Week 6 High School Football Slate Puts Polk County District Races on the Line

Eleven district games fill the Week 6 schedule, with several Polk County teams facing pivotal matchups that could decide their title and playoff hopes.

Week 6 of the high school football season is heavy on district play, with 11 district games on the schedule for Polk County teams. The Ledger's Roy Fuoco, whose picks went 8-3 last week to move to 53-17 on the season, laid out his predictions and the stakes for each matchup.

District results carry double weight this time of year. While MaxPreps rankings will factor into at-large playoff berths and home-field advantage, teams can lock up control of their fate by winning a district outright. Squads moving from 1-0 to 2-0 in district play take a major step toward a title, while 0-1 teams can climb back into contention with a victory.

The headliner in Class 6A-9 sends Poinciana (3-2, 1-0) to Winter Haven (3-1, 1-0), with Fuoco taking the Blue Devils 28-17. George Jenkins visits Davenport needing a win to stay in the district race after Malik Raymond's rushing powered a shutout of Seminole; Davenport has been blanked three straight games. Fuoco picks Jenkins 28-7. Haines City, already matching last season's win total, hosts Ridge Community in another 6A-9 game, with Fuoco forecasting a 17-7 Hornets win.

In Class 5A-6, Auburndale (3-1, 0-1) travels to Lakeland (3-1, 1-0). Teo Edwards' passing has made the Bloodhounds' offense dangerous, but Lakeland's secondary is playing at a high level, and the Dreadnaughts are coming off what coach Marvin Frazier's research found was the highest nationally ranked opponent to fall at Bryant Stadium in the regular season. Fuoco picks Lakeland 32-14. He also tabs Osceola over Lake Gibson 21-17 and Bartow over Sebring 24-21 in a game he calls a must-win for Bartow's playoff outlook.

Class 4A-7 features undefeated-district leaders colliding when Brandon (1-3, 1-0) visits Lake Wales (4-1, 1-0). Brandon shut out Kathleen 10-0 but lost its other three games by a combined 116-24, and Fuoco predicts Lake Wales 45-7. He also picks Jones over Kathleen 32-6.

In smaller classifications, Fuoco predicts Tenoroc over Mulberry 7-3 in a matchup of struggling offenses, Victory Christian over Fort Meade 35-6, Lakeland Christian over Moore Haven 49-0, and St. Edward's over All Saints 22-14. Elsewhere, he picks Southwest Florida Christian 19-12 over McLaughlin and Frostproof 36-31 over Santa Fe Catholic.