By Ron White
MaxPreps.com
The truth came out Friday in DeLand. The visiting Deltona Wolves suffered their first loss of the season as the Bulldogs scored a shutout with a 34-0 romp that won back the trophy in the annual Battle of the Bone.
The game was something of a mystery given that Deltona entered it with a perfect 4-0 mark and DeLand was coming off its first win in 17 tries. Deltona, which has won four straight against teams owning losing records, showed some flashes of strength, but the Wolves buckled under the pressure of DeLand's defense and a large, rowdy homecoming crowd.
Despite the final score, the game was close for three quarters. DeLand edged ahead 7-0 on a 69-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The Bulldogs beat the game clock to score again on a short Justin Roberts pass with just 10 seconds to play in the first half.
After neither team scored in the third quarter, the Bulldogs used two turnovers and a few big runs to score three times in the final eight minutes.
First-year DeLand coach Kevin Pettis attributed the team’s success to its defense.
“This defense loves to be physical, and they’re putting their work in the weight room to good use,” said Pettis, whose team won for the second-straight week after losing 16 straight games dating back to a 2006 playoff loss to Lake Brantley.
In other parts, Apopka continued its Central Florida reign. The Blue Darters, coming off a close call a week earlier, pounded Wekiva 65-28 behind 311 rushing yards from senior Jeremy Gallon, a key Division I recruit. Apopka is now 5-1 overall and 2-0 in district 6A-4. It’s difficult to forget, however, that the Blue Darters’ defense has been less than its usual ironclad self. Plus, that 21-19 come-from-behind win against Orlando Edgewater is a reminder that a state championship might not be in the cards this year for Apopka.
If any team could argue that it deserves top billing in Central Florida, that team is Orlando Boone. The Braves have quietly won all five of their games while allowing a combined 23 points in the contests. Some of those games, though, have been against lesser teams.
Then there’s that 33-0 victory in Week 2 against Timber Creek. It means much more now that Timber Creek defeated Edgewater 21-13 in Week 6. That would be the same Edgewater team that nearly upended Apopka a week earlier. It’s unclear where that puts Timber Creek in the big picture, but there’s little doubt that Boone is as strong as they come.
Yet another big Orlando school is playing well. Olympia improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in District 6A-4 with a 31-0 win against Ocoee. The high-powered Titans’ offense was scoreless in the first half. Olympia’s biggest challenge comes this Friday, when the Titans host Dr. Phillips. DP is 4-1 and continues to roll along under the leadership of senior quarterback Nico Ranieri. Dr. Phillips defeated Cypress Creek 36-0 in Week 6 behind 242 passing yards and three touchdown strikes from Ranieri. With sophomore running back Demetrius Hart improving each week, there’s reason to believe that DP might be on the verge of a deep playoff run.
Sanford Seminole, which lost to Dr. Phillips two weeks ago, also returned to form in Week 6 with a 48-8 drubbing of Oviedo. Seminole (4-2) is likely to win the Class 6A-2 district championship, and senior Andre Debose has much to do with that. He carried six times for 120 yards and scored on a punt return, too, to lead the Seminoles. Fellow senior Ray Ray Armstrong scored three touchdowns, too, against Oviedo.
While the 6A schools pound on each other, a few smaller schools are pounding on everyone. Daytona Beach Mainland defeated Lake Howell 47-0 in Week 6. The Bucs are now 6-0, and Greg Ross, who missed a few games due to injury, appears as strong as ever. Ross threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to pace Mainland.
In Class 2A, South Sumter continues its own unbeaten string. Denzel Smith threw for more than 200 yards with four touchdown strikes to lift South Sumter to a 65-29 victory against rival Mount Dora. South Sumter (6-0) got three touchdown catches from Colt Wells.
Volleyball: DeLand Surprises at Disney
Volleyball season is storming toward district tournament time, and several Central Florida of teams appear bound for regional tournament berths.
Several teams showcased their talent last month at a major statewide high school tournament held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Of those squads, DeLand might have been the biggest surprise. The Bulldogs finished second to Bishop Moore one of three separate tournaments. Now DeLand is rolling through competition with nary a worry.
The Bulldogs, coached by Debbie Rawlins, have yet to lose a game since falling to Bishop Moore. DeLand is 17-2 heading into Tuesday and Thursday matches with rivals Deltona and Port Orange Spruce Creek. If DeLand sweeps both matches, the Bulldogs will close in on a school record for single-season victories. The 2000 DeLand team won 26 matches and reached the regional finals before losing.
This year’s Bulldogs team features seven of the same key elements as the team that went to the regional quarterfinals last season.
“We’ve played a lot together, and there’s a real sense of comfort,” said senior outside hitter Abbey Worden, who was a big part of last year’s team, which fell in the regional quarters to eventual state champion Gainesville Buchholz.
Depth on offense has made it difficult for Bulldogs’ opponents to stop them. Junior setter Olivia Van Deusen is in her third year as the starter, and Worden attributes a lot of her own success to Van Deusen.
“I’ve worked with her for three years, and she knows where I like the ball, and she puts it there almost every time,” said Worden.
Sophomore Shellie Robinson is the team’s best hitter. She enters the week with 148 kills in 19 matches. Worden has 132 kills, and fellow senior Chelsey Corgan has 117. Van Deusen has 451 assists a team-high 56 aces.
It’s the defense, though, hat is turning the most heads
“A lot of coaches have come up to me and said, ‘Wow. You have an awesome defense.’ I have a lot of girls who can dig the ball,” said Rawlins.
Senior Michelle Jordan leads the squad with 362 digs. Corgan has 271, and Robinson has 182. Hannah Gray has 145 digs.
One of DeLand’s two losses came against Daytona Beach’s Warner Christian Academy, which finished as the Class 1A state runner-up last season. This year’s Eagles squad returns all but one player from last season. Warner Christian is anchored by senior Jordan Holcomb, a 1A all-stater last season, and fellow senior Sarah Garner, a senior who transfered from Mainland, where she was a powerful offensive weapon last season. The team’s setter is junior Katie Lindstrom.
The other team to knock of DeLand also has been on a hot streak. Bishop Moore started the season 10-2.
The top team in Central Florida appears to be Orlando First Academy. The team improved to 13-1 last week after knocking off Timber Creek. The Royals are a small-school program, but it’s one with a history of excellence. In fact, the school’s girls basketball team won three straight state championships. The Royals get another test Tuesday when they host Lake Howell, another strong Central Florida squad. Apparently, FCA is a glutton for punishment. The team also plays Oviedo (Oct. 20) and Bishop Moore (Oct. 23) before beginning district tournament play.
Jessica Yingling, though, isn’t ready to dwell on Timber Creek’s loss to the Royals. The senior continues to pound away at the ball, and the team takes a 14-1 mark into this week. Plus, the Wolves are the only squad in the state to have defeated Lake Highland Prep this season. LHP finished 25-7 last season to win the Class 3A state championship, and several of that team’s players are back this season. Timber Creek reached the regional finals last season before losing in three close games to Buchholz. It’s possible they’ll collide with DeLand in the regional tournament. First, however, the Wolves face perennial power Orangewood-Christian this Thursday and then host Lake Howell on Oct. 22.
Other top teams include Orlando’s Dr. Phillips, Oviedo and Winter Park.
District tournament play begins Oct. 27 and concludes Oct. 31. The FHSAA state finals are set for Nov. 19-22 at the Lakeland Center in Lakeland.
