Here is FloridaHSFootball.com’s Top 10 Games of the Week, previewing the games across the state that fans will want to keep their eyes on. Rankings are from FloridaHSFootball.com’s Classification Rankings and predictions included are from Joe Pinkos, USA TODAY’s HSS Score Predictor and our own prediction.
No. 2 (8A) Apopka (3-0) at No. 8 (8A) Dr. Phillips (2-1)
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: WBZW 1520 AM, Apopka | Internet Stream: 1520 WBZW
Comment: This game will feature two of the Top 10 teams in Class 8A as well as two of the top teams in Central Florida and this should be a sell out at Bill Spoone Stadium. Question will be to see if Dr. Phillips has an answer to Apopka’s rushing attack. The Blue Darters didn’t attempt a pass at all last week against DeLand, so if the Panthers want to hang around, they will need to force the passing game early. Otherwise things could get ugly quickly leaving doubts for folks associated with Dr. Phillips as they host Mainland next week.
Joe Pinkos‘ Prediction: Apopka 17 over Dr. Phillips
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Apopka 28, Dr. Phillips 20
FHSF Prediction: Apopka
No. 3 (8A) Kissimmee Osceola (3-0) at No. 7 (7A) Winter Haven (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET
Comment: Two team with solid offensive and defensive units will meet in Winter Haven and unfortunately someone is going to walk home with a loss. Osceola is averaging 40 points per game while only giving up 10 points per game. Winter Haven on the other hand is scoring roughly 30 points per game while only giving up 7 points. We expect to see a possible defensive struggle, but if one of the teams manages to find a weakness in the other, expect that team to build an edge and win the game.
Joe Pinkos‘ Prediction: Osceola 6 over Winter Haven
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Osceola 28, Winter Haven 16
FHSF Prediction: Osceola
Buchholz (2-1) at No. 3 (7A) Oakleaf (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:00 p.m. ET
Comment: Buchholz gave Columbia all it could last week before falling to the Tigers on the road. With this week being here now, the Bobcats will look to make some noise as they take on Oakleaf in a District 7A-3 contest. With this game likely to decided the possible district champion or at least playoff positioning early on, every play or mistake will count for both teams. For Oakleaf, they are coming off a 14-5 win over Wayne County, Ga., last week that put the defense to the test. However, looking at both teams, Oakleaf appears to be more battled tested at this point, while Buchholz could certainly surprise a few people in the process.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Oakleaf 6 over Buchholz
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Oakleaf 28, Buchholz 14
FHSF Prediction: Oakleaf
No. 2 (6A) Miami Central (2-1) vs. Miami Norland (2-1) at FIU-North Miami Stadium
When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Comment: With Miami Central bouncing back in the last two weeks with shutout wins, there is concern that the Rockets have not been tested in either of those games. However, we feel the test will be there this week when the Rockets travel up to North Miami to take on Miami Norland in a key District 6A-16 matchup. The Miami Norland defense held South Dade to just seven points last week (which also got South Dade the win), but the point is that the Vikings defense can’t be taken lightly by the Rockets. If the Rockets take it lightly, it could spell trouble in how the rest of the season goes.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Miami Central 14 over Miami Norland
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Miami Central 28, Miami Norland 0
FHSF Prediction: Miami Central
Choctawhatchee (2-1) at No. 4 (6A) Navarre (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:00 p.m. CT
Radio: WPSM 91.1 FM, Fort Walton Beach | Internet Streams: WPSM 91.1 FM; JockJive.com
Comment: A great classic show down between two former district rivals, Navarre will be looking to get revenge in this game as they have lost three straight games to Choctawhatchee (including playoff games) over the last two years, while Choctawhatchee looks to pick up from last week’s 36-35 overtime loss to Rickards and win their fourth straight against the Raiders.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Navarre 17 over Choctawhatchee
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Navarre 35, Choctawhatchee 28
FHSF Prediction: Navarre
No. 7 (5A) Coconut Creek (2-1) at No. 1 (5A) Plantation American Heritage (2-1)
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m. Et
Internet Stream: NFHS Network (subscription required)
Comment: A major District 5A-16 showdown that will decide a lot of things. First it will decided playoff positioning for the district. The second thing it will tell us if Coconut Creek is truly a legitimate contender to play against teams like American Heritage and Hallandale. Both Coconut Creek and American Heritage are coming into this week’s games with big wins from last week, so it should be a battle unless one catches the other napping early on.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: American Heritage 28 over Coconut Creek
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: American Heritage 41, Coconut Creek 14
FHSF Prediction: American Heritage
No. 4 (8A) West Orange (3-0) at No. 1 (3A) Jacksonville Trinity Christian (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: WTRJ 91.7 FM, Jacksonville
Comment: West Orange comes up to Jacksonville after knocking off Dr. Phillips last week in the first game between the two schools in four years. Now West Orange will attempt to knock off the top team in Class 3A as they take on Jacksonville Trinity Christian. Trinity Christian is coming in after winning again against rival University Christian last week. Both teams have Division I prospects on both sides of the ball, but who will slow down who first? That question gets answered tonight!
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Trinity Christian 8 over West Orange
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Trinity Christian 31, West Orange 28
FHSF Prediction: Trinity Christian
Crescent City (3-0) at No. 5 (1A) Pahokee (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:00 p.m. ET
Comment: Crescent City will make the 240 mile road trip to Anquan Boldin Stadium in Pahokee to take on the Blue Devils in their first District 1A-8 contest this year. Some are still surprised that Pahokee joined Class 1A to this day, but here they are and ready to play the game. Crescent City already has a win over 1A Hilliard and 4A teams The Villages and Interlachen while Pahokee has wins over 8A Seminole Ridge and 3A Cardinal Newman. This game will tell us a lot about playoff positioning as both will still have to play Fort Meade in the coming weeks ahead.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Pahokee 19 over Crescent City
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Pahokee 28, Crescent City 14
FHSF Prediction: Pahokee
Glades Central (2-1) at No. 7 (8A) Delray Beach Atlantic (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:00 p.m. ET
Radio: WUUB 106.3 FM, West Palm Beach | Internet Stream: ESPN West Palm
Comment: Glades Central will try to bounce back this week against a talented Delray Beach Atlantic. For the Glades Central Raiders they will need to come out quickly and dominate on both sides of the ball. Doing this will help them stay in the game and not have to fight to come from behind. For the Atlantic Eagles getting a head start quickly in this game could seal a victory heading into the start of the district schedule next week.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Atlantic 14 over Glades Central
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: Glades Central 22, Atlantic 20
FHSF Prediction: Atlantic
DeLand (1-2) at No. 10 (8A) Mandarin (3-0)
When: Tonight, 7:00 p.m.
Comment: Both teams meet for the first time since 2012 when they were in District 8A-1, better known as the I-95 district that stretches from Jacksonville down to Daytona Beach and points in between. DeLand will be look to knock Mandarin off Cloud 9 as they have rolled out quickly to a 3-0 start. However, DeLand is still trying to figure out how they managed to give up nearly 550 yards last week to Apopka – all of that coming on the ground game. Mandarin is surrounded by some experienced talent while DeLand is still breaking in some new guys. That could be the difference in this one.
Joe Pinkos’ Prediction: Mandarin 10 over DeLand
USA TODAY HSS Score Predictor: DeLand 28, Mandarin 22
FHSF Prediction: Mandarin
Records from Last Week
Joe Pinkos: 8-2 (.800)
USA TODAY: 5-5 (.700)
FloridaHSFootball.com: 7-3 (.700)
Season Records:
Joe Pinkos: 24-6 (.800)
USA TODAY: 20-10 (.666)
FloridaHSFootball.com: 19-11 (.633)
