Apopka, Jones hit road, OCP plays in Winter Garden
Apopka and Jones go on the road and Orlando Christian Prep plays in Winter Garden in FHSAA state semifinal football games Friday night.
Winners advance to state championship games Dec. 16-18 (Class 8A-4A) at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and Dec. 9-11 (Class 3A-1A) at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee.
Postseason pairings for games involving Orlando area teams are listed below with current records, FHSAA semifinal rankings and predicted winners. Admission is $9 online at the GoFan.co app. Check for score updates at @OSVarsity on Twitter and our full coverage at SentinelVarsity.com.
J.C. last week: 3 correct, 1 fumble (.750). J.C. this season: 353 correct, 73 fumbles (.829).
Class 8A
No. 3 Apopka (11-2) at No. 2 Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (10-1), 7:30
Buzz: Former Apopka coach Rick Darlington is credited with installing single-wing offense at Treasure Coast. The Titans have attempted just 18 passes this season. Blue Darters have held opposing teams to 14 points or less in 10 of 13 games.
History: Apopka is in state semis for 10th time since 1993 and third year in a row. Blue Darters won 7-0 at Treasure Coast in 2009 region final.
Players to watch: Apopka senior LBs Travion Barnes (89 tackles, 5 sacks) and Josiah Robinson (63 tackles) could be in for a busy night. Treasure Coast RB Eden James, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James, is focal point of run game averaging 354 yards per outing.
Quotable: ”It’s going to be a physical affair,” Apopka coach Jeff Rolson said. “They’re going to try to grind the ball and use clock, and we’ve just got to find a way to get them off the field and get out in front of them. Neither team wants to play from behind.”
Looking ahead: Winner plays No. 1 Venice (12-1) or No. 4 Miami Columbus (9-3) in 8A final on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale.
Prediction: Apopka.
Class 6A
No. 3 Jones (11-2) at No. 2 Pensacola Pine Forest (11-1), 8:30
Buzz: Tigers are coming off back-to-back road playoff wins vs. previously unbeaten teams and have won nine straight since losses at Edgewater and IMG Academy. Pine Forest, winners of 11 in a row, averages 38.5 points per games.
History: First meeting. Jones is in state semis for second time in three years and third time since 1990. Pine Forest last reached semifinals in 2008.
Players to watch: Nigel Williams leads Jones with 69 tackles, 8 sacks. Stephen Sparrow has 60 tackles, 3 INTs and 2 forced fumbles. Pine Forest QB Tierra Wilson, who
has thrown for 1,441 yards, is one of three players with more than 800 rushing yards in Veer triple-option attack.
Quotable: ”They’re tough. You don’t get to the final four for no reason,” Jones coach Elijah Williams said. “They run an offense we’ve never seen, so we’re going to the drawing board and trying to teach our kids how to be disciplined and stop their option.”
Looking ahead: Winner plays No. 1 Tampa Jesuit (13-0) or No. 4 Miami Northwestern (10-3) in 6A final on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale.
Prediction: Jones.
Class 2A
No. 4 Jacksonville Trinity Christian (8-4) at No. 1
Orlando Christian Prep (10-1), 7:30
Buzz: Game will be played at Foundation Academy in Winter Garden. Trinity Christian ranks No. 1 and OCP ranks No. 3 in MaxPreps
Class 2A computer rankings. Conquerors dropped 3 of 4 games to end regular season. OCP has won 10 in a row.
History: First meeting. OCP is in first FHSAA postseason after winning independent Sunshine State Athletic Conference championships in 2 of past 3 seasons. Trinity, Class 3A champion in 2020, won four consecutive state titles (2013-16).
Players to watch: Sophomore Stanley Ihekwoaba has tallied 9 sacks and junior Jayden Alberty has 3 INTs for OCP. Trinity QB Colin Hurley
has passed for 1,827 yards, 22 TDs and sophomore RB Darnell Rogers has rushed for 1,079 yards, 10 TDs.
Quotable: ”They’re the Goliaths of all Goliaths,” OCP coach Guerschom Demosthenes said. “We’ve got our hands full, and not very many people
are going to believe in us, but I like our chances. Anybody can win on any given night.”
Looking ahead: Winner plays No. 2 Naples First Baptist Academy (10-1) or No. 3 Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (9-2) in 2A final on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in Tallahassee.
Prediction: Trinity Christian.