Inside Look: Five Week 3 Must-Watch Games

Week 3 is where the early-season picture starts to get a little clearer.   The first couple weeks gave us plenty of surprises, statement wins and questions. Now we get some matchups that can tell us a lot more about where certain programs actually stand.   There's talent all over this slate, but more importantly, there are several games that could change the way we view these teams moving forward.   Here are the notable Week 3 games we'll be watching closely.   1. LENNARD vs. ST. PETE CATHOLIC   Lennard: 4 ⭐️ DB [player_tooltip player_id='1670951' first='Mekhi' last='Williams'], QB [player_tooltip player_id='2228632' first='Antonio' last='Balaguer'], FSU commit [player_tooltip player_id='2122902' first='Chayse' last='Brown']   St. Pete Catholic: QB Chase Burrill, OL [player_tooltip player_id='2197998' first='Quinston' last='Howard'], RB Larry Christian   Let's start with Lennard and St. Pete Catholic.   This is an interesting matchup because both programs have something to prove.   Lennard is trying to establish itself as a team that deserves more attention in the Tampa Bay conversation, while St. Pete Catholic is looking for more consistency and a chance to build some momentum.   There is legitimate talent on both sides.   [player_tooltip player_id='1670951' first='Mekhi' last='Williams'] gives Lennard a high-level presence in the secondary, while [player_tooltip player_id='2228632' first='Antonio' last='Balaguer'] and FSU commit [player_tooltip player_id='2122902' first='Chayse' last='Brown'] give the offense playmakers to work with. The question is whether Lennard can put everything together against a quality opponent and play complementary football for four quarters.   For St. Pete Catholic, this is about finding consistency offensively.   Chase Burrill will be an important piece of that, but the battle up front with [player_tooltip player_id='2197998' first='Quinston' last='Howard'] and the rest of the offensive line could ultimately determine how much room Larry Christian has to operate.   This feels like one of those games where a strong performance can change the perception of a team.   What we're watching: Can Lennard take another step forward, or does St. Pete Catholic find the consistency it has been searching for?   2. PORT CHARLOTTE vs. THE FIRST ACADEMY   Port Charlotte: FSU QB commit [player_tooltip player_id='1158090' first='Logan' last='Flaherty'], 3 ⭐️ ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2347410' first='Bruce' last='Blanden'], DB [player_tooltip player_id='2151021' first='Andre' last='Scott'], ATH Javier Newell   TFA: QB Anthony Woods, RB [player_tooltip player_id='2345596' first='Hyquez' last='Russell'], ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2255792' first='Jaiziah' last='Battle']   Now Port Charlotte gets The First Academy.   TFA comes in 2-0 and is coming off a 21-14 win over Edgewater — a completely different type of game than its explosive Week 1 performance.   That matters.   TFA has already shown it can score points, but the Edgewater game showed another side of the program. It had to play a more physical, competitive game and find a way to finish.   Now that physicality gets tested again.   Port Charlotte is coming off the loss to Clearwater Central Catholic, and this is a good bounce-back opportunity. The Pirates have plenty of talent, led by FSU quarterback commit [player_tooltip player_id='1158090' first='Logan' last='Flaherty'], but they'll have to deal with the absence of Florida WR commit [player_tooltip player_id='2137667' first='Elias' last='Pearl'] and 2028 WR Jaylen Francis.   That puts even more pressure on the rest of the offense to create.   Flaherty obviously has the ability to make plays with his arm, but how much can Port Charlotte create outside of the quarterback position? [player_tooltip player_id='2347410' first='Bruce' last='Blanden'], Javier Newell and the rest of the playmakers are going to have to help take some of that pressure off.   For TFA, this is an opportunity to prove that the 2-0 start is more than just a good opening stretch.   Anthony Woods, [player_tooltip player_id='2345596' first='Hyquez' last='Russell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2255792' first='Jaiziah' last='Battle'] give the Royals multiple ways to attack, and if they can stay balanced and control the physical side of this game, they have a chance to make another statement.   The questions are simple:   Can TFA's physicality give Port Charlotte problems?   Can [player_tooltip player_id='1158090' first='Logan' last='Flaherty'] create enough?   Seminole: QB Daniel Proenza, WR Kadin Flores, RB [player_tooltip player_id='1704837' first='Jamar' last='Buckner']   Eau Gallie: QB [player_tooltip player_id='736787' first='Joseph' last='Allen'], ATH X'zavier Corbin, ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2141004' first='Captain' last='Rolle']   Seminole is 2-0 and climbing.   That alone makes this matchup worth watching.   The Seminoles are starting to look like one of those teams that could quietly move up the Central Florida pecking order if they continue stacking wins.   Daniel Proenza gives the offense a quarterback to build around, while Kadin Flores and [player_tooltip player_id='1704837' first='Jamar' last='Buckner'] provide options to keep defenses from keying on one player.   But this is also a test of how complete Seminole really is.   Eau Gallie bounced back from its opening loss in a big way, shutting out Heritage 41-0.   And that's actually an important point.   Eau Gallie responded.   Instead of allowing the opening loss to become the beginning of a bad stretch, the Commodores came back and dominated their next opponent. Now they get an opportunity to show whether that performance was a one-week bounce-back or the start of something bigger.   [player_tooltip player_id='736787' first='Joseph' last='Allen'], X'zavier Corbin and [player_tooltip player_id='2141004' first='Captain' last='Rolle'] give Eau Gallie plenty of athleticism, but they're going to have to handle what Seminole brings defensively and find ways to keep the game from getting away from them.   Seminole, meanwhile, has a chance to continue building momentum.   The current Central Florida Power 15 has Seminole at No. 5, with TFA at No. 4 and Evans at No. 10.   That puts this game into a bigger conversation.   Is Seminole quietly becoming one of the better teams in Central Florida?   We may have a much better answer after Friday night.   4. JONES vs. EVANS   Jones: QB Peyton Carroll, DE Fred Ards, DB [player_tooltip player_id='1546889' first='Sharad' last='Haire']   Evans: QB [player_tooltip player_id='1144254' first='William' last='Jackson'], WR [player_tooltip player_id='1671212' first='Brian' last='Dillard'], RB Daveon Williams, LB Triston McCloud   Jones versus Evans.   This is a real-deal, must-see Central Florida showdown.   Jones is coming off the Santa Margarita game and an open week, giving the Tigers some extra time to prepare.   Evans, meanwhile, comes in with momentum after a 47-13 win over Boone.   And now they meet Saturday afternoon.   There are two completely different stories coming into this game.   Jones remains one of the most highly regarded teams in the region despite being 0-1. The Tigers have the athleticism and defensive talent to make life difficult for just about anybody, and Peyton Carroll will be a key piece of how they control the game offensively.   Evans has started to change the conversation around its season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1144254' first='William' last='Jackson'] has a talented group around him, including [player_tooltip player_id='1671212' first='Brian' last='Dillard'] and Daveon Williams, while Triston McCloud leads a defense that will have to deal with Jones' athleticism.   The current Central Florida Power 15 has Evans up five spots to No. 10, while Jones remains No. 3 despite being 0-1.   That's a perfect example of how much preseason résumé and schedule strength can still influence early rankings.   But at some point, you have to play the games.   And this is a big one for both.   Jones needs to show why the preseason expectations were so high.   Evans has an opportunity to prove that its recent momentum is real.   The defensive side could be especially interesting. Which team can force the other to play left-handed? Which defense can take away the first option and make the opposing quarterback work through the rest of the field?   And then there's tempo.   Who controls this game?   If Evans can create explosive plays and force Jones to chase points, the Tigers could be uncomfortable.   If Jones controls the line of scrimmage, limits Evans' big plays and turns this into a physical, defensive battle, the preseason favorite could remind everyone why it remains highly regarded.   The question:   Does Evans continue the momentum?   Or does Jones remind everybody why they were highly regarded coming into the year?   5. THE FLORIDA GAME OF THE WEEK   LAKELAND vs. VENICE   Lakeland: QB Kelin Hendrix, DE [player_tooltip player_id='1671138' first='Santana' last='Harvey'], DB [player_tooltip player_id='2137699' first='Jordan' last='Young']   Venice: WR [player_tooltip player_id='1841858' first='Tyree' last='Mannings Jr.'], RB Dorien Irving-Jones, RB [player_tooltip player_id='1866450' first='Ira' last='Dale']   And then we've got the one that might generate the most conversation right here in Florida.   Lakeland vs. Venice.   Two of the biggest names in Florida high school football.   This is the type of game you circle before the season.   And this year, the matchup comes with even more intrigue because both teams have plenty of reasons to believe they can win.   Lakeland comes in at 1-0 after a dominant 47-0 win over Kathleen and had a Week 2 bye, giving the Dreadnaughts additional time to prepare for this one.   Venice is 2-0 and has been rolling early.   So now we get to see what happens when those two programs finally meet.   What we're watching from Lakeland   Can Lakeland control the line of scrimmage?   That could be one of the biggest factors in the game.   If Lakeland can establish itself up front, keep the Venice defensive front from dictating the game and create a physical style, that's the type of game the Dreadnaughts want.   Then there's quarterback play.   Kelin Hendrix doesn't necessarily need to turn this into a track meet. Lakeland needs to stay efficient, protect the football and take advantage when opportunities present themselves.   Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1671138' first='Santana' last='Harvey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2137699' first='Jordan' last='Young'] are two players we'll be watching closely.   The biggest objective?   Don't let Venice turn the game into an explosive-play contest.   Venice has too many athletes capable of flipping the field in a hurry.   What we're watching from Venice   Venice has a different formula.   Explosive athletes.   Offensive versatility.   Defensive speed.   And the ability to create turnovers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1841858' first='Tyree' last='Mannings Jr.'] gives Venice a dangerous weapon on the outside, while Dorien Irving-Jones and [player_tooltip player_id='1866450' first='Ira' last='Dale'] give the offense a physical presence in the backfield.   Venice doesn't have to play the same game as Lakeland.   If the Indians can create space, get their athletes into favorable matchups and dictate the pace, they can force Lakeland to defend the entire field.   And that's where this matchup gets really interesting.   Can Lakeland make Venice play a physical game?   Or can Venice make Lakeland defend sideline to sideline?   The Bigger Conversation   This isn't really about history.   It's not about which program has the bigger name.   It's not about what either team has accomplished five or ten years ago.   Who is the better football team right now?   That's the conversation.   Lakeland has the physicality, tradition and defensive talent to make this uncomfortable.   Venice has the athletes, versatility and explosiveness to turn one mistake into seven points.   And that's why this game is so important early in the season.   For both teams, this isn't just another Friday night.   It's an opportunity to establish where they belong in the Florida high school football hierarchy as we look forward to the Open 8 Division.

Week 3 is where the early-season picture starts to get a little clearer.