Previews and predictions for Southwest Florida high school football games being played in Week 10, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Riverdale (5-3, 3-1) at Immokalee (6-2, 2-2)
What to watch for – Riverdale: This is a District 5A-11 matchup. The Raiders’ offense had its best performance of the season in Riverdale’s 61-0 shutout victory over East Lee County. The Raiders tallied 395 total yards, with five rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores as well. Junior running back Josiah Bataille scored two rushing touchdowns and collected 75 yards on just eight carries. Freshman wide receiver Eric Dobson had a versatile performance, scoring two touchdown receptions and recording 140 all purpose yards. Immokalee: The Indians suffered a tough 35-27 loss to their District 5A-11 rival Cape Coral on Oct. 16, snapping a three-game win streak. The Indians surrendered a season-high 260 rushing yards to the Seahawks, the first opponent to break 200 rushing yards and score more than 20 points against Immokalee this year. But even with the defense breaking down, the Indians still had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Better late-game execution could have seen the Indians across the finish line.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Riverdale 29, Immokalee 20
Cape Coral (6-2, 4-0) at Charlotte (6-2, 3-1)
What to watch for: Cape Coral – This is a District 5A-11 game. The Seahawks, as the only team unbeaten in district play, can clinch the championship and an automatic state playoff berth with a victory. It would be the third consecutive district title for Cape Coral. The Seahawks essentially won the first two by virtue of consecutive wins over Charlotte in 2024 (28-11) and 2025 (19-6). Last week, Cape Coral defeated district foe Immokalee 35-27 at Dave Warkentin Field. Running backs Caleb Cobb and Kaden McMaree combined to rush for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Senior TJ Schley returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown and also came down with a game-sealing interception. Charlotte: The Tarpons snapped a two-game losing streak with a 47-0 district win over North Fort Myers, their third shutout of the season. Charlotte, which is allowing an average of 13.8 points per game, limited the Red Knights to 85 total yards. Senior running back Martae Taylor rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns while freshman quarterback Jack Grimes passed for 171 yards and one touchdown. The Tarpons could clinch the district crown with a win over Cape Coral and an Immokalee win over Riverdale. If Charlotte wins and Riverdale wins, there would be a three-way tie at the top of the district with Cape Coral with the champion decided by the MaxPreps rankings.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Cape Coral 31, Charlotte 17
Bishop Verot (5-2, 2-0) at Cypress Lake (1-7, 1-1)
What to watch for: Bishop Verot: This is a District 3A-13 game. The Vikings can win the district outright with a win over the Panthers. Last week, Bishop Verot earned a decisive 42-3 victory at Fort Pierce Central. Senior Ayden Gonzalez caught seven passes for 106 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for another score. Senior Arrie Davis Jr. returned a blocked punt and an interception for touchdowns. The Vikings defense, which is allowing a miniscule 7.6 points per game, had two sacks and forced three turnovers. Cypress Lake: The Panthers had a bye last week following their first win of the season, a 20-12 decision over Lely on Oct. 9. Cypress Lake, which suffered one-point losses to Mulberry and Island Coast, has been outscored 292-32 so far this season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Bishop Verot 42, Cypress Lake 7
Barron Collier (3-4, 1-3) at Naples (5-3, 4-0)
What to watch for — Barron Collier: This is a Class 4A-District 12 game. The Cougars are coming off a 43-15 district loss to Estero. Barron gave up nearly 400 yards of offense in the loss, including 286 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Cougars were down 27-7 at the half. Barron scored on a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Michael Hope and a 33-yard run by Vincent Akridge in the fourth quarter. Naples: The Golden Eagles clobbered Golden Gate 73-7 to clinch the Class 4A-District 12 title last week. Naples raced to a six-touchdown lead by halftime. The Eagles ran the ball at will against the Titans, totaling 284 yards and six touchdowns on 18 carries. Sophomore Jimcy Exantus led the team with 91 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries. Naples also got three defensive scores in the win. The Golden Eagles defeated Barron Collier 49-13 last year.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Naples 38, Barron Collier 13
Estero (4-3, 2-2) at Aubrey Rogers (5-3, 1-3)
What to watch for — Estero: This is a Class 4A-District 12 game. The Wildcats downed Barron Collier 43-15 for a district win last week. Maddox Stewart went 23-of-31 for 288 yard and three touchdowns as Aiden Soerens caught 8 balls for 118 yards and two scores. The team also got running back Nathan Watters back from injury, and he scored two rushing touchdowns in the win. Estero defeated Aubrey Rogers 56-10 last season. Aubrey Rogers: The Patriots fell to district opponent Gulf Coast 55-35 last week. Quarterback Braden Houser scored two rushing touchdowns early but the team couldn’t keep up with a Gulf Coast team that rushed for more than 400 yards. Running back Liam Neary went for 169 yards on 21 carries. Houser also tossed a pair of touchdowns to Neary and Harrison Lyons. Neary has posted 1,231 yards from scrimmage this season to lead the Patriots.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Estero 35, Aubrey Rogers 24
Port Charlotte (5-2, 3-0) at Fort Myers (4-4, 1-2)
What to watch for: Port Charlotte – This is a District 4A-11 game. The Pirates clinched the district championship with last week’s 62-6 win over Mariner. Port Charlotte, which reached the final four last season, is averaging nearly 38 points and just over 400 total yards per game. That includes nearly 255 on the ground with senior quarterback Logan Flaherty rushing for a team-best 671 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Bruce Blanden had deed 494 rush yards and 12 touchdowns. Flaherty has passed for 1,021 yards and six scores. Fort Myers: The Green Wave snapped a three-game losing streak with a 36-14 win at Gateway last week. Senior quarterback Kaedyn Paler rushed for 69 yards and two touchdowns with senior Dalton Davey tossed a 72-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Nolan McKinnon. Defensively, Fort Myers had a eight sacks and forced two turnovers.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Port Charlotte 41, Fort Myers 8
Mariner (3-5, 0-3) at South Fort Myers (6-2, 1-2)
What to watch for — Mariner: This is a Class 5A-District 11 game. The Tritons played twice last week, defeating Oasis 28-17 and falling to Port Charlotte 62-6 in a district game. Mariner gave up more than 300 yards on the ground against the Pirates and turned the ball over three times. The team’s lone score game on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Alijah Touchstone to Jamarian Corbett. Mariner has lost their last three previous meetings with South Fort Myers. South Fort Myers: The Wolfpack lost 48-26 in a district game against Dunbar last week. South fell behind early but fought back to tie it up at 20-all before halftime. After taking the lead in the third quarter, South was outscored 28-0 the rest of the way. Junior quarterback James Kelly threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Tenaris Kearse and also rushed for a score in the loss. The Wolfpack also scored on a punt return by Jer’Shard Benjamin, high eighth touchdown of the season. South last played Mariner in 2023 and won 42-8.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: South Fort Myers 42, Mariner 12
Ransom Everglades (7-1) at St. John Neumann (7-1)
What to watch for – Ransom Everglades: The Raiders earned their third win in a row with a 38-15 victory over NSU University. Junior running back Noah Alce was especially effective on the ground with a season-high 217 rushing yards on 22 carries, scoring two touchdowns to help power the Raiders to victory. Ransom Everglades has crossed 35 points scored in each of its last three games. Neumann: The Celtics come out of the bye week in red-hot form, winners of their six games by an average margin of over 36 points. The Celtics’ offense has been especially lethal, averaging 42 points scored per game. Senior quarterback Carter Quinn is coming off his best performance of the season, throwing 301 passing yards and completing five touchdown passes on 17 of 29 pass attempts in Neumann’s 42-20 victory over First Baptist Academy on Oct. 9.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Neumann 30, Ransom Everglades 24
First Baptist (6-2, 2-1) at Community School of Naples (2-5, 1-1)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for – First Baptist: After starting the season 6-0, the Lions dropped their second game in a row on Oct. 16, losing to Maclay 47-19. The Lions’ defense allowed over 40 points for the second straight week after allowing just 14 points in its previous five games. Both losses saw the Lions’ pass defense exposed, with a combined nine passing touchdowns and over 600 passing yards between those two losses. Community School: The Seahawks suffered another difficult loss in their last outing, falling to Carrollwood Day 63-6. It was the fourth loss of the season by over 30 or more points for Community School. But as the Seahawks showed in their victory over ECS on Oct. 9, they remain a dangerous and relatively unknown side, with just two district games played thus far in the season, making this District 1A-9 matchup all the more important.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Community School 37, First Baptist 30
Gulf Coast (5-3, 1-3) at Golden Gate (4-4, 1-3)
What to watch for – Gulf Coast: The Sharks delivered a strong response to their loss to Naples with an emphatic 55-35 victory over Aubrey Rogers. Senior running back Gio Marenco powered Gulf Coast to victory with three rushing touchdowns and 309 rushing yards on 28 carries. But junior quarterback Wyatt Raymer also deserves praise for his 14 of 17 performance, connecting on three passing touchdowns and scoring a rushing touchdown himself as well to go with his 224 passing yards. Golden Gate: The Titans were put through the ringer against Naples on Oct. 16, dropping a 66-point loss at home to the Golden Eagles. The Titans suffered their third loss in a row, with the offense struggling to get on the board throughout this stretch, scoring just 20 points combined in those three games.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Gulf Coast 49, Golden Gate 14
Palmetto Ridge (1-7) at Ida Baker (4-4)
What to watch for: Palmetto Ridge: The Bears dropped their sixth game in a row last week, falling 51-21 to Westminster Christian. Junior running back Daniel Volcy rushed for a game-high 207 yards and three touchdowns for Palmetto Ridge. Volcy’s been an offensive bright spot this season, with 757 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Ida Baker: The Bulldogs suffered their third loss in their past four outings last week, falling 28-16 to Cape Coral rival Oasis. Senior running back Paytrell Coleman rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown while senior wide receiver Nick Velez caught three passes for 72 yards and a score. Ida Baker is averaging nearly 265 rushing yards per game behind the tandem of Coleman (874 yards, 15 touchdowns) and junior Dominic Pena (1,054 yards, 8 touchdowns.)
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Ida Baker 28, Palmetto Ridge 17
Lehigh (1-7, 1-3) at Lakewood Ranch (2-6, 0-4)
What to watch for — Lehigh: This is a Class 6A-District 12 game. Last week, the Lightning notched their first win of the season, taking down North Port 22-20. The Lightning led 16-14 at the half and held on for the win. Seniors Melvin Lawson and Kendrick Major combined for 120 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Lawson also threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Dorensly Dorlys. Lakewood Ranch: The Mustangs fell to Sarasota 44-43 in overtime last week. Senior running back Elidrick Berry rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in the loss. The Lakewood Ranch defense gave up five passing touchdowns. After starting the season 2-0, the Mustangs have lost six consecutive games.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Lehigh 24, Lakewood Ranch 23
LaBelle (2-5) at Bonita Springs (1-7)
What to watch for — LaBelle: The Cowboys were on bye last week. Last time out, the team lost 34-20 to Lemon Bay. The team built a 20-8 lead but were outscored 26-0 the rest of the way. Senior quarterback Zachary Campbell threw a pair of touchdown passes to senior Sean Rivas, and senior Marquay Bradshaw rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. Bonita Springs: The Bull Sharks fell 42-35 to Island Coast last week. Island Coast scored the go-ahead touchdown with two seconds remaining after Bonita had led for much of the contest. Senior running back Aiden McCutcheon went for 137 yards on 21 carries, and the team got rushing scores from Jonathan Larkin and Dominic Scholten. Larkin threw a touchdown pass to Andy Garcia and two touchdown passes to Blake Benge. Bonita Springs defeated LaBelle 41-0 the last time the teams met in 2021.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: LaBelle 33, Bonita Springs 28
Gateway (3-5) at Oasis (6-1)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for: Gateway – The Eagles saw their two-game winning streak come to an end with a 36-14 loss to visiting Fort Myers. Senior quarterback Aiden King passed for 110 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Wave with junior wide receiver Jayden Hart catching five passes for 94 yards and one score. Hart leads Gateway in catches (35), receiving yards (587) and touchdowns (seven). Oasis: The Sharks rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 28-16 win over Ida Baker. Sophomore quarterback Ashton Alverio passed for 166 yards and a touchdown while on defense senior Nicholas Galeano had 15 tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown and sophomore Sanjay Adlam added two interceptions, one of which he brought back for a score.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Oasis 28, Gateway 24
ECS (4-3) at SFCA (2-6)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for: ECS – The Sentinels dropped their second game in a row last week, falling 34-6 to Miami Archbishop Carroll. Junior running back Tyce Harris rushed for 59 yards and one touchdown. Junior running back Elijah Yzaguirre and Harris have combined to rush for 758 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Sophomore quarterback Bryson Ganley has completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,070 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Zachary St. John leads the team in receptions (30) and receiving yards (403). SFCA: The King’s are coming off a 16-7 setback to Keswick Christian, their third consecutive loss. SFCA is averaging 13.1 points per game and has scored seven or fewer points in four of its six losses. Sophomore quarterback Caleb Santana has thrown for 638 yards and six touchdowns.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: ECS 27, SFCA 14
Canterbury (7-1) at Sarasota Out-of-Door (7-1)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for: Canterbury: The Cougars earned a forfeit win over Gateway Charter last week after dropping their first game of the season, 47-7 to Santa Fe Catholic, on Oct. 9. Canterbury is averaging 37 points per game and is unbeaten in three road games this season. Senior Brock Catlin has three touchdown passes, 12 rushing scores and three receiving touchdowns. Out-of-Door: The Thunder are coming off their first loss of the season, a 13-12 defeat to Seffner Christian. Out-of-Door is putting up nearly 40 points per game, mostly thanks to their passing game. Senior quarterback Jaxon Lawhun has thrown for 1,376 yards and 22 touchdowns with two interceptions. Sophomore Dominick Reddick and junior Brayden Ogle have combined for 56 catches, 977 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Out-of-Door 35, Canterbury 21
Island Coast (3-5) at Lely (0-8)
What to watch for – Island Coast: The Gators’ offense had its best performance of the season in Island Coast’s 42-35 win over Bonita Springs on Oct. 16. A back-and-forth battle with the Bull Sharks in front for most the night, Island Coast scored the go-ahead touchdown with two seconds remaining. The Gators showed tremendous grit to keep pace with Bonita Springs and scored the most points in a single game in nearly five years (46-0 against LaBelle, Oct. 29, 2021). Lely: The Trojans’ struggles have been well-documented this season and this remained the case in Lely’s loss to Monsignor Pace on Oct. 16. The Trojans’ offense has played better since starting the season scoreless through the first three games. But Lely hasn’t shown nearly enough firepower to overcome their deficiencies on defense.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Island Coast 28, Lely 7
Oxbridge Academy (6-3) at Gateway Charter (1-7)
What to watch for — Oxbridge Academy: Last time the ThunderWolves played, they defeated Leonard 20-12. Senior Cayden Pribramsky rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, and senior Brady Basis threw a touchdown pass to sophomore Aiden Munoz in the win. Oxbridge has won their two previous meetings against Gateway Charter, including a 42-0 victory in 2023. Gateway Charter: The Griffins had to forfeit last week against Canterbury. This was their second loss by forfeit this season, and the team’s lone win came by forfeit against Babcock. Gateway Charter has yet to score this season and have given up an average of 60 points in their five completed games this season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Oxbridge Academy 42, Gateway Charter 6
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: SW FL Football Week 10 high school game previews and predictions