High School Football: Week 10 Southwest Florida previews and predictions
Preview capsules and predictions for Southwest Florida high school football games being played on Thursday, Oct. 26 and 27. All games are at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. Rankings are based on The News-Press and Naples Daily News Top 10.
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 10 Community School (8-0, 1-0) at No. 2 First Baptist (6-2, 1-0)
What to watch for — Community School: This game will determine the Class 1S-District 8 champion. The Seahawks stayed unbeaten after blowing out IMG Blue 41-13 last Thursday. Still, they will be underdogs against a First Baptist team that has had their number. The Seahawks have never beaten the Lions and lost twice to them a season ago. Against the Ascenders, a blocked field goal by Traeden Henry returned for a touchdown by Ryder Brown proved to be a turning point. Noah Cardoza rushed 18 times for 239 yards in the win. However, the offense had some struggles, turning the ball over three times. First Baptist: The Lions trounced Lemon Bay 44-13, handing the Manta Rays their first loss of the season. Quarterback Ethan Crossan put together one of his best performances, throwing for 444 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wide receiver Winston Watkins, who transferred to the Lions four weeks ago, had made an immediate impact, racking up 33 catches for 698 yards and 7 touchdowns in four games. Senior safety Tommy Cusick had a strong performance against Lemon Bay, coming up with two takeaways. He now has two picks and three forced fumbles on the season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: First Baptist 42, Community School 12
No. 9 Estero (7-1, 2-0) at No. 1 Bishop Verot (8-1, 2-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Estero: This is for the Class 2S-District 16 championship. The Wildcats are coming off arguably their biggest win of the season, a 22-14 win over a previously unbeaten Mariner squad. Estero’s two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half wiped away a 14-point deficit, which changed the trajectory of the game. Darren Nelson’s group held Mariner scoreless in the second half, which could be attributed in part to injuries from starting quarterback Noah Tolbert and wide receiver Kaelan Davidson. Luke Ghannam added another takeaway to his resume, grabbing his fourth interception to give him 10 takeaways on the year. Malik Allen stayed hot in the backfield, rushing for 161 yards to give him his first 1,000-yard rushing season. It’s been a tale of two chapters for Allen, having rushed for 269 yards in his first four games and 764 yards in his last four games this season. Estero’s last win against Verot came a mere 4,005 days ago, on Nov. 9, 2012. Bishop Verot: The Vikings continue to impress, recently coming off a lopsided 50-14 win over Cardinal Mooney. Carter Smith accounted for five more touchdowns last Friday, completing 13 of 17 passes for 150 yards and two scores, adding 14 rushes for 138 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Right before halftime, Smith also picked off Mooney quarterback Devin Mignery. Deshon Jenkins had a pair of rushing touchdowns along with a receiving touchdown in the game, while Matthew Turner had six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, after having six combined catches in the previous three weeks. Anchored by Ohio State commit Leroy Roker, who had two picks in the Mooney win, Verot’s starters have now allowed fewer than 14 points in seven of eight games on the field, which is a winning formula when the offense is averaging 48.4 points per game this season. In Verot’s seven wins on the field, they’ve all come via running clock.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Bishop Verot 49, Estero 14
Lely (4-4, 1-2) at No. 3 Golden Gate (6-2, 3-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Lely: This is a Class 3S-District 16 game with no implications on the district champion. The Trojans fought hard, but came up short in a 47-29 loss to Barron Collier. Between quarterback Niko Boyce, Jackson Polly, Braden Johnson, and Juan Acuna, the Cougars ran for 349 yards on Lely, while Boyce added 176 yards through the air. The Trojans had a balanced attack, as Colin Raymond completed 12 of 18 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, while freshman Nino Joseph ran for 170 yards. Gage Rice has emerged as Lely’s leading go-to target for Raymond, catching 16 passes for 184 yards with five touchdowns this year. The Trojans and Titans have split the last 12 games, but Lely leads the all-time series, 13-6. Should Lely win, it would become the second-longest win streak for either side. Lely won the first seven matchups in this series and have won the last three. Golden Gate also won three in a row from 2017-19. Golden Gate: The Titans cruised to an easy 49-7 win over Bonita Springs, as Golden Gate moved to 6-2 and clinched the Class 3S-District 14 championship. It was quick work for much of the game against Bonita, as Sam Powell completed 7 of 13 passes for 166 yards with three touchdowns, while Trayvon Jean ran nine times for 102 yards and a score. John Lee Honorat scored on two of his four touches, totaling 131 yards. Javon Pray caught four passes for 52 yards from Powell with two scores. Friday night’s game is expected to carry a bit more meaning this time around between two bitter rivals, as the Trojans chances to make the playoffs are slim. A Golden Gate win Friday night would close the door on any chance to make the postseason. The Titans are in must-win territory over the next two weeks, as Golden Gate leads Naples by just two spots statewide for home-field advantage in Class 3S-Region 4.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Golden Gate 47, Lely 17
Immokalee (4-4, 1-0) at No. 8 Gulf Coast (5-2, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Immokalee: The Indians are coming off a bye week to face the Sharks for the Class 4S-District 16 title. Last season, they fell 27-21 to the Sharks with the same stakes. The offense has been clicking of late, led by quarterback Trannon Villareal, who has thrown 5 touchdowns and no interceptions in the team’s last two games. Running backs Jayden Mixon and Justin Compere have also been producing – Compere is up to 690 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season. Defensively, this team has been about the big play with Compere’s two fumble returns for touchdowns and Gilbert Charles’ pick-6 serving as highlights on that side of the ball. Gulf Coast: The Sharks will also be coming out of a bye week. In their last outing, they put together an impressive 21-19 win against West Broward. Senior linebacker Chris Jimenez recorded his second consecutive pick-6 in the victory. Quarterback Jace Seyler leads the team in rushing yards, while RJ Williams has posted 5 rushing scores. Defensively, look out for Will Brockmeier, who has 6 sacks and 3 forced fumbles this season, as well as an opportunistic secondary that's up to 11 interceptions.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Gulf Coast 20, Immokalee 18
Bonita Springs (1-7, 0-3) at No. 4 Naples (7-2, 2-1)
What to watch for — Bonita Springs: The Bull Sharks have now lost six in a row, most recently a 49-7 loss to Golden Gate in which Bonita averaged 3.5 yards per play and 133 yards in the game. Golden Gate did virtually whatever it wanted, averaging 12.29 yards in the same category. Riley Deremer and Gavin Price were bright spots, as Deremer ran 14 times for 63 yards while Price ran five times for 50 yards and the team’s lone touchdown. In last year’s meeting between Naples and Bonita Springs, the Golden Eagles won 49-7. Naples: The Golden Eagles were blitzed on the road Friday night, going down 31-3 to American Heritage before falling 38-17 to the Patriots. Naples saw their special teams unit falter early, as a blocked punt led to a Heritage touchdown right away, while a botched snap gave American Heritage an instant red zone possession on the ensuing drive. Shawn Simeon was a bright spot for Naples, rushing 22 times for 181 yards and two scores, with two big runs. Naples averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 43 attempts, while the Patriots saw Byron Lewis run 14 times for 165 yards and two scores. Expect the Golden Eagles to get right for homecoming against the Bull Sharks.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Naples 56, Bonita Springs 6
South Fort Myers (5-3, 2-1) at No. 5 Dunbar (6-2, 3-0)
What to watch for — South Fort Myers: The Wolfpack will be looking to play spoiler with Dunbar aiming to clinch the Class 3S-District 15 title outright. Last week, they defeated Cypress Lake 28-8. Wide receiver Justin White caught 7 passes for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win, and defensive back Michael McDonald grabbed his sixth interception of the season. White is up to 703 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns for the season. Running back Victor Jenkins has 103 carries for 634 yards and 7 touchdowns. South has not beaten Dunbar since a 13-12 win in 2020. Dunbar: The Tigers rebounded from an out-of-state loss to Lowndes with a 35-7 win against district opponent East Lee County. Chris Singleton and TJ Abrams combined for more than 200 yards rushing in the win, and quarterback Austin Price threw 3 touchdown passes, one to Abrams and a pair to Eric Fletcher. Kelby Tyre grabbed his third interception of the season in the victory. Price is up to 19 passing touchdowns for the season, 11 of which have been caught by Fletcher. With a win, Dunbar could sweep their district opponents for the third consecutive season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Dunbar 27, South Fort Myers 21
No. 6 Fort Myers (6-2, 2-1) at Cypress Lake (2-7, 0-3)
What to watch for — Fort Myers: This is a Class 3S-District 15 game. The Green Wave made a splash against Tampa Catholic last week, pulling out a 51-48 win in an epic shootout. Madrid Tucker made a couple of decisive plays, intercepting a pass at the 2-yard line before catching a 7-yard touchdown pass from Chris McFoley to take a late lead. McFoley had a monster game, throwing for 245 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushing for 186 yards and a touchdown. The Fort Myers offense has topped 32 points in every game this season except for a shutout loss to St. Thomas Aquinas. Cypress Lake: The Panthers dropped their seventh consecutive game, losing 28-8 to district opponent South Fort Myers. The defense played well with Dylan Moore-Rytlelewski and J’lishawon Daniels intercepting Chase Enguita in the first half, but the offense was not able to keep pace with the Wolfpack. Cypress Lake was able to get on the board when Deveon Simmons rushed 12 yards for a touchdown.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Fort Myers 35, Cypress Lake 6
No. 7 Barron Collier (6-2) at St. Brendan (7-2)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Barron Collier: The Cougars bounced back in a big way on the road Friday night, beating Lely 47-29 thanks in part to a fourth quarter that saw Barron score 27 points after leading 20-14 after the third quarter. Barron posted their best rushing performance in over five years, rushing for 349 yards as a team. The previous high under Mark Jackson was 454 yards in a 58-43 win over Mariner on Sept. 21, 2018. Niko Boyce threw for 176 yards, ran for 176 yards, and posted four total touchdowns on the Trojan defense while Braden Johnson and Juan Acuna combined for 154 yards and three scores on the ground. A win over the Sabres would put the Cougars in good playoff position, while a loss would set up a high-stakes tilt on the road with rival Gulf Coast. St. Brendan: The Sabres are in their fifth year as a program and are inching closer to the program's second 10-win season. St. Brendan is 7-2 this year and are ranked 241st in the state, beating teams by an average of 13.1 points per game. This run-first offense is fueled by senior Widley Jean Francois, who has 756 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as the team's leading offensive weapon. Quarterback Julian Fresen has completed 50 of 81 attempts for 697 yards with nine touchdowns so far this year. Sophomore defensive back Kevin White is one to watch, as he sports an offer from Texas A&M.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Barron Collier 31, St. Brendan 24
Cape Coral (4-4, 0-2) at Mariner (7-1, 2-0)
What to watch for — Cape Coral: This is a District 3S-14 game. The Seahawks had a bye last week but have lost four consecutive games. Their most recent defeat, a 12-9 loss to Island Coast on Oct. 13, eliminated them from the district title chase. However, Cape would like nothing more than to snap its slide at the expense of the Tritons in the annual ‘Black and Blue Bowl.’ A lack of offensive production is the primary reason behind the Seahawks’ slide. Cape Coral has failed to score more than nine points in any single game during its losing streak. Mariner: The Tritons are coming off a 22-14 loss to visiting Estero last week, ending their perfect season. Mariner saw a 14-0 lead erased by a pair of Wildcats’ touchdowns in the final minute of the first half. The Tritons also saw a pair of key performers in senior quarterback/linebacker Noah Tolbert and senior wide receiver/defensive back Kaelen Davidson go down with injuries and not return. The good news for Mariner is that by virtue of regular season wins over North Fort Myers and Island Coast, the Tritons have clinched the 3S-14 championship, the program’s first title since 1997. Last season, Mariner defeated Cape Coral 19-12, erasing a one-point deficit on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Justin Lewis to Davidson with just 44 seconds left to play.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Mariner 24, Cape Coral 16
SFCA (2-6, 0-1) at Evangelical Christian (5-3, 1-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — SFCA: The King’s lost to St. John Neumann 44-12 last week. Eli Moore had a rough night in the pocket, throwing two interceptions while going 18-of-36 for 118 yards. He did tack on 46 rushing yards on eight carries, and how he keeps the Sentinel defense honest with his legs will be key for SFCA. On defense, the King’s watched Jake Bruni throw for 140 yards and one touchdown on 14-of-19 passing. They’ll now face one of the area’s most efficient quarterbacks in Tanner Helton, and containing him will be priority No. 1 for SFCA. Evangelical Christian: The Sentinels have had a week of rest after blanking Moore Haven 37-0. The defense was stout in the win, tallying two sacks, four tackles for loss, five hurry-ups, and an interception. If ECS brings the same intensity against SFCA, the offense will have plenty of room to breathe. Tanner Helton went 5-of-10 for 95 yards and one touchdown, while five different ball carriers evened things out on the ground with a combined 130 rushing yards.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Evangelical Christian 42, SFCA 12
Riverdale (2-6, 1-1) at Lehigh (2-6, 1-1)
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
What to watch for — Riverdale: This is a District 4S-15 game as well as the 27th annual ‘I’m Gonna Ring Your Bell’ contest between these two neighborhood rivals. The result of the game will not factor into the 4S-15 title chase since Charlotte has already clinched the championship by defeating both the Raiders and the Lightning this season. Riverdale is coming off a bye and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 34-0 win over Ida Baker on Oct. 13. The Raiders’ run-heavy attack is averaging nearly 254 yards per game, powered by junior Cole Hayes, who has carried 187 times for 1,321 yards and 13 touchdowns. Look for Riverdale to try and wear down Lehigh’s front with a steady dose of Hayes, who is seventh in the state in rushing, according to MaxPreps. Lehigh: The Lightning are coming off a 39-14 victory at North Fort Myers behind four touchdown passes by Dorian Mallary. Lehigh capitalized on three early turnovers to build a 33-0 halftime advantage. The Lightning own a 14-12 advantage in their all-time series with Riverdale and have won five in a row against the Raiders.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Lehigh 27, Riverdale 24
North Fort Myers (1-7, 1-1) at Island Coast (4-4, 1-1)
What to watch for — North Fort Myers: This is a District 3S-14 game but will have no impact on the district title chase. Mariner has clinched the 3S-14 championship thanks to regular season wins over both the Red Knights and the Gators. North is coming off a 39-14 loss to visiting Lehigh last week, its third consecutive defeat. Turnovers proved to be a problem as the Lightning cashed in on three first-half mistakes by North, putting the Red Knights in a deficit they could not surmount. North has won seven in a row over Island Coast, last falling to the Gators in 2015. The Red Knights are looking to avoid the program’s worst finish since 2012 when North went 0-10. Island Coast: The Gators won their third straight game last week, knocking off Gateway 13-7. Kobey Babernitch tossed a pair of touchdown passes, including a 17-yarder to Pierre Holmes that put Island Coast in front with less than three minutes remaining. Holmes also broke up a fourth-down pass in the Gators’ end zone to preserve the victory. During its current win streak, Island Coast has held its opponents to an average of just 10 points per game.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: North Fort Myers 21, Island Coast 14
Charlotte (3-5, 2-0) at Ida Baker (0-8, 0-2)
What to watch for — Charlotte: This is the final 4S-15 game for both teams, but the Tarpons have already clinched the district championship thanks to previous victories over North Fort Myers and Lehigh. Last week, Charlotte lost 21-10 at Braden River, surrendering nearly 400 yards of offense to the Pirates. The Tarpons are averaging just 150 total yards of offense per game. Ida Baker: The Bulldogs are coming off a 35-0 loss to visiting Mulberry, their fourth shutout defeat of the season. Ida Baker has been outscored 328-32 this season. In last season’s matchup, Charlotte defeated the Bulldogs 21-3 at Tarpon Stadium.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Charlotte 35, Ida Baker 6
Aubrey Rogers (1-7) at East Lee County (3-5)
What to watch for — Aubrey Rogers: The Patriots lost to Canterbury 32-14 last week. Aubrey Rogers gave up 295 rushing yards last week, and will have to contain an East Lee offense that has explosive talent in the backfield. Freshman quarterback Caden Diloreto had his best performance of the season in the loss, going 12-for-21 for 177 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Aubrey Rogers finished with just 8 rushing yards as a team on 10 carries. East Lee County: The Jaguars fell to Dunbar 35-7 last week. Lazaro Rogers tallied 119 rushing yards on 21 carries in the loss, as Gary Hagan went 7-for-10 in the air for 50 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Expect the duo to put up big numbers against the young Patriot defense. The defense gave up 309 total yards of offense, including 223 rushing yards. They’ll likely have a bounce-back night against an Aubrey Rogers defense that struggled to stop the run last week.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: East Lee County 35, Aubrey Rogers 7
Gateway (1-7, 0-2) at Key West (2-6, 0-2)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Gateway: The Eagles fell to 1-7 after a tight 13-7 loss to Island Coast last week. Quarterback Ty Williams found Jaedyn Browning for a 40-yard score. Browning caught 4 passes for 106 yards in the game. Gateway struggled with turnovers, giving the ball away four times in the contest. The team now has three losses in one-score games, and losing the turnover battle has played a key part. It will be the Eagles’ first time taking the trip to Key West to face their Class 2S-District 16 opponents. Key West: The Conchs are coming off a bye week. In their last outing, they fell 28-9 to Estero. Jaden Fox has more than 100 yards rushing in that one, and the team has five players with more than 200 yards rushing on the season. However, the team has also lost 10 fumbles this season. The defense is giving up more than 32 points a game.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Key West 24, Gateway 17
Windermere Prep (1-5) at St. John Neumann (4-4)
Time: 6 p.m.
What to watch for — Windermere Prep: The Lakers lost to Foundation Academy 59-22 last week. They allowed 192 passing yards and three touchdowns on just 7-of-18 passing, and couldn’t contain the run game as the Lions tallied 151 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries. Jacob Duffy was picked off three times in the loss and will face a Celtics secondary coming off a strong performance of their own. St. John Neumann: The Celtics downed SFCA 44-12 last week. Jake Bruni led the charge under center, rushing for 76 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries. Bruni was surgical in the air as well, going 14-of-19 for 140 yards and one touchdown. Expect another efficient performance from the junior against a Laker defense allowing over 10 points per quarter through their last two games. On defense, Zach Molina picked off Eli Moore twice and is poised to have another big night.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: St. John Neumann 28, Windermere Prep 14
DeSoto County (0-8) at Palmetto Ridge (0-8)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — DeSoto County: It's been a rough four-game stretch for the Bulldogs, who have been held scoreless for four straight games and six of their eight games on the season. DeSoto County is averaging 3.5 points per game this year and is ranked 460th in the state. Palmetto Ridge: The Bears fell two weeks ago to district rival Immokalee, 53-22. Palmetto Ridge saw its best offensive output of the season, totaling 319 yards (119 passing, 200 rushing) Devon Messenger had a strong game, catching five passes for 110 yards and two scores from quarterback Demetri Zertopoulis, who added 67 rushing yards. This is the first meeting between the Bears and Bulldogs, who are both seeking their first win of the season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Palmetto Ridge 34, DeSoto County 10
Indian Rocks Christian (5-3) at LaBelle (6-2)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Indian Rocks Christian: The Eagles fell to Northside Christian 22-21 last week, and enter their contest with LaBelle having lost their last three games played (Keswick Christian forfeited on Oct. 6). Indian Rocks prefers to run the ball, and tallied 138 rushing yards on 42 carries in last week’s loss. They will have to find a way to make the one-dimensional game plan work against a stout Cowboy defensive front. On defense, the Eagles allowed Northside Christian to average over five yards per carry on 27 touches, while giving up 174 yards in the air. LaBelle: The Cowboys downed Avon Park 32-10 last week. They held the Red Devils to just 189 yards of total offense while tallying nine tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Isaac Santamaria finished the win with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while Nathan Alvardao and Darian Robinson added 61 rushing yards and 59 rushing yards, respectively.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: LaBelle 28, Indian Rocks Christian 7
Santa Fe Catholic (3-4) at Canterbury (2-6)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Santa Fe Catholic: This is a SSAA 2A semifinal contest. The Hawks defeated Father Lopez 44-20 last week. They allowed the Green Wave to go 12-for-30 in the air for 233 yards and two touchdowns in the win but reeled in three interceptions while allowing just 38 rushing yards on 12 carries. Canterbury: The Cougars snapped a five-game skid with last week’s 32-14 win over Aubrey Rogers. Brenden Daller rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, while Griffin Curran added 136 rushing yards and one touchdown on 20 tries. Expect the duo to have another big night for the Cougars, especially since the Hawks defended the air raid well last week. Canterbury had a solid night on defense of their own against the Patriots, allowing just 8 rushing yards on 10 carries while Collin Meagher reeled in an interception.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Canterbury 21, Santa Fe 14
Glades Day (4-4) at Oasis (5-3)
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday at Bishop Verot
What to watch for — Glades Day: This is a quarterfinal contest in the SSAA 5A playoffs, as Glades Day is coming off of last week’s 31-0 loss to Archbishop McCarthy. It was the first game in four weeks where they allowed more than 30 points and will try to right the ship when it matters most against an Oasis offense looking for a bounce-back night. Oasis: The Sharks fell to St. Stephen’s Episcopal 29-7 last week. Oasis finished with just 174 yards of total offense, and quarterback Parker Smith struggled to find any rhythm as the Falcons tallied 15 tackles for loss. He finished 7-of-23 for 107 yards, but will likely have more room to breathe against the Gators. The Sharks’ run game was stifled as well, as four different ball carriers combined for 69 yards. If the Sharks want to achieve their preseason goal of winning an SSAA championship, the balanced attack will have to regain its footing against Glades Day.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News Pick: Oasis 28, Glades Day 14
Gateway Charter (2-6) at Oxbridge Academy (2-5)
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
What to watch for — Gateway Charter: This is a semifinal contest in the SSAA 3A playoffs. The defending SSAA 3A champion Griffins defeated Marathon 24-21 last week, snapping a four-game skid before entering postseason play. Gateway Charter knows what it takes to find their momentum in the playoffs, as last year’s state title squad entered the first round of the playoffs with a 1-5 record. The Griffins tallied 220 rushing yards in last week’s win, led by Chance Reeves’ 161-yard, three-touchdown performance. Oxbridge Academy: The Thunder Wolves downed Somerset Academy Key 42-12 two weeks ago. Oxbridge Academy is finding its stride at the right time and enters the first round of the postseason having won two in a row after dropping five straight. In those two games, they’ve outscored their opponents 106-19.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Gateway Charter 21, Oxbridge Academy 12
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers area Week 10 high school football previews, predictions
