PREVIEW: Ocoee hosts WO in final week of regular season


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  • | 9:35 a.m. November 6, 2014
PREVIEW: Ocoee hosts WO in final week of regular season
PREVIEW: Ocoee hosts WO in final week of regular season
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WEEK 11 GAME OF THE WEEK: West Orange (9-0) at Ocoee (2-7), 7:30 p.m.

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It’s a game that will mean two very different things for two programs in very different places.

The Warriors, set to host a playoff game on Nov. 14 against the Timber Creek Wolves, will have to be sure not to completely overlook a contest that, on paper, they should win. Expect West Orange to give its second- and third-string players some significant playing time, giving its starters some rest. 

For the Knights, though, this game will represent a chance to leave everything on the field one last time this season. Ocoee has nothing to lose, and a strong performance against the Warriors, even in defeat, would give the Knights — whose roster is heavy on underclassmen — something to take with them into the offseason.

The annual game for the Shield between these two schools always draws an enthusiastic crowd, making it a game that will be fun if not entirely close.

Week 11's other contests:

Holy Trinity Episcopal (3-5) at Foundation Academy (5-4), 7 p.m.

Scouting report: Foundation Academy finds itself, like many other playoff teams, facing the awkward week between the end of its district schedule and the playoffs. Don’t expect coach Brad Lord and the Lions to ease up, though. Lord said after his team defeated Agape Christian Oct. 31 that it was playing its best football of the season. Expect Foundation to try and build upon that momentum to help prepare for a road playoff contest next week.

Extra point: Holy Trinity had its way with Foundation in 2013, winning 31-6.

Legacy Charter (5-4) at St. Stephen’s Episcopal (6-3), 7 p.m.

Scouting report: The final time the Eagles will take the field in 2014 will come by way of this seeded contest against the Falcons from Bradenton. St. Stephen’s has won three straight entering this contest, averaging 36.3 points per game in that stretch, while Legacy has dropped a pair to Santa Fe Catholic and Southwest Florida Christian. The Eagles’ success in this contest will hinge, as it often does, on the ability of its offense to get in a rhythm and firing on all cylinders early. When quarterback Colton Liddell is able to distribute the ball to playmakers for the Eagles, good things tend to happen.

Extra point: This is the first meeting between the two programs.

Dr. Phillips (9-0) at Winter Park (5-4), 7:30 p.m.

Scouting report: At the beginning of the season, this figured to be a marquee matchup between two playoff contenders in Class 8A. But with the Wildcats out of the playoff picture after a disappointing finish in Class 8A District 3, this could very well be one final tune-up for the Panthers as they look to conclude another undefeated regular season. Winter Park has dropped four of its last five contests.

Extra point: Dr. Phillips cruised to a win in 2013, 38-7.

Jones (4-5) at Olympia (1-7), 7:30 p.m.

Scouting report: Both teams are reeling after blowout losses in Week 10 (the Titans fell to Apopka, 43-0, and the Tigers fell to Cocoa, 40-0). Olympia’s defense has allowed an average of 48.7 points per game in its past three contests, but a big part of that equation can be traced to how often the unit is on the field as the offense struggles to pick up first downs. If the Titans can produce quality drives and improve their time of possession, this could be a winnable game to close out the 2014 campaign.

Extra point: The Titans took home a win in 2013, 28-14.

 

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