High school football: Previews, predictions for Southwest Florida Week 7 games

Here are previews and predictions for Southwest Florida football games being played on Friday, Oct. 5. All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. Rankings reflect The News-Press/Naples Daily News Top 10.

Game of the Week

No. 7 Barron Collier (4-1) at No. 8 South Fort Myers (4-1)

What to watch for – Barron Collier: The Cougars did not start off on the right foot Friday, as starting quarterback Niko Boyce suffered a blow to the head on Barron’s first drive and was knocked out of the game against the Golden Eagles. Barron went on to lose the game 24-0. Brian Williams came in relief at quarterback, completing 11 of 23 passes for 96 yards with an interception. Barron has not had success with South recently, losing their last four matchups dating back to 2009. The Cougars last beat the Wolfpack on Oct. 20, 2006, the second year after South Fort Myers opened. This game could have major playoff implications moving forward, as both teams do not have the inside track to capture district titles in their respective districts as of right now. South Fort Myers: The Wolfpack trailed for much of Friday’s game against Immokalee, but timely plays in the fourth quarter propelled South to a 39-31 win over the Indians. South trailed 19-7 early on, but touchdowns from Frandly Michel, Victor Jenkins, and Chase Enguita got the Wolfpack right in the thick of things once again before Michael McDonald grabbed his fifth interception of the season to ice the game late in the fourth. After starting the year with a 21-14 overtime loss to Gulf Coast, the Wolfpack are peaking at the right time winning their last four games by an average of 21 points per contest. Willis May's group will look to stay hot during a tough stretch to close the second half of the season.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: South Fort Myers 31, Barron Collier 24

LISTEN: The Inside Southwest Florida Football podcast will get you ready for Week 7 action

No. 1 Bishop Verot (6-0) at Jesuit (3-2)

What to watch for – Bishop Verot: This is shaping up to be the sternest test of the season for the Vikings, who recorded five running clock wins and a forfeit to start the season unbeaten. Last week, quarterback Carter Smith threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in the team’s 55-14 rout of Key West. Smith has yet to throw an interception this season. His favorite target is Matthew Turner, who has caught 24 passes for 405 yards and seven touchdowns. Ryan Gadson returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against the Conchs. Safety Leroy Roker went on his official visit to Iowa last week and just announced his fourth Division I offer from Ohio State. Jesuit: The Class 6A state champions from two years ago have won two in a row after a 1-2 start to the season. Last week, the Tigers shut out Leto 42-0 with sophomore quarterback Will Griffin throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers. The 6-foot-3 signal caller has offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami and Michigan. Running back Justin Thurman, a Notre Dame commit, also rushed for two scores in last week’s win.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Bishop Verot 40, Jesuit 35

More: Five takeaways from the second release of 2023 FHSAA football playoff rankings

No. 3 First Baptist (3-2) at Wekiva (3-3)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – First Baptist: The Lions fought hard Friday night and came away with a gritty 48-46 win on the road over Golden Gate. Winston Watkins’ impact was immediate at wide receiver, as he caught five passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Jayden Petit caught 8 passes for 87 yards and a score, as Ethan Crossan completed 19 of 27 passes for 329 yards, adding 49 rushing yards on the ground. The Lions having Sam Sparacio back gives the team a presence in the run game, as Sparacio ran 15 times for 116 yards Friday – including a huge 58-yard run on third-and-3 to effectively put the game away. FBA’s 529 yards of offense last week were the most this season, a welcome sign moving forward with Watkins and Sparacio in the fold on offense. FBA’s defense will look for more consistency, having allowed 1,219 total yards over its previous three games (406.33 yards/game). Wekiva: The Mustangs fell to 3-3 on the season with a 29-22 loss to Edgewater Friday night. The Eagles are arguably the No. 1 team in the Orlando metro area at 6-0, having won 27 of its last 29 games. Wekiva tied the game at 22-all on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Ty’Ray Davis to Jeremy Benjamin, before Kaden Shields-Dutton darted for a 37-yard touchdown score for Edgewater to give the Eagles the lead for good. Davis finished with 217 yards passing, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The Mustangs were threatening with just over a minute to go, as a near touchdown pass from Davis to Joshua Bennett was broken up by Edgewater. Wekiva has a pair of Division I prospects on its defensive line, led by Pitt commit Sincere Edwards and Appalachian State commit Anthony Rosier. Wekiva has held opposing teams to 117.5 passing yards per game, a completion percentage of 46 percent on the season, and just three passing touchdowns surrendered, while forcing 10 interceptions and adding on 3 fumble recoveries. Consider this game a pure toss-up between the Mustangs and the Lions.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Wekiva 28, First Baptist 27

No. 5 Naples (5-1) at Palmetto Ridge (0-6)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – Naples: The Golden Eagles continue to look like the team they’ve been in previous years, most recently blanking Barron Collier 24-0 on Friday. After Niko Boyce left the game a minute in due to a blow to the head, Naples forced an interception by Jordan Bergeron and a fumble recovery from Khari Bendolph. Naples continues to go with a committee-style backfield, with five rushers that had 40 yards or more. Martavion Young led that group Friday night, rushing for 140 yards on just six attempts with a touchdown. Jack Melton rushed for two scores on 52 yards rushing, while Shawn Simeon had 79 yards on seven attempts. Palmetto Ridge: The Bears are winless in their last 13 games, the longest losing streak in Southwest Florida. Palmetto Ridge was close to snapping that skid, coming up just short against Gulf Coast at home, 14-10. Demetri Zertopoulis completed 12 of 26 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown but threw three picks, one of which went to Cayden Daugherty to seal the game for Gulf Coast. Palmetto Ridge held Gulf Coast to a season-low 7 yards passing but surrendered 193 yards on 6.4 yards per rush. That doesn’t bode well against the Golden Eagles, who just went for over 400 yards on the ground last week against Barron Collier.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Naples 49, Palmetto Ridge 7

ABF Academy (0-0-1) at No. 10 Community School (5-0)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – ABF Academy: The Cowboys are a fresh program out of Hialeah this season, making their varsity debuts. ABF Academy started their season with a 2-2 tie against Somerset Academy out of Pembroke Pines, as both teams failed to find the end zone. Jeremiah Spann led ABF with 4 rushes for 45 yards, while Juan Fernandez added 2 rushes for 25 yards. Community School: The Seahawks successfully spoiled Rich Crosby's return to the school, winning 35-12 over St. John Neumann. It was a slow start in the first quarter for CSN, but the second quarter saw the Seahawks score three times. Cale Austin rushed for three scores, and Noah Cardoza scored a pair on the ground. The CSN secondary picked off Jake Bruni four times, as Max Varga, Isaiah Allen, Ryder Brown, and Emrhe Pray all came away with takeaways. Nothing suggests the Seahawks will fall short of starting 6-0 under interim head coach Michael Stannard.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Community School 42, ABF Academy 6

Immokalee (2-4) at Okeechobee (3-2)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – Immokalee: The Indians were expected to be on the other side of one-score games, but moved to 1-2 in those games this season, most recently a 39-31 loss to South Fort Myers. The Indians backfield was effective in a committee style, as Jayden Mixon led the way with 17 rushes for 98 yards, while quarterback Trannon Villarreal added 40 yards. From there, Justin Compere, Jontay Hais, and Omarion Carter had a combined 83 yards, with Compere scoring a rushing touchdown on the ground. The Wolfpack managed to exploit Immokalee’s defense as Frandly Michel, Victor Jenkins, and Chase Enguita all scored for South Fort Myers, but Carter and Compere both scored defensive touchdowns off fumbles, giving Redwood some positives on the defensive side. In last year’s matchup with Okeechobee, Immokalee won 35-21 at home. Okeechobee: The Brahmans are coming off a 31-12 loss to Fort Pierce Westwood in a game where the Panthers posted 414 yards of total offense. Okeechobee had as balanced of an attack as you can get, throwing for 150 yards while rushing for 146. Quarterback Ni’marion Bryant is a threat as a passer and a runner, as he completed 11 of 21 passes for 137 yards while adding 113 yards rushing on 14 carries. If Immokalee can stop Bryant, James Delgado’s team should be able to move to 3-4 heading into key district contests.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Immokalee 34, Okeechobee 21

Gulf Coast (3-2) at Cypress Lake (2-4)

What to watch for – Gulf Coast: The Sharks survived a road scare Friday, nearly handing Palmetto Ridge its first win of 2023, and their first since the start of last season. Cayden Daugherty nabbed the game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter, helping the Sharks move to 3-2 this season. Jace Seyler completed 6 of 11 passes for 7 yards, while adding 98 rushing yards on 12 carries. RJ Williams rushed for two scores in the game, adding 56 rushing yards. Chris Jimenez and Will Brockmeier combined for 19 tackles, four of which were for loss. Expect those two to wreak havoc on a Cypress Lake offense that is looking to find its footing in Week 7. Cypress Lake: The Panthers held their own against Dunbar, allowing just nine first-half points before things got out of hand in the second half, falling 35-0 to the Tigers. It’s been a rough stretch for Cypress Lake, which has lost each of its last four games while posting a combined six points in three losses to Estero, Cape Coral, and Dunbar. It doesn’t get any easier for the Panthers this week, who will have to use their speed as a team to set the edge against a physical Gulf Coast team in the front seven. One positive for the Panthers is that this Sharks team scored the most points of the season – 21 – in Week 1 against South Fort Myers. Since that win, Gulf Coast has averaged 8.75 points per game.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Gulf Coast 20, Cypress Lake 10

Charlotte (1-4) at North Fort Myers (1-4)

What to watch for – Charlotte: The Tarpons are coming off their first win of the season, a 35-14 victory over District 4S-15 rival Riverdale. Freshman quarterback Logan Flaherty returned after missing the past three games with an injury and helped guide Charlotte to its best offensive output of the season. Flaherty only completed 5-of-16 passes for 82 yards but he did throw one touchdown and rushed for 28 yards and two more scores. As a team, the Tarpons rushed for a season-high 265 yards and four touchdowns. In its last meeting with North Fort Myers in 2021, Charlotte topped the Red Knights 31-18 at Moody Field. North Fort Myers: Like the Tarpons, the Red Knights also earned their first victory of the season last week with a dominating performance in a 49-7 win over district foe Cape Coral. Similarly, North also welcomed back its starting quarterback in Bryce Duross, who steered the Red Knights to a season-high in points and offensive yards. Look for North’s defensive line to be the difference in what should be a competitive game.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: North Fort Myers 28, Charlotte 20

Lehigh (1-4) at Sebring (2-2)

What to watch for – Lehigh: The Lightning were able to get in the win column for the first time this season after besting Ida Baker 42-6. Shawn Pierre returned the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, and Terrance Smith Jr. picked off the Bulldogs on the next series. Quarterback Dorian Mallary threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another score. Mallary has now thrown nine touchdown passes this season, four in the direction of Smith. Sebring: The Blue Streaks are coming off a 38-20 loss to Clearwater Central Catholic, one of the top programs in the state. Senior running back Fred Hankerson rank for 133 yards and a touchdown in the loss. The rushing attack has played a big part of Sebring’s success to start the season. The team also features running back Travis Kerney, who has offers from Kentucky, USF, and Eastern Kentucky. It will be critical for the Lightning to try to shut down the ground game. Outside of giving up more than 500 yards to Naples in Week 1, Lehigh has limited opponents to less than 100 yards in their subsequent three games.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Sebring 30, Lehigh 21

Cape Coral (4-2) at East Lee County (1-4)

What to watch for – Cape Coral: The Seahawks struggled in the second half of last week’s 49-7 defeat at North Fort Myers, surrendering 42 points in the final two quarters. Cape Coral was its own worst enemy at times, committing 14 penalties, one of which wiped out a touchdown, and missing a number of tackles. The Seahawks' offensive line also needs to do a better job of opening holes in the running game and limiting defensive pressure on junior quarterback Ivan Harvin. East Lee County: The Jaguars also were undone by their own mistakes in last week’s 34-16 loss at Fort Myers. East Lee had three touchdowns called back by penalties while also setting up two Green Wave scores by allowing a long kickoff return and shanking a punt. On a positive note, the Jaguars did rush for 295 yards, including a game-best 168 yards from junior Laz Rogers. For the season, Rogers had run for 796 yards on 108 carries (7.4 yards per rush) and seven touchdowns. East Lee is 1-6 all-time against Cape Coral with its lone win coming in 2012.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: East Lee County 26, Cape Coral 20

Riverdale (1-5) at Port Charlotte (4-2)

What to watch for – Riverdale: The Raiders lost 35-14 to Charlotte in a district game last week. Riverdale finished with 211 rushing yards, powered by junior Cole Hayes who had 191 yards on 23 carries. For the season, Hayes has rushed for 1,134 yards on 144 carries (7.9 per rush) and 11 touchdowns. That’s the top rushing total in Florida, according to MaxPreps, and accounts for 73% of the Raiders’ total rushing yards. Defensively, Riverdale is allowing 36.7 points per game this season. Port Charlotte: The Pirates defeated Braden River 49-16 last week. After surrendering 56 points in a season-opening loss to Bishop Verot, Port Charlotte posted three consecutive shutouts. The Pirates have two backs who have rushed for 300-plus yards this season in senior Edd Guerrier (349 yards, three touchdowns) and junior Ike Perry (398 yards, seven touchdowns). Senior quarterback Eli Manley has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 854 yards and nine touchdowns while also rushing for five more scores.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Port Charlotte 42, Riverdale 7

Ida Baker (0-5) at Island Coast (1-4)

What to watch for – Ida Baker: The Bulldogs lost 42-6 last week to Lehigh in a district matchup. Ida Baker has been outscored 224-18 this season and has faced a running clock in four of their five contests. The Bulldogs are 7-6 all-time against the Gators, winning the last two games in the series. Island Coast: The Gators are coming off a 31-6 loss to district rival Mariner last week. Island Coast opened the scoring with junior linebacker Anthony Harris returning a  fumble 30 yards for a touchdown. But the Gators failed to score an offensive touchdown and were held below 200 total yards for the third time this season. After opening with a 40-0 win over Bonita Springs, Island Coast has managed to score a total of 19 points in its past four games, all defeats.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Island Coast 31, Ida Baker 12

Gateway (0-5) at Bonita Springs (1-5)

What to watch for – Gateway: The Eagles remain in search of their first win of the season, and Friday could be an opportunity for Cullen O’Brien’s squad. Last week, Gateway led Estero 14-9 at halftime before being shutout in the second half for a 31-14 loss. Sophomore quarterback Ty Williams threw for more than 200 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His favorite target was Tavian Cook, who caught seven passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Turnovers have been a problem for the Eagles, who have seven interceptions and four lost fumbles through the first five games of the season. Bonita Springs: The Bull Sharks fell to 1-5 after a 40-10 district loss to Lely last week. The team scored on a 5-yard rush by Riley Deremer and got out to a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, but the Trojans were able to overwhelm them the rest of the game. Still, Deremer managed 147 yards on the ground and Chase Garcia added 113 yards. This will be the first meeting between Bonita Springs and Gateway.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Bonita Springs 17, Gateway 14

Evangelical Christian (3-3) at Gateway Charter (1-4)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – Evangelical Christian: The Sentinels are coming off last week’s 35-14 loss to Lakeland Christian. The defense struggled to contain the run game, allowing four rushers to combine for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Tanner Helton had an off night, throwing two interceptions and completing 11-of-23 passes for 107 yards. L.J. Blackwell looked good in his return from an ankle injury, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on just seven touches, and how his workload increases should take some pressure off of Helton. Gateway Charter: The Griffins have had a week to regroup after falling to Moore Haven 58-0 last week, their second straight shutout loss after losing to LaBelle 28-0. Gateway Charter could not get the chains moving in their loss to the Terriers, finishing with minus-32 yards of total offense. The offense has another challenge this week against a Sentinels defense that has played well all year but is looking to right the ship after last week’s sluggish performance. The Griffins do have talent in the backfield and could make things interesting.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Evangelical Christian 40, Gateway Charter 8

Florida Christian (1-5) at St. John Neumann (2-3)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – Florida Christian: The Patriots enter week seven on a four-game skid after losing to Marathon 14-12. Florida Christian allowed 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and enter this week having scored just 14 points in their last three games. St. John Neumann: The Celtics lost to Community School of Naples 35-12 last week. St. John Neumann quarterback Jake Bruni went 17 of 30 in the air for 172 yards and two touchdowns but did throw four interceptions. The Celtics are looking to clean things up after losing three in a row entering this week’s matchup.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: St. John Neumann 28, Florida Christian 6

Aubrey Rogers (0-5) at SFCA (1-4)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for – Aubrey Rogers: The Patriots are still looking to get in the win column after losing to Evangelical Christian 35-0 in week five. The young squad has had a bye week to watch film and build on the experience, especially the offense, which has managed just 19 points across five games. The Patriots gained just 11 yards of total offense including minus-17 rushing yards in their loss to ECS. They have a chance to make strides against a King’s defense that has conceded 92 points over its last eight quarters. SFCA: The King’s are coming off a 50-11 loss to Moore Haven. SFCA was competitive for the first quarter, holding an 8-8 tie headed into the second frame. But after an hour-long lightning delay, the King’s struggled to keep the explosive Terrier offense at bay. Eli Moore threw two interceptions but has a chance to get things back on track this week against an inexperienced Patriots defense that allowed over 300 passing yards last week.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Aubrey Rogers 14, SFCA 7

LaBelle (4-1) at BridgePrep Village Green (1-2)

Time: 4 p.m.

What to watch for – LaBelle: The Cowboys weren’t able to take the field against North Port last week thanks to poor weather after defeating Florida Christian 9-2 in week five. The Cowboys managed just 126 yards of total offense in the delay-riddled contest, led by Darian Robinson’s 74 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. Otis Robinson blocked a punt that resulted in a safety, the only score the Patriots managed as they were held to 118 yards of total offense. The Cowboys now face off against a team that has played just three games this year and have allowed 116 points. Expect LaBelle’s physical run game to be too much for the Bulldogs. BridgePrep Village Green:  The Bulldogs’ most recent contest was a 26-0 loss to Everglades Prep on Sept. 22. They’ve been shut out in two of their three games and face a stout LaBelle defense that has conceded just two points in the last two weeks.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: LaBelle 28, BridgePrep Village Green 6

Bradenton Christian (4-1) at Marco Island (1-3)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to watch for - Bradenton Christian: The Panthers defeated Oasis 29-7 last week. Caden Ott completed 9-of-20 passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. They allowed just 153 yards of total offense in the win and held their opponent to seven points or less for the fourth time this season. Marco Island: The Manta Rays fell to Keswick Christian 35-8 last week, marking the third time in four games Marco Island was held to one score or less. It will be a challenge for the Manta Rays to score again this week, as they will face a Panther squad that excels on defense.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News Pick: Bradenton Christian 35, Marco Island 6

Glades Day (2-3) at Canterbury (1-4)

Time: 7 p.m. Thursday

What to watch for – Glades Day: The Gators downed Oxbridge Academy 28-6 last week. It was the second game in a row that Glades Day held their opponent to under seven points. Canterbury: The Cougars enter week seven on a three-game skid after losing to St. Stephen’s Episcopal 35-8 last week. The Falcons rushed for 289 yards in the win. The Cougars have allowed nearly 300 yards of offense in three of their four losses.

The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Glades Day 21, Canterbury 17

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: High school football previews, predictions for SWFL Week 7 games