Friday night's high school football preview capsules
Lake Gibson (1-4) at Lake Wales (4-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Legion Field
Outlook: Despite just one win, Lake Gibson is No. No. 11 in Class 4S, Region 2, and still is within reach of the top eight with a strong finish to the season. Lake Gibson quarterback Jackson Akins has thrown for 722 yards on 50-of-106 passing. Fentrell Graham has rushed for 415 yards, and receiver Tyson Gast has 20 catches for 405 yards. Lake Wales is ranked No. 1 in 3S-2. Lake Wales quarterback Trent Grotjan is 29-of-58 for 470 yards. Jordan Henderson has rushed for 404 yards in four games, and Xavier Marlow has rushed for 265 yards and has eight catches for 72 yards. This is Lake Wales' first game since Sept. 16.
Tampa Catholic (3-1) at Winter Haven (3-2)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Denison Stadium
Outlook: In its last game, Winter Haven defeated Tampa Catholic 40-16. The Blue Devils' 4S-8 district game against Bartow which was postponed last week will be played on Oct. 24. Winter Haven beat Tampa Catholic in 2019 but lost to the Crusaders the past two years, including 38-0 last season. Tampa Catholic quarterback Trey Heddon has completed 40 of 75 passes for 738 yards. Winter Haven is ranked No. 8 in Class 4S, Region 2. Diyantae Landrum has six catches for 181 yards, and Carlos Mitchell has five catches for 181 yards.
Lakeland (4-0) at Bartow (4-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bartow Memorial Stadium
Outlook: Lakeland is No. 1 and Bartow is No. 3 in 4S, Region 2. D'Marius Rucker leads Lakeland with 421 yards on 36 carries. Zach Pleuss has thrown for 464 yards on 26 of 47 passing. Daidren Zipperer has nine catches for 194 yards. Tyler Williams has a 45-yard reception, a 71-yard punt return and an 86-yard kickoff return. Bartow running back Trequan Jones has rushed 90 times for 690 yards. Receiver Braydon Glogower has eight catches for 134 yards.
Auburndale at Dade City Pasco
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 36850 State Road 52, Dade City
Outlook: Auburndale is averaging 143.0 yards rushing and 195.0 yards passing in three games. Quarterback Brycen Levidiotis has thrown for 503 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Dayrel Glover leads with 170 yards on 35 carries. Ja'tavious Scaife is averaging 26.1 yards per on 12 receptions. Auburndale beat Pasco in 2019 and 2020 by a combined score of 83-0. Pasco went 0-8 last season and is undefeated this season. Running back Tayshaun Balmir has rushed for 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns in five games. He has four 200-yard games, including a career-high 360 yards on 24 carries.
Roar Prep & Vocational (0-1) at Santa Fe Catholic
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Santa Fe Field
Outlook: These two teams were supposed to play last week but Hurricane Ian canceled the game. They were able to play this week when Santa Fe's schedule opened up.
Discovery (0-4) at Zephyrhills Christian (2-4)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: On campus, 34927 Eiland Blvd., Zephyrhills
Outlook: Discovery has lost 13 straight games since winning last year's season opener against Avon Park, 34-28. Zephyrhills Christian is coming off a 40-12 loss to Victory Christian.
George Jenkins (3-1) at Frostproof (4-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Faris Brannen Stadium, East Third Street, Frostproof
Outlook: George Jenkins hasn’t played since Sept. 16. But the Eagles are 3-1 and all of their wins have been by at least two scores. Meanwhile, Frostproof enters the game having won four straight and four out of five. Thanks to Frostproof mounting a second-half rally, scoring the final 21 points of the game to escape with a win, including Daiveon Pittman returning a fumble for the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes left, the Bulldogs won 29-22 over Avon Park. Frostproof’s Donavan Solomon has averaged 158.6 yards on the ground and racked up eight total touchdowns on the year.
Kathleen (1-3) at Tenoroc (0-4)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Titan Stadium, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland
Outlook: Kathleen has lost three straight. But the Red Devils won the first game of the season in incredible fashion: Kathleen rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Winter Haven 26-21. Quarterback Anthony Oldham connected with Brenshawn Brito on the game-winning play. In Tenoroc’s closest loss of the season — an 8-6 game vs. Weeki Wachee on Sept. 9 — running back Khalil Hooper went for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Davenport (1-2) at Poinciana (3-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: 2300 S. Poinciana Blvd., Kissimmee
Outlook: Davenport is coming off a 32-0 win over Liberty on Sept. 16. Leading the way for the Broncos is quarterback Aiden George, who averages 64.3 rushing yards on the ground while racking up four total touchdowns. He also has three touchdown passes on the season. Poinciana has won three out of four, with all three of their wins being by at least two scores. Quarterback De’kwan Bradley has passed for 733 yards and seven touchdowns.
Ambassadors Christian (1-5) at Fort Meade (3-2)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Frank S. Battle Field, 900-998 Edgewood Drive, Fort Meade
Outlook: Fort Meade has been in every one of their games this season. The Miners' last loss was to Victory Christian10-6 on Sept. 6. Fort Meade in its winning season has a dynamic running back tandem in R.J. Cabrera and Ja’Marion Davis. Cabrera has 46 carries for 351 yards, while Davis is up to 28 carries for 345 yards. In four out of five of its games, Ambassadors Christian has been blown out.
Ridge Community (3-2) at Haines City (3-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Wayne Gandy Field at Joe Stangry Stadium, 2800 Hornet Drive, Haines City
Outlook: Both these teams are rolling into Week 6 with hot streaks. Haines City has won three out of four, while Ridge Community is coming off a huge win over East Ridge on Sept. 23, winning two of three. To add fuel to the fire, this rivalry dates back to 2005, when Ridge first came on the scene. Haines City is led by running back Ke’shon Tyler, who is up to 48 carries for 389 yards and five touchdowns. And Ridge’s rushing attack is manned by Joe Jackson, who is up to 159 yards a game and eight touchdowns.
Roy Fuoco can be reached at roy.fuoco@theledger.com or at 863-802-7526. Follow him on Twitter: @RoyFuoco. Robert Magobet can be reached at rmagobet@gannett.com or at 856-905-4537. Follow him on Twitter: @RMagobet31.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Friday night's high school football preview capsules
