Kick-off Classic: Game Week Preview with 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 – 8/18.
Armwood vs Lakeland
Players to watch: Dreadnaughts: Zander Smith Zander Smith 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Lakeland | 2025 State FL QB D’Marius Rucker RB – Jameson Young Jameson Young 6'2" | 155 lbs | DB Lakeland | 2024 FL DB – Jamar Taylor Jr Jamar Taylor Jr 6'1" | 205 lbs | WR Lakeland | 2024 FL WR – Keon Young DB – Davontae Kendrick OT – Malik Morris LB
Players to watch: Armwood: Rhys Brush QB – Girard Pringle RB – Kason Stokes Kason Stokes 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Seffner Armwood | 2024 State FL WR – Olontae Dean ATH – Zamari Hall ATH – Rashad Godfrey DB – Richard Dennis OT
Bartow vs Fort Meade
Players to watch: Yellow Jackets: Jaydon Williams DB – DJ Galva DB – Tavares Murray Jr DB – Amari Turner Amari Turner 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Auburndale | 2025 FL QB – Cory Butler WR – Jayson Williams TE – Quavion Bird Quavion Bird 6'1" | 265 lbs | DL Bartow | 2024 FL DT – Joshod Hampton DB – Jeremiah Martin DE – Janie’s Taylor ATH – Brett Tyree OL
Players to watch: Fort Meade: Carson Montsdeoca QB – Joshua Porter WR – Ryan Screen WR – Darian Kirkland Darian Kirkland 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Avon Park | 2025 FL WR – Keveun Mason RB – Omari Russell DB – Cyhdrin Simmons DB – Tedrick Simon DB – Davion Borders DB – Ashton White LB – Josiah Lozano WR – Markell Baker ATH
Lake Wales vs Treasure Coast
Players to watch: Lake Wales: Levidiotis Bryce QB – Johnquae Richardson LB – Messiah Marlow LB – Dylan Simmons LB – Carldayle Brantley – Jaishon Berry DT
Players to watch: Treasure Coast: George Roberts QB – Jamison Davis ATH – Gabriel Alvin WR – Shamir Sterlin DB – Knajee Saffold OL – Nikki Lopez ATH – Jahari Grant Jahari Grant 6'2" | 280 lbs | DL Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast | 2024 FL DT
Winter Haven vs Golden Gate
Players to watch: Blue Devils: Guiseann Mirtil Guiseann Mirtil 6'2" | 210 lbs | ATH Winter Haven | 2024 State FL TE – John Kostuch John Kostuch 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Winter Haven | 2025 FL QB – Alfred Smothers RB – Trey’On Ellington LB – Ora Farlow WR – Allen Cadet-Ford DB – Tyrone Footman LB – Donovan Grayson LT – Ja’tavious Scaife ATH –
Players to watch: Golden Gate: Brian Bachmann QB – Trayvon Jean RB – John Lee Honorat ATH – Javon Pray ATH – Daniel Lopez WR – Claude Bastien LB – Bradley Martino Bradley Martino 6'4" | 175 lbs | WR Naples Golden Gate | 2025 FL DB – Malachi Filsaime DE – Micah Filsaime – Jermaine Fabien Jr – Mateo Acuna ATH – Jayson Harris OL
Frostproof vs Ridge – *Thursday
Players To Watch: Frostproof: Donovan Soloman RB – Daiveon Pittman ATH – Treston Ward LB – Caden Marsh QB
Players to watch: Ridge: Klein Gilles DB – Jjay Cesaire ATH
Lakeland Christian vs The First Academy
Vikings: Trey Berry Trey Berry 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Lakeland Christian | 2025 FL DB – Josh Bellamy RB – Brody Brenneman QB – Preston Garcia QB – Tate Horne WR
The First Academy: Malachi Jones Malachi Jones 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH Orlando The First Academy | 2025 FL ATH – Brooks Tulp QB – Julian Anderson WR – Liam Sweeney OL – Luke Pastis LB – Sam Hebert TE –
Davenport vs George Jenkins
Broncos: Aiden Geo QB – Ormahd Barabino DB – Ortez Barabino DB – Elishja Armstead RB
Eagles: Anthony Cash WR – Eddie Lake RB – Cameron Turner QB – Jaquan Cross WR – Zephaniah Rogers –
Lake Region vs Mulberry
Lake Region: Dawon Reid – Kalvin Johnson – Brenton McKinney
Mulberry: Key Players: Jermaine Mills OL/DL – Timothy Jones LB – Paul Sledge Paul Sledge 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Mulberry | 2025 FL
Victory Christian vs Land O’ Lakes
Victory: Blake Johnson Blake Johnson 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Lakeland Victory Christian | 2025 FL – Jackson Benson QB – JoJo Scott JoJo Scott 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Lakeland Victory Christian | 2025 FL ATH
Auburndale vs University
Bloodhounds: Nate Gabriel Nate Gabriel 6'3" | 285 lbs | DL Auburndale | 2024 FL DT – Elijah Dias Elijah Dias 5'11" | 175 lbs | LB FL LB – Jaysean Pritchard Jaysean Pritchard 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Auburndale | 2025 FL ATH – Tahjae McQueen WR – Bryson Jiles DB – Chad Williams Chad Williams 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Auburndale | 2026 FL QB – Dayrel Glover RB – Carmelo Henderson WR –
Kathleen vs Seminole
Key Players: Marcellous Washington DB – Anthony Oldham QB – Corion Abram DB – Harry Oldham DB – Brenshawn Brito DB – Ethan McArthur