Winter Park/Maitland Observer pigskin preview 2018 | Observer Preps

Are you ready for some football?

If so then your Fridays have just gotten a whole lot better as Friday, Aug. 24 signaled the start of the great fall sport for local schools around the Winter Park and Maitland area.

To celebrate the arrival of the new football season, we've put together a breakdown of the five schools in our coverage area.

Bishop Moore Hornets

Coach: Matt Hedrick

2017 Record: 9-3

District Record: 3-1 (runner-up)

Playoffs: Lost 56-27 to American Heritage in Class 5A regional semifinal

Key Returners: WR/FS Dylan Brazil, MLB/OLB Nick Spitulski, FS/RB Channing Stotts

Key Losses: QB Keanu Kong, RB Trilion Coles, RB/WR Zach Suarez, WR/RB Caleb McMillan

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 at Edgewater

Aug. 31 vs. Lake Brantley

Sept. 14 at Archbishop Spalding (Severn, MD)

Sept. 21 at South Sumter

Sept. 28 vs. Jones

Oct. 5 vs. Melbourne Central Catholic

Oct. 12 vs Tavares

Oct. 19 vs. Centennial

Oct. 26 at Eustis

Nov. 1 at Seminole

Edgewater Eagles

Head Coach: Cameron Duke

2017 Record: 9-3

District Record: 5-0 (champions)

Playoffs: Lost 23-7 to Fleming Island in Class 7A regional semifinal

Key Returners: QB Robert Harvey, RB Paul Connelly 

Key Losses: SB Quondarrius Whitfield

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 vs. Bishop Moore

Aug. 31 at Colonial

Sept. 7 at Olympia

Sept. 14 at Ocoee

Sept. 28 vs. West Port

Oct. 5 vs. Lake Howell

Oct. 12 at Lake Minneola

Oct. 19 vs. East Ridge

Oct. 26 at Hagerty

Nov. 2 vs. Boone

Orangewood Christian Rams

Head Coach: Bill Gierke

2017 Record: 8-3

District Record: 1-1 

Playoffs: Lost 35-18 to Windermere Prep in Sunshine State semifinals

Key Returners: RB/OLB Anthony Brown, CB/WR Emauni Smithson, CB/WR Daniel Nieves, TE/DE Kyle Bowman, G/DT Chris Bracker

Key Losses: QB Ian Stone, WR/FS Drew Bane, WR/CB Parker Penny, SS Maurice Freeze

Schedule:

Aug. 24 at Cocoa Beach

Sept. 7 at Master’s Academy

Sept. 14 vs. Lake Mary Prep

Sept. 21 at Legacy Charter

Sept. 28 vs. Windermere Prep

Oct. 5 vs. Trinity Prep

Oct. 12 at Central Florida Christian Academy

Oct. 19 vs. First Academy

Trinity Prep Saints

Head Coach: Mike Kruczek

2017 Record: 8-2

District Record: 1-1 

Playoffs: N/A

Key Returners: QB Spencer Fetter, WR/FS Michael Evans, WR/SB Tommy Tight

Key Losses: RB Christopher Cayo, TE Alec Holler

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 vs. Four Corners

Aug. 31 at Master’s Academy

Sept. 7 vs. Frostproof

Sept. 14 at Discovery

Sept. 21 at Lake Highland Prep

Sept. 28 at Father Lopez

Oct. 5 at Orangewood Christian

Oct. 12 vs. First Academy

Oct. 26 at Cocoa Beach

Nov. 2 vs. Space Coast

Winter Park Wildcats

Head Coach: Tim Shifflet

2017 Record: 12-1

District Record: 4-0 (champions) 

Playoffs: Lost 33-6 to Wekiva in Class 8A regional finals

Key Returners: RB/SB Tyrone Davis, WR/FS Malik Tolbert, WR/SS Marcus Clarke, OLB/DE JJ Valle-Smith

Key Losses: QB Cameron LeGree, CB/WR EJ Jimenez, Brian Gomez, WR/CB Cameron Brown, SS/WR Cullen Honohan, WR/CB Michael Lopez

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 vs. Lake Nona

Aug. 31 vs. Oviedo

Sept. 7 at Wekiva

Sept. 14 vs. Colonial

Sept. 21 at Evans

Sept. 28 vs. Timber Creek

Oct. 5 vs. Olympia

Oct. 12 at University

Oct. 19 at Boone

Nov. 2 vs. Lake Mary