Sports Spotlight - West Orange Times & Observer: Nick Wright

Nick Wright is in his first year at Ocoee High, where he is the starting quarterback for the varsity football team, and already has been a part of history. Wright tossed four touchdowns and ran for four more against West Port for the Knights (4-4) in a 77-67 victory Oct. 5 that set a program record for points scored for Ocoee. Combining his passing and rushing yards that night, Wright accounted for 524 of the Knights’ 624 total yards.

Have you ever been involved in a game like the Knights’ victory over West Port?

I’ve been playing football since I was 5 years old, and no — no game (I’ve played in) has ever been that high-scoring. 

You passed for four touchdowns and ran for four more. Have you ever put up numbers like that?

The closest I’ve ever come to that is against Olympia (earlier this season). I had four rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. … We just stayed cool and calm and kept scoring points. We move fast and try to be the fastest high-school football offense in Orange County — that’s what we pride ourselves on.

What’s it been like coming to a new school and becoming the team’s starting quarterback?

It’s been challenging — new school, new culture and new people. But I just remain humble and stick with my friends on the football team.

How do you feel the team has done this year?

We’re definitely better this year. We’ve lost three games (out of four losses) by a combined nine points, so we really wish we could have cleaned up a little bit in those three games. You could pick any play that could have won those games. But lately, we’re just focused on winning the next game and trying to get into this playoff race.

This program has a new staff under head coach Aaron Sheppard. What’s been the team’s identity this fall?

We want to be as disciplined as possible — Coach Shep (Sheppard) installs discipline in us every day with everything we do around school. We listen to Coach Shep — Coach Shep is a great coach. … We listen, and we trust (the staff).

What do you think you will study in college?

I think I’d like to be a nutritionist for a college (athletics) team.

Have you traveled much and, if so, do you have a favorite destination?

(My family and I) really like to cruise, so we go on cruises twice a year. I think my favorite destination was Belize — we went cave-tubing. We had some — I think it was iguana — but it was good. It tasted like chicken. It was fun to have no phones — just having family time and chill.