Home-field advantage comes in handy for Wekiva
A tough trek in the Class 8A, Region 1 high school football playoffs underscores the benefits of homefield advantage while in pursuit of a spot in the state championship game next month at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.
“That’s why you win the regular-season games, to host playoff games,” Wekiva coach Rich Bedesem said after defeating visiting West Orange 16-0 on Friday. “We talked about it from the start and how important it was to win the district, and obviously now we’re the No. 1 team in the region, so if we keep winning we’ll be at home for at least a couple more weeks.”
The top-ranked Mustangs (10-1) avenged their only loss by jumping out to a 13-0 halftime lead and holding West Orange (7-4) to just 63 yards. The defense made it six straight games without allowing a score.
“The mindset that we have, nobody is just going to walk in here and take it away from us,” said Wekiva defensive end Norell Pollard. “You can see it in warmups and you can see it in pregame.”
Wekiva hosts local rival Apopka (8-3) in a region semifinal Friday. The Mustangs won the first meeting 35-0 on Oct. 26.
The Blue Darters held off host Oviedo 35-28 when Nikai Martinez intercepted Morgan Mitchell in the corner of the end zone with less than a minute to play. Akeem Brown scored his fourth touchdown midway through the fourth quarter on a 17-yard run to help Apopka overcome a pair of first-half turnovers in the red zone.
The loss for Oviedo (8-3) ends the prep career for Mitchell, who entered the game having thrown for a Seminole County-record 5,585 yards over the past four years.
Winter Park (10-1), the second seed in the region, will host Jacksonville Mandarin (7-4) in the second round after defeating Flagler Palm Coast (7-4) 34-7.
Marcus Clarke and Ethan Pouncey returned interceptions for touchdowns and Peter Hayes-Patrick rushed for two scores. Clarke also reached the end zone for an 81-yard touchdown on a pass from Casey Case.
Mandarin made easy work of injury-depleted DeLand (8-3) for a 35-0 win.
Defending champs
Despite a regular season filled with ups and downs on the scoreboard, defending state champion Dr. Phillips proved it’s still got plenty left in the tank by advancing past the first round for the 13th year in a row.
DP (6-5) rallied from a 17-6 halftime deficit to force overtime before coming away with a 35-28 win at home in 8A-2 over Port St. Lucie Centennial (7-3). Japerri Powell rushed 10 yards for the game-winning touchdown — his fourth TD of the night — and Alberto Guzman picked off a pass in OT.
The Panthers scored three times in the third quarter on a pair of touchdown runs by Powell and an interception return by Cameron Williams. Powell finished with 154 yards on 31 carries. Riley Stephens forced the extra period with a 25-yard field goal inside the final minute.
Dr. Phillips goes on the road Friday to face topseeded Vero Beach (11-0), which made easy work of Gateway (5-6) in a 48-6 win.
Staying alive
Jones (10-1) held off visiting Bishop Moore (6-5) in the final minutes for a 14-7 win in 5A-4. Jay Ward ended the threat with a sack in the red zone with 40 seconds to play.
The Hornets took possession with a little more than two minutes left and nearly tied the game when Dylan Brazil appeared to make a catch in the end zone. But the official determined he came down out of bounds.
Avarius Sparrow rushed for 116 yards and scored touchdowns in the first and third quarters. Jones goes on the road to face Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (9-2).
Edgewater (10-1) knocked Gainesville Buchholz from the postseason for the second straight year as quarterback R.J. Harvey accounted for five touchdowns as a passer, rusher and receiver in a 65-21 win in 7A-1. The Eagles play at Tallahassee Lincoln (7-4) in the region semis.
Deltona Trinity (7-4) defeated Gainesville Oak Hall (6-4) 35-7 and moves on to face top-seeded Lakeland Victory Christian (9-1) in 2A-2.
Foundation Academy (8-2) hosts Zephyrhills Christian (8-3) in the other semifinal following a bye.
The First Academy (8-1) will return from a bye as the No. 2 seed in 3A-2 as it hosts Daytona Beach Father Lopez (9-2).
End of the road
Osceola and Harmony lost home playoff games, as did Hagerty in the final game of Phil Ziglar’s head coaching career.
Osceola (9-2) was bounced from the first round for the second time in three years with a 28-17 loss in 8A-2 to Bradenton Manatee (7-4). The Kowboys trailed 21-3 early in the third quarter.
Harmony (9-2) had its nine-game win streak snapped by way of four turnovers in a 13-6 loss in 7A-2 against Lakeland Kathleen (6-4).
Hagerty (6-5) turned the ball over three times at home in the first half and fell into a 41-point hole before losing 48-7 to Jacksonville Lee (9-1) in 7A-1.
Groveland South Lake (6-5) had its season come to a close with a 54-0 loss at Seffner Armwood (10-1) in 6A-2.