Oviedo takes sole possession of 1st

Oviedo inched closer to securing a football state playoff berth Thursday by moving into sole possession of first place in Class 8A, District 2 with a 17-13 win at Seminole.

Keonte Coffie rushed 36 times for 120 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (6-1, 4-0), ranked No. 11 in the Sentinel Super 16.

No. 7 Seminole (5-2, 3-1) was intercepted three times. The Seminoles’ last heave of the night was picked off in the end zone by Oviedo’s Morgan Mitchell, who is best known as the Lions quarterback.

Mitchell returned to the field after suffering an injury two weeks ago and threw a TD pass to Daniel McNamara. home vs. Lake Howell (2-4, 1-2).

The Knights were credited with 605 offensive yards but forced key turnovers and made some big special team plays to control the game all the way.

Ocoee led 28-6 after one quarter, 50-27 at halftime and 77-47 late after quarterback Nick Wright threw his fourth TD pass of the night to go along with his four TD runs.

West Port racked up 876 offensive yards, with quarterback Brian Maurer, a Tennessee commit, completing 34 of 53 passes for 513 yards. He also was the leading rusher as the Wolfpack totaled 363 yards on 42 runs.

“West Port’s quarterback is the real deal,” Sheppard said. “He’s definitely one of the most dynamic guys I’ve ever been around.

“Our defense has been solid all year, so for them to fall apart is weird for us.”

Sheppard said the outcome provided plenty of excitement, but the momentum he hoped to carry into this week was somewhat spoiled because rainstorms dampened practices on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We’re going to have to turn it up a notch,” he said of Friday’s game. “With the playoff points like they are, we have to go undefeated the rest of the way if we want to advance.”