Mustangs to meet Mustangs in 8A, Region 1 final
It’s the year of the Mustangs in the Class 8A, Region 1 high school football playoffs.
Off the strength of lopsided wins Friday, Wekiva hosts Jacksonville Mandarin this week in a region final showdown of teams sharing the same nickname: Mustangs.
Wekiva (11-1) knocked off visiting Apopka 28-7 and Mandarin (8-4) thumped Winter Park 41-8 at Showalter Field on Friday night.
Wekiva’s shutout streak on defense, which spanned six straight games, ended early in the fourth quarter when Apopka’s Eric Wright scored on a 31-yard pass from Jackson Darlington.
“To give up one touchdown to them, really that was our [own] fault,” said Wekiva coach Rich Bedesem. “Our kids were on a ton of the trick plays, a ton of the wheel routes, all the double passes; we were on all of it. We prepared for it and our kids did a great job.”
Junior quarterback Larry Preston threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another. One of Preston’s passes landed in the hands of Tyler Davis, best known as a defensive tackle, for a 23-yard score late in the third quarter. Terrence Moore scored on receptions of 47 and 62 yards.
Wekiva’s senior class finishes 3-2 vs. Apopka (8-4), including three consecutive victories over the past two years. The program lost its first 10 meetings in the series dating back to the school opening in 2007.
Winter Park (10-2) finished the season with a thud while turning the ball over four times, giving up three sacks and being held to a little more than 100 yards of offense.
Mandarin junior quarterback Carson Beck, an Alabama commit, connected on touchdown passes to three different receivers while throwing for 274 yards. He also rushed for a TD early in the fourth quarter.
It was a sour ending to a Wildcat season interrupted by off-the-field issues, which included four transfer players being stripped of eligibility by the Florida High School Athletic Association then winning appeals and Wekiva, one of five area teams still
being reinstated midway through the season.
DP, Edgewater still rolling
Defending state champion Dr. Phillips (7-5) has defeated the top seed in 8A, Region 2 in back-to-back seasons after winning 19-7 at Vero Beach (11-1) on Friday.
The Panthers, who finished state runners-up in 2016, are playing in a region final for the fifth straight season. They’ll travel to Sarasota Riverview (9-3) for what will be the third postseason meeting in three years between the programs. DP beat the Rams 21-0 in 2016 and 28-19 in 2017.
Devon Charitable made a tackle on fourth down at the 5 yard line and Cameron Williams forced a fumble at the goal line in the second quarter on Friday. An interception by Bryan Bell-Anderson early in the fourth and 23-yard TD run in the final minutes by Japerri alive
Powell sealed the win.
Edgewater (11-1) rallied from a 14-point deficit after turning the ball over three times in the first half to roll to a 35-14 win at Tallahassee Lincoln (7-5) in 7A, Region 1.
Senior quarterback R.J. Harvey shook off the early miscues and rushed for three touchdowns, including one that spanned 83 yards to give the Eagles the lead. Edgewater travels to Jacksonville Lee (10-1) on Friday.
“He didn’t flinch. He came back and battled like crazy in the second half,” Edgewater coach Cameron Duke said of Harvey.
Foundation, TFA get wins
Foundation Academy (9-2) turned in an inspiring effort in 2A, Region 2 while blowing past Zephyrhills Christian (7-4) 42-12 with injured teammate Bailey Trinder in attendance.
Trinder, a junior, suffered Edgewater (11-1) at Jacksonville Lee (10-1), 7:30 Class 2A at Southeastern University Lakeland Victory Christian (10-1) vs. Foundation Academy (9-2), 7:30 a spinal injury as a result of a serious automobile accident on Sept. 6.
“It’s awesome, just to see him be here with a smiling face, supporting us,” said quarterback Henry Austad, who threw three touchdowns to Grayson Wagner.
Warren Sapp II recovered a loose ball in the end zone for Foundation’s first points of the night. The Lions will now travel to play topseeded Lakeland Victory Christian (10-1), a 35-0 winner vs. Deltona Trinity (7-5).
Rolous Frazier III scored on a 74-yard run on the second play from scrimmage and finished with 279 yards and four scores while helping The First Academy (9-1) to a 40-21 win over Daytona Beach Father Lopez (9-3) in 3A.
Owen Pifer scored on a short run in the third to give TFA a 27-14 advantage. Lake Ellis intercepted a pass and scored on a 45-yard reception for the Royals, who advance to play at top-seeded West Palm Beach King’s Academy (10-1).
Jones bows out
An early 14-0 advantage off long touchdown runs by junior Avarius Sparrow was not enough for Jones (10-2) in 5A, Region 4.
The Tigers recovered an onside kick late in the game but then missed wide right on a 36-yard field goal try in a 30-27 loss at Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (10-2). It’s the second postseason loss at Gibbons in as many years for Jones, which lost 43-30 in the first round last year.