Games to Watch in Southwest Florida in Week 10
With just two weeks left in the high school football regular season, district titles are on the line in Southwest Florida.
We have three winner-take-all district championship games on the schedule in Week 10. However, not all district titles will be decided this week.
Usually the second-to-last week of the season is the last one for district play. But because Hurricane Ian wiped out a month's worth of games in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties, the FHSAA has allowed those teams to play district games into the final week (Week 11).
Here are the Games to Watch in Southwest Florida in Week 10:
Game of the Week
Gulf Coast (6-2) at Immokalee (4-3): Both of these teams play in Class 4S-District 16. Because both of them have already beaten the only other team, Palmetto Ridge, the winner will finish undefeated in 4S-16 as district champion. Immokalee could complete a stunning turnaround after going 2-14 the past two years. Gulf Coast can win a title in its first season after finally escaping a district with traditional powers like Lehigh and Braden River. The Sharks have won three straight games by a combined score of 129-32. Immokalee is coming off a bye and has won two in a row.
Bishop Verot (5-2) at Estero (7-0): Estero has the best record in Southwest Florida and is one of only two undefeated teams. The Wildcats won their first district title in 20 years last season and can wrap up the 2S-16 title with a win. If Bishop Verot wins, it will still have to beat Key West on the road next week to claim the district title. The Vikings average 40 points a game behind sophomore QB Carter Smith, who has 1,709 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to go with eight rushing touchdowns. In Weeks 4 and 5, Estero won its two games by a combined total of 10-0. However, the Wildcats have scored 90 points the past two weeks after returning from Hurricane Ian.
First Baptist (4-2) at Community School (4-1): Not only is this game for the 1S-8 title, but it is the closest rivalry in all of Southwest Florida, geographically speaking. The FBA and CSN football fields sit less than half a mile apart in North Naples. The past two weeks FBA has been without Jaden Booker, who has more than 4,000 career rushing yards. The Lions won last week by quarterback Ethan Crossan passing for 315 yards and four touchdowns. CSN has only played twice since Sept. 16 thanks to byes and the hurricane, but the Seahawks have won those games by averaging 34 points.
Lehigh (2-3) at Riverdale (4-1): Both teams are 1-0 in the four-team 4S-15, which is one of the district's that will play games next week. The winner takes a big step toward a district title. It's also dubbed the Battle of the Bell (Southwest Florida loves to name its rivalry games). Lehigh has played just one game since Sept. 16, a 19-14 win over district opponent Charlotte. Last week Riverdale played its first game in four weeks and beat district foe Ida Baker 24-10.
Golden Gate (4-4) at Lely (3-4) (Thurs.): Neither team can win a district title. Naples High already has clinched 3S-16. However, both teams are in the conversation for at-large regional berths thanks to statement wins last week. Golden Gate beat Bonita Springs 47-10, while Lely stunned one-loss Barron Collier 40-0. This game features two of the best backs in the area. Golden Gate sophomore Trayvon Jean has 1,339 yards this season, while Lely senior Guerschom Guerrier has 575 yards in five games.
Ida Baker (3-2) at Charlotte (0-7): Charlotte is in the midst of its worst season in decades. And yet, the Tarpons still have a chance at the 4S-15 title. They're 0-1 in the district with two games left, including this one. Baker also is 0-1 in the district. Whichever team wins this one will have to hope for a tie atop the district then a tiebreaker following next week's finales.
Cypress Lake (2-6) at Fort Myers (5-2): This game might not be particularly close, but it's a historic rivalry between two of the oldest programs in Lee County. If Fort Myers wins, it sets up a likely 3S-15 championship game against Dunbar next week. The Green Wave have won four straight, averaging 36 points per game. They've only allowed six points the past two weeks. Cypress Lake's two wins this season have come against teams with a combined 1-13 record.
