Two nights for drama
School is out Friday in Orange and Osceola counties, so there’s two nights of district drama in high school football this week.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest matchups tonight and Friday.
Title run: Dr. Phillips (4-3) has a less impressive overall record than does Olympia (5-2) but is a heavy favorite to tame the Titans and wrap up its eighth straight district title on tonight. If DP does that, Olympia will be left to combat Oak Ridge next week for the Class 8A District 5 runner-up spot and a playoff berth.
The Panthers’ three losses came to area No. 1 West Orange, No. 2 Daytona Beach Mainland and No. 4 Apopka.
Who’s No. 2? Also tonight, Boone will travel to Winter Park for what likely will determine the runnerup in 8A-3.
Both have lost to Timber Creek, which should clinch the title with a win against Colonial.
Both the Braves and Wildcats have a quarterback among the area’s top-10 passing leaders. Winter Park’s Nick Sproles comes in at No. 3, having completed 105 of 160 passes for 1,567 yards and 13 touchdowns. Boone’s Tommy Verzi is 87-of-162 passing for 1,233 yards and 10 scores.
First timer: Kissimmee Gateway can make its first trip to the playoffs in the school’s 31-year history if it wins a crucial 8A, District 7 home game against Davenport Ridge Community at 7:30 tonight.
The game, originally scheduled for Friday, was moved up after much negotiation between the Osceola County and Polk County schools.
Long awaited: St. Cloud is close to claiming its second district title in 21 years going into tonight’s game vs. Lake Nona that could be a scoring fest.
St. Cloud has the area’s No. 8 rusher in Bryan Johnson (111 carries, 866 yards, eight touchdowns). Lake Nona has quarterback Michael McFarlane, who’s No. 2 in the area for passing yards (1,666 yards, 14 touchdowns).
If St. Cloud and Harmony both win on Friday they clinch the two 7A-5 playoff berths.
Craziness continues: Some of the best Friday night games are between teams in 8A, District 2.
Front-runner Lake Brantley can clinch the title with a win against No. 3 Oviedo to remain undefeated, but a loss would put both teams at 4-1 in the district with one game to go and set up a potential three-way tiebreaker to settle the two playoff slots.
No. 2 Orange City University would finish 5-1 in district play if it wins at fourth place Lake Mary on Friday.
If Lake Brantley and Lake Mary win the logjam would be for second with University, Oviedo and Lake Mary all owning two district defeats with one week of district play to go.