Week 5: Notable Games 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 top…
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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 top matchups around Polk and the Central Florida area. *Below are matchups with notable players to watch for our readers! Most of these games will be played on Friday – 9/22.
Fort Meade (3-0) vs. Victory Christian (3-1)
Miners: 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
VCA: Blake Johnson Blake Johnson 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Lakeland Victory Christian | 2025 FL QB, Jackson Benton QB, Curtis Ingram RB, Martell Thomas ATH, Kooper Jones WR, Jaden Gray DB, Noah Cabrera WR, JoJo Scott JoJo Scott 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Lakeland Victory Christian | 2025 FL ATH
Victory Christian Academy will host Fort Meade on Friday in a home non-conference game against two of the top smaller schools in Polk. The Miners enter the matchup unbeaten as the school has put together a solid team on both sides of the ball. Junior RB Keveun Mason and WR Joshua Porter both lead the county in rushing and receiving yards.
Edgewater (4-0) vs. Apopka (3-0)
Eagles: 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
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
This is set up to be a battle between two undefeated programs that know each other very well. Edgewater is coming off a huge win over Jones last week which should have momentum through the roof. On the other side, Apopka closed out a close win last Friday, proving they are battle-tested and up for the challenge.
Bartow (4-0) vs. Auburndale (3-0)
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
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
One of the top matchups in the Polk area this week as both of these teams enter Friday unbeaten. Each coaching staff will get a good picture of where their team stands midway through the season in this anticipated matchup.
Seminole (3-1) vs. Vero Beach (3-0)
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
Indians: Tyler Aronson Tyler Aronson 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Vero Beach | 2024 FL QB, Jonathan Hillsman RB, Isaiah Roberts ATH, Tj Alford LB, Efrem White Efrem White 6'3" | 160 lbs | ATH Vero Beach | 2026 FL ATH, Xavion Griffin ATH
This game had to make the list simply because Seminole is one of the top teams in the Central Florida area and will travel down to face a tough program in Vero Beach who haven’t given up higher than 14 points per game this season.
Lake Mary (3-0) vs. Spruce Creek (4-0)
Rams: Noah Grubbs QB, Isaiah Thomas Isaiah Thomas 6'2" | 205 lbs | DB Clearwater Academy International | 2024 State FL RB, Carson Hinshaw WR, Caden Harshbarger WR, Logan Cook WR, Luke Prieto Luke Prieto 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Lake Mary | 2025 FL LB, Eli Straker LB, TJ Clayton DB
Hawks: Tony Kinsler RB, Anthony Hayden RB, Luke Smith Luke Smith 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Spruce Creek | 2024 FL QB, Luke Koenig RB, Kamron Chamble DB, Derry Norris Derry Norris 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Port Orange Spruce Creek | 2025 State FL DL
Top 2026 QB Noah Grubbs will have to battle an undefeated and motivated Spruce Creek squad that would love to spoil the motion Grubbs has generated around the Lake Mary program. This will be a good one between two solid quarterbacks with talented supporting casts.
Mulberry (1-1) vs. Santa Fe (1-1)
Panthers: Devin Burgess ATH, Jeffrey Duvalt ATH, Lloyd Knight RB, Timothy Jones LB, Jaquan Turner LB, Jermaine Mills OL/DL, Timothy Jones LB, Paul Sledge Paul Sledge 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Mulberry | 2025 FL ATH
Hawks: Dathan Glover ATH, Julian Franzino RB, Wyatt Vidalez RB, Caleb Lackey ATH, Riley Cooper Riley Cooper 6'0" | 245 lbs | OL Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic | 2026 FL OL, Conor Herrera QB
This one is interesting for me because of what these two programs are trying to build. Both have younger stars that are beginning to emerge. Let’s see who’s game plans are more effective and what prospects step up.
Lakeland (2-2) vs. Winter Haven (2-1)
Dreadnaughts: 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 Keon Young 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Lakeland | 2025 State FL DB
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
Another top showdown in Polk between two talented squads that are more than familiar with one another. Lakeland has faced some tough programs to start the season and will enter district play ready to get at the local competition.