Three teams remain unbeaten as Auburndale, George Jenkins, Lake Gibson pick up wins
AUBURNDALE — Weather and a limited practice schedule last week showed up in Auburndale’s win over Haines City. This week with good weather and a full practice load, the Bloodhounds broke out offensively with a 39-20 victory over Kathleen at Bruce Canova Stadium.
Jaysean Pritchard had three rushing touchdowns and Camyron Underwood added two more as Auburndale busted open a close game at halftime.
“Last week we didn't have a whole lot of practice time, this week we did,” Auburndale head coach Kyle Sasser said. “The weather helped a lot too. We were able to be more balanced this week. It’s still early, but we’re trending in the right direction.”
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Defensively, Auburndale got a blocked punt from Nate Gabriel which was recovered in the end zone by Bentley Meyer to make it 27-6 in the third quarter.
Pritchard’s second score of the night made it 33-6 in the fourth.
Kathleen put up two touchdowns to make it 33-20 before Pritchard capped off his big game with his final score.
Auburndale (2-0) starts its district play next week at home against Gateway.
George Jenkins 46, DeSoto 7
DESOTO — George Jenkins quarterback Cam Turner put up five touchdowns and the Eagles stayed undefeated on the year.
Turner scored three times on the ground and threw for two more as Anthony Cash and Damarian Dawson each were on the receiving end of Turner’s breakout performance.
“Cam was our backup last year,” George Jenkins head coach Paul Freeman said. “He loves the game and really studies it. He’s come a long way over the summer. He’s been really working with the wide receivers. I give him all the credit.”
The Eagles (2-0) also had a 65-yard rushing touchdown from Eddie Lake and another scoring run from Reagan Korlacki.
Defensively Kamar Gilmartin picked off two passes and Cash added another. Malik Murray had two sacks and three tackles for loss, while Genovian Smith also had a sack.
George Jenkins will take on Lake Weir next week at home.
Final scores: Get Week 3 Polk County high school football results here
Lake Gibson 26, Lehigh 20
LAKELAND — The Braves avenged last year’s loss as Joel Morris accounted for three touchdowns.
Morris threw two touchdown passes to Derrick McBride and ran another score in to keep Lake Gibson (3-0) unbeaten on the year.
Fentrell Graham had the Braves’ other touchdown on a scoring run.
“We’re still being plagued by flags, and that’s me blaming us not anyone else,” Lake Gibson head coach Rich Pringle said. “We’re consistently making bone-headed mistakes and getting flagged for them. We have to clean it up. We lost to them last year, so it’s good to get the win. Our defense is doing a really good job of stopping the run, but we still have things to work on. I’m proud of the guys. They kept working and didn’t get frustrated.”
Quinton Moore had a couple of sacks and recovered the onside kick to ice the game.
Lake Gibson (3-0) will take a long bus ride up to Lee County in Georgia for an out-of-state clash.
Victory Christian 30, West Oaks 0
LAKELAND — Freshman Cru Slocum had a big night on defense as he blocked a punt that led to a touchdown and recorded a safety in the Storm’s shutout win.
Jackson Benton accounted for two scores, one rushing and another through the air on a 50-yard scoring pass to DJ Sanders.
Curtis Ingram and Blake Johnson accounted for the other two Storm touchdowns.
Victory Christian (2-1) will stay in county next week as they travel over to Winter Haven to take on Akellyn’s Angels Academy.
Frostproof 21, Port St. Lucie 6
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Bulldogs’ defense didn’t allow a point in a road victory.
Charlie Plain, Omarion Jackson and Daiveon Pittman all scored for Frostproof (2-1).
The only points the Bulldogs surrendered was on a pick-six.
“There were some bright spots and then there were some spots where we felt we’re just not there yet,” Frostproof head coach Richie Marsh said. “We’ve made some steady progression, but there’s still stuff to work on. To get on a bus and go two hours in the rain and have the defense pitch a shoutout, there’s a lot of positives there.”
Frostproof will be at home next week against Tenoroc.
Keswick Christian 26, All Saints 17
ST. PETERSBURG — Keswick Christian used its depth and size to knock off All Saints.
The Saints (1-2) are battling the injury bug and it showed as the Crusaders (1-2) took advantage of it and a few mistakes to pick up their first win of the year.
Tre Bell had 112 yards rushing, quarterback Magnus Derrington had a rushing touchdown and a scoring pass to J.J. Paul.
Andrew Foppe made a 35-yard field goal and two extra points for All Saints as well, which will be on the road again next week at Cornerstone Charter Academy.
Spruce Creek 35, Haines City 7
HAINES CITY — Haines City struggled on offense for the second consecutive week as Spruce Creek came away with the road victory.
The Hornets (1-2) got their only score on defense as they recovered a muffed punt in the end zone.
This is the second game in a row that Haines City’s offense has been kept off the scoreboard as it lost 7-0 to Auburndale last week.
“We’re struggling on the offensive line,” Hornets head coach Pat Herrington said. “All of our guys have no experience. I just have to keep coaching them up and hope we get better.”
It likely won’t get easier for Haines City next week as district play begins at Winter Haven.
Santa Fe Catholic 41 First Academy 8
Santa Fe Catholic got on track with a victory over First Academy.
Running back Julian Franzino opened the scoring for the Crimson Hawks with a 61-yard touchdown run on his first carry. Quarterback Conor Herrera later hit Dathan Glover down the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown pass to put the Crimson Hawks up 14-0.
Late in the second quarter, Herrera connected with Jayden McPherson on a 74-yard touchdown strike. First Academy scored just as the first half expired on a short run and added the two point conversion . Santa Fe Catholic headed into halftime with a comfortable 21–8 lead.
In the second half, Herrera, a quarterback, scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak then later hit Jayden McPherson for a 55-yard scoring pass. Wyatt Vidalez ended the scoring late in the game with a 50-yard touchdown run.
Santa Fe Catholic's defense had a great team performance led by Joseph Sanchez with eight tackles and Jayce Thomas with seven tackles and a sack.
The Crimson Hawks move into the bye week and will host Mulberry on Sept. 22.
Eau Gallie 35, Winter Haven 0
After having last week's game moved to later in the season becasue of the storm, Winter Haven fell on Friday and is now 1-1 on the season.
Xavier Lherisse returned the kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, and the Commodores rolled.
Delvonte Williams scored twice on the ground and Tay Welch once. Mari Crooms completed a pass to D.J. Maultsby 55 yards for the other touchdown in the game, Eau Gallie's third win to open the season.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Around Polk County, three high school teams remain undefeated
