High-scoring CFCA looking to continue winning ways

OCOEE — Depending on how you choose to look at things, there are a few different ways you could view the 2-0 start for the Central Florida Christian Academy football team.

First-year head coach Michael Bonneville, though, chooses to sum up the Eagles’ first two wins with one word: confidence.

“(It’s) the boys knowing that they can play defense, offense and special teams with anybody,” Bonneville said, referring to that confidence after CFCA’s 58-0 win over Merritt Island Christian on Saturday.

The team has plenty of reason to be confident. Through two weeks, the Eagles have outscored their opponents 102-3. 

A dominant start, to be sure, CFCA (2-0 overall, 1-0 in division) has been able to take advantage of a favorable schedule to begin the season. 

The Eagles opened with a 44-3 win over Ocala Christian in Week One — a team that is 0-2 so far this season — and Merritt Island Christian has struggled mightily dating back to last season, having won only one of its past 12 games. Both games were at home, also.

Now, CFCA is preparing for Friday’s showdown with International Community School. The game was supposed to be the first road game for the Eagles, but Athletic Director Kyle Wills confirmed the game will be played at CFCA, because the field that International Community utilizes will not be available on Friday. 

That means that the Eagles will be seeking a 3-0 start on their home field — and against another team that has started 0-2. 

A win would mark consecutive seasons that CFCA has started 3-0. The Eagles did so a season ago, when Bonneville was the defensive coordinator, but dropped six of their next seven games en route to a 4-6 record.

Even so, this season already has a different feel considering the outpouring of offense that CFCA has showcased. Despite a relatively small roster, the Eagles play a physical style of football and Bonneville believes his boys have improved each week, dating back to the Kickoff Classic.

“As the season got going (after the Kickoff Classic), we were able to see how things work and able to work on little mistakes that we did — the boys responded well,” Bonneville said. “We really maintained what we do in the weight room and how we practice. … We’re physical.”

Bonneville said on Saturday that, after two big wins, he is interested to see how his team will respond the next time an opponent comes out swinging and creates some adversity for the Eagles. That could happen on Friday with International Community, but if it doesn’t, it surely will with Orlando Christian Prep (2-0) — who CFCA will face Sept. 19.

The Warriors have outscored their opponents 104-6.

Bonneville isn’t likely to let his boys take any of their opponents lightly. He plans to continue preaching a message that he has been instilling in his unit throughout fall camp and into the season: Win the line of scrimmage.

“You win up front,” Bonneville said. “I preach that to our boys.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].