Week 6 Matchups That Could Shape the Second Half

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're officially heading into Week 6, and at this point in the season, the games are starting to carry a little more weight. We have a better feel for who is real, who is still trying to find consistency, and which teams have the pieces to make a run when the postseason gets here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are some big-time local matchups, playoff implications, undefeated teams being tested, and a few games that could change how we look at certain programs moving forward. Here are some of the Week 6 games I'll have my eyes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CCC (4-0) vs. Tampa Catholic (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CCC:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1895080' first='Khayse' last='Barrett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1870833' first='Dicarieze' last='Williams'], Pharoah Tillman, [player_tooltip player_id='608343' first='Luke' last='Wilson'], Deveon Bellhomme, [player_tooltip player_id='2255856' first='Harrell' last='Clyde']<br>&nbsp;<strong>Tampa Catholic:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2365209' first='Chance' last='Houston'], Carl Jones, [player_tooltip player_id='2194702' first='Mannie' last='McKinney'], [player_tooltip player_id='2237234' first='Eastyn' last='Billingsley']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Westside battle that has been brewing for weeks. Tampa Catholic took its first loss last week, but this team still has plenty of pieces to make this interesting for a couple quarters. CCC, meanwhile, is sitting at 4-0 and looks really loaded on both sides of the ball this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another opportunity for CCC to show what they can do against a talented program. <strong>The Crusaders have been rolling, but Tampa Catholic has enough athletes and playmakers to make them work for it.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lakeland (3-1) vs. Auburndale (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lakeland:</strong> Kelin Hendrix, [player_tooltip player_id='1671138' first='Santana' last='Harvey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2382321' first='Deonte' last='Fielder'], Charles Calhoun, Joseph Howard, Xavion Mitchell<br>&nbsp;<strong>Auburndale:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2376744' first='Teo' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657157' first='Malachi' last='Moore'], Major McBath, [player_tooltip player_id='2339081' first='Takeo' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='2124069' first='Michael' last='Gaskins']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>My Game of the Week — I'll be there.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburndale unfortunately took a loss a couple weeks ago, which kind of took some of the steam out of this one, but nonetheless, this has the potential to be a really solid local Polk showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburndale still has the pieces and can compete with most teams when they play a complete game. The problem is they're running into a Lakeland team that is fresh off a huge win over No. 6 American Heritage and is heading back to Bryant Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This is a big opportunity for Auburndale, but Lakeland has plenty of momentum right now.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lennard (4-1) vs. Plant City (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lennard:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2122902' first='Chayse' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1670951' first='Mekhi' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='2228632' first='Antonio' last='Balaguer']<br>&nbsp;<strong>Plant City:</strong> Ta'Vare Miller</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another solid matchup as we get deeper into ranking this side of the state. I think Lennard has the pieces to push for a playoff run this year — not necessarily Top 8, but they have to get over some of these hurdles if they want to make noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plant City is rolling right now and has established itself as one of the better teams in the area. <strong>This should give us a much better idea of where both programs stand heading into the second half of the season.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manatee (3-2) vs. Sumner (3-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manatee:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2376745' first='Nolan' last='Downes'], [player_tooltip player_id='1592004' first='Caedon' last='White'], Tjay Powell, Elijah Christian<br>&nbsp;<strong>Sumner:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2345417' first='Gavin' last='Altman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1635047' first='Tyler' last='Lynch']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Feels like a must-win for either of these programs if they're looking to make some noise in the postseason. Manatee has played a tough first half of the season and now runs into a Sumner team sitting at the same record and looking to make its own push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's talent on both sides, and this is one of those games where execution is going to matter. <strong>The team that can put together four complete quarters should put itself in a much better position moving forward.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Merritt Island (5-0) vs. Titusville (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Merritt Island:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2137672' first='Kevin' last='Verpaele'], [player_tooltip player_id='2199370' first='Zaylan' last='Chapple']<br>&nbsp;<strong>Titusville:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2365935' first='Elijah' last='Harvey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2123260' first='Remy' last='Vigne']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a <strong>must-watch game for anybody in Brevard County.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can the Titusville boys really pull off the upset? I'm interested in this one. They aren't going to be scared of Merritt Island, but those boys are undefeated and rolling right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merritt Island has been one of the most consistent teams in the area, while Titusville comes into this one with plenty of confidence. <strong>Rivalry games can get weird, and I want to see how Titusville handles Merritt Island's pressure from the opening whistle.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gaither (3-2) vs. Largo (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gaither:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='865757' first='Daniel' last='Terry'], Royce Leal Gonzalez, Brad Cobb<br>&nbsp;<strong>Largo:</strong> Rashad Smith, Dylan Lester, Legend Johnson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game could decide a lot of people's rankings on the Westside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaither has the talent and weapons, but they've already dropped two early games. Largo was undefeated until taking a tough loss last week, so both teams have something to prove here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This feels like one of those games where the winner can start changing the conversation around their program.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Port Charlotte (2-2) vs. South Fort Myers (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Port Charlotte:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1158090' first='Logan' last='Flaherty'], Bruce Blanded, [player_tooltip player_id='2137667' first='Elias' last='Pearl']<br>&nbsp;<strong>South Fort Myers:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2130552' first='Jaydon' last='Henderson'], Arthur Gallishaw, Jershad Benjamin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time for Port Charlotte to start its get-back season after playing some of the toughest games over the last six or so outings going back to last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is getting healthier, and they're going to need it for games like this. South Fort Myers, meanwhile, is rolling into this one undefeated and playing with solid confidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Interested to see how the Pirates handle the challenge, especially against a South Fort Myers team that hasn't tasted a loss yet.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Nona (4-1) vs. St. Cloud (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Nona:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2343671' first='Elijah' last='Nickerson'], [player_tooltip player_id='476396' first='Sebastian' last='Lora'], [player_tooltip player_id='2171704' first='Taebor' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1900700' first='Josiah' last='Hall']<br>&nbsp;<strong>St. Cloud:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2382237' first='Jeremiah' last='Lattier'], Stacy Irons, [player_tooltip player_id='2199294' first='Jaden' last='Irons']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two solid young quarterbacks going head-to-head here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm interested to see how Lake Nona can evolve and continue playing a full game. This is a team that could easily be undefeated right now, and they've shown enough talent to make you think there's another level they can reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Cloud has won back-to-back games with the offense scoring <strong>40+ points in each</strong>, so we know what kind of firepower they can bring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->