Scoring blitz lifts Wildcats
Winter Park runs over Boone to win third straight District 3 title
Winter Park recovered two fumbles and scored 24 points in the second quarter Friday at Boone en route to its third straight Class 8A, District 3 championship.
The Wildcats (8-1, 4-0), ranked No. 6 in the Sentinel Super 16, held the No. 15 Braves (5-3, 2-1) to just over 100 yards of offense while rolling to convincing 38-3 win.
Senior Peter Hayes-Patrick carried the ball 34 times for 210 yards and three touchdowns, the last of which came in the game’s final moments. Dakota Mitchell and Brendon Lightsey each recovered fumbles for a team that’s allowed just 12 points over its past six games.
“We’ve gone through a lot this season and we’ve never sunk our heads,” Winter Park coach Tim Shifflet said. “We’ve battled through a lot of adversity. … but [the kids] continued to push themselves to win this district championship.”
The win gives Winter Park home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs as one of the top four seeds in 8A, Region 1.
Boone held the Wildcats to a 42-yard field goal by Alec Boe to open the second quarter, but after punting on its next possession Hayes-Patrick broke free for a 65-yard run to put Winter Park in front for good.
Mitchell then recovered a Boone fumble four plays later, leading to a 17-yard touchdown run up the middle by Hayes-Patrick. Winter Park tacked on another score in the final seconds of the first half when Lightsey returned a fumble 45 yards for a score.
Boone forced a turnover early in the third quarter but went three-and-out from there, stumping any chance at regaining the momentum they built to start the game.
The Braves opened with a short field but settled for a 30-yard field goal by Michael Ray despite converting on a pair of fourth downs and getting the ball down inside the 10-yard line.
It wasn’t long before the Wildcats turned the tables and ran away with their third straight win in the series. It’s the first such streak for either team since Winter Park claimed eight in a row from 1995-02.
“It means a lot to me because I’ve been here since my freshman year, and that’s when we started this run to getting the district titles,” said J.J. Valle-Smith, who recorded a sack in the third quarter. “I’m just happy to be a part of history here at Winter Park High School.”
Marcus Clarke finished with eight receptions, including several on shovel passes, for 89 yards and a touchdown from Casey Case late in the third quarter for Winter Park.
Aaron Bullock and Jonas Joseph each recovered a fumble for Boone, who entered the night two points behind Lake Mary for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Braves will likely need wins the next two weeks over Colonial and Edgewater to qualify for the postseason.