Auburndale, Lake Wales win to set up district showdown; Lakeland suffers late loss

AUBURNDALE — The Auburndale Bloodhounds are right where head coach Kyle Sasser wanted them to be at this point.

Auburndale is 7-1 and, more importantly, 4-0 in Class 3S, District 8 play after a 25-3 win over Davenport on Friday night at Bruce Canova Stadium.

That means that next week’s road game at Lake Wales is once again for the district title after the Highlanders’ 50-0 win over Liberty on Friday.

“It’s between them and us again,” Sasser said. “It’s always nice to be in control of your own destiny. We’re glad we don’t have to wait on anybody else. This is the position you want to be in.”

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First there was the matter of taking care of Davenport, which the Bloodhounds did with three interceptions on defense and allowing just a first-half field goal.

It was the kind of defensive game Auburndale will need if it wants to knock off Lake Wales, which is the reigning state champ.

“Our defense played probably their most complete game of the year,” Sasser said. “Every level from the front end to the secondary had success tonight. We’re playing very well on defense right now.

"Davenport has some pieces that can hurt you. They’re a growing program, and coach (Jeff) George is doing a good job over there. They’ll be fine in the long run.”

Auburndale led just 6-3 at halftime for its senior night celebration.

Camryon Underwood’s 5-yard touchdown run with 9:38 left in the first quarter was the only time either team found the end zone in the first half.

Jaysean Pritchard scored twice in the second half and Underwood added a second touchdown as the Bloodhounds were able to pull away late to secure the win.

Sasser knows his team will be considered underdogs next week, but he said that is nothing new to them.

“It seems like we’re underdogs in a lot of games we play in,” he said. “As far as the mentality, it’s not something that bothers the kids, even in the past. We’re OK with that. They’re undefeated, they’re on some kind of 20-game win streak … they should be the favorite in that respect. I don’t think that it bothers us that much. It’s a position we’ve been in before.”

Lake Wales 50, Liberty 0

LAKE WALES — The Highlanders built a 35-0 lead by halftime and cruised past the Chargers to set up a Class 3S, District 8 title game at home next Friday.

Bryce Levidiotis threw two touchdown passes and A’ssiah Williams accounted for two scores.

Williams had a rushing and receiving touchdown, while Rashad Orr scored on a 22-yard touchdown, Kaneilius Purdy hauled in a scoring pass from Levidiotis, and Dylan Simmons returned an interception for a touchdown.

Lake Wales’ final score came from Quay Richardson on a touchdown run.

The Highlanders improved to 8-0 and 4-0 in 3S-8.

Clearwater International 35, Lakeland 34

Keyari Jones blocked Lakeland's 24-yard field-goal attempt and CJ Cressler returned it for a touchdown with 4:02 remaining to lift Clearwater International over Lakeland.

The Dreadnaughts led 27-13 at halftime but managed just one score in the second half. Clearwater International rallied, using a pick six to cut into Lakeland's lead.

Lakeland scored first and went up 6-0 on Zander Smith's 18-yard touchdown pass to Pat Dennis. Smith later hit Dennis for a 55-yard touchdown pass to put Lakeland up 13-3.

In the second quarter, Smith hit Shanard Clower for a 31-yard touchdown pass.

Carlos Mitchell's 95-yard kickoff return ended the first half scoring for Lakeland.

The Dreadnaughts' only score of the second half came on Clower's 85-yard kickoff return

Fort Meade 56, Tenoroc 0

LAKELAND — Carson Montsdeoca threw four touchdown passes to lead the Miners to a Class 2S, District 13 win over the Titans on Friday night.

Fort Meade’s win sets up a district showdown next week against Frostproof. A Fort Meade win clinches the district title. If Frostproof wins, there will be a three-way tie at the top of the standings with Fort Meade, Frostproof and Mulberry all sitting at 2-1.

Montsdeoca connected with four different receivers on his scores, hitting Kamarien Simmons for 63 yards, Da'Juan Willis for 5 yards, Joshua Porter for 38 yards and Ryan Screen for 24 yards as the Miners led 42-0 at halftime.

Keveun Mason added two first-half touchdown runs of 66 and 19 yards.

Josiah Lozano’s 25-yard touchdown run and Markell Baker’s 5-yard rushing touchdown roundeed out the scoring for Fort Meade (7-0, 2-0).

Tenoroc (0-9) is off next week but will try to pick up its first win of the season in its final game at home against Trenton on Nov. 3.

Mulberry 35, Ida Baker 0

CAPE CORAL — DJ Duvalt ran for more than 200 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Panthers blanked the Bulldogs.

Duvalt scored on runs of 75, 65 and 35 yards.

DaiDai McWilliams also had two touchdown runs for Mulberry and Lloyd Knight had 75 yards rushing.

Tim Jones and Cedric Townsend led the Panthers’ defense in the shutout.

Mulberry (6-2) will take on Poinciana at home next week before closing out the season against Lake Placid on Nov. 3.

Sebring 17, Bartow 3

BARTOW — The offensive struggles continued for a second consecutive week for the Yellow Jackets as they fell to the Blue Streaks at home.

Bartow only managed a 39-yard field goal from Kason Mullis.

The Yellow Jackets (6-3), who started the year 3-0, now are on a three-game losing streak and will look to snap it against rival Lake Wales on Nov. 3 in Bartow.

Lake Region 27, Gateway 8

KISSIMMEE — Kalvin Johnson threw three touchdown passes as the Thunder rolled to a road victory over the Panthers to break a three-game losing streak.

Johnson hit Javarious Johnson twice and Dawon Reid for his scoring passes.

Demetrius Autery also had a rushing touchdown for the Thunder.

Lake Region (3-5) can pull off a .500 season with a win next week at Liberty and a victory on the road at Celebration on Nov. 3.

All Saints 40, Trinity Prep 0

WINTER HAVEN — All Saints racked nearly 300 yards on the ground in a shutout win over Trinity Prep on Thursday night at Jahna Field.

Magnus Darrington and Tre Bell each went over 100 yards, with Darrington running for 130 yards and a touchdown and Bell going for 101 with two scores.

Claudarius Bell went over 100 yards of total offense with 62 yards receiving to go with two touchdowns and 48 yards on the ground.

Aiden Barfield returned a blocked punt for a touchdown for the Saints as well.

All Saints (6-2) will next suit up for a playoff game in the Sunshine State Athletic Association next week.

Other Scores

John Carroll 41, Victory Christian 31

Santa Fe 44, Father Lopez 20

Calvary Christian 35, Lakeland Christian 7

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Auburndale, Lake Wales win in routs; Lakeland suffers late loss