Sidelines 11.20.14

+ Ocoee football coach resigns

Ocoee football coach Dale Salapa resigned last week after a 2-8 campaign in 2014.

Salapa took over the team in 2012 and compiled a record of 7-23 during his three seasons at the helm.

Salapa formerly served as the coach at Dr. Phillips, where he went 35-4 before having 14 wins from 2010 forfeited. He also has coached at The First Academy and Trinity Prep.

Ocoee Athletic Director Steve McHale is accepting applications currently and is looking to let the hiring process for Salapa’s replacement play out through the duration of the state playoffs, which began Nov. 14.

McHale, who took the athletic director job with the Knights over the summer after working at Dr. Phillips, himself, expressed his appreciation for the work Salapa had done while at Ocoee during a phone interview last week.

Ocoee, which opened in 2005, has never made the state playoffs.

+ Warriors earn Ohio State offers

The success of the West Orange football team, and its many skill players, has not gone unnoticed.

The program announced Nov. 17 via Twitter that juniors Woody Barrett (quarterback) and Eddie McDoom (wide receiver) had received scholarship offers from Ohio State University.

The offer is the eighth for Barrett, who also has fielded offers from Auburn, Louisville, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

The Buckeyes are offer No. 6 for McDoom, who has offers from Clemson, Kentucky, Boston College, Rutgers and South Carolina.

+ Windermere Prep to host event

Windermere Prep boys basketball will host the Hoop Exchange Classic — Thanks for Hoops event this weekend.

Friday’s schedule includes The Rock vs. Oak Ridge at 5:30 p.m.; Miami Christian vs. the Lakers at 7 p.m.; and Blanche Ely vs. Orlando Christian Prep at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule includes Oldsmar Christian vs. Lake Minneola at 1 p.m.; Osceola vs. West Orange at 2:30 p.m.; Auburndale vs. Ocoee at 4 p.m.; Zion Lutheran vs. The First Academy at 5:30 p.m.; and Dwyer vs. Windermere Prep at 7 p.m.

+ Box car race set for Saturday

CM Box Car Racing in Groveland will host its Toys for Tots Race Nov. 22.

The race will begin at 9 a.m., and competitors are asked to arrive at 7 a.m. 

Competitors are also asked to bring a new toy to donate to the Marines for charity. The track will be on Wilson Lake Parkway at the Vineyards. 

The next event after Saturday’s race will be Dec. 13, when CM Box Car Racing hosts its Scouting Forever Race.

For more information about the event, visit cmboxcarracing.com.

+ Magic star sponsors tourney

Dr. Phillips High School will host the first-ever Victor Oladipo Invitational Dec. 26, 27 and 29.

The tournament is named for the star guard for the Orlando Magic, who was the No. 2 selection in the 2013 NBA Draft.

+ DP alum named head coach at East River

Doug Gabriel, a former star wide receiver at Dr. Phillips and UCF before playing in the NFL, has been named the head coach at East River High School after serving as the program’s interim coach this past season.

Gabriel had been the offensive coordinator for the Falcons before being put in charge of the team in August when former head coach Marc Rankin was asked to resign.