Having a reason to celebrate
Orange City defenders Noble Thomas (21) and Travont West celebrate after forcing a turnover during the team’s game against Winter Springs in Orange City on Friday. For more high school football coverage,
Some Orlando area high school football games were not completed in time for this edition. Get results in our eedition at OrlandoSentinel.com/late or on our website.
Orange City University’s Demari Taylor returned the opening kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown and the Titans were off and running in a 41-7 seasonopening football win against Winter Springs on Friday night.
It was the first on-campus home victory for the Titans, who until this year played almost all of their games on the road.
Taylor later caught a 73-yard TD pass from Adan Figueroa as the lead ballooned to 41-0 at halftime.
University’s big play parade included a 58-yard TD throw from Adan Figueroa to Chandler Powers, a 37-yard TD keeper by Figueroa, and a 37-yard TD run by Christopher Johnson.
Foundation Academy improved to 3-0 with a 42-7 rout of visiting Master’s Academy (0-1). Tate Ewing threw for 109 yards on 7-of-12 passing, including two touchdowns, for the Lions. The Foundation defense had six sacks, two by Bryan Thomas, and Cole West returned an interception for a TD.
Central Florida Christian Academy won 68-0 against First Academy-Leesburg
with Wilkerson St. Juste running for six touchdowns. Tama Jacobs had six receptions for 101 yards and two scores for the Eagles (1-1).
Seminole, the No. 4 team in the Sentinel Super 16 rankings, was up 15-0 at the half in a road game against Gainesville.
Lake Howell led 39-0 going into the final quarter against Lakeland Tenoroc and Orlando Christian Prep was up 43-14 against Faith Christian in the third quarter.
COVID sidelines West Orange
The shut down of West Orange High School for two weeks due to confirmed COVID-19 cases at the school means all athletic events for the Warriors are off until Monday, Oct. 5.
The West Orange football team missed out on its scheduled season opener vs. Evans on Thursday night because the Trojans were sidelined by COVID-19 test results within their program earlier this week.
Friday’s announcement by
Orange County Public Schools means the Warriors won’t be able to play at home next Friday night against Boone and at Lake Mary on Oct. 2.
The shutdown knocks the West Orange girls volleyball team out of multiple matches, including play in a Sept. 25-26 tournament. It also sidelines the school’s other fall sports: bowling, cross country, golf and swimming and diving.
Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.