Transfers show up big forWildcats
Ritts and Simpson make their mark forWinter Park
A pair of New York transplants made Florida high school football debuts forWinter Park inWeek 6 of the regular season.
Riley Simpson intercepted a pass and Jake Ritts led the Wildcats (3-1) on three drives at quarterback Friday night during a 31-7 win at LakeNona (2-2).
Simpson and Ritts recently relocated from Buffalo, N.Y., where high school football is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Winter Park, ranked No. 12 in the Sentinel Super16, trailed 7-6 at the break but benefited from six turnovers by the Lions in the second half, including safeties on back-to-back drives in the third quarter.
“First half, [Lake Nona] dominated us up front. We struggled finishing drives and getting points where we needed to,” saidWinter Park coach Tim Shifflet. “We’ve got to start putting 48 minutes together.”
Junior quarterback Jaden Machules rushed for two touchdowns and Dakota Mitchell and Ayron Rodriguez each scored on runs to help the Wildcats claim their seventh win in eight meetings with LakeNona since 2013.
No. 11 Lake Minneola (2-1) lost its out-of-state transfer quarterback to injury during a 42-0 rivalry win at Clermont East Ridge (1-2).
Delaware native and top college prospect Braden Davis left Friday’s game in the second quarter after injuring his right ankle while attempting a slide after scrambling through the Knights defense. The junior rushed for an 11-yard TD early in the first quarter.
East Ridge transfer Robbie Sanders stepped in for the Hawks under center and closed out the first half with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Trey Bush. Sanders also intercepted a pass while on defense in the red zone.
Lake Minneola leaned on running back Duke Walker through the night.
Despite having three TDs called back on penalties, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior finished the night with 28 carries for 232 yards and three scores.
“I felt amazing, butwe gotta get back at it and hit it hard onMonday,” Walker said. “We had those
touchdowns called back, but I didn’t put my head down and we kept our foot on their necks, and we kept pushing through.
“It’s a big rivalry game for everybody, so it meant a lot to a lot of people.”
Lake Minneola has won three in a row in the series and improved to 6-4 vs. the Knights since 2011.
No. 4 Seminole (4-0), which defeated Lake Minneola last week, dismantled visiting Lake Brantley 35-0 on Friday.
Seminole senior wide receiver Jimmy Horn scored twice — on a 52-yard run and a 66-yard reception — and Jamez Drummer and Keiyon Holloway each rushed for touchdowns.
“Jimmy Horn is obviously the most electric kid on the field every time he steps on it,” Seminole head coachEric Lodge said. “We’d bebadcoaches ifwe didn’t gethim the ball.”
Seminole is 20-1 against other Seminole Athletic Conference teams since 2016, losing only to Oviedo 17-13 in 2018. Brantley (1-3) is the only SAC team playing the ‘Noles this regular season.
No. 7 Osceola (3-0) did all its damage in the first half atNo. 16 St. Cloud (2-1) in the 97th meeting between the schools since 1925.
Ja’Randy Swint ran for two touchdowns and Kaylon Walters
returned an interception 37 yards for a TD as the Kowboys built a 35-point advantage in a 35-13 win.
Olympia ran its record to 3-0 with a 42-25 come-from-behind win at Orlando University (0-4). The Cougars led 25-7 at halftime before the Titans roared back. Olympia also used a late rally last week to win 26-23 at Oak Ridge (1-3).
Evans (1-1) defeated Oak Ridge on Friday 44-33 for its first win of the season, just four days after playing for the first time in 2020. The Trojans lost at No. 9 Ocoee 43-22 onMonday night in a game that was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Evans program.
Orange City University (3-1) rebounded from its first loss with a 49-12 homecoming triumph over visiting Lyman (1-3). The Titans scored on the first play from scrimmage when quarterback Adan Figueroa connected with Demari Taylor for a 45-yard TD pass.
The First Academy cruised to a 42-6 win against visiting Lake Highland Prep (1-1) to improve to 2-0.
Sean Johnson had twoTDruns, one for 58 yards, in the victory. The Royals have won three straight in the series after losing in their first nine tries against the Highlanders. They meet again on
Oct. 23 at Lake Highland.
Windermere Prep celebrated senior night with a huge 64-21win against Trinity Prep (0-2).
Lakers quarterback Zane Fulmer threw five touchdown passes in the first half as his team built a 44-0 lead in the second quarter and evened its record at 1-1.
Jackson Bennett caught four of those TD tosses from Fulmer and also ran for three scores to set a school record for points in a game with 42.
FoundationAcademy improved to 5-0 with a 34-14 win at St. Petersburg Northside (2-3). The game was tied 14-14 at halftime before the state-rankedLions took over.
Foundation coach Brad Lord credited a dominant effort along the defensive line by BryanThomas Jr., Donovan Branch, Reggie Jean, Edward Byrd and Greyson Labiad following the win.
Danny Stutsman ran for two touchdowns and caught aTDpass to continue his stellar season.
Orlando Christian Prep improved to 5-0 with a 45-12 road win against The Master’s Academy (1-4). The Warriors have outscored opponents 240 points to 68.
Central Florida ChristianAcademy (3-1) won 52-13 against previously unbeaten Legacy Charter (4-1). Wilkerson St. Juste scored five touchdowns in the victory and teammate Tama Jacobs had seven catches for more than 100 yards.