In a back-and-forth contest fitting of a backyard battle, host Lake Mary (5-2, 2-0 in 7A-3) repeated as Class 7A-District 3 champions with a 24-21 victory over rival Seminole (3-4, 1-1 in 7A-3) on Doug Peters Field at Don T. Reynolds Stadium Friday night.
Moments after Frighting Seminoles quarterback J’len Chaplin ran for a 9-yard go-ahead touchdown, Rams star quarterback Noah Grubbs led his team back down the field and capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run with 2:33 remaining to give the hosts the win and clinched their second consecutive district title and a guaranteed entry into the postseason.
Hagerty (4-3, 1-1 in 7A-3) gave Lake Mary the chance to win the district title when they surprised Lake Brantley (5-2, 0-2 in 7A-3), 24-7, controlling the ball on offense and using a stiff pass rush to shutdown the high-scoring Patriots offense, which came into the contest averaging 46-points per game.
Oviedo (5-2, 2-0 in Class 6A-District 4) ran past another SAC rival, Lake Howell (5-3, 0-2 in 6A-4), to setup a winner-take-all district final against Evans in two weeks.
Sophomore running back Josh Shaw ran for four touchdowns as host Trinity Prep (4-4) won an inter-county battle with the Geneva School (0-8), 41-20.
Orangewood Christian (3-4) nipped Father Lopez Catholic (4-3) on the road, 28-24, and Lake Mary Prep (2-6) won for the second time this season, outscoring host Ocala Christian (6-3), 40-24.
Here is a short recap:
Lake Mary 24, Seminole 21
Turnovers, both teams had a pair of interceptions, played a major role in the decision as host lake Mary earned the right to defend its runner-up finish in last year’s playoff.
Seminole’s Austin Plebanski capped a 7-1/2 minute opening drive with a 30-yard field goal, but the Rams took the lead early in the second quarter when Grubbs found Barrett Schulz for a 31-yard catch and run touchdown.
The Fighting Seminoles countered with less than a minute remaining before halftime when Chaplin found Markel Barber for a 36-yard touchdown and Robert Hampton Jr. came up with a big interception and the Tribe led 10-7 at the break.
Lake Mary got the ball to start the second half and Lucas Parker hit a 37-yard field goal to even the score at 10-10.
Seminole drove back down and seemed poised to regain the lead when Rams defender Jamarion Coleman made a leaping interception, which he returned 95-yards to put the hosts back on top, 17-10, late in the third quarter.
The Noles drove down to the five again, but were forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal from Plebanski and moments later Omar Griffen picked off a Grubbs offering to set-up Chaplin’s 9-yard gallop.
But Grubbs quickly shrugged off the pick with a drive that was helped by an amazing one-handed catch by Schulz and the Notre Dame commit used his legs for the 14-yard winning run.
Hagerty 24, Lake Brantley 7
The host Huskies controlled the first half, maintaining possession of the ball for 18 of the 24-minutes and took a 10-0 lead into the break at halftime on a touchdown run by quarterback Royce Jenkins (10-for-14 passing, 125-yards, 81-rushing yards) and a 33-yard field goal from Isaac Flowers.
Hagerty put the game way as Jenkins ran for a second score and Logan Engle returned an interception for a touchdown.
The Huskies defense held star Patriots sophomore quarterback Jackson Stecher to just 11-of-24 passing for 95-yards and the interception.
Oviedo 43, Lake Howell 20
The host Lions led just 22-14 after three quarters of play before exploding for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Oviedo’s running game was in high gear as Johnnie Cobbs carried the ball 13-times for 110-yards and two touchdowns and Brock Joyce toted the rock 10-times for 103-yards and two more scores.
Quarterback Sebastian Galeano was 13-for-21 for 207-yards, including a touchdown pass to Carmari Solomon and the Special Teams also got in on the action as Steven Malone blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.
Trinity Prep 41, The Geneva School 20
Host Trinity Prep broke a 2-game losing streak as sophomore running back Josh Shaw carried the ball 27-times for 123-yards and four touchdowns and also caught three passes for 50-yards and another score.
TGH star Luke Gilmartin only completed five passes for 110-yards, but three of them went for touchdowns.
Orangewood Christian 28, Father Lopez Catholic 24
Grayson Hilinski ran for a touchdown and returned a kickoff 85-yards for another TD, Jack Benson also ran for a touchdown and caught a scoring pass from Tre Roach and place-kicker Jake Cotter converted all four of his kicks as the Rams claimed the victory.
The Orangewood defense also recovered three fumbles and intercepted two passes.
Here are the Week 8 results:
Friday, October 10
* Orlando-Edgewater High School 47, Winter Springs High School 0.
* Hagerty High School 24, Lake Brantley High School 7.
* Lake Mary High School 24, Seminole High School 21.
* Lake Mary Preparatory School 40, Ocala Christian School 24.
* Lecanto High School 50, Lyman High School 6.
* Orangewood Christian School 28, Ormond Beach-Father Lopez Catholic High School 24.
* Oviedo High School 43, Lake Howell High School 20.
* Kissimmee-Tohopekaliga High School 42, The Master’s Academy 8.
* Trinity Preparatory School 41, The Geneva School 20.
Here is the schedule for Week 9:
Wednesday, October 15
* Orlando-West Oaks Academy vs. The Geneva School at Eric Liddell Athletic Complex, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17
* Spring Hill-Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School at Orangewood Christian School, 7 p.m.
* Orlando-Evans High School vs. Lake Mary High School on Doug Peters Field at Don T. Reynolds Stadium, 7 p.m.
* Hagerty High School at Mount Dora High School, 7 p.m.
* Lake Brantley High School at Orlando-University High School, 7 p.m.
* Leesburg High School vs. Lyman High School at Carlton D. Henley Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
* The Master’s Academy at Seffner Christian School, 7:30 p.m.
* Oviedo High School at Orange City-University High School, 7 p.m.
* Port Orange-Spruce Creek High School vs. Seminole High School at Thomas E. Whigham Stadium in the Tim Raines Athletic Complex, 7 p.m.
* Trinity Preparatory School at Jacksonville-Cedar Creek Christian High School, 7 p.m.
* West Melbourne-Calvary Chapel Academy at Lake Mary Preparatory School, 7 p.m.
* Lake Howell High School and Winter Springs High School are idle.
