Lake Nona drives for district title
Michael Kern fired three touchdown passes to Anthony Manning as Lake Nona wrapped up the Class 7A, District 5 football championship with a 29-16 victory over East River on Friday night.
The game was tight midway through the fourth quarter. After East River's Adonis Harris scored on a 1-yard TD run to cut the gap to 23-16, Kern found Manning on a 12-yard pass nine plays later to put the game away.
The key play on the decisive drive was a 15-yard pass from Kern to Manning to convert a 4th-and-2 from Lake Nona’s own 33.
“We knew this was a big game but we had a lot of confidence going in," Manning said. “Now that we have made the playoffs our goal is to finish the regular season strong and hopefully win some playoff games.”
The Lions (6-1), ranked No. 16 in the area, improved to 5-0 in the district. East River fell to 6-2 and 4-1.
Joshua Holland got East River off to a fast start, returning a tipped interception 55 yards for a TD, but Lake Nona dominated much of the first half.
The Lions outgained the Falcons 137-79 and ran 20 more plays from scrimmage before the break.
Kern completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 220 yards. Manning had 113 yards on 10 catches. Moises Aracena added 134 yards rushing.
Lake Nona avenged a one-point loss to the Falcons last season and leads 5-4 in the “Beachline” rivalry, born when both schools opened in 2009.
Brandon Brown threw three touchdown passes to Pedro Rodriguez and ran for another score, and Calvin Davis ran for three TDs to lift No. 13 Lake Mary to a 49-20 rout of No. 10 University Orange City in a Class 8A, District 2 game.
The Rams (7-1, 5-0) will play at Seminole (6-1, 4-1) in a district championship game next Friday.
University dealt Seminole loss on Tuesday.
The Rams spoiled University’s shot at winning the district title by scoring on their first three possessions and five of their six series. The Titans (4-3, 4-2) likely will need help to make the playoffs as only district champions in Classes 5A through 8A earn automatic berths.
Lake Mary, which has won five straight games, controlled the line of scrimmage as Davis scored on a 5-yard TD run to cap a 15-play drive. Rodriguez caught 22- and 62-yard TD passes from Brown to push the Rams ahead 21-0.
University’s Lorenzo Lingard ran for 143 yards and two TDs. its first
Brewer accounted for all four of the Huskies’ overtime plays including a one-yard run that gave them the lead.
Lake Howell (3-5, 2-3) scored the potential tying touchdown on its first overtime play but the ensuing extrapoint try was blocked to secure the comeback win for the Huskies (5-2, 4-1).
Hagerty will play for the title at Edgewater next week. district
Lake Brantley celebrated its Senior Night by running for 487 yards and routing visiting Oviedo 49-21.
“I thought tonight we played just about perfect,” Patriots head coach David Delfiacco said. “It just all clicked tonight for us.”
Lake Brantley (3-5, 2-3 in District 8A-2) did not attempt a pass but had three players rush for over 100 yards.
Fullback Devin Frater ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Quarterback Brett Haecker gained 163 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Kyrion Bradford added 115 yards on six carries, and also scored on a 96-yard kickoff return.
Lake Brantley has won nine of its last 10 meetings against Oviedo (3-5, 2-3).