Bishop Moore keeps playoff hopes intact
Bishop Moore kept alive its hopes of participating in the high school football state playoffs for the 14th consecutive season with a 26-12 win at Deltona on Friday night.
Drew Spinogatti stepped in front of a third-down pass in the first quarter and raced 30 yards into the end zone for a pick-six, breaking a couple of tackles along the way. The score gave the Hornets a 6-0 lead and they never looked back to improve to 4-5 in a Class 5A District 7 game seen as a must-win by both sides.
Both teams entered Friday night’s contest with a 2-1 mark in district play, with Deltona (6-2) one spot ahead of the Hornets (4-5, 3-1) in the latest RPI ratings for Region 2. Four at-large berths per region will be determined by FHSAA RPI rankings.
“It’s been a rough season where we thought we should have won a couple games that we ended up losing,” Bishop Moore coach Matt Hedrick said. “But I am proud of the way the kids came out here and played tonight.”
Bishop Moore controlled the game with a strong running attack. Aside from a 78-yard scamper in the fourth quarter by Jeremy Ruiz, most of those yards came in small increments.
No. 1 Seminole deflates DeLand
Top-ranked Sanford Seminole scored a 38-11 victory against DeLand to keep the Battle for the Bridge rivalry trophy in Sanford for another year.
The Noles (9-1), the No. 1 team in the Sentinel Super 16 area rankings, got big contributions from their talented athletes on offense, defense and special teams in the win. Darren “Goldie” Lawrence, a junior UF commit, caught two touchdown passes while also rushing for a touchdown against the No. 15 Bulldogs (3-4).
The twins and recent UCF commits, Demari Henderson and Ja’Cari Henderson, both scored touchdowns. Demari recovered a fumble for a score in the second quarter and Ja’Cari returned a kickoff 96 yards for a TD in the third quarter.
Seminole locked up the Class 8A District 2 title with its win over Lake Mary last week.
Seminole’s only loss was to Hollywood
Chaminade-Madonna (7-1), the FHSAA’s top-rated Class 3A team.
— Dominique Smith
Rams stifle Oviedo
Lake Mary reserve running backs Jaysen Soto and Jayden Jackson turned two Oviedo turnovers into quick touchdowns, and the Rams defense shut the Lions down in a 21-6 homecoming victory.
The No. 6 Rams improved to 8-1 and concluded Class 8A District 3 play at 3-1 with a loss only to Seminole.
Lake Mary was without starting running back Manquez Lang because of an unspecified injury, and turned to backups to pick up the slack.
A Lions turnover set up the Rams’ first touchdown. Oviedo (5-4) quarterback Chase Copper’s side lateral to D.J. Jones went awry and was recovered by Seminole’s Ayden Petitpas. That set up freshman Soto’s 21-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
“Soto, it’s his first game playing varsity,” Lake Mary coach Scott Perry said. “He came out, got the handoff and took it to the house.”
Several turnovers and 120 yards in penalties against the Rams allowed
Oviedo (5-4, 1-3) to stay in the game in the second half.
— Lynn Ramsey
Elsewhere
No. 12 Ocoee cruised to a 37-13 high school football win at Ocala West Port (1-8, 1-4) to pave the way for two big challenges next week.
The Knights (6-2, 2-1) are home against 8A District 3 frontrunner Apopka (6-2, 3-0) in a Tuesday game that was postponed in September due to COVID concerns. The Blue Darters thumped Lake Brantley 41-3 on Thursday night and can sew up the district crown with a win.
Ocoee, which lost to Lake Brantley 36-33 last week, can force a three-way tie if it upsets Apopka.
Jones, No. 6 in the Super 16, had to battle back to win 20-13 against visiting Palmetto (4-4) of Manatee County. The Tigers trailed 13-0 until senior defensive back Dunte Fillmore intercepted a pass and returned it for a TD with 9:14 to go in the first half.
No. 7 Kissimmee Osceola (7-2, 4-1) led by only 7-0 at halftime against visiting Celebration (6-3, 1-4) but pulled away to win 47-6.
St. Cloud pulled off a 31-30 home win against backyard rival Harmony (5-4). The Longhorns scored with just over two minutes to go but failed to convert an extra point kick attempt that could have forced overtime. St. Cloud (3-6) led 24-7.
Hagerty (5-4) won 41-0 at Lyman (2-7) as Huskies quarterback Anthony Benzija tied
Jeff Driskel’s school record of 16 touchdown passes in a season. Benzija threw three TDs passes, all to Parker Douglas (33, 25 and 19 yards).
Next week’s Sunshine State Athletic Conference AAAA semifinals are set with three Orlando area teams in the mix.
Undefeated Lake Highland Prep (9-0), the No. 1 seed, won 41-6 against Fort Myers Gateway Charter (3-6) on Friday. The Highlanders will play against Central Florida Christian Academy (7-1), which dominated the second half of a 47-17 home win vs. The Master’s Academy (4-4).
Mount Dora Christian (7-1) won 54-0 at home against Bradenton St. Stephen’s (3-5) of Bradenton and will next face Jupiter Christian (6-2).