Happy Friday the 13th!
Unlike last week, which saw just two games played among three of the county’s eight teams due to postponements or cancellations due to Hurricane Dorian, everybody who’s scheduled to play is going to.
Five games, including four home games and two inter-county matchups, dot the schedule. Even more exciting, these are all district matchups, so by the end of the evening a couple teams will have a leg up on a possible playoff berth.
Here’s the games:
District 8A-6: Osceola (1-1) at Celebration (1-1): Both teams are coming off bye weeks; Celebration was scheduled, the Kowboys’ anticipated meeting at Cocoa got wiped out. Contrasting styles here: Storm QB Will Bohn has thrown for 501 yards in two games, and receiver Anthony Gonzalez (8 catches, 234 yards, 2 TDs) is his favorite target. Osceola, as usual, will go to the ground with running backs DeWayne McGee and Ja’Randy Swint and expect QB Davon Wells to get to the edge and run it a bit himself, although Coach Doug Nichols has called a few more pass plays in two games than we’re used to seeing. Celebration hasn’t beaten Osceola in two tries.
District 7A-5: Tohopekaliga (2-1) at St. Cloud (2-0): Tigers ride a two-game win streak into Tom Gannarelli Field after a 26-6 win Friday (yep, they played) over Poinciana. Sophomore QB Tyler Wesley is coming into his own as THS coaching staff increasingly comfortable putting the game in his hands. He’s put the ball in the hands of slot/RB Blake McCullough, RB Sir Giles and receivers De’Mario Tolan, Ahmeen and Kareem Dinzey. Bulldogs Coach Bryan Smart said the offense has struggled a bit – yet SCHS has scored 61 points in its two games. Junior QB Garhett King and senior WR Romeo Medina (15 catches, 228 yards) have been a nice connection, and RB Patrick Forsythe is starting to give Bulldogs a running game to replace the multitalented Seth Johnson.
District 7A-5: Melbourne (2-1) at Harmony (0-2): Longhorns have lost two straight for the first time under Don Simon; losing last week’s game against Palm Bay (moved to Oct. 11) hurt. Offense behind sophomore Keaghan Black coming along. Bulldogs are a tough out as they can throw it (Justin Popovich, 28-for-55, 376 yards) and run it (Antonio Wright, 625 yards, 9 TDs).
District 7A-6: Liberty (0-2) at Winter Haven (0-2): Both teams looking for their first win. Chargers coach Brandon Pennington said this one’s key to winning the district. They’ll have to slow the Blue Devils’ preferred rushing attack. Liberty’s offense looked gamey in 55-38 season-opener at Lake Brantley behind QB John Smith and a cast of skill players new to their roles. Teams have a common opponent: Sebring (Liberty fell 27-6, Winter Haven lost 26-14).
District 6A-9: Heritage (1-1) at Gateway (0-2): Both were off last week. Heritage has a 32-14 win over Harmony, in which they showed off dual-threat QB Devin Alves, RB Tay Farmer (nearly 100 yards rushing, 2 TDs) and a host of other weapons. Panthers still looking to get RBs Phillip Bangura and Jacovi Bryant unleashed behind a young offensive line.
