WEEK SIX PREVIEW: Warriors head to Apopka for showdown with Blue Darters

GAME OF THE WEEK — West Orange Times & Observer

West Orange (4-1, 0-0 district) at Apopka (5-0, 0-0 district), 7:30 p.m.

THE BUZZ: Last year’s playoff loss has left the Warriors with a bad taste in their mouths, and they hope to have their revenge on the Blue Darters’ home field. Home field in the state playoffs could be on the line.

SCOUTING REPORT: Apopka has demonstrated in earlier wins this season that it won’t make many mistakes and that it will make opponents pay dearly for their mistakes, so West Orange has to play sound football. The Warriors defense shouldn’t be expected to pitch a shoutout, necessarily, but the improved unit could be the difference if it is successful in keeping the Blue Darters closer to, or under, 20 points, rather than the 39.4 Apopka is averaging.

GAME OF THE WEEK —

Windermere Observer

Zephyr Hills Christian (2-2) at Windermere Prep (2-2), 4 p.m.

THE BUZZ: After being shut out for the first time since 2012 in Week Four, the Lakers should be fresh and ready to go following a bye week.

SCOUTING REPORT: What’s this Windermere Prep team made of? Many newer players on the roster may not be used to this sort of adversity after being so soundly defeated, so it will be on coach Jacob Doss, his staff and the team’s senior leaders to rally the troops and put together a more prideful showing in Week Six.

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IN OTHER ACTION

Hagerty (2-2, 1-1 district) at Ocoee (2-2, 1-1 district), 7:30 p.m.

THE BUZZ: A win or a loss here does not represent anything definitive but at the same time does mean a huge step in either the right or wrong direction for the Knights and Huskies in a wide-open district.

SCOUTING REPORT: For the second consecutive week, Ocoee will be tasked with handling one of Central Florida’s best rushers. Last week, it was East Ridge’s Tirrek Hooten, and this week, it is Hagerty’s Gabe Diaz. Slow Diaz, and the Knights will be in good shape.

Foundation Academy (1-4, 0-0 district) at Cornerstone Charter (3-1, 0-0 district), 6 p.m.

THE BUZZ: Despite starting the season with four consecutive losses — a few against understandably superior competition — Brad Lord’s Lions can feel pretty great if they record a win in their district opener.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scoring might be at a premium. It’s not entirely surprising given who Foundation has played that they are averaging only 10 points per game. Interestingly enough, though, is that even with a 3-1 record, Cornerstone is averaging just 18.5 points per contest itself.

Mount Dora Bible (0-5) at Legacy Charter (3-2), 7 p.m.

THE BUZZ: After a two-game slide, the Eagles get a golden opportunity to get back in the win column and division race.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mount Dora Bible is allowing 46.2 points per game. The Eagles should win this contest as long as they avoid turnovers and doing anything early in the game that will let their opponents’ confidence rise.

Dr. Phillips (2-3, 0-0 district) at Oak Ridge (5-0, 1-0 district), 7:30 p.m.

THE BUZZ: The last contest in the Panthers’ six-game gauntlet to begin the season is the most important as it is the only one with postseason implications.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Pioneers’ defense has been decently stingy, allowing just 12.2 points per contest. Dr. Phillips’ offense, meanwhile, has scored just 27 points in its past two games — although those results came against two of the best teams in the state. Either way, the Panthers will need to avoid turnovers and sustain drives to get district play started on the right foot.

Freedom (0-5, 0-1 district) at Olympia (4-1, 1-0 district), 7:30 p.m.

THE BUZZ: Riding a five-game winning streak, Olympia faces a must-win if it wants to have a shot at the state playoffs this fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: If the Titans defense can continue along the path it has been on the past four weeks, it should have success against a Patriots offense averaging just a touchdown per game.

CFCA (3-1) at Ocala Christian (1-3), 7 p.m.

THE BUZZ: The Eagles, in sole possession of second place in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference’s Coastal Orange division, look to extend their winning streak.

SCOUTING REPORT: CFCA’s Judah Stone has been a beast for the Eagles, and his ability to have success against an Ocala Christian defense that allows 41 points per game will be big.