Edgewater, Apopka, DP among predicted winners this week
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Week 7 of the high school football season unfolds with highly-touted Edgewater playing its first game in three weeks after being sidelined due to positive COVID-19 test results.
The Eagles (1-1), ranked No. 2 in the Sentinel Super 16, travel to Kissimmee on Friday to face No. 6 Osceola (3-0).
It’s the first outing between the schools since Edgewater won back-toback games against the Kowboys in 2005 and 2006. Those happen to be the the last two times Osceola failed to make the state playoffs before starting their current run of 14 consecutive appearances (counting this year).
Edgewater last played on Sept. 25 in a win at Winter Park. The team was forced into quarantine four days later because of testing protocols as mandated by Orange County Public Schools.
The matchup at Osceola is one of four games this week between teams slotted in the Super 16. Top-ranked Jones (3-0) hosted No. 11 Wekiva (1-2) on Thursday night. The Tigers are at home against Edgewater next week.
No. 3 Apopka (3-1) is at No. 15 West Orange (2-1) and No. 5 Dr. Phillips (3-1) is at Olympia (3-0) in other Orange County rivalry games.
Two games were scrubbed from the schedule in Week 7 because of COVID-19 quarantines. Positive tests were reported at Freedom (1-2) last week after the Patriots won 41-32 at Celebration (0-2). That caused Freedom’s game against St. Cloud and Celebration’s game against Lake Nona to be canceled.
St. Cloud (2-1) will now travel to Lake Nona (2-2) in search of its first win against the Lions since 2015. Lake Nona is 5-1 in the series.
The top small-school programs in the area put unbeaten streaks on the line this week. Orlando Christian Prep (5-0) plays in Kissimmee at Class 7A Tohopekaliga (1-2). Foundation Academy (5-0) hosts nine-time state champion Jacksonville University Christian (1-3), which beat the Lions by 20 points in each of the past two seasons.
OCP is playing against a public school for the second time this season. The Warriors won 59-14 at Class 5A Mount Dora High (0-3) on Sept. 25.
Windermere Prep sophomore running back Jackson Bennett, who scored seven touchdowns, and Lake Mary junior quarterback Gunnar Smith, who had a hand in four TDs, @OSVarsity SentinelVarsity.com. shared Orlando Touchdown Club player of the week honors for last week.
The Lakers (1-1) host Lake Highland Prep (1-1) while Lake Mary (3-1) is on the road at Evans (1-1) on Friday.
Deltona Trinity Christian (3-3) will not play its scheduled home game on Friday because St. Edward’s (2-0) of Vero Beach canceled due to COVID-19 issues.
Below is a look at what to watch for and the predicted winners for games involving area programs. Teams are listed with current records and area Super 16 rankings. Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
No. 2 Edgewater (1-1) at No. 6 Osceola (3-0), 7:30
Pick: Edgewater
No. 3 Apopka (3-1) at No. 15 West Orange (2-1)
Apopka
No. 5 Dr. Phillips (3-1) at No. 16 Olympia (3-0)
Pick: Dr. Phillips Oviedo (3-1) at
No. 12 Winter Park (3-1)#
No. 4 Seminole (4-0)
No. 7 DeLand (2-0)#
No. 8 Timber Creek (3-0)
No. 9 Ocoee (2-1)
Orange Spruce Creek (2-2) at Evans (1-1) at Lake Nona (2-2) Deltona Pine Ridge (0-3) at Deltona (1-3)