Last year, Dr. Phillips simply outscored its opponents. In Week 2, the Panthers did it with defense. Despite struggling on offense, DP improved to 2-0 with a shutout win at Osceola. Dr. Phillips toppled the Kowboys 9-0.
DP sophomore quarterback Nick Patti tossed a 17-yard, third-quarter touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Kenny Shaw for the game’s only touchdown. Patti and Robbie Matey have shared the quarterback job so far this season after neither won the job outright in practice. The Panthers surround the two with a host of playmakers at wide receiver and running back, but none was able to do much against Osceola.
Shutouts were a theme during Week 2. No fewer than eight Central Florida teams went scoreless during the week’s action, and four other teams held out-of-the-area opponents scoreless.
It was a pair of shootouts—not shutouts—that grabbed the most attention Friday as four Orange County teams jockeyed for position at the top of the Class 6A ranks. Edgewater, which opened the season with a loss, defeated Olympia 31-28.
Eagles’ quarterback Kent Gainous had a pair of touchdown runs, including a 76-yard scamper in the fourth quarter that stretched the lead to 31-21. Titan’s quarterback Trevor Siemian threw for a score in the first half and scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 31-28 with 2 minutes, 18 seconds to play.
Olympia came into the game off a big win in Week 1 against Boone. Next up for the Titans is a Friday matchup with Dr. Phillips.
The bigger shootout featured Boone, which needed three overtimes to defeat Timber Creek 35-28. Boone quarterback Sam Hutsell played a big role in the win. Following a difficult Week 1 win, Boone’s passing game caught fire. Hutsell hit Denard Lucas seven times for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help the Braves’ offense overcome a first-half shutout.
Timber Creek led 7-0 at the half and 14-0 in the third quarter on a pair of touchdown strikes from quarterback Tyler Marincov. Boone tied it on Hutsell’s 54-yard strike to Lucas, and teams traded fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Neither team scored in the first overtime. Then they traded scores in the second overtime. Hutsell threw his third touchdown pass, a 7-yard toss to Kyle Adams in the triple overtime, and the Braves kept TC out of the end zone to seal the win.
Isaiah Bolden emerged as a key runner for Timber Creek. He rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown.
In other Orange County action, Winter Park defeated Ocoee 33-9, and Apopka pounded Wekiva 43-6.
In Seminole County, Oviedo’s promising season suffered its first nick. Lake Brantley, coming off a loss to Apopka, defeated the Lions 34-29 behind a big night for running back Tyler Krider. He rushed for nearly 200 yards on 31 carries, but it was the passing game that notched the win. Bryce Bergeron threw a 53-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to lead a comeback that began when Krider scored moments earlier. The pair of scores gave Lake Brantley its first lead.
Oviedo quarterback Blake Bortles gave the Lions a 29-21 lead with his third touchdown run of the game in the early fourth quarter before Lake Brantley’s late-game spurt. Bortles finished with more than 200 passing yards and 80 rushing yards.
Sanford Seminole defeated Winter Springs 7-0 in a matchup of teams that lost top offensive players to the collegiate game last spring. Toby Durham rushed for 100-plus yards for Seminole in a game that had more than its share of proper perspective.
It was the Bears’ first game since the death of their head coach, Jeff Wenstrom, who died Sept. 8 while battling throat cancer. Wenstrom, 45, leaves his wife, daughter Gina and an unborn son. Memorial contributions may be made to the Winter Springs High football program.
In Volusia County, Mainland bounced back in a big way from the Bucs’ season-opening loss to powerhouse Miami Central. Mainland shut out Treasure Coast 37-0. Junior running back Marlin Lane, verbally committed to Clemson University, rushed for more than 100 yards and a trio of touchdowns, and new quarterback Austin Parker looked strong. He threw for three scores and 124 yards and complete 8 of 10 passes. Wide receiver O.J. Ross had 110 receiving yards.
DeLand also won in Week 2. The Bulldogs showed that they mean business with a 33-14 victory against Flagler Palm Coast. Shontrelle Johnson rushed for 199 yards and a score on 21 carries, and Deante “Pop” Saunders added 190 yards and a pair of scores on 22 rushes. Saunders also threw for a score. Meanwhile, DeLand’s defense held FPC to four first downs and 167 total yards.
Seabreeze knocked off New Smyrna Beach 33-14. Sandcrabs’ quarterback Matt Thompson finished with 259 passing yards and 78 rushing yards. He scored three times.
In Lake County, Clermont East Ridge topped South Lake 34-21 behind fourth touchdown runs. Stephen Payen and Randy Bergan each scored twice. East Ridge improved to 2-0. South Lake quarterback Stanley Evans connected with Nick Waisome for a pair of passing scores for South Lake, which fell to 1-1 with the loss.
Mount Dora went to overtime before upending Leesburg 20-14. Mount Dora quarterback Vegas Harley tied it 14-14 when he threw a 60-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Jordan Ozerities, who caught the pass, scored the game-winner on an 8-yard run in overtime. South Sumter slapped Brooksville Central 64-0.
