By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

After three county squads took lopsided, shutout losses, two get a chance to lick their wounds and reverse course on Friday.

Poinciana is still searching for its first win after a 41-0 loss to East River in a 4A District 7 game. The Eagles (0-4) hope to regroup Friday at home against Florida Air (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons lost to Palm Bay Heritage, 19-17, last week.

“We’re just trying to get better. You can’t turn it over four times in the first two quarters and expect to win,” PHS Coach Michael Timpson said. “We’ve just got to stay focused and be positive.”

Celebration, in its first 3A District 9 game, had no solution for Lake Wales, ranked No. 3 in the 3A state poll. The Highlanders (4-0) led 52-0 at the half and won, 59-0.

“We saw why they’re one of the best teams in the state,” CHS Coach Ben Aarestad said. “They had it all, they could run it, throw it, pursue on defense. Sometimes it just goes that way.”

He said the loss didn’t dampen this team’s spirits about bouncing back at home Friday against Auburndale at 7 p.m. in another 3A-9 game.

“The kids were upset about it afterwards, but then we had probably our best practice of the season on Monday,” he said. “They look ready to bounce back.”

The Storm (2-2), in its fourth year of district competition, has never won a district game.

The Bloodhounds (0-4) lost 54-0 to Winter Haven last week and have given up over 50 points in each game.

Gateway’s bye comes after a 42-0 loss to Boone (1-3) last week in the District 6A-6 opener for both teams. A.J. Turman rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Alton Meeks scored one each via the ground and air. The Panthers (1-3) struggled to move the ball, even with Roger Allen returning at quarterback after missing two weeks with an ankle injury.

“We made too many mistakes, too many of them that we didn’t make in practice that we made in the game,” GHS Coach Marlin Roberts said.

Tackling will be the emphasis in practice until the Panthers take the field again on Oct. 8 at Freedom.

“We’ll run drills all week, to try to get a light bulb to go off in someone’s head ,” Roberts said. “Maybe it’ll be contagious.”

The coach said that a young team has shown both its talent and potential and its inexperience thus far this year.

“We’re starting 10 or 12 sophomores, and three freshmen start or play a lot,” he said. “We’re waiting on some of these kids, but reached the point where it’s time to step up.”