Week 2 Football: Seminole, Apopka, Ocoee, Evans host ranked matchups
Few local football rivalries have produced the kind of uncanny finishes in recent years as early-season showdowns between Ocoee and Wekiva.
The past four meetings of schools separated by less than 10 miles have been decided in the final moments by just six total points.
“The past two years I’ve been here we’ve lost, so I’m trying to break that curse,” Wekiva senior quarterback Ty’Ray Davis said with a smile.
Ocoee won 24-20 in 2020 then rallied from a 13-point deficit to prevail 14-13 on a TD with 33 seconds to spare in 2021. Last year, the Knights evened the series at 7-7 after scoring a TD and 2-point conversion with under two minutes to go during a 15-14 win.
Wekiva preserved a 14-13 victory in 2019 by blocking a field-goal attempt in the final seconds.
That game is one of four Week 2 matchups between Sentinel Super 16 teams. The Mustangs moved up four spots to No. 6 after posting a second-half rally at Olympia. Ocoee sits at No. 12 following a 2-0 loss vs. Apopka.
The No. 3 Blue Darters are home against No. 8 West Orange. No. 1 Sanford Seminole hosts No. 9 Kissimmee Osceola and No. 15 Boone travels to No. 16 Evans, which is new to the weekly rankings.
Boone coach Andy Johnson needs one win to join eight other active Orlando area coaches with 100 career victories. That list includes current coaches at Bishop Moore, DeLand, Dr. Phillips, Jones, Lake Mary, Timber Creek, Winter Park and The First Academy.
No. 5 Lake Mary is off after scoring the most points by an area team since Apopka posted an 80-26 win vs. Wekiva in 2013. The Rams outpaced DP last week 76-60 in a game that featured record-setting performances by quarterbacks at both schools.
Varsity Weekly: Lake Mary, DP quarterbacks combine to crush state record in 136-point game
No. 14 Winter Park and Tavares have an unexpected bye this week after Thursday games were called off as a result of Hurricane Idalia.
The Wildcats were scheduled to play at Brunswick, Georgia, located approximately 70 miles north of Jacksonville. Tavares’ home game vs. Lecanto was postponed to a date to be determined due to Citrus County Schools remaining closed.
No. 2 Jones left Orlando early Thursday morning ahead of Friday’s game at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Maryland. The Falcons opened the season Sunday with a 28-7 loss on ESPN at Ohio power St. Edward.
The Master’s Academy is hosting an out-of-state opponent for the second straight week. The Eagles face Cincinnati Hills Christian after opening with a 41-13 loss vs. Middle Tennessee Christian.
Orlando University is home vs. Lewisburg out of Olive Branch, Mississippi, and East River hosts Dakota Ridge from Littleton, Colorado. Freedom played Littleton Columbine on Thursday in what was the first of six scheduled matchups for area teams vs. out-of-state competition.
Lake Howell plays the first of two games in a span of five days Friday against visiting Horizon. The Silverhawks travel to Cocoa Space Coast on Tuesday to make up a Week 1 contest that was postponed due to COVID within the Vipers program.
Jamarie Pierre rushed for 288 yards and 4 TDs for Horizon during a 42-27 win at Freedom.
Below is the full Week 2 schedule for games involving Orlando area teams. Rankings are from Sentinel Super 16.
Super 16 matchups
No. 9 Osceola (0-1) at No. 1 Seminole (1-0), 7
Buzz: ‘Noles defeated Osceola 38-10 in 2020 state title game in Tallahassee and 28-27 last season in Kissimmee. “There’s really no sleepers on our schedule,” Seminole DL Preston Watson said. “We have to take every week seriously and come out 110% in every practice and every game.”
No. 8 West Orange (1-0) at No. 3 Apopka (1-0), 7
Buzz: Blue Darters won last week at Ocoee despite failing to reach the end zone. West Orange seniors Lemuel Robinson and Chaka Scott each recorded Week 1 sacks. Warriors won 13-6 last year to even series at 6-6 since 2014, which includes three playoff meetings.
No. 6 Wekiva (1-0) at No. 12 Ocoee (0-1), 7
Buzz: Ocoee sophomore DL Michael McClenton, a Lake Mary transfer, was credited with 25 tackles (19 solo) and 2 sacks last week vs. Apopka. Wekiva junior Jabarri Smith and senior Joshua Bennett (2 rec. TDs) each intercepted passes at Olympia.
No. 15 Boone (1-0) at No. 16 Evans (1-0), 7
Buzz: Boone won 14-6 last year and 23-20 in 2004 in most recent meetings between schools. Jack Lynch tallied 10 tackles (7 solo) last week. Evans QB Chris Peterson and RB Jermaine Hardy combined for 294 yards rushing in Trojans win at Lyman.
Other area games
No. 2 Jones (0-1) at Our Lady of Good Counsel, MD (0-1), 7
Clearwater Academy International (0-1) at No. 4 Edgewater (1-0), 7
No. 7 DeLand (0-1) at Port St. Lucie Centennial (0-1), 7
No. 10 Olympia (0-1) at Oak Ridge (0-1), 7
Ocala Vanguard (1-0) at No. 11 Lake Minneola (0-1), 7:30
Orange City University (1-0) at No. 13 Oviedo (1-0), 7
Melbourne Eau Gallie (1-0) at Bishop Moore (0-1), 7
Timber Creek (0-1) at Dr. Phillips (0-1), 7
Lake Brantley (0-1) at Lyman (0-1), 7
Horizon (1-0) at Lake Howell (0-0), 7
Colonial (0-1) at Lake Nona (0-1), 7
Celebration (0-1) at Harmony (0-1), 7
Orlando Christian Prep (1-0) at Liberty (0-1), 7
Lake Buena Vista (1-0) at Cypress Creek (0-1), 7
Faith Christian (1-0) at Legacy Charter (0-1), 7#
Deltona Pine Ridge (1-0) at St. Cloud (0-1), 7:30#
First Academy-Leesburg (0-1) at Trinity Prep (0-1), 7
Groveland South Lake (0-1) at The First Academy (1-0), 7
Mount Dora Christian (0-1) at Orangewood Christian (1-0), 7
Fort Meade (1-0) at Tohopekaliga (1-0), 7
Brooksville Central (0-0) at Mount Dora (1-0), 7:30
St. Augustine St. Joseph (0-1) at Windermere High (1-0), 7#
Ocala West Port (0-1) at Winter Springs (0-1), 7
Greenacres Palm Beach Christian (0-1) at Lake Highland Prep (0-1), 7
South Daytona Warner Christian (0-0) at Deltona Trinity (0-1), 7#
Littleton Dakota Ridge, Colo. (0-1) at East River (0-1), 7
Olive Branch Lewisburg, Miss. (0-1) at Orlando University (1-0), 7
Cincinnati Hills Christian, OH (0-2) at The Master’s Academy (0-1), 7:30
West Oaks (1-0) at Lakeland Christian (1-0), 7:30
Cornerstone Charter (0-1) at Daytona Beach Halifax (0-0), 7
Foundation Academy (1-0) at Cocoa Beach (0-1), 7
Umatilla (0-1) at Crescent City (0-1), 7
Deltona (0-1) at Port Orange Spruce Creek (1-0), 7
#Home sites: Deltona Trinity at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex; Legacy Charter at Ocoee Bulldog Field; St. Cloud at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex, Kissimmee; Windermere High at Scott Pine Community Park, Winter Garden.
Off this week: No. 5 Lake Mary (1-0), No. 14 Winter Park (1-0), Central Florida Christian (0-1), Clermont East Ridge (1-0), Gateway (0-1), Hagerty (0-1), Poinciana (0-1), Tavares (1-0), Windermere Prep (0-1). Played Thursday: Littleton Columbine, Colo. (1-0) at Freedom (0-1); Leesburg (1-0) at Eustis (1-0).
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
