Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School football team needs a win — and a little help — to keep its playoff hopes alive tonight.

The Buffalo (3-5 overall, 1-1 district) face a must-win scenario against Umatilla (1-7, 0-2) come 7 p.m. this evening at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium in Middleton, while also needing a Mount Dora victory over Eustis to force a three-way tiebreaker atop the Class 2S-District 10 standings.

That would then send the automatic postseason bid that goes to a district champion to the FHSAA's playoff points system, which releases its final tally following the conclusion of the regular season next week. The four district champions and the next four highest-ranked teams receive at-large berths into each region's eight-team playoff field.

The Villages, who will host its Senior Night ceremonies prior to kickoff, has won each of the past five matchups against Umatilla.


THE MATCHUP
The Villages Buffalo
Record: 3-5 overall, 1-1 district
Class 2S-Region 3 Rank (FHSAA): 10
Head Coach: Richard Pettus, 21st year
Umatilla Bulldogs
Record: 1-7 overall, 0-2 district
Class 2S-Region 3 Rank (FHSAA): 16
Head Coach: Eric Samuels, 1st year

THE SCENE
Date: Friday, Oct. 27
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium, 2210 Dr. Randy McDaniel Way, Middleton (Fla.)
Surface: FieldTurf
Series: The Villages leads 8-2
Last Meeting: The Villages 27, Umatilla 14 (Oct. 28, 2022)
Live Updates: @VHSFootballFBT (Twitter/X)
Website: athletics.tvcs.org
Tickets: $8

THE STANDINGS
Class 2S-District 10
1. Eustis: 2-0 district, 5-3 overall
2. The Villages: 1-1 district, 3-5 overall
3. Mount Dora: 1-1 district, 6-2 overall
4. Umatilla: 0-2 district, 1-7 overall

FOUR DOWNS
1. Let's Talk Rankings: VHS is currently 10th in Class 2S-Region 3, per the FHSAA's state playoff rankings system, two spots shy of the final cutoff position for an at-large postseason bid. The Buffalo likely need a win tonight against Umatilla and next Friday night at Wiregrass Ranch to flirt with the final playoff position.
2. Letting 'Leek Run: Buffalo junior fullback Maleek Williams rushed 35 times for 154 yards — both career highs — in last week's 17-16 win over rival Wildwood. That performance followed up a 142-yard outburst two weeks prior in a district win over Mount Dora.
3. Senior Salute: The Villages will bid farewell to 14 seniors tonight in its 2023 home finale against Umatilla. A pregame ceremony, which will include other fall sport performers and student-athletes, is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m.
4. Commodore Comes Home: Umatilla first-year head coach Eric Samuels, a native of Lake County, played four seasons (2009-12) at the University of Vanderbilt in Tennessee. Samuels was a three-sport athlete at Umatilla High School.

FROM THE HEADSET
"It's a district game and we've got to go take care of our business against Umatilla, and then hope and pray that Mount Dora can beat Eustis to force a three-way tie for us." — VHS head coach Richard Pettus


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.