Editor’s note: This story is being updated.
MELBOURNE – Auburndale brought back a Class 6A, District 7 title Friday night.
Jerrod Johnson picked up two passes and later scored on a 10-yard touchdown run when the Bloodhounds (8-0) defeated Eau Gallie (37-23) to remain undefeated and claim the district title with a win over the Commodores to fetch.
“It’s good for town, good for school, good for the kids,” said Kyle Sasser, Auburndale head coach. “It’s a stepping stone, an important part of building the program. We haven’t had this success (for a while). It is important for everyone to see success. We are unsuccessful. It’s really good for our children now. The seniors have never been in this position. It is important to them and our younger children because we are trying to set a standard. We want to win trophies. One of us try to point them out that we want a trophy and a banner, that’s what we want. “
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Johnson brought the Bloodhounds on board early with a 40 yard interception return for a touchdown. Jacob Welch added a 38-yard field goal to make it 10-0 at Auburndale after the first third.
Auburndale never fell behind as it received a 14-yard touchdown run from Nate Garnett, a 7-yard score from Zach Tanner, Johnson’s scoring run, and a 2-yard touchdown run from Jeremiah Austin for the win to end.
Haines City 30, Tenoroc 6
LAKELAND – Isaiah Byrd of Haines City set the tone early with an 80 yard kickoff return for a touchdwon as the Hornets rolled to a street win.
Haines City extended their lead to 22-0 after a 23-yard fumble return from Kamau Francis and a 1-yard touchdown run from Omarion Nimmens.
Ke’Shon Tyler finished the Hornets classification with a 3 yard scoring run.
“We looked ugly, but one of the things we did was our offensive, which played brilliantly in the fourth quarter to beat the time and secure the win,” said Hornets head coach Pat Herrington.
Lake Wales 37, Palmerbe 30
PALM BAY – Heritage fought back after 17 points behind at halftime, but could not force extra time despite an onside kick in the last three minutes.
Lake Wales (6-2) had too many answers every time Heritage came within striking distance. After LJ Turner hit the 3 late in the third, Lake Wales kick-off returned to the 13, where Marquish Seabon scored his fourth touchdown 20 seconds after his team’s lead was reduced to 27-17 on a 43-yard run .
A 15-yard scoring run by Trey Ulmer just eight seconds in the closing stages brought the Panthers back to 34-23, but the point after that failed and the Highlanders responded with a 36-yard Mauricio Alvarez field goal.
Turner scored his third touchdown of the game at 3:15 to play on a 9-yarder, which meant 37:30, but the Panthers (5-3) eventually flipped the ball on downs in the last minute.
“This was a difficult and noisy environment,” said Lake Wales head coach Tavaris Johnson. “We’re against it and some shaky officials. But I told them (his players) to stay calm and they responded well. “
The game featured two top defenders in Seabon and Turner. Seabon took the first point on a 10-yard run to finish a 75-yard drive and added a two-point conversion. Turner responded with a 70-yard run.
Lake Gibson 42, Kathleen 6
LAKELAND – Jayden Glover’s two first-half touchdowns ignited the Braves for their fourth straight win.
Glover scored on runs of 55 and 19 yards in the first and second quarters, giving him 19 touchdowns for the season. Sophomore Quintan Moore returned an interception 70 yards and the Braves (6-3) led 28-6 at halftime.
The hosts Red Devils (2: 6) had opened the winning goal with a 15-yard pass to Jordan Gant.
Logan Hackett’s eighth scoring pass of the season and another 70 yard pass to Cormani McClain ended the Braves scoring.
Santa Fe Catholic 45, Cocoa Beach 6
LAKELAND – Julian Franzino, who was out a month with an ankle injury, came back to score two touchdowns and run 188 yards with just five carries.
The running game got another boost when Dayrel Glover added three points on 45 runs and two from 25 yards. Glover had 13 carries for 180 yards.
“We finally got the running game going,” said Hawks head coach Joe Faiola.
Defensively, linebackers Zachary Johnson and Noah Cabrera helped keep the Minutemen down to 114 yards.
All Saints 49, Old Plank Christian 0
WINTER HAVEN – Parker Lopez ran for three touchdowns of 24.18 and 12 yards as the Saints prepared for a playoff game next week.
The Saints were leading 49-0 at halftime when two interception returns from Darrington Mangus and Sam St.Germain from 38 and 50 yards respectively increased the onslaught.
“We scored with our first five ball possession and the two choose six,” said Saints-Coazch Stuwart Weiss, who is expecting the Saints’ playoff opponents this weekend.
Scott Weltin and Claudarious Bell caught 1-yard touchdown receptions. Fielder Garnerran had a 1 yard score when Weiss cleared his bench in the second half.
The Saints (6-2) have now won six times in a row.
Arcadia DeSoto County 22, George Jenkins 6
ARCADIA – The Bulldogs scored three touchdowns in the second half that set themselves apart from Jenkins. DeSoto scored twice on runs in the third quarter and Nazir Gilchrist’s 12-yard scoring foray came four minutes before the end of the game.
The interception of Junior Gershon Galloway at the end of fourth place put an end to all hopes of a comeback for the Eagles. It was the Eagles’ fifth consecutive loss after starting the season 3-0.
George Jenkins dropped to 3-5 and DeSoto improved to 4-3.
Lakeland Christian 38, Calvary Christian 13
LAKELAND – The Vikings went undefeated in the season with a convincing win on the road on Friday night.
Lakeland Christian are now 8-0 and face South Sumter at home next week.
Oasis Christian 23, Orlando Eastern Christian 12
WINTER HAVEN – The Lions ended the season in victory thanks to touchdown runs from Senior Tyler Rusch, who came into the game with just one all season.
Quarterback Gidean Kennon scored the first hit on a 30-yard run in the second quarter, followed by Rusch’s first score from 5 yards.
The Hurricanes scored late in the second and made the result 14-6. A goalless third quarter was followed by a 25-yard scamper von Rusch.
“We took control in the second period,” said Oasis head coach Chad Moore, who attributed an outstanding blockade to offensive linemen Zach and Aiden Madrigal and Alex Montgomery.
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