University, Spruce Creek put playoff hopes on the line | High school football primer
In order for University to capture an elusive, first district football championship, it must go through a Volusia County rival Friday that has historically had its number.
The Titans put their perfect 6-0 record on the line when Spruce Creek (5-2) comes to town in a crucial District 9-4S contest. The visiting Hawks have won six consecutive head-to-head meetings, and eight of the 10 all-time contests since the rivalry started in 2011.
"We don't hide from the truth," University coach Justin Roberts said. "Obviously those games have happened. But it's a new year, and a new team. And it's new coaching staff. We're aware of it, but it has no bearing of how this game is going to go."
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Spruce Creek snapped a two-game losing streak last week, but proved it can hang with defending district champion DeLand in a 28-27 thriller at the end of September. The Hawks had the lead three times during the game, but the Bulldogs drove 95 yards in the fourth quarter to pull ahead for good.
"That (result) makes every game much more important for us. You want to win every game, but we feel like we need to win every game especially with the region as tight as it is," Hawks coach Andy Price said.
3 things to keep an eye on
1. The Region 3-4S playoff picture, as it stands
Unbelievably, and likely unsustainably, all four teams in District 9-4S would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Not only that, but the road to the Final Four would run through Orange City.
University holds the top seed in Region 3-4S, moving all the way up to No. 13 in the FHSAA playoff rankings across all classifications. The Titans padded their résumé while on bye as Hagerty, Key West and New Smyrna Beach all picked up wins.
Spruce Creek did itself a huge favor with a road win over 4M wild card hopeful Atlantic Coast. The Hawks are currently in the No. 7 spot, but within touching distance of both DeLand and New Smyrna Beach — their Week 9 opponent.
2. QBs Luke Smith, Malachi Walters enjoying breakout seasons
Both starting quarterbacks have made significant strides compared to this time a season ago.
University junior Malachi Walters leads the Volusia-Flagler area in passing at 242.3 yards per game, tossing 17 touchdowns. He also tops the local leaderboard in completion percentage (75.6%), averaging 12.2 yards per attempt.
For Spruce Creek, senior Luke Smith surpassed the 1,000-yard passing mark in last week's win over Atlantic Coast. He's thrown 12 touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 132 yards and three more scores on the ground.
"This fall, he's definitely taken care of the ball better and he is much more of a leader for us," Price said. "He's throwing the ball really well, more accurately than he has in the past."
3. Spruce Creek brings QB pressure, takes the ball away
Spruce Creek generated three takeaways in the opening 10 minutes, allowing its offense to build an early lead en route to a 28-7 final. In their seven games, the Hawks have created 13 turnovers (five interceptions, eight fumbles).
The Hawks bring the heat into opposing backfields, totaling 28 sacks and 33 tackles for loss. Dre Hill has a team-high 11 sacks, and Derry Norris has chipped in 7½ sacks with 11 TFLs.
University, meanwhile, protects the ball as well as any team in the area. Walters has thrown just two interceptions, and the Titans have lost one fumble.
It's a true strength-versus-strength situation. Spruce Creek's defense allows 14.7 points and 177.1 yards per game, and University's offense totals 40.7 points and 440.7 yards per game.
Staff picks
Chris Boyle (@ChrisBoyleDBNJ): Spruce Creek 34, University 30. Record: 68-10.
Chris Vinel (@ChrisAVinel): University 28, Spruce Creek 24. Record: 63-15.
Ryan Pritt (@RPritt): University 30, Spruce Creek 28. Record: 60-18.
Other games
DeLand (5-1) at Seminole (5-2), 7
Seminole has had the upper hand of late in this rivalry that began more than a century ago. DeLand last won in 2018, but is coming off an historic passing performance from TJ Moore. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior completed 17 of 26 attempts for 282 yards and a school-record seven touchdown passes. Should the Bulldogs return to their run-heavy approach, they will have to prevent Duke commit Preston Watson from dominating the line of scrimmage; the senior has 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks this season.
Picks — Boyle: Seminole 33-27, Vinel: Seminole 35-26, Pritt: Deland 31-23.
New Smyrna Beach (5-1) at Indian Rocks Christian (5-1), 7
Elijah Rooney and Armoni Spurlock sparked New Smyrna Beach to its best offensive performance in more than a month Friday, a 36-0 victory against Atlantic. The duo rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 27 attempts. The Barracudas' defensive front also impressed; Brison Sullivan tallied two sacks, and both Omahri Meeks and Tim Beauchamp had two TFLs apiece. Indian Rocks Christian opened the campaign with four straight wins, and sophomore Anthony Harris averages 175 all-purpose yards per game with 11 touchdowns.
Picks — Boyle: NSB 27-10, Vinel: NSB 28-20, Pritt: IRC 24-16.
Seabreeze (1-5) at Pine Ridge (3-3), 7
Last-ditch playoffs hopes are on the line for both teams. Seabreeze can set up a winner-take-all showdown with Mainland for the District 9-3S crown in two weeks, while Pine Ridge can continue its pursuit for a regional wild card. Aside from their defeat to Mainland, the Panthers' other two defeats are by a combined margin of three points. Alex Johnson tossed three touchdowns last week at Mount Dora. Seabreeze came up short against Satellite in a 22-13 loss at Daytona Stadium.
Picks — Boyle: Seabreeze 20-16, Vinel: Seabreeze 31-21, Pritt: Pine Ridge 27-24.
Flagler Palm Coast (2-4) at Nease (4-3), 7
Four interceptions doomed Flagler Palm Coast in its visit to Eau Gallie last week. The Bulldogs gained 124 yards of total offense, though junior running back Marcus Mitchell (five carries, 24 yards) gritted through a lingering hamstring injury. Nease features one of the state's most productive receivers in junior Maddox Spencer. Eleven of his 55 receptions have gone for touchdowns, and he needs just 31 receiving yards to eclipse 1,000 for the season.
Picks — Boyle: Nease 31-17, Vinel: FPC 24-21, Pritt: Nease 28-14.
Gainesville (1-6) at Matanzas (4-2), 7
Matanzas starts a three-game sprint toward the Region 1-3S playoffs, needing to go through a trio district foes in a row. The Pirates return off an 11-day break, following a rescheduled 42-13 road win over Deltona, in which Dakwon Evans had 181 passing yards, 183 rushing yards and three TDs. Gainesville has lost 16 of its last 17 games, including a 22-14 home defeat to the Pirates last October. The Hurricanes have allowed at least 20 points in all seven of their showings in '23.
Picks — Boyle: Matanzas 27-19, Vinel: Matanzas 30-13, Pritt: Matanzas 35-10.
Jordan Christian Prep (1-3) at Halifax (5-1), 7
Halifax's defense notched its second shutout, picking off five passes and returning a pair for touchdowns in a 34-0 victory over Bishop McLaughlin. David Bahoque and Cameise Sloss had the pick-6s, with the latter also scoring on a punt return. Jordan Christian Prep will try to rebound from a 60-0 defeat to West Oaks; the Seahawks have also forfeited twice this season.
Picks — Boyle: Halifax 47-6, Vinel: Halifax 38-8, Pritt: Halifax 52-7.
Trinity Prep (0-6) at Trinity Christian (1-5), 7
Trinity Christian's offense has scored 12 points across its last four games, a couple of second-half touchdowns against Keswick Christian. Trinity Prep, meanwhile, has 12 points on the board for the entire season — shut out for the fourth time last Friday by Cornerstone Charter. The Saints complete 2.2 passes per game, and average 1.5 yards per rushing attempt.
Picks — Boyle: Trinity Prep 18-8, Vinel: Trinity Christian 16-12, Pritt: Trinity Christian 6-2.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: High school football: Volusia-Flagler Week 8 previews, predictions
