On a stormy night where three Orlando area high school football games were postponed and many others were delayed, top-ranked Seminole started its game late and struggled for a bit.
The Seminoles, No. 1 in the Sentinel Super 16 rankings, pulled away to win 27-3 on the road against Flagler Palm Coast (2-0, 0-1) in an 8A District 2 opener. FPC was up 3-0 late in the first half until the ‘Noles scored a touchdown shortly before intermission to take a lead it would not relinquish.
Seminole has won 23 consecutive regular-season games in a streak that dates to 2018. The ‘Noles, who play at Daytona Beach Mainland next week, won their final three games of 2018, then went 9-0 in 2019 prior to the playoffs and 7-0 in a regular season shortened by COVID-19 in last season’s state championship season.
Mainland (1-2), a tradition-rich program, got into the win column on Friday with an impressive 35-6 victory against visiting Lake Minneola (2-2), which was the No. 8 team in the Super 16.
No. 4 Edgewater (3-1, 1-0) traveled to Clermont and overwhelmed East Ridge (0-4, 0-1) in a 7A game that was shortened by the 35-point mercy rule.
No. 5 Jones (2-2) lost 62-3 against national juggernaut Bradenton IMG Academy (4-0), which plays outside the FHSAA playoff system.
No. 6 West Orange (3-1, 1-0) cruised to a 49-0 home win against Windermere High (2-2, 0-1) in 8A District 3.
No. 11 Winter Park (3-1, 1-0) scored a 42-8 home win against Orlando University (1-3) to start its 8A-4 campaign.
No. 9 Orange City University (3-0, 1-0) won 41-0 Lyman (0-4, 0-1) in 7A District 4. Also in 7A-4, Port Orange Spruce Creek improved to 4-0 overall with a 48-0 win at Lake Howell (1-3) to start its bid for the district title.
The three area district games that were rescheduled Friday were Viera (1-1) at East River (1-2), now set for Saturday morning at 10; and two games now set for Monday night: Timber Creek (1-2) at Hagerty (1-1) and Oviedo (3-0) at DeLand (0-1).
Second-ranked Apopka (3-0) and No. 13 Ocoee (3-0) also postponed their 8A District 3 game with no reschedule date announced.
Leesburg improved to 3-0 with a 60-0 rout of Lake Weir (1-2) in 5A District 5 play.
Devin Johnson and James Mesidor both scored on pick-6 interception returns for Lake Nona (2-2) as the Lions scored a 37-0 shutout win against Cypress Creek (1-3) in the 8A-2 opener for both teams. All the scoring came in the first half.
Daytona Beach Seabreeze (2-2) blocked a Deltona field goal attempt with 2.2 seconds to go and then won 14-7 with a touchdown in overtime. The Wolves (2-2) were stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard-line in their OT possession.
In a 5A-7 game, Port Orange Atlantic (1-3, 1-0) posted a 26-14 win at Deltona Pine Ridge (1-2, 0-1).
Joe Joe Patti was potent through the air and on the ground for West Oaks (1-3) in a 40-0 victory over Young Kids in Motion (0-4) out of Jacksonville. The senior quarterback was 12-of-15 passing with 325 yards and five TDs to go with 85 yards rushing. Maccai Brave had five catches for 190 yards and three of those TDs from Patti.
Tavares (3-1, 1-0) won 55-0 at first-year Lake Buena Vista (0-4, 0-1) in 5A-6. Eustis (3-1) is also 1-0 in that district after notching a 41-8 win at Horizon (0-4), the other new Orange County public school.
Bishop Moore dropped to 0-3 with a 26-7 home loss against state-ranked Treasure Coast (3-0).
The Master’s Academy (1-3) posted its first win, 39-7, against Windermere Prep (2-2). The Eagles got two TD runs from Sy Simpson, the second one set up in the third quarter on an interception by Noah Sliger. Brayden Bell also threw a TD pass to Sliger in the second quarter of the victory.
Legacy Charter (2-1) won 51-7 at Cape Coral Oasis (1-2).
Deltona Trinity Christian (1-2) won 7-6 at home against St. Augustine St. Joesph’s (0-3).
In a Thursday night game, Oak Ridge (2-2) rolled to a 40-0 victory against Tohopekaliga (1-3).
Steve Gorches and Nate Marrero, contributed to this report, which was first published at SentinelVarsity.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.