Here are Friday night's high school football preview capsules for Polk County
Lake Wales (7-0) at Liberty (0-7)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Liberty H.S., 4250 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee
Outlook: This game could get ugly fast. The Highlanders have outscored their opponents 264-34, including their last two 91-6. Liberty has been outscored 289-6. Lake Wales quarterback Trent Grotjan has completed 59 of 102 passes for 1,087 yards with 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. This is a 3S-8 district game. Lake Wales is ranked No. 3 in Class 3S in the USA Today Network Florida Poll.
More: The full package: Hardy uses brains and brawn to lead Lakeland's defense
Clearwater International (6-0) at Lakeland (6-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1125 N. Florida Ave., Bryant Stadium
Outlook: Lakeland has outscored its six opponents by an average score of 40-8. Clearwater International has outscored its six opponents by an average score of 35.7-9.3. Lakeland's quarterback has completed 47 of 73 passes for 896 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Wide receiver Daidren Zipperer is averaging 25.1 yards on 14 receptions. Four of Tyler Williams' 12 receptions are touchdown receptions. Cormani McClain is now ranked No. 2 nationally by the 247Sports composite rankings. Clearwater International quarterback Evans Chuba has complete 76 of 145 passes for 1,338 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. CAI offensive tackle Lucas Simmons is ranked 109 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings. Lakeland is No. 1 in Class 4S in the USA Today Network Florida Poll.
Prep Picks
The weekly Prep Picks column was on hiatus for the week. Here are Roy Fuoco's picks for the week:
Lake Wales over Liberty, Lakeland over Clearwater International, Frostproof over Discovery, Lake Gibson over Palmetto, Victory Christian over John Carroll, Santa Fe Catholic over Legacy Carter, All Saints over Foundation Christian, Mulberry over Bayshore, Auburndale over Davenport, Bartow over Sebring, George Jenkins over Haines City, Fort Meade over Tenoroc, Zephyrhills over Kathleen, Lake Region over Gateway, Lakeland Christian over Calvary Christian.
Last week: 12-1 (.923).
Season record: 66-21 (.759).
Discovery (0-7) at Frostproof (6-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Faris Brannen Stadium, downtown Frostproof
Outlook: In the Bulldogs' 44-0 victory over Mulberry last week, quarterback Nathan Jenkins threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 5-of-8 passing. He also rushed for 81 yards to finish with 212 yards of total offense. Running back Donavan Solomon rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries and now has 998 yards rushing and nine touchdowns for the season. This is a 2S-13 district game. Discovery has been outscored 317-57.
Lake Gibson (2-5) at Palmetto (4-3)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1200 17th St. W., Palmetto
Outlook: Lake Gibson quarterback Jackson Akins threw for 180 yards last week and now has 1,036 yards passing for the season and 11 touchdowns. Running back Fentrell Graham rushed for 111 yards and has 570 yards for the season. Tyson Gast has 25 catches for 474 yards and five touchdowns. Palmetto has defeated its last two opponents by an average score of 95-20. Palmetto quarterback Zander Smith has completed 93 of 163 passes for 1,218 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. If the playoffs started today, Lake Gibson would be in the playoffs and would be playing Lakeland in the first round.
Victory Christian (4-3) at Fort Pierce John Carroll (5-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: John Carroll H.S., 3402 Delaware Ave., Fort Pierce
Outlook: John Carroll quarterback Dawson Maehl has completed 50 of 94 passes for 916 yards, and running back Tony Colebrook has rushed for 688 yards. Victory running back Rashad Orr rushed for 144 yards last week, and wide receiver Andre Cruz Jr. caught four passes for 93 yards.
Santa Fe Catholic (4-2) at Legacy Charter (4-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: 1550 E. Crown Point Road, Ocoee
Outlook: Santa Fe Catholic is coming off a 66-0 loss to Central Florida Christian. The Crimson Hawks allowed 577 yards in total offense. After dropping two straight by a combined score of 69-6, Legacy bounced back with a 37-14 win over Halifax.
Foundation Christian (0-4) at All Saints (6-1)
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Jahna Stadium, 5001 SR 540, Winter Haven
Outlook: All Saints quarterback Daunte Giles has thrown for 698 yards and has rushed for 770 yards. Dontavious Bell has rushed for 763 yards. Clauderius Bell has 11 catches for 253 yards. All Saints is coming off a 26-10 loss to Donahue Catholic. The Saints have four shutouts and allowed just six points prior to last week's loss.
Bayshore (0-6) at Mulberry (3-4)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Phosphate Bowl, 1 Panther Place, Mulberry
Outlook: Bayshore defeated Mulberry 39-7 in 2017 and 55-6 in 2018. Mulberry has allowed 174 points. Bayshore has been outscored 268-29 this season. Bayshore is coming off a 41-7 loss to Booker, and Mulberry is coming off a 44-0 loss to Frostproof.
Auburndale (4-2) at Davenport (1-5)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Davenport H.S., 500 Orchid Drive, Davenport.
Outlook: After some close losses earlier in the year, Auburndale the past few weeks has won both its games vs. Liberty and Lake Region in blowout fashion, producing a total of 110 points in two weeks, which is the first time the Bloodhounds have scored 100 points or more in a two-week stretch since 2014. The Bloodhounds even put up a 60-burger against Lake Region. Look for junior running back Dayrel Glover to keep things going as the leading rusher; he’s got 552 yards and seven scores this season. Leading the team in tackles is senior defensive end Jeff Anglin with 45. Davenport's only win was vs. Liberty 32-0 and last week’s loss was just by nine vs. Lake Region. Junior quarterback Aiden George leads the team in passing and rushing, while Davenport’s top defender is senior linebacker Braydon Odum.
Bartow (5-2) at Sebring (4-2)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Firemen's Field, 3514 Kenilworth Blvd., Sebring
Outlook: Bartow last week was able to bounce back after being blown out by Lakeland a few weeks ago, which is the second time the Yellow Jackets were able to bounce back after a loss. And with that, the No. 12 team in Class 4S is on to its best start in two years when the area football squad seemingly couldn’t lose. Just last week vs. Haines City, Treneil Smith caught two touchdowns from KJ Valentine to help lead Bartow to a big district win. And all-purpose running back Trequan Jones netted 85 yards on a kickoff return touchdown. Jones is up to 832 yards and eight touchdowns through six games. Bartow’s most productive defender is sophomore outside linebacker Damareion Smith with 45 tackles and a sack. Meanwhile, Sebring, the No. 10 team in 3S, is on to its 10th winning season in a row thanks to junior running back Travis Kerney with his 487 yards and six touchdowns.
Haines City (3-3) at George Jenkins (4-3)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Veterans Stadium, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
Outlook: Following a statement win over Discovery a few weeks back, the Hornets have dropped two straight, including a district matchup to Bartow last week. This is the first time since 2019 that Haines City will face George Jenkins, and with a win, it will be the first time since 2014. Junior running back Ke’shon Tyler leads the way with 537 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, senior linebacker Chris Benton makes plays all over the field, racking up 39 tackles. Meanwhile, George Jenkins is coming off a blowout loss to Lakeland two weeks ago, and last week, won by a field goal over Kathleen in a district matchup. George Jenkins is looking to make it six wins in a row over Haines City.
Tenoroc (1-6) at Fort Meade (5-2)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Frank S. Battlefield, 901 Edgewood Drive, Fort Meade
Outlook: Tenoroc won its first game of the season last week thanks to a 36-22 win over Discovery — a winless team in a district matchup. The Titans will be facing a team in Fort Meade that has won five out of seven. The Miners are led by junior quarterback Carson Montsdeoca thanks to his 848 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. He also has 166 yards on the ground. And on defense senior linebacker Jayden Daniels has 29 tackles, a sack and a pick.
Zephyrhills (4-3) at Kathleen (2-5)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Johnny Johnson Stadium, 2600 Crutchfield Road, Lakeland
Outlook: Kathleen is looking to beat a winning opponent for the first time this season. The Red Devils are led by junior quarterback Anthony Oldham. On the other side is a Zephyrhills team that has won two out of three, including a three-point loss to undefeated South Sumter — the No. 4 team in 2S. Junior running back Rodney Smith has 551 yards and six touchdowns on the year.
Gateway (2-4) at Lake Region (2-5)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Field of Thunder, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
Outlook: Lake Region wasn’t able to score vs. Auburndale last week, but did have a win over Davenport a few weeks back. The Thunder are looking to avenge a blowout loss to Gateway last year. Gateway was also shut out last week, this time to Lake Wales.
Clearwater Calvary Christian (5-2) at Lakeland Christian (6-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Viking Stadium, 1111 Forest Park St., Lakeland
Outlook: Lakeland Christian is ranked No. 1 in Class 1S in the FHSAA power rankings, and Clearwater Calvary Christian is No. 13 in Class 2M. Lakeland Christian’s last win was an overtime victory over Victory Christian Academy. Senior running back Jacob Allen is the team’s leading rusher, while defensively, senior linebacker Mack Estrada, also a very good baseball player, leads the team in tackles. Calvary Christian has a very good quarterback in Jacob Drackett, who on the year has racked up 1,481 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Sean Cuono to this point has 988 yards rushing 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: Here are Friday's high school football preview capsules for Polk County
