Friday Night Lights Recap: Tampa Bay High School Football Highlights
As the 2024 high school football season kicked off across Tampa Bay, fans were treated to a thrilling start, with standout performances and intense matchups lighting up the fields in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. Here’s a breakdown of the key games that had fans on the edge of their seats last night.
Hillsborough County:
The spotlight was on Armwood High, where the Hawks soared past Plant City with a dominating performance, ending the game with a convincing 35-14 victory. Quarterback Jaylen Smith led the charge with three touchdown passes, establishing himself as a player to watch this season. Meanwhile, in a closer battle, the Tampa Bay Tech Titans edged out the Wharton Wildcats 28-21, with a last-minute touchdown sealing the win.
Pinellas County:
In Pinellas, the Clearwater Tornadoes made a statement in their season opener by shutting out Largo 24-0. Their defense was impenetrable, forcing three turnovers and holding Largo to under 150 yards of total offense. Elsewhere, the rivalry game between East Lake and Countryside lived up to the hype, with East Lake emerging victorious 27-24 in a nail-biter that was decided in the final seconds with a 45-yard field goal.
Pasco County:
Pasco High showcased their offensive firepower, putting up 42 points against River Ridge in a 42-28 win. Running back Ethan James was unstoppable, racking up over 200 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Over in Wesley Chapel, the Wildcats came out on top in a defensive showdown against Zephyrhills, securing a 14-7 victory that was decided by a pick-six in the fourth quarter.
As the season progresses, these early results are setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting year of high school football in the Tampa Bay area. With such competitive games right out of the gate, fans are eagerly anticipating the next round of matchups. See more scores below!
Hillsborough County
- Gaither 21, Hillsborough 7: Gaither’s defense dominated, shutting down Hillsborough’s offense and securing a comfortable win.
- Bloomingdale 28, Robinson 14: Bloomingdale pulled ahead with strong second-half play, doubling Robinson’s score.
- Jesuit 31, Durant 10: Jesuit continued their strong form with a convincing victory over Durant, fueled by a balanced offensive attack.
- Alonso 38, Sickles 17: Alonso dominated the game with a high-scoring offense, pulling away in the second half.
- Steinbrenner 24, Plant 20: Steinbrenner secured a narrow victory in a hard-fought battle against Plant, with a late touchdown deciding the game.
- Newsome 21, Lennard 14: Newsome held on for a close win, overcoming a late surge from Lennard.
Pinellas County
- St. Petersburg 30, Seminole 14: The Green Devils took control early and never looked back, cruising to a decisive win.
- Osceola 17, Dunedin 14: In a tight contest, Osceola edged out Dunedin with a late-game field goal to secure the victory.
- Lakewood 34, Northeast 21: Lakewood’s high-powered offense was too much for Northeast to handle, as they racked up over 400 yards of total offense.
- Tarpon Springs 27, Palm Harbor University 20: Tarpon Springs came out on top in a competitive matchup, with a strong fourth-quarter performance.
- Gibbs 42, Boca Ciega 21: Gibbs took control early and doubled Boca Ciega’s score with a powerful offensive display.
- Clearwater Central Catholic 34, Indian Rocks Christian 10: CCC continued its strong start to the season with a convincing win over Indian Rocks Christian.
Pasco County
- Wiregrass Ranch 27, Sunlake 24: Wiregrass Ranch won in a thrilling back-and-forth game, with a late touchdown proving to be the difference.
- Mitchell 35, Anclote 14: Mitchell’s balanced offense and strong defensive plays led them to a solid win over Anclote.
- Land O’ Lakes 20, Fivay 7: Land O’ Lakes controlled the game from start to finish, with a suffocating defense that kept Fivay at bay.
- Hudson 30, Cypress Creek 24: Hudson edged out a victory in an overtime thriller, with a game-winning touchdown in the extra period.
- River Ridge 28, Wesley Chapel 21: River Ridge bounced back after last week’s loss with a solid win over Wesley Chapel.
- Zephyrhills Christian 44, Bishop McLaughlin 7: Zephyrhills Christian dominated from start to finish, easily handling Bishop McLaughlin.
