- November 13, 2024
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The Panthers of Dr. Phillips High and the West Orange Warriors are the only two of the six West Orange and Southwest Orange County FHSAA teams to reach the 2024 playoffs after they won their respective district championships.
Dr. Phillips finished the season 9-1 and ran the table against its Class 7A, District 9 competition — outscoring its district foes by a combined score of 129-9. The Panthers earned the No. 2 seed in the Region 3 bracket and will face No. 7 Tohopekaliga High Tigers (6-4) at Bill Spoone Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15.
Based on the two sides' only common opponent, Lake Nona High, the Panthers should be favored in this matchup; DP beat Lake Nona handily, 34-7, at home, while Toho was shutout in a road loss to the Lions, 17-0. Factor in the home field for coach Rodney Wells and his experienced Dr. Phillips team — and how well they've been playing in recent weeks — and the Panthers have the clear advantage going into this game.
Looking farther down the Region 3 bracket, if the Panthers win in the regional quarterfinals, they will host the winner of the No. 6 Treasure Coast High (3-6) at No. 3 Jupiter High (9-1) game in the regional semifinals.
The No. 1 seed in the region, Palm Beach Central High (9-1), is the only team that would force Dr. Phillips to go on the road in the region championship game. The other three teams in the region are No. 8 Central High (5-5), No. 4 Vero Beach High (6-3) and No. 5 Lake Nona (7-3).
In Region 2, West Orange — after the Warriors went undefeated in 7A, District 5 play and finished with an 8-2 record — earned the No. 3 seed and will host district rivals and No. 6 seeded Apopka High (4-5) at Raymond Screws Field at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15.
This will be the Blue Darters' second trip to West Orange this season. In Week 6, Apopka went to Raymond Screws and fell to the Warriors, 25-7, in a matchup that could have clinched the district crown for Apopka. Instead, West Orange took control of its own destiny in the chase for the district crown, led by its dynamic passing game and turnover-inducing defense.
Going into the second edition of this matchup between two Orange County traditional powers, the Warriors — who will be coming off a bye week — will again have to find ways to score touchdowns against a Blue Darter defense that has only allowed an average of 12.1 points per game and its opponents to score more than 16 points twice this season, West Orange in Week 6 and Edgewater High in Week 5.
Looking forward to West Orange's path in the Region 2 bracket; should it beat Apopka again, the Warriors would face the winner of the No. 7 Riverview Sarasota High (4-5) at No. 2 Plant City High (8-2) game — with West Orange traveling to Plant City if the Raiders advance to the regional semifinals. On the other side of the region bracket, the top-ranked 7A team in Florida and the Region 2 No. 1 seed, Venice High (9-1), will host No. 8 Haines City High (6-4) while No. 4 Newsome High (7-3) will host No. 5 Sumner High (6-4).
To view the entire FHSAA Class 7A football playoff bracket, go to MaxPreps.
