By Ron White
MaxPreps.com
In Central Florida’s biggest match-up of the week, mobile quarterback Jeremy Gallon showed why major Division I universities are recruiting him and why Apopka is the cream of the crop at Class 6A.
The latest Associated Press poll put the Blue Darters at No. 1 in 6A, but it was Apopka’s 33-14 season-opening dismantling of Lake Brantley that caused it. Apopka stretched a 14-0 halftime lead into a win with a trio of fourth-quarter touchdowns that included Gallon’s 60-yard touchdown strike. Gallon also caught a 27-yard touchdown pass, showing just how much of a headache Apopka’s multi-faceted offense can create for opposing defenses.
Lake Brantley thought it had the remedy, and, indeed, senior running back Antonio Miles did his best to dull the pain. Miles rushes for 200-plus yards and a touchdown, but it simply wasn’t enough to keep pace with Apopka, which won by 19 despite exposing vulnerability in its defense against the run.
The Blue Darters host Orlando Freedom Friday before traveling across state lines for a Sept. 19 game at South Panola, Miss.
Orlando Edgewater has an Oct. 3 showdown with Apopka, but there’s reason to wonder whether the Eagles will put up much of a fight against one of the state’s best.
On Friday, Dr. Phillips pulled off a 28-6 upset against an Edgewater team missing most of the parts from last season’s talented playoff team.
For first-year Dr. Phillips coach Dale Salapa, the win was a nice start to the season. Senior quarterback Nico Ranieri led the way. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. The pair of first-half scores gave the hosts a 14-0 halftime lead, and the defense capped a big night with a touchdown off an interception. It was enough to boost Dr. Phillips into this week’s AP rankings for the 6As.
Preseason contests might be a pop quiz, but the first one that counts is often a major test for teams looking to prove they’re ready for the primetime. Two teams with much to prove, DeLand and Sanford Seminole, had different results on Friday.
DeLand started its season with a 20-7 loss to Mainland. The Bucs, now ranked fifth in the AP’s 5A poll, contained talented running back Mike Gillislee and managed to score enough for the victory despite committing more than a dozen penalties. The visiting Bulldogs’ offense was also grounded by penalties.
Meanwhile, Seminole packed on the points in a 42-0 drubbing of Hagerty. Andre Debose paced the offense, scoring twice on the run and twice through the air, but this one was also about Seminole’s suddenly stingy defense. The Seminoles allowed nary a point and fewer than 100 yards of offense.
That backdrop sets up this week’s key matchup. On Friday, Seminole travels to DeLand for its first true test of the 2008 season. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, will attempt to break a losing streak that dates back to the end of the 2006 season, when DeLand reached the playoffs before falling to Lake Brantley.
Life is much easier for a new coach when the season begins with a win. That didn’t happen for DeLand coach Kevin Pettis. But Jones coach Kenard Lang got one when rivals Jones and Evans hooked up Friday. Jones outscored the hosts 17-0 in the second half for a 31-7 win. Lamel Ryans had 15 carries for 92 yards for the Tigers, who also got two scores from quarterback Angelo Warner.
Orlando Boone also got a win. The Braves defeated Lake Mary 26-7. The Rams, though, kept it close for a time. They trailed just 7-0 going into the second half and scored their only points of the game late in the third quarter to trail 16-7 heading into the final 12 minutes.
In Bushnell, 2A power South Sumter survived a close call for a 24-20 win against East Ridge. Denzell Smith played a big role for the hosts. he was 11 of 16 passing for 195 yards and three touchdowns, including a 31-yard to J.R. Finkley that proved to be the game-winner. Standout Jeremy Wright was largely contained, but the running back did score two touchdowns, including one on an 18-yard run in the third quarter that tied it at 14-14.
A pair of Deltona teams found success in their season-openers on Friday. Pine Ridge moved to 1-0 with a 14-0 defeat of New Smyrna Beach. Seniors John Melton and Ben DeLaCruz scored for the Panthers. With a game against unranked Atlantic this Friday, Pine Ridge has a good shot at starting the season 2-0.
In yet another season-opening rivalry game, Osceola notched its first win with a 45-3 drubbing of St. Cloud. The Kowboys, now playing without all-area running back Bubba Brown who moved to the collegiate game, still found enough offense in the ground game to make it a non-contest. Osceola scored four rushing touchdowns, including two by Akeem Daniels, to win big despite leading just 7-3 at the half.
Also in Osceola County, Liberty defeated Poinciana 33-0 behind 171 rushing yards from Darius Bentley. The Chargers host St. Cloud this week before traveling to face Deltona on Sept. 19.
Deltona, which has this week off before that game with Liberty, won its season-opener 49-14 at Port Orange Atlantic. Coach Todd Sisco, who took the helm last season and led the Wolves to an 8-3 mark and a bowl game, got 251 rushing yards and five touchdowns from junior running back Anthony Cowart. He’s the main back now that last year’s leading rusher, Tommy Fleming, has graduated. The Wolves’ passing game is still a work in progress. Atlantic quarterback Sean Washington was a bright spot. He connected on nine of 22 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard strike to Chris Theodore.
In another key Volusia County game, Matt Thompson led Seabreeze to a 20-14 win on Friday against host Spruce Creek. As the Sandcrabs attempted to run out the clock, however, Thompson suffered a fracture to his ankle, and the junior is expected to miss the rest of the season. The blow could dash the Sandcrabs’ chances of repeating last season’s undefeated regular season, which was keyed by then-quarterback Troy Dannehower, who now plays for Florida International.
Despite the loss, Spruce Creek showed some flashes that it might be worth its early-season ranking among the state’s top 20 Class 6A teams. Shane Peludat took most of the snaps. He was ineffective in the first three quarters but began to make sharp throws late in the game. The Hawks lost their top two receivers and top two running backs to graduation in the spring.
Volleyball: Central Florida’s Powers Playing at Disney Tourney
Expect another strong year from Central Florida’s top girls volleyball programs, and this weekend will tell just how much muscle to expect.
The volleyball season kicks off with a major tournament Friday at Saturday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Timber Creek and Winter Park, along with Lake Highland Prep, Orangewood Christian, Oviedo and Orlando First Academy, are slated to compete.
Lake Highland Prep, which has won four straight Class 3A state championships, has already knocked off the rust. Behind senior Krissy Mussenden, who has committed to play at Boston College next fall, LHP went five games with 5A powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas Friday before falling victim to the host school’s size and power. LHP, which features powerful outside hitters Alexandra Franceschi and Megan Gaughn, is the favorite to repeat as 3A champs.
Winter Park also starts the season strong with a sweep of Bishop Moore. Winter Park, a perennial 6A power that produced University of Florida star Callie Rivers, knocked off a 4A squad that reached last year’s regional finals before falling to Nease in three games.
Winter Park’s big test comes on Sept. 16, when the team hooks up with Timber Creek, which hopes to build on last year’s 28-3 run. Last November, Timber Creek knocked off Winter Park 25-10, 25-14, 25-20 in the regional semifinals. TC then dropped a close match against eventual 6A state champs Gainesville Buchholz. Jessica Yingling is a senior this fall, and she’s ready to help her talented squad make it back to the state title game.
Orangewood Christian will attempt to reclaim its throne at the 2A level. Orangewood finished last season with a regional finals loss to Oak Hall. In a similar position is South Daytona Warner Christian, which reached the 1A state title last year before falling to Bayshore Christian. Merritt Island Christian is also in the mix in 1A after reaching the state semis last season before falling to Bayshore.
Lastly, Lake Howell also hopes to prove itself again this year. Lake Howell reached the state semis last season at the 5A level before falling to Tampa Plant in three games.
Other schools to watch this fall include Orlando Edgewater, Oviedo and Orlando Olympia at the 6A level and Orlando First Academy at the 2A level. Oviedo features Virginia Tech recruit Kirsty Blue.
