Two of the top quarterbacks in Central Florida went at it Friday night at Bishop Moore. Jackson Stecher of Lake Brantley led the Patriots against Blake McCullough, two of the top 10 players in the Sentinel’s 2028 Central Florida Super60, in one of several Kickoff Classic games across the region.
The pair of gunslingers shot it out in the first half, and Bishop Moore, ranked No. 6 in the Sentinel’s Preseason Super 16 Coaches Poll, led No. 15 Lake Brantley 21-14 at the half. The two teams played mostly back-up players in the second half and Bishop Moore won going away 38-21.
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At No. 3 Edgewater, perennial power Armwood visited, and the two teams slugged it out to a 14-14 tie through three quarters, but Edgewater quarterback Joe Aicher went down with a horrific injury on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the game was halted.
Edgewater coach Patrick Brown said Saturday morning, “The initial skins are good. They are going to do more test due to the bone sensitivity. He is in good periods.”
Aicher was injured while running the ball on a 2nd-down-and-34-play. As he was being tackled by an Armwood player and on his way to the ground, he was hit by two more Armwood players. He did not move for several seconds as medical personnel rushed on the field. He eventually rolled over with the help of doctors and trainers. He was able to move his arms and legs and talk. He complained of soreness in his neck.
Pictures: Bishop Moore vs. Lake Brantley Preseason Football
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Attendants kept him motionless and his neck steady as they awaited the rapid response unit. He was eventually moved to the stretcher with the use of a back-board and taken away by ambulance, about 35 minutes after the injury. The two teams agreed to stop the contest and the game ended in a 14-14 tie.
“There’s no way we can continue after this,” Edgewater coach Patrick Browning said.
No. 3 Edgewater 14, Armwood 14
Browning has coached for 17 seasons, 10 as a head coach, and he said it was the first time he had seen an injury of this sort.
“I just hope he’s OK. I don’t have much information right now. I’m usually not a person who has a hard time formulating words for a situation, but right now I’m a little bit speechless. It hurts.”
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Edgewater, which trailed at halftime 14-7, got a 20-yard touchdown run from quarterback Cruz James after the Eagles offense took advantage of a Brandon Thompson interception in the first quarter.
Edgewater’s offense finally kicked up some momentum in the third quarter. Thanks to four Armwood penalties and a 35-yard pass play from James to Dylan Troutman, the Eagles capped a 67-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard JT Hammonds touchdown to tie the game.
Edgewater threatened again toward the end of the third quarter. A James pass to Que Lewis for 20 yards moved the Eagles to the Armwood 23-yard line. But back-to-back penalties sent the Eagles back to the 47 as the quarter ended.
Aicher was hurt on the next play.
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No. 6 Bishop Moore 38, No. 14 Lake Brantley 21
McCullough finished his day with 127 yards and three touchdowns on 8-for-11 passing. He completed throws to Lucas Bower, running back Donovan Ferrufino and Magnus Talma for the scores.
“I thought we did a good job,” Bishop Moore coach Matt Hedrick said. “A little sloppy at times. It was good for us defensively to play against that offense and that quarterback. We had some breakdowns, but otherwise I thought we made it pretty difficult on them.”
Stecher finished with 193 yards on 14-for-23 passing. He rushed for the game’s opening touchdown and found Braylon Woodson for a 61-yard score.
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“I was really proud of the way the guys competed, especially with our 1s in the first half,” Lake Brantley coach Garrett Kruczek said. “We were with them for most of the half. A lot of things that we can correct, but it was really good to see the guys compete.”
Miami Central 28, No. 2 Jones 17
Miami Central took advantage of a pair of Jones turnovers inside the 20-yard line and the Jones offense struggled, but the Tigers defense was stellar, with multiple sacks and three interceptions, two by Ke’sean Williams and a pick-6 by Sharad Haire.
Offensively for Jones, Benji Johnson caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Carroll and Spencer Bartholomew kicked a 47-yard field goal.
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No. 5 Evans at Wakulla, canceled, weather
No. 7 The First Academy 38, Kathleen 0
TFA showed off its freshman talent in a big way in rolling to a victory in which the Royals scored all 38 points in the first half and pulled the starters after the running clock kicked in. Freshman Brycen Robb had a pair of touchdown runs, freshman Hyquez Russell had one and freshman quarterback Deuce Woods threw a touchdown pass to sophomore Ruben Williams. Freshman Prince Stephens had an interception.
Bishop Moore, Edgewater, Seminole, West Orange games in the book | Football Live Report
Mainland 27, No. 8 Osceola 9
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Osceola struggled against Mainland, one of the state favorites in Class 6A. The Kowboys managed one touchdown by Zylin Garrett on a 4-yard run. Mainland stuffed Osceola for only 94 rushing yards.
No. 9 West Orange 38, Apopka 18
The Warriors built a 35-12 halftime lead behind a strong performance from their junior quarterback AJ Chung. He finished the night with 141 yards passing, completing 14-of-23 passes for 1 touchdown. Yuto Kawamura-Johnson caught the touchdown pass and he also had a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Jayden Ammons rushed for two short touchdowns. Kayden Lovett had a 50-yard fumble return for a TD. Apopka’s Jaylen Laster had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Quarterback Hunter McNenney had a short TD run and 114 yards passing in the first half. Jakyvion Kemp scored a rushing touchdown.
No. 10 Oviedo 42, University (Orange City) 0
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Johnnie Cobbs rushed for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns and Sebastian Galeano ran and passed for a touchdown. Jordan Donahoo caught a TD pass and Landon Browdy had a rushing TD. On defense, Davin Scott had 6 tackles and a sack and Evan Sorkness had 9 tackles.
No. 11 Seminole 10, No. 13 Lake Nona 7
The Seminole defense is already at mid-season level as the ‘Noles forced 8 turnovers. Standout corner RJ Hampton had 2 interceptions, a blocked punt and 5 tackles. Jojo Watson had an interception and a 75-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown.
No. 16 Dr. Phillips 34, Boone 16
Running back Justin Felton Jr. ran for 4 touchdowns, Demarco “Chop” Henderson had 5 tackles for loss and Kyron Rolle had 3 sacks for the Panthers.
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Central Florida Christian 61, Discovery 0
Freshman quarterback Gavin Pritzkau threw six touchdown passes. Deshaun Jones and Melvin Mack caught two apiece, and Hudson Lambert and Samuel Denison each had one.
Thursday’s scores
Buchholz 26, No. 4 Lake Mary 17
No.14 Winter Park 28, Spruce Creek 7
Friday’s Super 16 Scores
Miami Central 28, No. 2 Jones 17
No. 3 Edgewater 14, Armwood 14 (game called early)
No. 5 Evans at Wakulla (Canceled, weather)
No. 6 Bishop Moore 38, No. 15 Lake Brantley 21
No. 7 The First Academy 38, Kathleen 0
Mainland 27, No. 8 Osceola 9
No. 9 West Orange 38, Apopka 18
No. 10 Oviedo 42, University (Orange City) 0
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No. 11 Seminole 10, No. 13 Lake Nona 7
Viera 35, No. 12 South Lake 15
No. 16 Dr. Phillips 34, Boone 16
Friday’s Other Scores
River Ridge 42, Celebration 0
CFCA 61, Discovery 0
Tiber Creek 48, Colonial 0
Cypress Creek 3, Liberty 0
East Ridge 35, St. Cloud 6
Astronaut at East River
North Miami Beach at Eustis
Cornerstone Christian 38, Faith Christian 32
Foundation Academy 45, Master’s Academy 20
Gateway (Kissimmee) 42, University (Orlando) 14
Harmony 46, Freedom 0
Hagerty 48, Lyman 6
Horizon 15, Winter Springs 10
South Marion at Lake Buena Vista (scrimmage)
Lake Howell 38, Deltona 0
Lake Minneola 25, Leesburg 7
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Cambridge Christian 53, West Oaks 12
Pasco 35, Mount Dora 28
Mount Dora Christian 27, Oak Hall 6
Oak Ridge 19, Tenoroc 0
Ocoee 29, Olympia 0
Orangewood Christian 35, All Saints 0
Pine Ridge at Nova Lakes
Poinciana 37, Palm Bay 13
Umatilla 48, Taylor 0
Wekiva 14, Tavares 13
Windermere 14, Father Lopez 0
Windermere 7, NFEI 0
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
