2015 Preview Guide: West Central Florida Region top games for 2015

August 21
Apopka at Columbia
Note: Columbia will know right away what their strengths and weaknesses are bringing in a Apopka program that has won 2 of the last 3 state titles in Class 8A 8A. Tiger defensive back Roger Cray, who commited to Georgia Southern, will have his hands full trying to defend a Apopka offense, which can keep defenses guessing with their single wing trickery.

August 28
Edgewater at Bishop Moore
Note: The Battle of College Park resumed in 2013 after a 22 year absense; the two schools seperated by a mile on Edgewater Drive played annually in the 1960s and 1970s with Edgewater holding a 15-0 all-time lead. Since the resumption, Bishop Moore has won the last two meetings winning on a late field goal 24-23 two years ago and 27-7 last season.

September 4
Osceola (Kissimmee) at Oviedo
Note: Behind a stellar defense and lethal offense, Osceola rode the momentum all the way to the state finals. The road back to Orlando begins with a road trip against a Oviedo team led by quarterback Nick Carbone (1115 passing, 918 rushing) who led the Lions to a 7-4 season and first round playoff loss to Apopka.

September 11
Dr. Phillips at West Orange
Note: After a four year hiatus, the Battle for the Orange Crate game is back. The rivalry which began in 1987 took a hiatus recently but after community support its back on the schedule again. Dr. Phillips leads the all-time series 15-9 and has won the last five meetings.

September 18
Apopka at Dr. Phillips
Note: The top two teams in the West Central Florida area meet up at Bill Spoone Stadium. This one has plenty of starts to watch including Demetri Burch, Deshawn Massey, David Douglas, Dekwon Wilson, Dylan Meeks, Jonathan Pollock, Calvin Ridley and Marvin Washington.

September 25
Mainland at Dr. Phillips
Note: By the time the playoffs come around, Dr. Phillips will be extremely battled tested after a three game brutal stretch that ends with the top team in Central Florida. A young Panthers team should be grown up by the time a loaded Mainland team, that has lost in the state semifinals to Miami Central three of the last four years, comes to town.

September 25
Heritage at Osceola (Kissimmee)
Note: The four-headed rushing attack of Laderrien Wilson, Marcus Edwards, Nazayah Brown and Isiah Wilson will be tested against a Heritage defense that has guided the Panthers to back-to-back Elite 8 appearances. Heritage, which opened in 2009 and went 8-21 in its first three seasons, has gone 31-11 with three consecutive playoff appearances including two losses to Miami Central the last two seasons.

October 1
The First Academy (Orlando) at Trinity Catholic 
Note: First Academy, which lost 90% of its offense to graduation, will get a good test in the middle of the season against a Trinity Catholic program under new direction and trying to find itself again. The Celtics have made 12 straight playoff appearances, won two state titles (2005, 2010) and two state runner-up finishes (2006, 2008), but haven’t been relevant of late statewide with three straight second round playoff losses.

October 2
Dr. Phillips at Oak Ridge
Note: A defense led by Dylan Meeks (152 tackles, 7 sacks), Jonathan Pollock (94 tackles, 3 sacks) and Tashawn Lindquist (90 tackles, 3 sacks) will try to stop a Pioneer offense featuring lethal weapons Florida committ Tyrek Tisdale (943 passing, 461 rushing), D’andre Weaver (1603 passing, 16 TDs) and Jeremy Crosby (909 yards, 8 TDs).

October 2
West Orange at Apopka
Note: You like high scoring games, then this might be one you want to circle on your calendar. Auburn committ Woody Barrett (813 rush, 1558 passing, 24 TDs), Eddie McDoom (792 receiving, 14 TDs) and lineman Stone Forsythe lead a Warriors offense against a Blue Darter single wing trickery offense featuring Demetri Burch (903 rushing, 906 passing, 21 TDs) and Deshawn Massey (477 rushing, 7 TDs).

October 8
South Sumter at Bishop Moore
Note: Five weeks before the playoffs begin, Bishop Moore will be highly tested with state power South Sumter coming in. Collin Hartman (940 passing, 12 TDs) will have his hands full against a Raider defense that has carried them to the playoffs 19 out of the last 23 years.

October 9
St. Cloud at Osceola (Kissimmee)
Note: The states fifth oldest rivalry began in 1925 and has been dominated by Osceola over the years. Osceola leads the all-time series 60-27-4, winning the 91st meeting last year 49-17. Can the Kowboys defense, which must replace its entire starting linebackers, contain St. Cloud tailback Bryan Johnson (1478 yards, 18 TDs).

October 16
Wekiva at Apopka
Note: Apopka has retained the Mayors Cup Trophy seven straight years in the Battle of Apopka rivalry. Wekiva was 8-3 last season losing in the first round of the playoffs to Oakleaf, can the Mustangs pull the upset this season against a Blue Darters team that is reloading?

October 22
Olympia at Dr. Phillips
Note: The two schools are just three miles apart from each other and instantly became arch-rivals in 2001. Dr. Philips, which leads the all-time series 12-4, has owned the rivalry winning 11 straight on the field, although two later became losses due to ineligible player.

October 23
Apopka at Oak Ridge
Note: Another high scoring game features a Pioneer offense featuring lethal weapons Florida commit Tyrek Tisdale (943 passing, 461 rushing), D’andre Weaver (1603 passing, 16 TDs) and Jeremy Crosby (909 yards, 8 TDs) up against a Blue Darter single wing trickery offense featuring Demetri Burch (903 rushing, 906 passing, 21 TDs) and Deshawn Massey (477 rushing, 7 TDs).

October 30
Mount Dora at South Sumter
Note: The best program in Lake County makes the daunting trip to Bushnell to take on South Sumter. Zack Dickinson (1576 yards, 21 TDs) will have his hands full against a lethal aggressive Raider defense that posted three shutouts and held 10 of its 12 opponents to 15 points or less.

November 6
Edgewater at Boone
Note: Central Florida most storied rivalry is over 60 years old and began in 1952 when Orlando High was broken up into Orlando North and Orlando South, both of which would become Edgewater and Boone respectively. The winner of the annual game takes possession of the Spirit Barrel, a painted barrel in both schools colors along with every score from the series. Edgewater leads the overall series 42-19-2, but Boone has won the last three and four of the last six.