Week 8 Football Preview: Lake Mary-Seminole County showdown tops Monday makeups

It’s the game Seminole County high school football fans have been waiting for, and they had to wait four more days as Hurricane Milton scrambled this week’s schedule.

It’s not likely to have the pomp of their Friday night showdowns of the past, but importance is immense. The Class 7A District 3 title is at stake , and the winner between Lake Mary (4-2 overall, 1-0 in district play) and Seminole (6-0, 1-0) on Monday will be in the driver’s seat to become the district champion. Seminole is No. 2 in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll. Lake Mary is No. 6.

There are always fireworks in this rivalry. Last season featured a thrilling rally by Seminole from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth to shock Lake Mary 29-28 for the district crown. Seminole has won six of the past seven games between the two schools. They did not play each other in the 2020 COVID season.

Plenty of other district races are taking shape. No. 1-ranked Jones (6-0) will take on perhaps its most difficult task of the season as 2022 Class 3S state champion Lake Wales rolls into Orlando for a 4A-7 matchup. Lake Wales gave Seminole a battle earlier this season. The ‘Noles had to rally to win that game 41-38. A Lake Wales victory would clinch the district title for the Highlanders. Jones has two district games remaining.

Also on Monday, No. 5 Edgewater (4-2, 1-0) can clinch the 5A-5 title with a win over upstart Winter Springs (5-1, 0-0). No. 9 Orange City University will be looking to hold off a district title celebration by Port Orange Spruce Creek (5-2, 2-0). Winter Park (3-3, 1-0) or Boone (3-3, 1-0) will be the frontrunner in 7A-4 after their clash.

No. 7 Kissimmee Osceola (4-2, 1-0) can clinch its 6A district with a win at Viera (4-3, 0-0).

A victory by No. 16 Mount Dora (5-1, 1-1) over Tavares (5-1, 2-0), coupled with a Bishop Moore (5-1, 1-0) win over Eustis would put the No. 8 Hornets in the driver’s seat in Class 3A-6.  A Tavares victory will set up a championship showdown at Bishop Moore, Oct. 18.

In 6A -6, a win by South Lake (3-3, 2-0) over Horizon (0-6, 0-1) would give the Eagles their first district title since 2000.

A victory by Oviedo (5-1, 1-0) over Lake Howell (1-5, 0-1) and a win by Evans (4-2, 1-0) vs. Wekiva (2-4, 0-1) would set up a showdown for the 6A-4 title, Oct. 24, at Evans.

Monday games

(Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise)

Lake Wales (5-1) at No. 1 Jones (6-0), 6 p.m.

No. 6 Lake Mary (4-2) at No. 2 Seminole (6-0)

East Ridge (3-3) at No. 3 Dr. Phillips (6-0)

Winter Springs (5-1) at No. 4 Edgewater (4-2)

Eustis (1-5) at No. 8 Bishop Moore (5-1)

No. 10 Oviedo (5-1) at Lake Howell (1-5), 6 p.m.

No. 11 Evans (4-2) at Wekiva (2-4), 5 p.m.

Oak Ridge (4-2) at Windermere High (6-0), 5 p.m.

Tavares (5-1) at No. 16 Mount Dora (5-1), 6 p.m.

Hagerty (4-3) at Lake Brantley (2-5)

Lake Nona (3-3) at Harmony (1-5)

South Lake (3-3) at Horizon (0-6), 6 p.m.

Kissimmee Liberty (2-5) at East River (3-3)

Innovation (3-3) at Colonial (2-4)

Olympia (2-4) at Celebration (2-4)

Cypress Creek (0-6) at Orlando University (0-6)

West Orange (5-1) at West Port (1-6), 5 p.m.

Lake Placid  (3-3) at Gateway (3-4)

Poinciana (4-2) at Auburndale (2-3), 7:30 p.m.

Lake Weir (4-2) at Umatilla (3-4), 7:30

CFCA (2-3) at Trinity Prep (0-6), 6 p.m.

St. Edward’s (6-1) at Faith Christian (4-3)

Tuesday

Rockledge (3-2) at Deltona (2-4), 6 p.m.

No. 7 Osceola (4-2) at Viera (4-3)

Melbourne (3-4) at Lyman (2-4)

New Smyrna Beach (5-1) at Pine Ridge (0-5)