No. 19 Mater Dei rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat Orange Lutheran 52-38, breaking a 31-31 tie with a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown. Two more ranked teams posted notable wins: No. 6 Columbus secured a place in Florida’s inaugural FHSAA Open Division playoffs, while No. 24 Edna Karr extended its winning streak to 35 games.

By the Numbers
  • Mater Dei won 52-38 after trailing 21-10; its two pick-sixes came late, including one with 18 seconds left.
  • Asir Nembhard scored three rushing touchdowns, bringing his season total to 13.
  • Columbus beat Northwestern 30-7; Baylor defeated Ensworth 27-7; Prattville shut out Vestavia Hills 13-0.
  • Edna Karr won 48-14 for its 35th straight victory. North Crowley improved to 8-0 with a 75-3 win.
Yes, But

Mater Dei’s comeback was sealed by its defense, but the offense also had to overcome a 21-10 deficit. Its next game is a major test against No. 11 St. John Bosco.

State of Play
  • Columbus has secured a spot in Florida’s inaugural FHSAA Open Division playoff bracket.
  • Edna Karr’s next game is a Halloween matchup at St. Augustine, a rematch of last year’s Division I Select state championship.
  • Chaminade-Madonna closes its regular season next week at Coconut Creek; a win would clinch an Open Division playoff spot.
What’s Next

Mater Dei faces St. John Bosco in its season finale, while Edna Karr and Chaminade-Madonna have high-stakes matchups ahead. Those results could shape playoff positioning and determine who reaches Florida’s Open Division field.

Bottom Line

Mater Dei’s defense turned a tight game into a statement win, while several ranked teams are entering decisive stretch-run games with playoff stakes on the line.