Sarasota Booker (Fla.) football to face Valdosta in 2026

Sarasota Booker (Fla.) has seen an ascension over the last couple of years as one of Florida’s top high school football teams and the Tornadoes are looking to take it up a notch in 2026.

According to a social media release via Instagram by Sarasota Booker head football coach/athletic director Carlos Woods, the Tornadoes will face America’s top winningest high school football program, the Valdosta Wildcats, in the 2026 season.

Per the post by Woods and confirmed on Thursday morning by phone, the Tornadoes and Wildcats would square off on Oct. 2, Week 7 of the Florida high school football season in Valdosta at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. The Wildcats finished as the No. 10 ranked team in the Peach State, according to the final 2025 Georgia High School Football Massey Rankings.

“It’s something that kind of happened out of nowhere really,” Woods said. “Valdosta was one of the first teams to reach out to us when we posted about needing a game for 2026. Life changing experience (for the coaches and kids). We think this is going to be a great opportunity for all parties involved. What better way to get it going then getting two powerhouses going at each other. It’s all about the great experience for the kids.”

Sarasota Booker is coming off back-to-back state semifinals berths in Florida’s Class 3A, falling both times to Jacksonville Raines, which won the 2025 state championship over Miami Northwestern.

This would be the second straight season in a row that Sarasota Booker travels out of state as the Tornadoes traveled to Alabama and faced Auburn to open the 2025 season. The Tornadoes ended up falling, 24-6, to the Tigers.

Sarasota Booker graduates a number of Division I signees from this past season’s team, but are slated to return Class of 2027 three-star defensive lineman Maleek Lee.

The Tornadoes ended this past season with a 13-2 record and finished ranked No. 27 in the final 2025 Florida High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Sarasota Booker High School

Booker High School, located in Sarasota, FL, is known for its strong Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Magnet Program, which draws students from multiple counties. The school offers a variety of academic and extracurricular programs, including the Cambridge AICE, JROTC, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) tracks. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities, including a newly built turf football field and renovated theater. Booker High is dedicated to ensuring that 100% of its students graduate college- or career-ready.

How to Follow Florida High School Football

For Florida high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the Sunshine State, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the Florida high school football excitement across the state.