1. Osceola (10-0)
Previous: 1
Last Week: def. Oviedo 50-29
This Week: vs. Plant City (5-5)
Comments: Osceola polished off a perfect regular season by defeating Oviedo 50-29 last Friday night. The Kowboys got another four touchdown performance from Bubba Brown, bringing his total to 31 for the season. This week, Osceola plays host to Plant City in the first round of the 5A playoffs. Although Plant City lost its final two games of the season, the Raiders played state power Armwood close in a 14-10 loss earlier this season.

2. Boone (10-0)
Previous: 4
Last Week: def. Edgewater 21-14 (2OT)
This Week: vs. Sarasota (5-5)
Comments: The Braves completed their first perfect regular season in school history Friday night by upsetting Edgewater 21-14 in double overtime. Boone sophomore quarterback Sam Hutsell threw touchdown passes to Jeremy Brown and Danny Williams in the overtime periods to help the Braves prevail. This is the third consecutive season that Boone will play Sarasota in the first round of the playoffs. The Sailors have lost back-to-back games, but both were played without star quarterback Casey Kelly.

3. Apopka (9-1)
Previous: 3
Last Week: Open
This Week: vs. Timber Creek (7-3)
Comments: The Blue Darters used the final week of the regular season to rest and begin preparation for Friday night’s first round playoff game against Timber Creek. That is a re-match of a first round playoff game from a year ago that Apopka won 20-0. Jeremy Gallon finished the regular season with over 1,000 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns. He also passed for 720 yards and six more scores to lead the Blue Darters potent offense.

4. Edgewater (8-2)
Previous: 2
Last Week: lost to Boone 21-14 (2OT)
This Week: vs. East Ridge (6-4)
Comments: The Eagles saw their seven game winning streak come to an end Friday night in a 21-14 double-overtime loss to Boone. It was the first time since 2003 that Edgewater lost the barrel to its longtime rival. Despite the defeat, the Eagles enter their first round playoff game with East Ridge as a heavy favorite. This is the third consecutive season that Edgewater has met East Ridge in the first round. Edgewater won 27-24 in 2005 and defeated the Knights 24-10 last season.  

5. Lake Brantley (9-1)
Previous: 4
Last Week: def. Hagerty 45-21
This Week: vs. Spruce Creek (7-3)
Comments: The Patriots will enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak following last week’s easy 45-21 win over Hagerty. Antonio Miles scored two touchdowns on four carries in Friday’s victory, while Jake Bernhardt rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown, also on four carries. Brantley will host Spruce Creek in Friday’s playoff opener, a team the Patriots are familiar with. Brantley played Spruce Creek in the kickoff classic to start the season in August.

6. Dr. Phillips (6-4)
Previous: 6
Last Week: def. West Orange 33-13
This Week: at Sarasota Riverview (3-7)
Comments: The Panthers defeated West Orange for the second consecutive season Friday night, cruising past the Warriors 33-13 to keep the Orange Crate. Damien Carr scored a defensive touchdown for Dr. Phillips while freshman Demetrius Hart returned a kickoff for a touchdown. DP enters the postseason having won six of its past seven games, with the only loss in that stretch coming to Boone by a single point. The Panthers will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs to take on Sarasota Riverview for the second straight season. Riverview started the season 0-6, but won three of its next four and took the 6A-6 title.

7. Harmony (8-2)
Previous: 10
Last Week: defeated Celebration 56-0
This Week: vs. Hudson (7-3)
Comments: The Longhorns have been as hot as any team in the area, reeling off five straight wins plus a shootout victory to claim their first district title in school history. Harmony last lost to Bishop Moore 13-10 in week six. The Longhorns will host scrappy Hudson in the first round of the playoffs this week. Hudson won six straight games before losing to Crystal River 28-16 in the final week of the regular season.

8. Timber Creek (7-3)
Previous: 9
Last Week: def. Ocoee 31-14
This Week: at Apopka (9-1)
Comments: The Wolves may have been caught looking ahead to Apopka in last week’s game against Ocoee, struggling early before pulling away late in a 31-14 victory over the Knights. Timber Creek has quietly won five in a row heading into a first round playoff rematch with Apopka. The Wolves struggled offensively last year in that game and were shutout 20-0.

9. Oviedo (6-4)
Previous: 7
Last Week: lost to Osceola 50-29
This Week: at Flagler Palm Coast (8-2)  
Comments: Lions coach Greg Register purposely scheduled difficult non-conference games to get his team ready for the postseason, and as a result Oviedo will enter the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. South Sumter and Osceola, who combined to go 19-1 this season, defeated the Lions in consecutive weeks, helping to prepare Oviedo for this week’s first round playoff game at Flagler Palm Coast. FPC lost its first two games of the season but has won eight straight, including an impressive 42-14 beat down of Jacksonville Sandalwood.

10. Winter Springs (7-3)
Previous: 8
Last Week: defeated Lake Howell 30-6
This Week: Season Over
Comments: The Bears have the unfortunate distinction of being the best area team not to make the playoffs after a solid 7-3 season. All three of Winter Springs’ losses came to teams in the district, effectively killing any postseason hopes. Winter Springs has an option to play in a bowl game, but at this point that situation is unclear. The future does look bright for the Bears in many areas, especially at running back. Al-Terek McBurse will return next season after rushing for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns this year.

On the Verge: Oak Ridge (7-3), Olympia (7-3), East Ridge (6-4), Seminole (*4-5)

*Seminole’s record includes a forfeit loss to Hagerty for using an ineligible player

Austin Lyon can be reached at austin@fridaynightfootball.net