Countdown to kickoff: Windermere Prep 2014 schedule breakdown

By Steven Ryzewski
| 3:15 p.m. August 7, 2014

Sports

It’s just about that time.

High school football season is nearly upon us, with practices having begun on Monday, and Aug. 22’s preseason action drawing ever closer.

Alas, the final installment of our “Countdown to kickoff” series arrived.

Already, our “Countdown to kickoff” series has taken an in-depth look at the schedules for Dr. Phillips (June 26), Ocoee (July 3), Olympia (July 10), West Orange (July 17), Central Florida Christian Academy (July 24), Legacy Charter and Foundation Academy (both on July 31). Today, we will take a look at the schedule for the Windermere Prep Lakers. The Lakers went 5-5 a season ago, despite going 5-1 within their district. Once again, Windermere Prep will be competing in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference — this time as members of the Coral League’s Bay Division.

Double trouble

Arguably the toughest two tests of the 2014 regular season for the Lakers will come on consecutive weeks, as luck would have it.

Windermere Prep will host Seffner Christian on Sept. 12 and The First Academy—Leesburg on Sept. 19. In 2013, TFA-Leesburg went 9-2 overall (5-1 in its division) and won the SSAC Championship. Seffner Christian was nearly as impressive, going 8-2 on the year and losing in the playoffs to TFA-Leesburg, 32-27.

The Lakers lost to both teams in 2013, but in two different fashions. Windermere Prep fell hard against TFA-Leesburg, 46-20, but played Seffner close in a tight loss, 47-42.

Three for the road

Not including a preseason contest on the road, the Lakers have just three games away from home as the schedule is currently constructed.

Windermere Prep will take on Keswick Christian (0-10 in 2013), Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (5-5 in 2013) and Lake Mary Prep (did not play in 2013) in its three road games, with the games against Saint Stephen’s and Lake Mary Prep coming on consecutive weeks — Sept. 26 and Oct.3.

All three road games for the Lakers are divisional games.

Favorable finish

If the toughest tests of the season at least appear to be slated fairly early in the year for Windermere Prep, the Lakers can take solace in know that, on paper, the end figures to shape up nicely.

In the final two weeks of scheduled regular season games for Windermere Prep, before the SSAC Playoffs begin on Oct. 31, the Lakers will play host to Santa Fe Catholic and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic. Collectively, the two programs were 5-15 in 2013.

Before those two division games for Windermere Prep, coach Jacob Doss’s boys will get a week of rest in the form of a bye.