Week 3 lineup. Rankings are from the Sentinel Super 16. Games start at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
Monday’s Score
Hagerty 33, Winter Springs 25
Thursday’s Games
Umatilla (1-1) at Eustis (1-1)
Mount Dora (1-1) at Tavares (1-1)
Abington Heights (Pa.) (0-1) at Trinity Prep (1-1)
Friday’s Super 16 Games
No. 2 The First Academy (2-0) at Port Charlotte (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Windermere (1-1) at No. 4 Edgewater (1-1)
No. 15. Osceola (1-1) at No 5. Lake Mary (1-0)
Wekiva (2-0) at No 6. West Orange (2-0)
Eau Gallie (1-1) at No. 7 Seminole (2-0)
No. 9.Lake Nona (2-0) at Winter Park (1-1) #
MCC (2-0) at No. 10 Bishop Moore (0-2)
No. 13 Lake Brantley (2-0) at No. 11 Oviedo (0-2)
No. 12 East Ridge (2-0) at Lake Minneola (1-1)
South Sumter (2-0) at No. 14. St. Cloud (1-1)
Friday’s other games
Hagerty (1-0) at Lake Howell (1-1)
South Lake (0-2) at The Villages Charter
Ocoee (1-1) at Apopka (0-2)
East River (0-2) at Timber Creek (1-1)
Olympia (1-1) at Horizon (1-1)
Innovation (2-0) at University (2-0)
Celebration (0-2) at Space Coast (2-0)
Seffner Christian (3-0) at CFCA (1-0)
Gateway (2-0) at Colonial (0-2)
Windermere Prep (1-0) at Cornerstone Charter (0-1)
Oak Ridge (0-2) at Cypress Creek (0-2)
Deltona (2-0) at Matanzas (0-2)
West Oaks Academy (1-2) at Faith Christian (0-1)
Foundation Academy (1-0) at Cocoa Beach (2-0)
Master’s Academy (2-0) at Geneva (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
Poinciana (1-1) at Harmony (1-1)
Nova Lakes (1-1) at Lake Buena Vista (0-2)
Santa Fe Catholic (1-1) at Legacy Charter (0-3) #
Liberty (0-2) at Discovery (0-2)
New Smyrna Beach (1-0) at Lyman (1-1)
P.K. Yonge at ( 0-2) Mount Dora Christian (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Cambridge Christian (1-2) at Orangewood Christian (2-0)
Lake Weir (1-0) at Pine Ridge (0-2)
Tohopekaliga (1-1) at Sebastian River (0-2)
Winter Springs (0-2) at Melbourne (1-0)
Friday’s 8-Man games
Ocala Christian (0-2) at Lake Mary Prep (1-1)
Real Life Christian (2-1) at St. John Lutheran (0-1)
Bell Creek (0-2) at First Academy-Leesburg (2-1) #
Saturday’s Super 16 game
N o. 3 Jones (0-1) at No. 8 Evans (1-1), 4 p.m.
(# Winter Park game at Showalter field; Legacy at Ocoee Bulldog Field; First Academy-Leesburg at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex)
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Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.