HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Check out the Sonic Prep Player of the Week featuring Kaven Call from Apopka High School.

Check out this week's Sonic Prep Player of the Week featuring Davin Wydner from Cocoa High School.

Brady Denaburg from Merritt Island High School helped the team reach the state championship game in 2021.

Check out Matthew McDoom, one of the six players from West Orange who signed a letter of intent to play college football

The Friday night lights will be dark at Apopka High School this week after Orange County Public Schools postponed the game with Ocoee High School because of COVID-19 cases.

Throughout the 2020 season, Seminole High School football coach Eric Lodge would tell his players, “You get what you deserve.”After overcoming the challenges related to COVID-19, gritty opponents and unexpected heartbreaks and hardships off the field, the Seminoles got what they deserved last month: the Class 8A state championship. It was Seminole High’s first title since 2008 and the ultimate end to an undefeated season. Last week, Lodge was named the Florida Dairy Farmer’s Coach of the Year. Lodge looked back on the season with WKMG Sports Director Jamie Seh. Watch his remarks in the video player above.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The West Orange High School campus will reopen to in-person learning about four days earlier than expected after the Florida Department of Health notified school leaders that those possibly exposed to coronavirus will finish their quarantines by the end of September. West Orange shifted to virtual learning only on Sept. 21 after at least 10 COVID-19 were confirmed from staff and/or students. Principal Matt Turner notified West Orange High School families in a ConnectOrange call on Tuesday that the school would reopen Oct. 1. The high school also plans to participate in the upcoming game against Boone High School on Friday at 7 p.m. Until West Orange reopens on Oct. 1, football teams will hold practices at a county park.

ORLANDO, Fla. The FHSAA board of directors is meeting Friday in Gainesville, with the goal of finalizing the fall sports calendar for Florida schools. Currently, fall sports can start practice August 24, although many school districts in Central Florida will start later than that. Orange County has not determined a start date, and Brevard County said it will not start practices -- for now. Below are two options the FHSAA board will consider for the 2020-21 sports calendar: Option 1: The first date of practice is Aug. 24. The regular season is five weeks with the fall practice not starting until Nov. 30.