Kickoff Classic features interesting encounters
Edgewater QB Mobley will face his former team
A change in venue puts new Edgewater quarterback Canaan Mobley in an unusual position for preseason high school football play Friday night.
Mobley, a junior transfer, will play on what was his home field a year ago, Bill Spoone Stadium, when he leads the Eagles against host Dr. Phillips in a Kickoff Classic game at 7 p.m. One of the marque matchups of the night, the game was moved to DP due to ongoing installation of a new track surface at Edgewater.
Mobley is expected to thrive this season at Edgewater. The Eagles, a 2018 Class 7A state semifinalist, return nearly every key piece from last year’s team, including junior wide receivers Tommi Hill and Christian Leary. Mobley completed 42 of 85 pass attempts for 569 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore with the Panthers.
He replaces former Edgewater quarterback R.J. Harvey, who was the Sentinel Area Offensive Player of the Year.
“He’s been looking pretty good,” Edgewater offensive lineman David Anderton said of Mobley.
“He can throw it around real well, and with the receivers we’ve got, we should be all right.”
Anderton leads an experienced unit against a DP defense looking to solidify roles for several first-time starters. Senior linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. returns after helping the Panthers reach the 8A region finals for the fifth year in a row.
Preseason Kickoff Classic games for teams in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties began
Thursday with Windermere Prep facing Bradenton St. Stephen’s Episcopal and Orange City University playing Daytona Beach Seabreeze.
Apopka is on the road against Booker T. Washington on Saturday in Miami at 4 p.m.
Below is a look at the most intriguing area Kickoff Classic matchups scheduled for Friday. All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Dr. Phillips turns to sophomore Joe Joe Patti at quarterback in a backfield that includes Brandon Fields and Nivon Holland. Eric Doctor and D.J. Hampton, who will be used as a linebacker and safety, lead an experienced Edgewater defense.
Oviedo, led by RB Keonte Coffie, will have a sophomore quarterback under center against a Seminole defense featuring linebacker Jordan Smith. The Lions intercepted host Seminole three times last October in a 17-13 district win.
New West Orange coach Dee Brown debuts alongside assistants with NFL playing experience, including two-time Super Bowl champion Ike Taylor. Expect Bishop Moore’s offense to get plenty of use out of Dylan Brazil and Jordan Jackson this fall.
One of the most feared defenses the past two seasons has been overhauled as Wekiva brings back just two returning starters on that side of the ball. DeLand, which returns safety Avantae Williams, has been tasked with filling gaps at skill positions on offense.
Orange County programs that both debuted in 2001 will play at West Orange High School while their home stadiums are prepped for regular season. Keep an eye on senior QBs Garrett Velin of Olympia and Timber Creek’s Jake Johnson, who missed 2018 due to injury.
Despite the return of WR-DB B.J. Wagner, OCP starts anew after graduating the bulk of a team that won the Sunshine State Athletic Conference. An experienced Foundation team is looking to build on a region-final appearance behind leadership of QB Henry Austad.
Winter Park will get an early look at how tall its inexperienced offensive and defensive lines stand. They are surrounded by skill position playmakers.
Lyman will roll out an uptempo offense on a night that doubles as an unveiling for its stadium upgrades.
Longtime rivals move their historic rivalry to preseason after Jones held Trojans to just 14 total points over past four years. Tigers are young at QB but deep in talent elsewhere.
Vernon Mitchell new Evans coach. debuts as
Oak Ridge coach Clint Johnson was an option quarterback at Lake Brantley in the late 1980s under former coach Fred Almon. The Patriots will break in upgraded field turf with Anthony Williams and Travis Lesko running the ball.
Former district rivals haven’t met since Osceola won 35-28 in overtime in 2014 playoffs. Lakeland, the defending 7A state champs, features standout running back Demarkcus Bowman, while Osceola returns its entire backfield.