Osceola (3-1) at Cypress Creek (0-4): The Kowboys let Liberty hang around in the first half last week before scoring three third-quarter touchdowns and putting the 42-14 game away. OHS Coach Doug Nichols is looking for a better start, and it could come against the winless Bears in District 8A-6.
Gateway (0-4) at St. Cloud (4-0): This was originally scheduled for Sept. 6 but postponed when schools were closed part of that week for Hurricane Dorian. Bulldogs Coach Bryan Smart said his team’s offense had been inconsistent … then it went out and beat Celebration 48-13. QB Garhett King hit Koron Perrin, Patrick Forsythe, Hayden Taylor, Romeo Medina and Craig Chapman on touchdown passes. The Panthers’ offensive line play has improved allowing running room for RB Phillip Bangura, who had three long touchdown runs in the first half of a 24-21 loss to Harmony last week.
Viera (1-2) at Harmony (1-3): The Longhorns, who have found a productive running back in freshman Tyler Emans, needed his spark to score their first win last week. Viera, likely the front-runner to win District 7A-5, spreads the ball around, so Harmony’s defense will be tested.
Melbourne (4-1) at Tohopekaliga (2-2): Tigers are coming off their bye week, and Melbourne is the Homecoming opponent. Coach Marc Deas’ team has two priorities to get the win: make the offense look more like a 26-6 win over Poinciana than a 12-0 loss two weeks ago to St. Cloud, and stop Melbourne RB Antonio Wright (880 yards, 13 TDs in five games).
Winter Haven (2-2) at Poinciana (2-2): The Eagles matched their entire win total from 2018 with QB Justin Carpenter’s strong performance in last week’s 27-7 win over Tenoroc. But the Blue Devils present a challenge in District 7A-6, having shut out their last two opponents.
Celebration (1-3) at Freedom (1-2): Friday presents a good chance for the Storm to get its first district victory since October 2017 over Windermere. QB Will Bohn has tossed for nearly 800 yards already, and he’ll need a turnover-free night to beat the Patriots, who needed overtime last week to defeat winless Colonial for their first win.
George Jenkins (3-2) at Liberty (0-4): Chargers found some momentum in the running game of the first half against Osceola last week with RB Ardairious Ingram and QB John Smith. Coach Brandon Pennington’s team has put together good quarters or halves this year; it will take 48 solid minutes Friday to beat the Eagles, who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in school history.
