This week we’re taking a look at the district football races for teams in the Prep Zone’s coverage area (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties).
Here are the release dates:
Sunday, October 4 – Class 8A
Monday, October 5 – Class 7A
Tuesday, October 6 – Class 6A
Wednesday, October 7 – Class 5A
Monday, October 12 – Class 4A
Tuesday, October 13 – Class 3A
Wednesday, October 14 – Class 2A
Thursday, October 15 – Class 1A
8A-District 2
Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) (7-0, 3-0)
Oviedo (3-2, 2-0)
University (Orange City) (5-1, 2-1)
Winter Springs (3-2, 1-1)
Lake Mary (2-4, 2-2)
Seminole (Sanford) (4-2, 1-2)
Lyman (Longworod) (1-6, 0-4)
Week #6 scores
University (Orange City) (5-1, 2-1) 41, Lyman (Longwood) (1-5, 0-3) 0
Oviedo (3-2, 2-0) 45, Lake Mary (2-2, 2-2) 34
Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) (7-0, 3-0) 27, Seminole (Sanford) (4-2, 1-2) 26
Winter Springs – OFF
Playoff outlook:
University (Orange City) is the only team in the Prep Zone coverage area in this district. Last year, the Titans went 8-2 (4-2 in the district) and did NOT make the playoffs. That’s because Lake Mary (6-0) and DeLand (5-1) finished ahead of them in the district. Will it be Déjà vu again for University (5-1, 2-1)? They lost at Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs), 24-20, on September 25. Despite the fact that DeLand is now in District 1, and Lake Mary (2-4, 2-2) has fallen out of the race, Oviedo and Lake Brantley are ahead of University. The Titans will host the Lions (3-2, 2-0) this Friday.
This district is still wide open because of the depth. It’s a seven team district, which means each team gets six league games. Winter Springs (3-2, 1-1), which is 2-0 on the road, plays at Lake Mary this Friday. Then the Bears will host University the following week and they host unbeaten Lake Brantley (7-0, 3-0) on October 30. If Lake Brantley runs the table, it’s possible a team with two losses could get in as a runner-up. However, if University can run the table, they’re in.
8A-District 1
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (6-0, 2-0)
Mandarin (Jacksonville) (5-0, 1-0)
DeLand (2-4, 1-1)
Flagler Palm Coast (1-4, 0-1)
Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (3-3, 0-3)
Week #6 scores
DeLand (2-4, 1-1) 21, Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (3-3, 0-3) 13
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (6-0, 2-0) 21, Flagler Palm Coast (1-4, 0-1) 7
Mandarin (Jacksonville) – OFF
Playoff outlook:
It’s still too early to say that things are shaping up nicely for Jacksonville schools Sandalwood and Mandarin, but the two play each other on October 16 and will go into the game unbeaten in league play. DeLand, which lost at Mandarin on September 21, travels to Flagler Palm Coast on October 23, and they host Sandalwood on October 30.
Flagler Palm Coast, last year’s district runner-up, closes with DeLand (Oct. 23) and Mandarin (Oct. 30). The Bulldogs, who beat 5A Clay (Green Cove Springs) for their only win, actually control their own destiny despite the loss at Sandalwood last Friday.
