What We Learned: Five thoughts from Week Two

Week Two was good to the coverage area — and it was a lot less stormy than Week One. Seven of eight coverage-area programs scored a victory in Week Two, offsetting some disappointing defeats in Week One. Meanwhile, the two most high-profile programs — Dr. Phillips and West Orange — scored important victories ahead of their clash on Friday. Here are five quick takeaways from the Sept. 4 results.

New coaches get first wins on same day

Week Two was good to new coaches. After respective defeats in Week One, Ben Bullock (Ocoee), Kyle Hayes (Olympia) and John Davis (CFCA) all earned their first victories as head coaches at their new programs. Two of those, for Ocoee and Olympia, came on the road after suffering defeat at home in their respective openers. 

Windermere Prep bounces back

After losing for the first time in more than a year in Week One, Windermere Prep bounced back in a way that befits a team that still has its sights set on repeating as Sunshine State Athletic Conference champions — by blowing out visiting All Saints Academy. Parker Davis passed for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Lakers debuted new red jerseys. It was a good look.

West Orange settles score 

Warriors head coach Bob Head pretty much said it all after the Warriors concluded a 42-14 thumping of Winter Park.

“We owed them something, and we got it back,” Head said.

Winter Park ended a breakout season for the Warriors in 2013 in the FHSAA Class 8A State Playoffs — and on Friday, West Orange got a sweet taste of revenge. Again, the Warriors were favored, but there could not have been many people who predicted that West Orange would be quite that dominant in dispatching the Wildcats.

Foundation shows promise in defeat

Sure, Foundation fell to The First Academy, 28-14, and dropped to 0-2 on the season. To be honest, that was probably expected. Brad Lord scheduled a tough opening to the regular season so that he could see his Lions improve week-to-week, and that they did in going from a blowout loss to West Orange to a game that saw them tied with the Royals at 14-14 before letting it slip away. 

Lord said his team still needs to cut down on mistakes and penalties, and he’s right, but considering the 45-8 beating the Lions took at the hands of TFA in 2014, 28-14 is certainly not a result to hang their heads over.

Olympia’s defense steals show

Of the five touchdowns Olympia scored in a 35-0 blowout of East River, four came by way of the defense or special teams units with the scoring getting started after senior Doug Howard blocked a punt. Sure, the Titans offense still has some work to do, but anytime your defense holds an opponent to a reported 28 yards, that is something to feel good about.

EXTRA POINTS: So often, it’s a game of inches. One minute, it looks as though Lake Mary is going to complete a scoring drive and take a lead over Dr. Phillips with minutes to play; the next, the Panthers force a fumble. What’s more, Amo Louis wrestled the ball away at the bottom of the scrum, making a play that — even though it’s only Week Two — could be one of the most important of the season for the Panthers.  ... Olympia’s win over East River came at a good time, with the possibility of sparking a winning streak. The Titans’ next three opponents are Colonial, Cypress Creek and Evans — all programs who struggled in 2014 — meaning there is a good chance Olympia will get a second victory and eclipse its win total from a season ago.