Football: Seminole heads to Venice in battle of last two Class 8A state champions

Jon Santucci, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·6 min read

Sanford-Seminole, the No. 1 team in Class 4M, already has wins against two of the top-ranked teams in Class 4S and will be looking for the hat trick at Venice.

Seminole (4-0) travels to Venice (1-2, No. 4 Class 4S) on Friday in a matchup of the last two teams to state titles in Class 8A before the metro and suburban split this season.

Seminole vs. Venice was the game many expected to see in the Class 8A state championship last fall, but the Seminoles fell to eventual state runner-up Apopka in overtime of the regional championship.

Venice players run onto the field at the start of their game agains Maryland's Saint Frances Academy.
Venice players run onto the field at the start of their game agains Maryland's Saint Frances Academy.

Seminole’s resume this season includes wins against Kissimmee-Osceola and Treasure Coast.

Venice, which is coming off a loss against national power St. Frances (Md.), narrowly beat Naples in Week 2 and lost on a late touchdown to Miami Northwestern in the season opener. According to MaxPreps, Venice plays the second-toughest schedule in the state this season.

The game features several top senior recruits, including Venice edge rusher Damon Wilson, Venice defensive back Elliot Washington, Seminole wide receiver Darren Lawrence and Seminole quarterback Luke Rucker.

Recent: Venice has good start and finish in loss to nationally ranked St. Frances

Week 4 Takeaways: Pahokee (re)establishes itself as Class 1R contender

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Here are some of the other top games in Week 5.

Miami Columbus (4-0, No. 2 Class 4M) at Miami Northwestern (3-1, No. 4 Class 2M)

Columbus running back Sedrick Irvin Jr. warms up before playing Jesuit on Friday.
Columbus running back Sedrick Irvin Jr. warms up before playing Jesuit on Friday.

Two of South Florida’s best face off in this one. Columbus has wins against Jesuit and Miami Palmetto the past two weeks and now faces its third consecutive opponent that was a regional finalist last fall. Northwestern’s lone loss this fall was against Chaminade-Madonna, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 1M.

More: Football: Sedrick Irvin Jr.'s three touchdowns leads Columbus past Jesuit

Osceola (1-2, No. 5 Class 4M) at Rockledge (4-0, No. 2 Class 3M)

Osceola already has played the Seminole (No. 1 Class 4M) and Lakeland (No. 1 Class 4S) and now travels to the No. 2 team in Class 3M. Osceola is looking to rebound from a 25-22 loss at Lakeland last week. Rockledge has been one of the most dominant teams early this fall, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 165-7.

Madison County (2-2, No. 3 Class 1R) at Florida High (4-0, No. 1 Class 2S)

Madison County senior wide receiver Tony Hamilton (3) rushes the ball in a game against Wakulla on Aug. 20, 2022, at Boot Hill. The Cowboys won, 25-14.
Madison County senior wide receiver Tony Hamilton (3) rushes the ball in a game against Wakulla on Aug. 20, 2022, at Boot Hill. The Cowboys won, 25-14.

Madison County, the defending rural classification champion, is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. It will have its hands full with Florida High, which has won its past two games by a combined score of 90-0.

Buchholz (3-0, No. 2 Class 4S) at Vanguard (No. 5, Class 3S)

The Bobcats and Knights are playing in the regular season for the first time since 2019, when Vanguard won 41-12. Buchholz is coming off an impressive District 3-4S win against Creekside last week. Vanguard has won two in a row since a one-score loss at Niceville in Week 2.

More: Creed Whittemore shines, Buchholz edges Creekside in 48-41 thriller

Here are some of the top individual matchups featuring top recruits to watch in Week 5.

Tampa Catholic 2024 OL Eddy Pierre-Lewis vs. Berkeley Prep 2023 EDGE Keon Keeley

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Pierre-Lewis is an elite lineman who will make an impact on both sides of the ball. His offers include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and others. Pierre-Lewis will be tasked with keeping Keeley (No. 3 USA Today top 100) out of the backfield Friday. Keeley has eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks over the past two games.

More: USA Today Top 100: Welcome to the Year of the Wide Receiver

Trinity Christian 2023 RB Treyaun Webb vs. Columbia 2023 LB Jaden Robinson

Editor's Note: Photo Illustration. Running back Treyaun Webb from Trinity Christian Academy is a 2022 Super 11 pick, shown in portrait, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Jacksonville.
Editor's Note: Photo Illustration. Running back Treyaun Webb from Trinity Christian Academy is a 2022 Super 11 pick, shown in portrait, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Jacksonville.

Two future Gators face off in this one. Webb (No. 38 USA Today Florida Network top 100) is half of the Conquerors outstanding rushing duo with Darnell Rogers. Webb has rushed for 367 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Robinson (No. 69 top 100) is a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder who was named Columbia’s Defensive Player of the Week against DeLand in Week 3.

More: Lake City Columbia gets statement win, shuts out Madison County

Buchholz 2023 QB Creed Whittemore vs. Vanguard 2024 ATH Fred Gaskin III

Vanguard High School's Quarterback and Safety, Fred Gaskin, is this year's Ocala Star Banner Overall Football Player of the Year. He posed for portraits Tuesday afternoon, February 15, 2022 in the locker room at the field house at Vanguard High School.
Vanguard High School's Quarterback and Safety, Fred Gaskin, is this year's Ocala Star Banner Overall Football Player of the Year. He posed for portraits Tuesday afternoon, February 15, 2022 in the locker room at the field house at Vanguard High School.

Whittemore (No. 79 USA Today Florida Network top 100) is coming off a career game against Creekside in Week 4. The Gators commit threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Gaskin, who also is the Knights quarterback, has seven tackles and an interception from his safety position. His offers include Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Michigan State and Ole Miss.

Edgewater 2023 RB Cedric Baxter Jr. vs. Apopka 2023 DL Kaven Call

Cedric Baxter, one of the top running backs in the country for the 2023 graduating class, committed to Texas on Wednesday night.
Cedric Baxter, one of the top running backs in the country for the 2023 graduating class, committed to Texas on Wednesday night.

Baxter (No. 6 USA Today Florida Network top 100, Texas commit) has been outstanding the first month of the season, rushing for 865 yards (8.9 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. Baxter has topped the 3,000-yard mark for his career and is one pace for more than 2,000 yards this fall. Call (No. 80 top 100, UCF commit) is a strong physical presence for the Blue Darters. Apopka could move Call around a lot to keep Edgewater from running away from him.

Gulliver Prep 2023 WR Jalen Brown vs. Chaminade Madonna 2025 CB Chris Ewald

This is one of several potential matchups featuring top skill position players in this game. Brown (No. 15 USA Today Florida Network top 100, LSU commit) is one of the premier deep threats in the nation and is counted on to take the top off a defense. He had over 130 yards in the season opener against Rockledge. Ewald, one of the top recruits in the class of 2025, leads Chaminade with seven passes broken up and has an interception. Ewald has offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Texas A&M and others.

Dillard 2023 RB Chris Johnson vs. Miami Central 2023 LB Stanquan Clark

Clark is committed to Louisville

Mainland 2024 WR James Randle vs. Lake Minneola 2023 S Ethon Cole

James Randle makes a one-handed catch for a 35-yard touchdown in Mainland's 42-29 win over DeLand, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022.
James Randle makes a one-handed catch for a 35-yard touchdown in Mainland's 42-29 win over DeLand, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022.

Cole is committed to Purdue

More: Exclusive: Lake Minneola 3-star safety Ethon Cole announces college decision

IMG 2023 WR Carnell Tate vs. Central (Ala.) 2023 CB AJ Harris

IMG Academy’s Carnell Tate celebrates a punt return for a touchdown against American Heritage in Plantation on Aug. 20, 2021. Tate’s touchdown was called back because of a penalty, but the Ascenders won 35-15.
IMG Academy’s Carnell Tate celebrates a punt return for a touchdown against American Heritage in Plantation on Aug. 20, 2021. Tate’s touchdown was called back because of a penalty, but the Ascenders won 35-15.

Tate is committed to Ohio State; Harris is committed to Georgia

Vero Beach 2023 WR Vandrevius Jacobs vs. Miami Palmetto 2023 CB Dwight Bootle Jr.

Vero Beach High School's Vandrevius Jacobs escapes the grip of a South Fork defender as the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians take on the South Fork Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bow in Vero Beach. Vero Beach won 54-6.
Vero Beach High School's Vandrevius Jacobs escapes the grip of a South Fork defender as the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians take on the South Fork Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bow in Vero Beach. Vero Beach won 54-6.

Jacobs is committed to Florida State; Bootle is committed to Nebraska

Boone 2023 WR Aidan Mizell vs. Dr. Phillips 2024 S Jashad Presley

Mizell is committed to Florida

Treasure Coast 2023 OL Alex Woods vs. St. Thomas Aquinas 2023 DL Jason Hammond

Treasure Coast offensive lineman Alex Woods announced his commitment to SMU in June.
Treasure Coast offensive lineman Alex Woods announced his commitment to SMU in June.

Woods is committed to SMU; Hammond is committed to Iowa State

Jones 2023 WR Derrick Rogers vs. West Orange 2023 CB Jordan Castell

Rogers is committed to Maryland; Castell is committed to Florida

More: Exclusive: Jones three-star WR Derrick Rogers announces college decision

Gaither 2023 WR Eugene Wilson III vs. Tampa Bay Tech 2023 DB Norris Davis

Wilson is committed to Florida; Davis is committed to Iowa State

Clearwater Academy International 2023 OT Lucas Simmons vs. Palmetto 2023 DL Andrew Rumph

Simmons is committed to Florida State

Seminole 2023 QB Luke Rucker vs. Venice 2023 DB Elliot Washington

Elliot Washington II, Venice High football
Elliot Washington II, Venice High football

Rucker is committed to FAU; Washington is committed to Penn State

Osceola 2025 RB Taevion Swint vs. Rockledge 2024 LB DJ McCormick

Jon Santucci is the statewide high school football recruiting reporter for the USA Today Florida Network. He can be reached at jsantucci@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Seminole heads to Venice in battle of last two Class 8A champions