Orlando area predictions for Week 1
Familiarity will fill the air when an abbreviated start to the Florida high school football season kicks off Friday. Only a few private schools will play Week 1 games in the Orlando area.
Deltona Trinity Christian’s senior class will line up across the field from former head coach Monty Vann when they take on Seven Rivers Christian of Lecanto. Vann directed the Eagles for four years (2014-17) and a number of Trinity’s current seniors were freshman in his final season at the school.
In Winter Garden, Foundation Academy coach Brad Lord faces off against mentor Bill Gierke and Orangewood Christian. Gierke won his 300th career game a year ago and is the area’s all-time winningest coach.
“It ’s sort of cool that two coaches who have known each other for so long are going against each other to start this season,” said Lord. His team is coming off a 9-3 season.
Below is a glimpse of what to watch for and the predicted winners for each of the five local games on schedule in Week 1. Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Check for score updates at @OSVarsity on Twitter and our full coverage at SentinelVarsity.com.
Orangewood Christian (0-0) at Foundation Academy (0-0)
Foundation senior WR/LB Danny Stutsman (6-4, 225) is an Oklahoma commit and junior RB/DE Bryan Thomas Jr. (6-2, 200) has multiple offers from Power 5 programs. Kaderris Roberts leads a deep senior class as a skilled playmaker on both sides of the ball for Orangewood, which was 7-5 a year ago. Foundation won 42-21 last October in a matchup of teams that reached the Class 2A playoffs. Pick:
Foundation Academy
Faith Christian (0-0) at Mount Dora Christian Academy (0-0), 7:30
Former Seminole High athletic director Mike Kintz is coaching for the first time since serving as an assistant with the Seminoles in 2015. Tavares transfer Ty’Quan Wiggins leads the Bulldogs at quarterback. Former Faith assistant David Carrington takes over a program two years removed from playing 8-man football. MDCA prevailed 56-20 in 2019. Pick: Mount Dora Christian
Seven Rivers Christian (0-0) at Deltona Tr i n i ty Christian (0-0)#
Former Deltona Trinity coach Monty Vann went 20-22 and won two district titles in four seasons with the Eagles before taking the job at Seven Rivers in the spring of 2018. Trinity senior Jalen Wilson returns as the team’s leading rusher and receiver while averaging 116 all-purpose yards per game. Pick: Trinity Christian
Central Florida Christian Academy (0-0) at Zephyrhills Christian (0-0)
CFCA graduated its leading rusher and top two receivers and tacklers from a team that won four games last fall. Zephyrhills is replacing a 1,000-yard rusher after going 6-5 and losing in a Class 2A region quarterfinal. Pick: Zephyrhills Christian
American Collegiate (0-0) at West Oaks Academy (0-0)#
West Oaks was crowned champions of the Florida Independent High School Athletic Association in the past two seasons. American Collegiate is a fourth-year Clearwater program. Pick: American Collegiate
#Home sites: Deltona Trinity at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex; West Oaks at Ocoee Bulldog Field.
J.C. last season: 361 correct, 76 fumbles (.826). 2015 through 2019: 1,856-444 (.807).