Week 5 brought another batch of eventful high school football games on Friday.
One big game that was not played was the Edgewater at Jones matchup. That was postponed “due to electrical issues affecting the field lighting at Jones High School.” The game is rescheduled to be played Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at Jones.
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In Thursday games, Ocala Forest (5-0) won 17-7 at East Ridge (3-2) and Tavares (3-1) won 42-34 at Lake Minneola (1-4).
And in a Friday game that was a big deal for a school that has struggled to get a victory through five seasons, Cypress Creek (1-4) ended Florida’s longest current high school losing streak at 35 by posting a 32-0 homefield win against Lake Buena Vista (0-5).
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Here are the game reports. Rankings in bold are from this week’s preseason Sentinel Super 16 coaches poll:
Friday marquee games
IMG Academy defeats No. 2 The First Academy, 48-27
Coverage by Chris Martucci
After stunning everyone by taking a 24-7 halftime lead, The First Academy (4-1) was unable to withstand national power IMG Academy’s second half surge.
The Ascenders, ranked No. 1 in a merger or multiple national polls, escaped with their 5-0 record unscathed.
The Royals jumped out to a quick lead on the back of freshman quarterback Deuce Woods, who tossed an 8-yard touchdown to Jaylen Johnson to put TFA up 7-0.
After IMG tied the score at 7, Woods ran for two more touchdowns in the first half and First Academy went into halftime leading 24-7.
The second half was a completely different game. IMG Academy woke up and went on a 41-3 scoring assault, scoring in all three phases to reassert control and remind everyone why they are a national power.
“I think we’re able to take that, we can play with anybody for two quarters, but football’s a four quarter game. And until we develop more depth, and until we get bigger and faster and stronger, from our smallest guy to our biggest guy, we’re gonna continue to have issues like this where we’re unsatisfied at the end of the game,” said First Academy head coach Jeff Conaway. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re not as close as we wanted to be, but we did prove that we can play with anybody. We just gotta figure out how to continue to do it for four quarters.”
Royals kicker Vance Fones went two-for-two in field goals, hitting kicks of 42 and 54 yards.
IN-GAME REPORTS:
TOUCHDOWN: Jayden Wade gets the hat trick as he finds Eric McFarland III for the second time on a 25-yard touchdown pass for IMG. Extra point good. 48-27 IMG. 7:46 4Q.
A Deuce Woods’ pass on 4th and 5 falls incomplete. First down IMG at the TFA 25. 7:52 4Q.
TOUCHDOWN: Osani Gayles takes the kickoff 100 yards from end zone to end zone to answer Vance Fones’ field goal. Extra point good. 41-27 IMG. 9:24 4Q.
FIELD GOAL: Vance Fones’ 54 yard field goal attempt is good. That cuts the deficit to 34-27 for TFA. 9:39 4Q.
IMG leads 34-24 going into the final quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Deuce Woods’ pass is intercepted by IMG’s Aaryn Washington, who takes it 41 yards to the end zone. Extra point no good. 34-24 IMG. 50 seconds left in the third quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Elijah Newman-Hall gives IMG Academy the lead as the whole four-play drive went through him, capping it off with a 4-yard touchdown run. Extra point good. 28-24 IMG Academy. 21 unanswered points. 4:53 3Q.
TOUCHDOWN: Jayden Wade hits Eric McFarland III for a 66-yard touchdown. Another one-play drive for IMG as the deficit is now down to 24-21 TFA after the made extra point. 8:00 3Q.
Three and out for the Royals as they punt. IMG takes over at its 34.
TOUCHDOWN: 5-star QB Jayden Wade airs it out and finds Osani Gayles for a 72-yard catch and run to give IMG a shot of momentum. Extra point good. 24-14 TFA. 10:17 3Q.
IMG Academy will receive the second half kickoff.
In a stunning turn of events, TFA has taken the fight right to IMG like no opponent had done thus far. Deuce Woods is the star with two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown to Jaylen Johnson.
FIELD GOAL: Vance Fones nails the 42-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer to increase TFA’s lead to 24-7 at the half.
On 4th and 2, IMG’s Jayden Wade’s pass to the end zone falls incomplete. TFA takes over at its 33 yard line with 37 seconds left in the first half.
TOUCHDOWN: Deuce Woods keeps it himself and scores to increase the TFA lead. A 4-yard touchdown run. His second touchdown run of the night. Extra point good. 21-7 TFA. 3:52 2Q.
An IMG offside as TFA lined up for the 27-yard field goal gives the Royals a fresh set of downs.
Water break. TFA offense moving at will as they are knocking on the door for another score.
TOUCHDOWN: TFA makes IMG pay for that turnover as Deuce Woods takes it upon himself to fight through the IMG defense 16 yards to the end zone to give TFA the lead back. Extra point good. 14-7 TFA. 10:54 2Q.
IMG’s Keith Smith misplays the punt and First Academy’s Julian White recovers. He returns it to the end zone but he is ruled down at the IMG 39. First down First Academy.
TFA drive stalls out after a holding penalty wipes out a 20-yard run by Hyquez Russell. They will be forced to punt at the start of the second quarter as the first quarter ends tied at 7.
TFA defense stands tall and forces a punt. TFA defensive back Bam Whitfield almost comes away with the interception on 3rd and 16 but dropped it. Royals take over at their 12.
Three and out for TFA as they punt it away. IMG takes over at the TFA 47.
TOUCHDOWN: IMG strikes back like lightning as running back Cayden Gould takes it 80 yards for the score. Extra point good. 7-7. 5:14 1Q.
TOUCHDOWN :TFA draws first blood as Deuce Woods finds Jaylen Johnson for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Extra point good. 7-0 TFA. 5:26 1Q.
Brycsen Robb puts the jets on for a 47-yard run to set TFA up with a 1st and goal at the IMG 6 yard line.
TFA defense forces a three-and-out. IMG punts the ball away. The Royals will take over at their 29 yard line.
TFA punts the ball away. IMG Academy will start its first possession from its 20. 8:35 1Q.
Deuce Woods scampers for what looked like a 47-yard touchdown run. … but it’s wiped out due to a holding call on TFA. 1st and 20 from the TFA 43.
Touchback. TFA will start at its 20.
The First Academy will receive the opening kickoff.
Checking in from The First Academy. Skies are clear and we are ready for football.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
IMG, which plays a national schedule outside the FHSAA playoff system, has pummeled teams from Utah, Texas and Hawaii by a combined score of 159-13 and is ranked No. 1 nationally by a MisterFootball online site that tracks and compiles 13 different polls.
Can TFA slow that truck?
The Ascenders were listed with 27 players rated as three-star recruits or higher coming into the season. That includes the No. 1 quarterback in the junior class, Jayden Wade. He has completed 77% of his passes for 643 yards, 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
IMG finished 9-0 last season against a national schedule and is on a 13-game winning streak dating to 2024.
No. 4 West Orange defeated No. 8 Lake Mary, 36-13
Coverage by Philip Rossman-Reich
Quarterback AJ Chung threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns as No. 4 West Orange shut out No. 8 Lake Mary in the second half to remain unbeaten at 5-0.
Chung connected three times with wide receiver Yuto Kawamura-Johnson, including twice in the second half on pass plays of 20 and 88 yards. He found Kawamura-Johnson for the opening score of the game, a 51-yard strike in the first quarter.
Running back Jayden Ammons caught the other two touchdown passes, taking a screen pass 31 yards for a score and scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a three-yard swing pass early in the third quarter.
It helped West Orange ally from a 13-9 halftime deficit.
“It’s more about the discipline of our offense and what we know we are able to do,” Chung said. “We just had to be disciplined. We have full confidence in our coaching staff and our guys. The best o-line, the receiving corps. and best running back in the state.”
Kawamura-Johnson finished with four catches for 178 yards. Ammons had five catches for 52 yards. And Taj Anderson had three catches for 66 yards.
The game was not without its adversity for the Warriors.
Chung threw a pick in the end zone and the team missed on several of its long passes. A blocked punt also set Lake Mary (1-3) up with good field position early in the game.
But the Warriors’ defense was up to the challenge. They picked off freshman quarterback Max Campbell three times in the game and kept the Rams off the scoreboard in the second half.
“The one thing I know about this team is they will never quit, no matter the situation,” West Orange coach Geno Thompson said. “They will never lose belief. They know we are going to be in the fight to the very end.”
Campbell was still impressive in his second start, replacing the injured Remy Jarman.
Campbell threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 17-for-26 passing. He found Malakii Haliburton on a three-yard score and Kel Gainer on a 57-yard touchdown pass against a busted coverage.
Gainer finished the game with four catches for 122 yards. Cole Emmanuel made nine catches for 97 yards for the Rams.
The win for West Orange sets up a key district clash next week at Edgewater, which gained an unexpected bye week when their matchup with Jones was postponed Friday.
“That’s the district championship. We all know it,” Thompson said. “It’s a great opportunity. We needed this battle test to be able to fight back. It’s probably going to be the game of the week in Central Florida. We’re excited.”
Lake Mary opens district play next week at home against Lake Brantley.
IN-GAME UPDATES:
TOUCHDOWN: Facing third and 18 from his own 12, West Orange’s AJ Chung finds Yuto Kawamura-Johnson. He gets good blocking and zooms past the defender for an 88-yard touchdown, good third of the game. West Orange leads Lake Mary 36-13 with 7:16 left on the fourth quarter.
Lake Mary’s freshman quarterback Max Campbell surpassed 200 yards passing with a 41-yard throw to Kel Gainer. But his next throw was his third interception of the game as West Orange’s Mark Muroki picks him off in the end zone.
TOUCHDOWN: West Orange has gained separation from Lake Mary. AJ Chung throws his fourth touchdown of the game. He found Yuto Kawamura-Johnson for the second time on a 20-yard strike. PAT was no good. West Orange leads 29-13 with 9:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.
West Orange leads Lake Mary 23-13. Warriors have the ball just past midfield.
TOUCHDOWN: West Orange’s AJ Chung bobbled the snap but controlled it on time to find Jayden Ammons for a screen pass. He scampered most of the 31 yards and drove into the end zone. West Orange leads Lake Mary 23-13 with 2:18 left in the third quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: West Orange retakes the lead thanks to a 4-yard throw from AJ Chung to Jayden Ammons coming out of the backfield. The score was set up by a 33-yard fourth down throw from Chung to Amari Allen to get the Warriors inside the five. West Orange leads Lake Mary 16-13 with 8:16 to play on the third quarter.
A promising opening drive to the second half for Lake Mary ends with a diving interception by West Orange’s CJ Bryant near midfield. Warriors taller over early in the third quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Lake Mary takes advantage of good field position to end the first half. Max Campbell finds Malakii Haliburton for a three-yard touchdown. The Rams’ two-point try after an offside penalty is no good. Lake Mary leads West Orange 13-9 with 12 seconds left in the first half.
Lake Mary got a 55-yard catch and run on a screen pass to Cole Emmanuel that got them into the red zone. But a penalty took a touchdown off the board. Lucas Parker’s 37-yard field goal was no good. Warriors still lead 9-7 with 5:41 left in the second. The rain has stopped.
FIELD GOAL: West Orange has repeatedly tried to beat Lake Mary over the top. Two more shots at the end zone are incomplete. The Warriors settle for a 32-yard field goal from Rodrigo Bigio. West Orange leads Lake Mary 9-7 with 9:11 left in the second quarter.
The rain is already having an impact. Max Campbell isn’t able to handle a snap. West Orange recovers the fumble at the Lake Mary 15.
WEATHER UPDATE: A light rain at the end of the first quarter has turned into a downpour at Lake Mary.
Lake Mary goes for the end zone and Max Campbell pass is tipped and intercepted in the end zone by Corey Glenn Jr. West Orange is near midfield trailing 7-6 as the first quarter ends.
A pair of holding penalties backed up a promising West Orange drive. Lake Mary’s special teams put the capper as Sam Nelson blocked Rodrigo Bigio’s punt. Lake Mary takes over at the West Orange 35.
TOUCHDOWN: Aided by a personal foul from the two-point attempt by West Orange, Lake Mary struck back quickly. Max Campbell found Kel Gainer behind the defense for a 57-yard touchdown throw. It is the freshman Campbell’s first high school touchdown pass. 7-6 Lake Mary with 5:17 left in the first quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: AJ Chung lofts the ball down the sideline and lands it between two defenders for Yuto Kawamura-Johnson. He splits the defenders and runs the west of the way for a 51-yard touchdown score. The Warriors go for two after an encroachment on Lake Mary on the PAT and it is incomplete. West Orange leads 6-0 with 5:33 left in the first quarter.
West Orange is unable to take advantage of the gold field position. They go three and out with Kyle Wise stopped for a one-yard gain on fourth and three.
West Orange started with the ball and got a first down. But Lake Mary’s defense gets a takeaway. James Littles intercepts an AJ Chung pass near midfield. Max Chapman still in at quarterback for the Rams with Remy Jarman out with an injury.
Greetings from sunny Lake Mary High School for West Orange-Lake Mary!
PRE-GAME NOTES:
For the fourth time in four outings 2025 state champ Lake Mary plays a Super 16 team.
Last time they met the Warriors won 34-7 in 2020.
No. 5 Seminole defeated Mainland, 27-21
Coverage by Chris Hays
Seminole drove 47 yards in the final two minutes and 39 seconds at Daytona Beach, and Jamar Buckner scored the game-winning touchdown from 6 yards out with 35 seconds remaining.
Luis Ojeda-Robles, the holder on the extra point attempt, took the snap and then ran to the outside and scored the two point conversion for the final points of a game that went back and forth.
On the final drive, Seminole quarterback Daniel Proenza connected with Cameron Roberts for a pair of first down passes. The ‘Noles were aided by three penalties on Mainland, two of the 15-yard variety to get the ball down to the 6-yard line. Buckner took care of the rest.
“Daniel Proenza put together a great drive at the end of the game,” Seminole coach Karl Calhoun said. “I’m very proud of our guys putting it together. It was a great drive on the last one. We moved the ball down the field. The pass game started hitting good and then the defense came out and made a great stop to finish them off.”
Mainland ran four plays in the final 35 seconds but Seminole ended the game by swarming quarterback PJ Miller for a sack.
The Seminole defense had 7 sacks in the game, thanks to the swarming defense with the likes of Mason Wills, Kendrick Miles Jr., Jamarion Coleman, Jaxson Wade, Maxwell Wooden, Eddie Bouye Jr., King Manley and Javyn Green-Sanders, which Seminole coaches kept on a steady rotation.
Proenza was 11-of-22 passing for 180 yards, and also ran for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
“Oh man, I still have the adrenaline from the game. I’m so happy,” said Proenza, who joined the Seminole team after transferring from Spruce Creek this year. “I can’t even describe it. I’m just so grateful to God that we were able to pull this through.
“Huge shout out to my O-line. They pushed through even though they were hurting. They were injured. My receivers and the defense holding it down. I’m just so grateful right now.”
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Seminole led 13–7 at halftime, but after a lightning delay in the third quarter Mainland came out and scored a quick touchdown to take the lead 14-13. The Buccaneers added to that lead when Miller hit Jayden Parks with a 33-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. That gave Mainland a 21-13 lead.
Mainland running back Braylyn Simmons was giving Seminole fits in the first half, running for 82 yards, but he only had 27 yards in the third quarter and he did not touch the ball in the fourth quarter.
After Mainland scored two straight touchdowns, it was Seminole’s turn. On the next drive, the ‘Noles went 72 yards on a drive capped by Proenza’s 12-yard keeper for the TD. That drive was highlighted by a 31-yard Proenza pass to Tyree Howard on a third-and-12 play. A failed 2-point conversion made it 21-19.
Seminole forced Mainland to punt on their next series, thanks in large part to a sack and the tackle for loss by Wills. Zachariah Lewis also had a tackle for loss on the series as the Seminole defense ramped up.
“Resilience and poise. We spoke it all week. We knew it was gonna be a tough game,” Calhoun said. “It’s a very tough environment. But the guys came through and finished the game strong and I’m very proud of them.”
The victory gave Calhoun his 30th win as Seminoles’ head coach.
“We’re just trying to play Seminole football and remind everybody what we do,” Calhoun said. “Last year is over with and this year these guys are rolling right now.”
IN-GAME UPDATES:
Seminole sacks the quarterback and this game is over. The ‘Noles remain undefeated at 5-0.
A player took a swing at another player in the handshake line. The coaches quickly break it up and separate the two teams.
Incomplete pass with two seconds left. Mainland has one last chance at the 40 yard line.
Overthrown ball on first down. 10 seconds left.
First down pass, Caliendo gets the ball to the Seminole 40 yard line.
Mainland returns to the kickoff to near midfield with 25 seconds left to go to work.
Seminole fakes the extra point kick and Luis Ojeda-Robles runs the ball in for the two point conversion. Seminole leads Mainland 27–21 with 35 seconds left in the game.
Jamar Buckner scores on a 6 yard touchdown run and Seminole takes the lead.
Cameron Roberts catches the ball at the 13 yard line and the Mainland defender is flagged for a late hit. So it’s first down for Seminole inside the 10 yard line, at the six. 41 seconds remaining.
Pass to the end zone goes incomplete, third and 13 for Seminole.
Proenza gets wrapped up for a loss of 3. Second down at the 24.
Penalty on Mainland. Seminole has a first down now at the 21 yard line.
Incomplete pass on second down. Seminole has third down and three at the 25.
Mainland flagged for passing interference on second down, so Seminole will have a first down at the 32 yard line1:56 left in the game.
Proenza goes 5 yards for the first down but SHS is flagged for a personal foul. So they’re gonna back up, first down at the Mainland 47 yard line.
Seminole calls timeout 2:03 left in the game, third down and 3 at the Bucs’ 38.
Second down pass goes for 7 yards to Cameron Roberts.
Seminole pass attempt incomplete on first down.
Seminole forces a Mainland punt and now the ‘Noles have the ball at the Mainland 45 yard line with 2:39 left in the game, trailing 21–19.
Seminole’s two-point conversion try is stopped and the ‘Noles still trail Mainland 21–19 with 5:59 left in the game.
TOUCHDOWN: Seminole quarterback Daniel Proenza goes 4 yards and now the ‘Noles will need a two point conversion to tie the game.
TOUCHDOWN: PJ Miller throws a 33 yard touchdown pass and Mainland takes a 21–13 lead over Seminole with 11:52 left in the game.
Seminole loses offensive lineman, JD Paul with a leg injury with seven minutes left in the third-quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: On the first play after the lightning delay, Mainland quarterback PJ Miller goes 17 yards on a 4th and 3 play for the score. The Buccaneers retake the lead 14–13 after a failed two point conversion attempt. 8:47 left in the third quarter.
About to restart this game with 8:54 left in the third quarter, Seminole leads Mainland, 13–8.
Light rain starting to fall here in Daytona, but the lightning delay has almost expired.
Mainland has a fourth-down, 3-yards-to-go situation from the Seminole 17 but we suddenly have a lightning delay. So this game is gonna be held up for 30 minutes, at least.
Seminole quarterback, Daniel Proenza is 3 of 8 passing in the first half for 81 yards.
The Seminole defense has let Mainland running back Braylyn Simmons get loose a few times, but so far it hasn’t cost them. The Seminoles tightened up toward the end of the half and had three sacks. Cornerback RJ Hampton broke up a pass and looked like he had a clean path to the end zone from the 50 yard line but he dropped the ball. Woodard has 82 yards rushing in the first half.
Halftime in Daytona, Seminole leads Mainland 13–8.
A penalty had Seminole kicking off at the Mainland 35 yard line. So they tried an on-side kick which they appeared to recover, but the referees said there was illegal touching before the ball went 10 yards. So it’ll be Mainland ball.
TOUCHDOWN: Seminole’s Da’Khi Carr runs 10 yards for a touchdown and the Noles take a 13–8 lead with 1:54 left in the first half.
Mainland’s Braylyn Simmons goes 68 yards for a touchdown, but it’s called back on a personal foul penalty. Seminole breathes a sigh of relief.
TOUCHDOWN: Seminole quarterback Daniel Proenza runs 11 yards for the score but a penalty backs his team up on the extra point try making it a 29 yard attempt. The kick falls short so Mainland leads 8–6 with 7:28 left in the first half,
First quarter ends with a bit of controversy at Daytona. Mainland appeared to fumble the ball before the whistle blew and Seminole recovered. But the referees ruled the ball was blown dead before the fumble. Still Mainland ball, leading 8-0.
Seminole kicker Honor Loureiro comes up short on a 48 yard field goal attempt. Mainland still leads, 8–0, with 2:09 left in the first quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Mainland strikes first with a 15-yard touchdown pass from PJ Miller. Caliendo scores on a two point conversion. Mainland leads 8-0 at 5:53 of the first quarter.
Checking in from Daytona. We’ve got partly cloudy blue skies above and it looks like a good night for football.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
The Seminoles leave Seminole County for the first time this year.
MaxPreps rates Seminole No. 6 and Mainland No. 7 in Class 6A.
The Buccaneers are 4-0 vs. SHS since 2012.
No. 10 Oviedo defeated Hagerty, 28-7
Coverage by Noah Greene
Oviedo (3-2) brings its win streak vs. backyard rival Hagerty (2-1) to 11 in a span of 10 seasons. That includes one playoff victory. But this one wasn’t a cakewalk.
The Lions started sluggish but finished strong. Sebastian Galeano had approximately 172 yards passing, with two touchdowns. Ohio State commit Jordan Donahoo had two touchdown catches and led his team in receiving with approximately 98 yards.
Evan Sorkness made key defensive plays in the win, including two pass breakups.
Oviedo head coach Greg Odierno said after the game that an ugly win is better than a pretty loss.
Hagerty quarterback Royce Jenkins passed for over 150 yards and ran for 60. But outside of that Oviedo’s defense bottled the Huskies offense up. The Lions made multiple fourth down stops.
IN-GAME UPDATES:
Another turnover on downs give the ball back to Hagerty, which is trilling 28-7 with under a minute to go.
Turnover on downs Oviedo takes over at the Hagerty 40.
TOUCHDOWN: Jordan Donahoo gets his second TD of the day on a 21 yard pass by Sebastian Galeano who has shown great intermediate accuracy so far. Oviedo leads Hagerty 28-7; 6:29 in the 4th.
Turnover on downs. Oviedo gets the ball at the Hagerty 21.
TOUCHDOWN: Johnnie Rollins with a 35 yard touchdown to put Oviedo up 21-7 over Hagerty. Rollins made a fantastic outside cut and showed elite burst on the play. We have 7:58 left in the game.
Oviedo leads Hagerty 14-7 going into the final quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Hagerty’s Royce Jenkins throws an 11 yard touchdown pass to Colton Hatfield. Cuts the Oviedo lead to 14-7 with 2:14 go go in Q3.
Oviedo goes for it on 4th and 2 and is stopped. Hagerty takes over at its own 48.
Hagerty’s Royce Jenkins looses a fumble. Oviedo takes over at its own 45, leading 14-0 at 9:02 of the third quarter.
Hagerty gets the ball to start the second half.
Halftime update: Hagerty leads 14-0. Jordan Donahoo has 77 receiving yards and a touchdown. Hagerty dual threat quarterback Royce Jenkins has 65 total yards.
TOUCHDOWN: Oviedo is getting going early. Johnnie Cobbs scores on a 5 yard touchdown run and the Lions lead 14-0 with 7:43 to go in the first half.
End of one. Oviedo 7, Hagerty 0 heading into the second quarter.
First score of the night is Sebastian Galeano 60 yd touchdown strike down the field to 5-star receiver Jordan Donahoo. Oviedo leads 7-0 at 5:22 of the first quarter.
Game starts with a tricky onside kick and Hagerty recovers.
Checking in on Hagerty. Skies are partly cloudy with a small chance of rain.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Oviedo is 10-0 against the Huskies since 2016 — including two wins in 2021. The Lions won 41-26 last year.
Oviedo’s 6-foot-4 senior receiver Jordan Donnahoo (13 catches, 317 yards, 2 TDs, 24.4 yards per catch) is an Ohio State commit.
Hagerty’s dual threat quarterback, Royce Jenkins, who last season broke school passing records set by NFL QB Jeff Driskel, was hurt in the Huskies’ 21-20 win against Lake Howell in Week 3. But sophomore Charlie Beniot (6-4, 235 pounds) has completed 63% of his passes (17 of 27). Hagerty did not play last week.
Gateway defeated Poinciana, 17-7
Coverage by Ken Jackson
Gateway got a second-straight 200-yard rushing performance from Nydrell Thigpen and plenty of defense to defeat Poinciana (2-2) and move to 4-0 for the first time in the program’s 40-year history.
The Panthers’ defense was as much a story as Thigpen’s running. Gateway forced seven negative plays in the first half, including four sacks, and limited the Eagles to 12 second-half snaps and one first down. The Panthers forced a key safety on a bad punt snap in the end zone that made it a two-score game with 4:53 left.
“The kids really put a fence up in that second half,” GHS Coach Marlin Roberts said. “It’s a quiet group fort being 4-0, and I hope that’s because they know they have more left in the tank to show. There’s a lot this program hasn’t done.”
Poinciana struck first on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Lucas Minenok to Jamarie Williams in the second quarter, but Thigpen answered on the following drive with s 24-yard touchdown run and the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead the Panthers never surrendered.
Dylan Dingle punctuated an eight-minute drive to start the third quarter on a nine-yard touchdown catch from Aristotle Span Jr. on fourth down to extend the lead. Then the Panther defense locked that fence.
Gateway looks to go to 5-0 next week against Nova Lakes (2-3). Poinciana gets back into 6A District 9 action, where it’s 1-0, at Winter Haven.
IN GAME UPDATES:
Four incomplete Poinciana passes and Gateway gets the ball back and its 30 with 1:28 left. The Eagles have just one timeout left.
A Poinciana stop and a Gateway personal foul gives the Eagles the ball at the Gateway 40 down 17-7 with 2:06 left.
SAFETY: After a penalty and a sack pushed Poinciana back to the shadow of its goal post, a bad punt snap leads to a safety and a 17-7 Gateway lead with 4:53 left.
Nydrell Thigpen can’t pick up this first down, and Poinciana takes over with 7:32 left on its own 15, trailing 5-7.
On fourth-and-6 from the Poinciana 48, Gateway Coach Marlin Roberts and gambles on the first play of the fourth quarter. Nate Cadogen takes an end around 18 yards for a first down.
Poinciana went zone read on fourth-and-2 from the Gateway 38, but the Panthers stopped QB Lucas Minenok to get the ball back at the Panthers 38 with 2:42 left in the third quarter.
TOUCHDOWN: Gateway stretches the lead to 15-7 on a 14-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up 7:37 of the third quarter. After Nydrell Thigpen did more of the heavy lifting, on fourth-and-goal from the 9 the Panthers went playaction and quarterback Aristotle Span. Jr. hit Dylan Dingle on a drag route on just his second pass attempt and first completion of the game.
Gateway begins the second half with the ball and an 8-7 lead over Poinciana looking for the first 4-0 start in program history, which goes back to 1985.
Gateway leads 8-7 at halftime. Nydrell Thigpen, who scored Gateway’s touchdown, already has 115 yards on 12 carries. He’s outgained the Eagles 115-17 thanks to four Gateway sacks and three other tackles for loss.
TOUCHDOWN: Gateway answers Poinciana’s touchdown with one of its own. Tailback Nydrell Thigpen followed up a 40-yard run around the right end with a 24-yard off-tackle scoring scamper where he bounced outside. He then added the two-point conversion to give the Panthers an 8-7 lead with 4:58 left in the second half.
TOCHDOWN: Poinciana’s Jamarie Williams outleaps his defender and hauls in a 23-yard touchdown pass from QB Luke Minenok and the Eagles lead Gateway 7-0 with 8:34 left in the first half.
Poinciana and Gateway play a quick, scoreless first quarter with just two possessions per team.
Poinciana will start at its own 35 yard line.
Just had the anthem here at Poinciana High. The game will start just a bit after 7pm thanks to a lightning delay around 6 p.m.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
Gateway (Kissimmee) looks to start the season 4-0 for the first time in program history, dating to 1985.
The Panthers won 19-8 last season after losing to the Eagles in 2023 and 2024.
Gateway junior Nydrell Thigpen has carried the ball 71 times for 557 yards and 6 TDs.
No. 9 Edgewater (3-1) at Jones (2-1), postponed
This game was postponed “due to electrical issues affecting the field lighting at Jones High School”. The game is rescheduled to be played Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at Jones.
The Orange County Public School district sent out this message:
Tonight’s varsity football game between Jones and Edgewater high schools has been postponed due to electrical issues affecting the field lighting at Jones High School. The game has been rescheduled for Monday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at Jones High School.
Facilities crews are working to complete the necessary repairs. The safety of students, staff, and guests remains the district’s top priority. We appreciate the community’s understanding and support.
Other games of note
No. 1 DeLand defeated Deltona, 43-0
Deltona (2-1) at No. 1 DeLand (2-1)
The Bulldogs (3-1) were up 30-0 at halftime and is 27-2 with 14 consecutive wins in this lopsided rivalry. Deltona is 2-2.
DeLand got 2 rushing TDs by both Gardner Nordman and Taihj Moore in the first half.
DeLand cracked HS Football America’s top 100 at No. 98 this week. Its loss was to St Frances Academy of Baltimore, which is No. 10 in that ranking.
South Lake (0-3) at No. 6 Bishop Moore (2-2)
The Hornets are 4-0 vs. South Lake, but they haven’t met since 2016.
No. 7 Lake Nona (3-1) at Wekiva (2-2)
The Lions scored a milestone 24-3 win against Edgewater last week.
No. 11 Evans (2-2) at St. Augustine (4-0)
Evans is No. 10 in MaxPreps’ 5A rankings. The Yellow Jackets are No. 12 in 4A.
No. 12 Osceola (2-2) at Lake Wales (3-1)
The host Highlanders are ranked No. 2 in 4A and lost only to DeLand, 35-34.
The Kowboys beat Lake Wales in 2024 and lost to them last year.
Dr. Phillips (1-2) at No. 15 Winter Park (2-2)
First time the Orange County teams have met in 12 years. DP won 28-17 at Showalter Field in 2014 to even the all-time series at 8-8.
No. 16. Lake Brantley (2-2) at Lake Howell (2-2)
Seminole County teams meet for the first time in 14 years. Brantley is 14-0 against the SilverHawks (1998-2013) since Lake Howell in 1997.
Innovation defeated Freedom, 51-0
The Bulls improved to 5-0 with the romp past the Patriots (2-2).
Innovation is the top-ranked team in the new FHSAA Independent League.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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