Week 1 is already in the books and there were some standout performances among the light schedule of games that were played to open the season across 11-man and 8-man football. Check out who made the list of FloridaHSFootball.com’s Statewide Top Performance for Week 1.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a player you want to nominate for Statewide Top Performances of the Week? Submit your nomination after your game each Friday night through Sunday evening of the preceding week via email to Joshua.Wilson@floridahsfootball.com. Be sure to include player name, position, and statistics for possible inclusion into the list each week.
RB Zay Mathis, All Saints – Rushed for 12 times for 202 yards, scoring four touchdowns for the Saints in their 64-6 win over City of Life Christian in SSAC 8-man action.
RB Joe Brunson, Baker – Rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the Gators’ 35-12 season-opening win against Lighthouse PCA.
RB Camron Smith, Baker County – Smith rushed seven times for 146 yards and three scores in the Wildcats’ 33-6 win over rival Bradford to open the season.
RB Malik Curtis, Bishop Verot – Rushed for 236 yards and had three total touchdowns in a comeback bid that fell short in the Vikings’ 28-21 loss to Jesuit.
QB Jacob Azizi, Bishop Verot – Went 14-of-25 passing for 275 yards and threw two touchdowns in the Vikings’ 28-21 loss to Jesuit.
RB Xavier Guyton, Bronson – Rushed for 231 yards on 20 carries and scored four times in the Eagles’ 40-26 win over Ocala Christian to start the season.
QB Jacob Dennie, Christ’s Church Academy – Went 12 of 18 passing for 137 yards, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for one more score in the Eagles’ 30-14 win over Cedar Creek Christian.
LB Zac O’Connor, Christ’s Church Academy – Recorded a sack and a fumble recovery in the Eagles’ 30-14 win over Cedar Creek Christian.
RB Will Taylor, Chipley – Rushed for 155 yards and two scores in the Tigers’ 28-0 win over rival Graceville to open the season.
LB/TE Danny Stutsman, Foundation Academy – The Oklahoma commit scored three touchdowns on Friday with two on the ground and a pick-six return of 97 yards in the Lions’ 41-0 shutout of Orangewood Christian.
DB/WR Weston Bockelman, Franklin County – Had a scoop-and-score fumble recovery of 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown against North Bay Haven, while also securing one interception, two receptions for 25 yards, and recording three tackles in the Seahawks’ 7-0 win.
DB Peyton Kruger, Freeport – Collected six tackles including one for a loss and also recorded a sack and interception each in the Bulldogs’ 20-13 win over Holmes County.
QB Chaz Mackey, Hawthorne – Threw two touchdown passes in a tight 20-14 win for the Hornets over Newberry on Friday night.
QB Joe Pesanksy, Jesuit – Threw for 226 yards on 14-of-21 pass completions and tossed three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 28-21 win over Bishop Verot on the road.
RB/DB Morgan Babb, Merritt Island Christian – The sophomore had an excellent game in the Cougars’ debut 8-man game rushing for 191 yards and five touchdowns on 9 carries. He also converted two-2 point conversions and recorded four tackles, three tackles for loss and interception, and a blocked punt in a 60-12 win over Harvest Community.
QB Ty’Quan Wiggins, Mount Dora Christian – Wiggins threw for 230 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ crushing 55-7 win over Faith Christian to open the 2020 season.
QB Toby Kellner, Oasis – Threw for 239 yards on 14-of-20 passes and tossed a pair of touchdowns in the Sharks’ 35-14 opening win over Marco Island Academy.
WR/DB Kai Shelton, Oasis – Had six receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown and scored on a pick-six interception in the Sharks’ 35-14 opening win over Marco Island Academy.
WR Alex Perry, Port Charlotte – Had 112 yards receiving on just four catches with two of those catches going for touchdowns in the Pirates’ 46-26 win over Hardee.
RB/QB Dom Bennett, Sarasota – Rushed for 179 yards and had four total touchdowns (three rushing, one passing) in the Sailors’ 38-9 season-opening win at home against North Port.
QB Jaquez Moore, Suwannee – Scored six total touchdowns with three through the air and three on the ground in the Bulldogs’ 41-10 rout of Santa Fe in the season opener.
ATH Conner Nobles, West Nassau – Had 70 yards rushing, but was responsible for scoring three touchdowns and recovering two fumbles on defense for the Warriors in their 43-6 thrashing of Palatka.
QB Justice Pope, Yulee – Orchestrated a come-from-behind win for the Hornets going 13-of-27 passing for 140 yards, passing for two touchdowns in the Hornets 41-34 barnburner win over rival Fernandina Beach.
Top performances of the week were compiled from nominations received from coaches and information from reports from the Charlotte Sun, Florida Times-Union, Fort Myers News-Press, Lake City Reporter, Lakeland Ledger, Northwest Florida Daily News, Orlando Sentinel, Panama City News Herald, PrimeTimePreps.com, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and ThePrepZone.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a player you want to nominate for Statewide Top Performances of the Week? Submit your nomination after your game each Friday night through Sunday evening of the preceding week via email to Joshua.Wilson@floridahsfootball.com. Be sure to include player name, position, and statistics for possible inclusion into the list each week.










![Taylor County (Perry) and Niceville are among the teams just outside of the FPRI Top 100 to start off the 2026 season. [PHOTO CREDITS: Jesse Braswell/Taylor County and Niceville Football]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/COUNTDOWN-TO-KICKOFF-2026-Preseason-FPRI-Rankings-Teams-No.-101-through-No.-572-revealed.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)


![Three generations of Garcia's pose for a photo from Hillsborough (Tampa) on Sunday, July 12 at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla. From left to right is Hillsborough Head Coach Earl Garcia Jr., Earl "EJ" Garcia IV, and Earl Garcia III. [FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-High-School-Football-Media-Day-Day-2-Photo-Gallery.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![The Durant Cougars (Plant City) hold up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Flag during the photo session of the 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Football Media Day on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Fla. [FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-High-School-Football-Media-Day-Day-1-Photo-Gallery.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)

![A group of Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) defenders try to bring a Buchholz runner down during their kickoff classic on Friday, September 4, 2020 at Citizens Field in Gainesville. [PHOTO BY: Joshua WIlson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Statewide-Week-2-Football-Schedule-2020-Featured.png?fit=2000%2C1200&ssl=1)
![Buchholz QB Jack Hevesy carries the ball during the Bobcats' kickoff classic against Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) on Friday, September 4, 2020 at Citizens Field in Gainesville [PHOTO BY: Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Joe-Pinkos-Week-2-Game-Forecast-Featured-1.png?fit=2000%2C1200&ssl=1)