#13 Edgewater Eagles at #8 Bishop Moore Hornets

When: Friday, 7:30pm

Where: Harry Nelson Field, Orlando (3901 Edgewater Drive)

TV: BHSN (Channel 47 and HD 1147)

Coaches: Edgewater – Rich Bedesem (2nd, 8-4); Bishop Moore – Matt Hedrick (14th, 102-43)

How they match up: The regular season begins with the ‘Battle of College Park’ between schools that sit just a half mile apart on Edgewater Drive. After a long hiatus, this series between neighborhood rivals resumed in 2013 and Bishop Moore has prevailed the last two years.

The Hornets enter Friday’s matchup as the favorite armed with what most think is their most talented roster in program history. A massive offensive line, anchored by Notre Dame commit Parker Boudreaux, paves the way for running backs Trilion Coles, Joe Wallace and C.J. McNeal. The Hornets will likely throw the ball more this season in the past with quarterback Colin Hartmann, who is entering his third year as the starting quarterback. Defensively, lineman Zander Zimmer (Wake Forest) and Josh Keeler (Yale) have already committed to colleges and there’s talent in the secondary with corners Robert Cheathem and Rayshad Lewis and safeties Ben DeLuca and Bobby Spitulski.

Edgewater is coming off a second round playoff appearance in which the Eagles let a 21-0 lead slip away against powerhouse Mainland. Many of Edgewater’s top offensive players return, including quarterback Cortez Pembleton, running back Joe Clark and wide receivers Craig Rucker and Buck Watkins. Pembleton threw for 33 touchdowns while Rucker, who can score from anywhere on the field, accounted for 18 touchdowns. Leading tackler Ledarrius Payton is back at linebacker and Edgewater is experienced in the secondary with returning starters Compton Rosetta, Marques Bruce and Malik Hancock.

Three and out:

1. The Bishop Moore-Edgewater series dates back to 1959 though the teams haven’t played every year. The Eagles lead the all-time series 15-2.

2. Five Bishop Moore starters – Lewis, DeLuca, Cheathem, Eric Seidelman and Jonathon MacCollister started their football career at Lake Mary Prep.

3. Rucker, a Utah State commit, scored five touchdowns in the first half of a game on BHSN last year as the Eagles defeated South Lake 55-44.