Hagerty stuns Edgewater for district title
The Hagerty Huskies made sure homecoming was memorable Friday night, shocking unbeaten and top-ranked Edgewater 31-15 for the Class 7A, District 4 football championship.
Utilizing a dominating running game, Hagerty (6-3 overall, 5-1 in 7A-4) got scoring from five players. The Huskies scored on their first three possessions — touchdown runs by Sammy Cordero, Ian Watts and Jordan Gilbert — to take a 21-7 halftime lead.
“It’s a great effort,” said Hagerty coach Phil Ziglar. “You’ve got to understand this team all year long ... we were down seven starters after the first part of the season. The young kids have taken their place. Seniors were going both ways. It’s just the effort of the kids trying to succeed.”
The win locked up a fourth consecutive playoff appearance and second district championship in four years for Hagerty. The Huskies claimed their only previous district title in 2015 — which was Ziglar’s third season at Hagerty following his 23 years as head coach at Boone.
Edgewater (8-1, 5-1), rated No. 1 in the Sentinel Super 16 area rankings, came into the game averaging 44.8 points but was hurt by two turnovers. Edgewater stood fourth in Region 1 playoff points going into the game and will need to finish in the top eight to reach the playoffs.
The Huskies, who rumbled for 304 yards on the ground, scored 24 unanswered points at one point to take a 31-7 fourth-quarter lead. Cordero led the way with 88 yards, Gilbert had 64 and Watts, 56. Ethan Lopez also ran for a TD and finished with 67 yards.
The win gives the Seminoles (7-2, 5-1 in 8A, District 1) a big boost in its bid to make the Region 1 playoffs as an at-large qualifier.
Seminole quarterback Timmy McClain got off to a hot start, throwing for 208 yards in the first half. He capped the opening drive with a 39-yard touchdown pass to O’Shea Baker for a 7-0 lead. He connected with Grayden Krull for a 43-yard TD and a 14-0 lead.
Lake Mary (5-4, 4-2) had its running game stuffed early by Seminole’s stout defensive line.
Master’s blanks Orangewood: A year after being knocked out in the first round of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs, The Master’s Academy shut out visiting Orangewood Christian 28-0 to give Jermel Jones his first postseason win as a head coach.
The Eagles got two passing touchdowns from senior quarterback Matthew Gillis and two touchdown runs from freshman running back Terrance Gibbs.
“I am very excited, I am elated,” said Jones. “The guys around me, they did all of the work. I was just on the sidelines wearing the hat and smiling.”
The Eagles advance to play next week at Windermere Prep (8-0), which had a bye this week.
Tigers tame Bulldogs: No. 4 Jones recorded its eighth consecutive win and third consecutive shutout, 60-0, vs. visiting Tavares.
Jadan Robinson put Jones ahead early on an 87-yard punt return TD as the Tigers (8-1, 3-0) dominated the Bulldogs (3-6, 0-3) in the 5A-13 game. He scored another first-quarter touchdown on a 40-yard run and found the end zone again on a 45-yard punt return in the second.
Jones concludes its regular season with a Tuesday night makeup game against Orlando rival Evans at Camping World Stadium.
Lyman outscores Oviedo: Unranked Lyman gave itself the best homecoming gift possible by upending area No. 8 Oviedo 34-14.
The Greyhounds (4-5, 3-3) raced to a 21-7 halftime advantage and added two more scores in the fourth quarter to pull away from the 8A, District 2 champion Lions (7-2, 5-1).
Senior Vincent Thomas rushed for 105 yards and two scores and homecoming king Nate Jefferson added a 52-yard TD run and 14-yard TD catch on a pass from freshman phenom quarterback Curtis Argroves.
Royals run past Highlanders: Rolous Frazier ran for four touchdowns for The First Academy as the undefeated Royals outscored visiting Lake Highland Prep 49-20.
TFA (8-0) upped its scoring average to 43.8 points per game for the season.
The Royals started fast Friday, scoring four times for a 28-7 lead at the break. Those TDs came on a run by Frazier, a pass from Matt Edwards to Lake Ellis, a 70-yard kickoff return by Ellis and a 35-yard fumble return by Josh Thomson.
First Academy beat the Highlanders (4-5) for first time in 10 tries last season.
Harmony makes history: Area No. 11 Harmony (9-1) tied a school record for wins in a regular season with a 24-14 road victory over Satellite (3-6). The Longhorns, winners of eight in a row since dropping their opener to Space Coast 21-17, also went 9-1 in 2015.
No. 12 Bishop Moore (6-3, 2-1) won 48-7 at Eustis (4-5, 1-2) in 5A-13 to stretch its winning streak to four and bolster its resume as a candidate for an at-large playoff berth.
Mount Dora (5-4) stayed in the 4A playoff hunt with 42-8 win at Tenoroc (1-7) of Lakeland.
Gainesville (6-3) put a dent in No. 15 South Lake’s playoff hopes, while bolstering its own, as the Hurricanes crushed the Eagles 63-17. GHS needed just 14 total plays to score touchdowns on all six of its firsthalf drives.
Mount Dora Christian (6-3) won a Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoff game at home, 49-6, against Inlet Grove (5-4) of Riviera Beach.
Liberty charges to victory: Quarterback Jaelen Ray passed for four touchdowns and ran for three more to lead Liberty (7-2, 5-1) to a crucial 62-28 comeback victory at Lake Nona (6-4, 4-2) on Thursday night.
The Chargers improved to 5-1 in 7A, District 5 to finish second behind Harmony, but more importantly enhanced their playoff points total and chance to reach region play for the first time in program history.
Liberty scored 30 points in the third quarter after trailing 28-26 at the half vs. area No. 14 Lake Nona (6-3, 4-2), which likely remains in the playoff picture due to strength of schedule.