5 Bold Predictions for Week 4 of the Ocala-area high school football season
Friday night lights will shine bright as five of the seven Marion County high schools football teams protect home field. It’s the busiest football week of the season, and there are plenty of predictions to make.
Will Lake Weir continue its winning streak? Can Vanguard turn on the heat the minute they take the field? Is Friday night the night Trinity Catholic earns a signature win?
The Star-Banner weighs in on these questions and more, leading into Friday’s madness. Stay tuned; we have five predictions that’ll shape Week 4 storylines.
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Lake Weir’s will be off to its best start in 5 seasons
Lake Weir racked up an undefeated record faster than any Marion County football team after winning two games in four days. The first was a narrow six-point win over Umatilla. The next was a 38-point blowout.
The Hurricanes have experienced two games that should give them confidence to win difficult games. That’s exactly what they’ll face on Friday when they head to George Jenkins High School. If Lake Weir’s running game translates, they could control the clock and score enough to defeat an undefeated team by a narrow margin.
Vanguard shakes slow starts
The Knights have a lot going for them this season. Their defense has been otherworldly to start, and the offense scores in bunches when the pressure is on.
One thing that’s been an issue for Vanguard is slow starts. It’s the little things that limit their on-field production. In week 4 they’ll have the film, the emphasis from the coaching staff, and senior leadership to right the ship early against Leesburg.
North Marion shakes off rust
The Colts haven’t touched the field in two weeks. Recent inclement weather has also cut into their practice time. That’s not a great recipe for a young team with limited varsity experience.
Friday night will be a challenge as district rival Santa Fe travels south to play in North Marion’s home opener. Both teams are searching for their first win. Luckily, the Colts have home crowd advantage and a crowd that’ll work as the 12th man until the buzzer sounds.
Trinity Catholic gets a signature win
The Celtics sit at .500 with an ugly loss against a state title contender and a momentum-swinging win against a weaker team. With Carrollwood Day School coming to town, they have a chance to own a narrative-defining win.
Friday’s game will feature top prospects facing off against each other. That means a heightened level of competitiveness will arise, especially with rankings on the line.
Dunnellon upsets ranked opponent
The Tigers’ loss to Vanguard didn’t sit well with anyone on the team. That game fueled the fire for an already talented team to dig their heels into the field.
That means Williston will take on a Dunnellon team searching for a comeback win. The Tigers will put their opponent’s undefeated record to the test in all phases of the game.
Allen Pettigrew is a sports reporter for the Ocala Star-Banner. Follow him on Friday nights on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AP_writess.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 5 Bold Predictions for Week 4 of the Ocala-area high school football season
