TOP PERFORMERS – WEEK 8

Once again this week, we spotlight prospects who stepped up their game this past week. While we never promise anything when it comes to their exposure and recruiting, we do offer the fact that we have over 2,000 college coaches – and every level, who follows us and has an opportunity to see everything we post. Our social media is based on how many people see what we post – and that is the most important part of what we do – and have done for many years. Former Oviedo quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128344" first="Luke" last="Rucker"]</strong>, now in his junior season at Sanford Seminole, threw three touchdown passes for Seminole (7-1, 2-0) in a  51-14 win against his former team. Rucker  finished 12 of 16 passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the first half in his return to the Oviedo stadium. He threw a third TD pass to <strong>Michael Key</strong> to close out the third quarter. <strong>Kevin Minckler</strong> finished the game with a game-high 144 yards on 14 carries and 3 scores and Hawks quarterback <strong>DeMarcus Creecy</strong> passed for 196 yards and a pair of scores as Spruce Creek (7-0, 3-0) scored on three of its first four possessions and won 35-0 over Orange City University. Orlando Edgewater running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50188" first="Jeremiah" last="Connelly"]</strong> had 82 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries in a win over Wekiva. His first score came midway through the third quarter when he took a reverse play 55 yards for a TD. He scored again, this time from 3 yards out, with less than three minutes to go to seal the game as the Eagles improved to 7-1 on the season and 3-0 in Class 7A District 6. Lake Mary quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50174" first="Gunnar" last="Smith"]</strong> threw two TD passes, leaving him one short of the Seminole County record set last year by Seminole’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32772" first="Timmy" last="McClain"]</strong>, in a 34-14 win over Flagler Palm Coast. The Rams improved to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in Class 8A District 2 going into a showdown next Friday with backyard rival and reigning state champ Sanford Seminole (7-1, 2-0). <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118702" first="CJ" last="Brooks"]</strong> threw five touchdown passes to lead Olympia (4-3, 2-1) to a 55-10 win at Windermere High (2-5, 0-3) in an 8A District 9 game. [player_tooltip player_id="108648" first="Victor" last="Jones"] had two of the TD receptions for 36 and 35 yards. <strong>David Dupuis, Jalen Coutain</strong> and <strong>Romelo Walker</strong> had the other TD catches. Walker also had a 78-yard punt return for a score while <strong>Ashton Davis </strong>added a 37-yard TD run. Oviedo Hagerty (3-4, 1-2) got three touchdown passes from <strong>Anthony Benzija</strong> in a 35-7 win over Colonial (2-5, 0-2) in 8A-4. Two of Benzija’s TD tosses went to <strong>Jeremy Jacobs </strong>for 35 and 45 yards while the other was thrown to <strong>Caleb Barber</strong> for 25 yards. <strong>Jakiryn Hawkins</strong> had two rushing touchdowns and <strong>Jakin Hawkins</strong> added a TD run and TD reception to lead Deltona Trinity Christian (2-5) to a 41-21 win over Trinity Prep (1-6). Saints quarterback <strong>Chance Bennett </strong>tossed three TD passes in the loss, with two going to <strong>Nick Pohlod</strong> and the other caught by <strong>Hadyn Nutcher</strong>. Boca Raton 2023 WR/DB <strong>Collin Bender</strong> had 180 receiving yards and two interceptions in a district win over Monarch. In a convincing win over Hallandale, Fort Lauderdale Dillard senior DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50036" first="Nyjalik" last="Kelly"]</strong> had 6 sacks in just three quarters. He remains one of the most sought-after players in the nation! In winning for the sixth time this season, Miami Northwestern got a huge performance from 2023 QB <strong>Taron “Tyger” Dickens</strong> in a win over South Miami. His 13 completions for 253 yards and 5 touchdowns helped the Bulls close in on the district title. Venice senior quarterback <strong>Ryan Browne</strong> has been amazing this season for the unbeaten Indians – as he played only a half against Naples Gulf Coast, throwing for 227 yards and two scores on just 8 completions. St. Thomas got payback on Cardinal Gibbons for the 2020 upset win with a convincing 39-14 win at FAU. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50029" first="Zion" last="Turner"]</strong>, QB, (3 touchdown passes), RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49995" first="Anthony" last="Hankerson"]</strong> (111 yards), WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50184" first="Camden" last="Brown"]</strong> (5 catches, 101 yards) and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128416" first="Gemari" last="Sands"]</strong> (134 yards rushing, receiving and overall play). <strong>DJ Oliver</strong> had his third consecutive 200-yard rushing performance, putting up 259 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries, and added four receptions for 98 yards as Port St. Joe rolled to a win against Panama City Bay. His backfield mate <strong>PJ Jones</strong> also had 130 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own, and quarterback <strong>Colin Amison</strong> tossing a pair of touchdown passes to <strong>Lajuan Zaccaro.</strong> Coach <strong>Greg Jordan’s</strong> Bristol Liberty County Bulldogs moved to 6-1 with a win against North Bay Haven as <strong>Kellen Speights</strong> scored from 10 and 11 yards out, an 18-yard touchdown run from <strong>Kole Ellis</strong>, and a 4-yard touchdown from <strong>Kaleb Shiver</strong>. In a win over Bonifay Holmes County, Chipley’s <strong>Harrison Adkison </strong>provided the offensive punch with 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback <strong>Neal Adams</strong> added 75 yards on the ground and 75 through the air. The defense came up with seven sacks. Quarterback <strong>Will Carter Jr.</strong> threw two touchdown passes to <strong>Charles Lester</strong> as Sarasota Riverview Rams beat Bradenton Lakewood Ranch. Linebacker <strong>Deshaun Olave</strong> sparked the defense with a 38-yard fumble recovery for a score. <strong>Jonathon Lyons</strong> returned the opening kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown and Bradenton Bayshore went on to a win over Parrish Community. Junior All-American <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127998" first="Richard" last="Young"]</strong> ran for 206 yards on 14 carries, including three touchdowns, as Lehigh rolled over North Port. Brooksville Nature Coast senior standout <strong>Caleb Murray</strong> had 7 solo tackles, 7 assists, 1 pass deflection, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception. Hudson senior QB <strong>Hunter Young </strong>threw for 401 yards and 5 touchdown passes – and added 72 yards rushing &amp; 3 touchdowns and a 2pt conversion. Miami Ransom Everglades QB <strong>Nick Rubino</strong> threw for 360 yards (20-33, 4 touchdowns) and 25 rushing yards with two scores as his team stayed unbeaten, 50-6, over Somerset South Homestead. <strong>Catch More Florida High School Football. </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a> <strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>