Game Week Preview and Players to Watch
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The time for high school football is back and Prep Redzone will be on the move this fall providing some of the best and up-to-date coverage in the country. Let’s kick Game Week off with a preview of some matchups…
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Continue ReadingThe time for high school football is back and Prep Redzone will be on the move this fall providing some of the best and up-to-date coverage in the country. Let’s kick Game Week off with a preview of some matchups happening around the Polk County area. *Below are matchups with notable players to watch for our readers! Most of these games will be played on Friday – 9/1.
Mandarin (1-0) vs. Bolles (0-1)
Players to watch:
Mandarin: Jaime Ffrench Jr. WR, Tramell Jones QB, Tiant Wyche RB, Drake Stubbs ATH
Bolles: Naeem Burroughs Naeem Burroughs 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Jacksonville Bolles | 2026 FL WR, Tyrone Neal RB, Emmett Grzebin RB, Simeon Caldwell LB
This will be a good matchup between two Jacksonville squads packed with talent on both sides. Get your snacks in early for this one.
Lakeland (0-1) vs. Largo (1-0)
Players to watch:
Lakeland: Zander Smith Zander Smith 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Lakeland | 2025 State FL QB, Rick Penick WR, Dee Rucker RB, Jamar Taylor WR, Malik Morris LB, Jameson Young Jameson Young 6'2" | 155 lbs | DB Lakeland | 2024 FL DB, Keon Young DB
Largo: Adrius Hayes LB, Jeremy Thomas QB, Malachi Peterson Malachi Peterson 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Largo | 2025 FL RB, Chance Green ATH, Jacobi Mcdaniel LB
The Dreadnaughts look to bounce back after a tough loss at home. They’ll travel to Largo to face a tough defense with sneaky offensive pieces.
Cocoa (1-0) vs. Venice (0-1)
Players to watch:
Cocoa: Brady Hart Brady Hart 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Cocoa | 2026 FL QB, Nick Teeter WR, Jayvan Boggs Jayvan Boggs 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Cocoa | 2025 State FL WR, CJ Bragg CJ Bragg 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Cocoa | 2024 FL WR, Samadrae Hawkins Samadrae Hawkins 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Cocoa | 2024 FL LB, Dai’Veon Parham LB, Javion Hilson Javion Hilson 6'5" | 230 lbs | DL Cocoa | 2025 State FL DE, O’kece Battle ATH, Daviyon-Hawkins-Ingram OL,
Venice: Charles Lester III Charles Lester III 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Venice | 2024 State FL DB, CJ Lewis WR, Jaydn Glasser QB, Chris Lee LB, Eli Seed LB, Ryan Matulevich Ryan Matulevich 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Venice | 2025 State FL WR, Alvin Johnson III ATH
A classic showdown between two high schools located on opposite coastlines but sharing a similar talent level. Cocoa comes in after a big-time win last week and faces a well-coached Venice program on Friday. Eyes will be on FSU DB commit Charles Lester III Charles Lester III 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Venice | 2024 State FL , but there are plenty of other D1 guys to make note of.
Seminole (1-0) vs. Osceola – Kissimmee (0-1)
Players to watch:
Seminole: Karson Lasky QB, Preston Watson Preston Watson 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Sanford Seminole | 2024 State FL DT, Trey Clarke RB, Tavari Hampton LB, David Parks ATH, Justin Rosado WR, Cori Smith DB, Juan Berchal Juan Berchal 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Sanford Seminole | 2025 FL DB
Osceola: Elijah Melendez Elijah Melendez 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Kissimmee Osceola | 2025 State FL LB, Anthony Powers QB, Robert Lee LB, Larenz Walker Larenz Walker 5'10" | 135 lbs | DB Osceola | 2026 FL DB, Jalen Bell ATH, Alijah Jenkins Alijah Jenkins 5'8" | 165 lbs | WR Kissimmee Osceola | 2026 FL WR, Jeffery Banks DB
A battle between two long-time juggernaut programs in the Central Florida area will meet head-to-head in week two. Seminole is coming off a solid team win over Rockledge and will host the Kowboys on Friday who’s still missing 4-star RB Taevion Swint Taevion Swint 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Kissimmee Osceola | 2025 State FL . Things could get interesting in Sanford.
Edgewater (1-0) vs. Clearwater Academy International (0-2)
Players to watch:
CAI Knights: Chuba Evans QB, Antwann Raymond RB, Sean Sevillano Sean Sevillano 6'3" | 290 lbs | DL Clearwater Academy | 2024 FL Jr DT, Isaiah Hayes OT, Makih Johnson WR, Seni Adekunle DB, Dillano Glaud Dillano Glaud DB Winnipeg (CAI, FL) | 2024 FL DB, Keyari James LB
Edgewater: Cai Bates Cai Bates 5'9" | 175 lbs | DB Orlando Edgewater | 2024 State FL DB, Josh Alexander-Felton DT, Michael Clayton QB, AJ Howard WR, Ja’Torian Mack DB, Kaden Shields-Dutton RB, Semaj Fleming Semaj Fleming 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Orlando Edgewater | 2025 State FL ATH
The CAI Knights are looking to get the ball rolling this season after facing tough programs in consecutive weeks to fall 0-2 so far. Despite that, they are littered with Division 1 talent and will be a physical test for the Eagles.
Jones (0-1) vs. Good Counsel (0-1)
Players to watch:
Jones: Trever Jackson Trever Jackson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orlando Jones | 2024 State FL QB, D’antre Robinson D’antre Robinson 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Orlando Jones | 2024 State FL DL, Vernell Brown III Vernell Brown III 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Orlando Jones | 2025 State FL WR, Dereon Coleman Dereon Coleman 5'10" | 145 lbs | QB FL QB, Jaylen Smith Jaylen Smith 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Plant City | 2024 FL WR, Sean Murphy WR, George Brown IV DB,
Good Counsel: Aaron Chiles LB, Faheem Delane DB, Judah Jenkins DB, Dilin Jones ATH, Elijah Moore WR, Darien Mayo DE, Drew Williams QB, Gavin Crawford OL, Eidan Buchanan OL
Jones High is known for taking on tough out-of-state programs and boy do they have a test on Friday night as the Tigers travel up to Olney, MD for a showdown with the Our Lady of Good Counsel. Let’s just say the Falcons have plenty of talent and numerous Power 5 prospects. Let’s see how recent Ole Miss commit Trever Jackson Trever Jackson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orlando Jones | 2024 State FL performs in this atmosphere.
Apopka (1-0) vs. West Orange (1-0)
Players to watch:
Apopka: Tyson Davison Tyson Davison 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Apopka | 2026 FL QB, Marcus Grant DB, Malachi Davey Malachi Davey 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB FL DB, Antwone Robinson DB, Donovan Muldrow LB, Lorenzo Payne LB
West Orange: Jordyn Bridgewater Jordyn Bridgewater 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Winter Garden West Orange | 2024 FL ATH, Latorie Hollinger ATH, Jack Reilly QB, Devin Jackson Devin Jackson 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Winter Garden West Orange | 2026 FL DB, Ivan Taylor Ivan Taylor 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Winter Garden West Orange | 2025 State FL DB, Larry Miles WR, Avis Brown Avis Brown 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Sanford Seminole | 2025 FL RB, Ameer Elghazaly Ameer Elghazaly 6'0" | 200 lbs | WR Winter Garden West Orange | 2025 FL DB, Donovan Lanier ATH
St. Augustine (1-0) vs. Gibbs (1-1)
Players to watch:
SAHS: Locklan Hewlett Locklan Hewlett 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB St. Augustine | 2025 State FL QB, Carl Jenkins Jr. Carl Jenkins Jr. 6'3" | 165 lbs | WR St. Augustine | 2025 State FL WR, Trenton Jones WR, Myles Simmons WR, Ja’ki Singleton DB, Julian Quintero DB, Drake Lusk LB, Devonte Lyons Devonte Lyons 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB St. Augustine | 2024 FL RB
Gibbs: Fernando Maynor Jr. QB, Martavius Durden Jr. LB, Dontrez Young ATH, Jermaine Bradford WR, Jacob Daniels WR, Javier Thomas, Kyrie Gibson ATH,
Jonas Sagesse Jr.
Jonas
Sagesse Jr.
5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH
St. Petersburg Gibbs | 2024
FL
ATH