West Orange looks good against Timber Creek
Defensive prowess has West Orange riding momentum into Friday’s FHSAA region quarterfinal round.
The Warriors, ranked No. 15 in the Sentinel Super 16, host No. 8 Timber Creek in a Class 8A playoff game in one of four matchups involving ranked teams in the Orlando area.
“We sacrifice for one another and love one another,” West Orange senior linebacker Jahshari Jones said. “And the bigger thing is, we don’t let our heads down [if something goes wrong]. We build each other up for the next play.”
West Orange has forced 11 fumbles and intercepted eight passes this season while allowing just three touchdowns through the air. The Wolves enter the game having fumbled the ball away nine times.
“I say it week in and week out, if you play great special teams and great defense, you’ll always have a shot,” West Orange coach Mike Granato said. “That is something we continue to preach, no matter the opponent. We always want to be the toughest team on the field.”
No. 7 Winter Park hosts No. 13 Apopka at Showalter Field in another Orange County showdown between Super 16 teams. That game will be broadcast live on 94.9 FM and AM 950 The Answer. The Wildcats won 34-27 the last time those teams met in a playoff game in 2017.
No. 2 Seminole is on the road against No. 9 DeLand at Spec Martin Stadium in what will be the ‘Noles first game since finishing the regular season unbeaten on Oct. 30. The Seminoles had byes each of the past two weeks.
No. 14 Lake Brantley is at No. 16 Lake Mary and Hagerty is at Oviedo for intriguing 8A quarterfinal rematches involving Seminole Athletic Conference rivals. Oviedo held on for a 21-14 win over Hagerty three weeks ago. Lake Mary edged Brantley 15-14 with a winning two-point conversion in a season opener.
Undefeated Jones, ranked No. 1 in the Super 16 and No. 16 nationally by USA Today faces run-heavy opposition in a Class 5A quarterfinal, as does area No. 11 Bishop Moore.
The Tigers host Brooksville Hernando, which leans on senior running back Contae Carson, who has rushed for 16 TDs and averages 156 yards per game.
The Hornets are on the road against a Lake Wales team averaging 342 yards rushing per game. Joshua Burley and Marquish Seabon have combined for 19 TDs for the Highlanders.
No. 6 Lake Minneola is home in 6A against a Gulfport Boca Ciega squad that has completed 60% of its pass attempts for 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Olympia (8A) and East River (7A) are on the road against undefeated teams in their respective classifications.
No. 3 Edgewater advanced to the 7A region semifinal round earlier this week after St. Cloud was forced to pull out of the playoffs due to a player testing positive for COVID-19. In 6A, contact tracing concerns ended Deltona’s postseason when a player at Tampa Freedom, last week’s opponent for the Wolves, tested positive Saturday for COVID.
Foundation Academy, the area’s No. 1 ranked small school team, is at Orangewood Christian in a Class 2A region semifinal. Foundation opened its season with a 41-0 win against Orangewood on Sept. 4.
Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship games are being held in Lakeland on Saturday. Orlando Christian Prep plays Mount Dora Christian for the AAA division crown and The Master’s Academy faces Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin in the AA title game.
West Oaks, which has won the Florida Independent High School Athletic Association championship the past two years, goes for three in a row against Jacksonville Zarephath Academy on Saturday at Webber International.
Predicted winners for contests involving area programs is listed below with current team records and area Super 16 rankings included. Games kick off at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Check for score updates at @OSVarsity on Twitter and our full coverage at SentinelVarsity.com.
No. 2 Seminole (7-0) at No. 9 DeLand (4-2)#
Seminole has taken four of five meetings since 2015, including a 23-13 win last year. Seminole QB Timmy McClain has completed 59% of passes for 1,011 yards, 10 TDs and 2 INTs. DeLand has forced 12 fumbles and picked off six passes. Pick: Seminole
No. 8 Timber Creek (7-1) at No. 15 West Orange (5-3)
Joanes Polynice Jr. has tallied 12.5 tackles-for-loss and Jahshari Jones has 10 sacks for West Orange, which has won three in a row vs. Timber Creek since 2014. Adrian Florez and Jonathan Cabral have combined for 16 rushing TDs for the Wolves. Pick: West Orange
No. 13 Apopka (5-3) at No. 7 Winter Park (8-1)#
Travion Barnes averages a team-best 7.9 tackles per game while senior Jaquan Lownan has rushed for 673 yards and 9 TDs for Blue Darters. Winter Park’s Dakota Mitchell has scored 7 TDs as a rusher, receiver and defender. Pick: Winter Park
No. 14 Lake Brantley (6-3) at No. 16 Lake Mary (6-2)
Lake Brantley RB Anthony Williams leads the Orlando area in rushing with 1,384 yards and 14 TDs. Lake Mary quarterback Gunnar Smith has completed 55% of passes for 1,294 yards, 13 TDs and 5 INTs. Pick: Lake Brantley