News Summary
The Orlando area kicked off its high school sports season with thrilling football games and impressive cross-country performances. Key victories include dramatic comebacks and dominant scores from local teams, setting an exciting tone for the fall sports season. Teams like Lake Mary, West Orange, and Bishop Moore showcased their talents on the field, while the Kowboy Invitational highlighted exceptional cross-country racing. In addition, volleyball enthusiasts were treated to competitive matches at recent tournaments, proving that it’s a vibrant start to the season.
Orlando Area High School Sports Roundup: Football Season Opener and Cross Country Results
The Orlando area witnessed exhilarating action in high school sports this past weekend, with the commencement of the football season providing thrilling games and inspiring performances across multiple venues. Notably, local teams showcased their skills in both football and cross-country events, contributing to a vibrant beginning for the fall sports season.
Highlights from Football Matches
Week one of the high school football season left fans breathless with spectacular rallies and impressive victories. Lake Mary stunned Miami Norland with a comeback victory of 30-29, overcoming a substantial halftime deficit of 29-7. West Orange secured a 28-18 win over Evans following a delay due to lightning, highlighted by outstanding performances from key players AJ Chung and Dylan Hoskins.
Bishop Moore achieved a commanding victory against Oviedo, recording a massive 68-35 scoreline, bolstered by quarterback Blake McCullough’s four touchdown passes. Similarly, Lake Brantley dominated Lyman with an impressive 75-0 victory, featuring Jackson Stecher’s remarkable four touchdown passes.
Ranked teams also asserted their dominance, with #1 Jones defeating Winter Park by a score of 35-0 as DJ Hicks contributed significantly with a touchdown. The #2 Edgewater team overwhelmed Wekiva with a final score of 65-8, led by Carter Emanuel’s multiple touchdown passes. Other noteworthy scores included Hagerty 40, Lake Howell 21; St. Cloud 55, Freedom 8; and Windermere 48, Harmony 3.
Cross Country Performance at Kowboy Invitational
The Kowboy Invitational at Osceola High School displayed remarkable talent in cross-country racing. North Gwinnett secured first place among the teams by finishing with a total of 68 points, while Boone and Gateway followed with 86 and 133 points respectively. Other notable teams included St. Cloud with 178 points and Horizon with 182.
Top individual performances were led by Anglin Young from Northridge, clocking in at 16:27.94, followed closely by Aiden Williams from Boone and Jacob Finch from Horizon who finished with 16:33.66 and 16:35.43, respectively. Participants such as Brody Ansbaugh and Riley Ramirez also made notable contributions to their teams.
Other Cross Country Events
The Jim Ryun FCA Invitational held at Holloway Park featured Geneva Classical Academy, which triumphed with a team score of 32. Tavares and Lakeland Christian followed, scoring 103 and 111 points respectively. Oliver Dempsey from Geneva Classical stood out as the top individual, finishing the race in 16:08.5.
At the Spikes & Spurs Classic in Bunnell, Hagerty finished first with 61 points, while Creekside secured 83 points and Nease followed with 118. Eli Scharf’s performance earned him the title of top individual with a time of 17:01.0.
Volleyball Results from Weekend Tournaments
The Las Vegas Classic and SSAA Invitational provided excitement for volleyball enthusiasts. In the Las Vegas Classic, Horizon 2 performed impressively, defeating Service (Alaska) and Sunrise Mountain with scores of 25-10, 25-9 and 25-3, 25-12 respectively. However, Rancho Christian from California edged Horizon with a close score of 2-1 on Saturday.
During the SSAA Invitational, Orlando Christian Prep began strong against All Saints Academy, winning 25-20, 26-24. However, they later fell to SW Florida Christian 2-1, with significant matches showcasing teams like City of Life Christian and Master’s Academy achieving notable victories.
Postseason Suspension for The First Academy
In other notable news, The First Academy has been denied postseason participation for 2025 by the FHSAA due to prior infractions. This decision follows sanctions previously faced by the school, which included forfeits and substantial fines due to rules violations.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, The First Academy is set to face a competitive schedule in 2025, including games against IMG Academy and other renowned rivals. As the high school sports season unfolds, local teams are preparing for both challenges and triumphs ahead.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
UCF University Announces Induction of Six Alumni into Hall of Fame
University of Central Florida Faces Rivalry Match Against South Florida
Tiger Woods and Charlie Shine at the PNC Championship
Community Mourns Loss of Dedicated Public Servant and Veteran
HEAD Golf Launches Community Event in Toronto
Benjamin School Golf Team Aims for State Championship Redemption
Orlando Expands Dining and Entertainment Scene
Farmers’ Almanac Predicts Harsh Winter Ahead
UCF Knights Football Team Focuses on Defense Ahead of Season
UCF Knights Prepare for Season Opener Against Jacksonville State
Additional Resources
- Orlando Sentinel: Saturday Scores and Top Performers
- Orlando Sentinel: Week 1 Rewind
- SI: FHSAA Denies Appeal for The First Academy
- Orlando Sentinel: Week 1 Football Scoreboard
- Orlando Sentinel: High School Football Live Updates
- Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
- Google Search: High School Sports Florida
- Google News: Orlando High School Sports
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Sports
- Google Scholar: High School Sports
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
