Winter Park Wildcats hope to banish demons

It took a second season leading the Wildcats, but quarterback Asiantii Woulard may finally be living up to the hype heaped on him since before he first strapped on a Winter Park jersey. The tight-end-sized QB had no trouble connecting in the air or taking the ball himself in a tough 22-21 loss over Lake Mary on Aug. 30 that went down to the final play of the game.

Now the Wildcats will have to hope their offensive success can translate into more scoring compared to last year, and in a hurry. They face one of their closest rivals, Edgewater, this Friday, in a rematch of a rematch that’s been ongoing for years.

Last year, the Wildcats lost that game 20-9, as they struggled to find any offense after the first quarter.

That may have changed already, if the Wildcats’ game against Lake Mary on Aug. 30 is any indication.

The offense was back, though there were a few misfires. Early on the Wildcats suffered a demoralizing safety when Edmond Jacobs was tackled in Winter Park’s end zone to give the Rams two points and the ball back. Jacobs would later make up for that play with a touchdown reception that would have been the winning score.

Friday 9/7 Edgewater @ Showalter

Friday 9/14 Boone @ Boone

Friday 9/21 University* @ University

Friday 9/28 Freedom @ Showalter

Friday 10/5 Open

Friday 10/12 Evans @ Evans

Thursday 10/18 East River* (Homecoming) @ Showalter

Thursday 10/25 Colonial* (Senior Night) @ Showalter

Friday 11/2 Timber Creek* @ Timber Creek

Friday 11/9 Ocoee @ Ocoee

• Denotes a District game

Though Woulard favored short passes during the Wildcats’ near-win-turned-shocking-loss, the senior found a few receivers downfield to connect on a pair of touchdown passes for a bit more yardage. An athletic performance bulldozing the middle of the field saw Woulard gain some consistent yardage on the ground and pick up a rushing touchdown.

But that didn’t faze the Lake Mary Rams, who connected on a 20-yard pass as time expired to tie the game, then watched as kicker Travis Williams launched the winning score through the uprights with no time left.

That win for Lake Mary avenged a season-opening loss from last season, when the Wildcats managed a 14-0 win.

Last season’s initial win was a bright spot on an otherwise dim season for the perennial postseason contender Wildcats, who went 6-7 last season. They bowed out in the first round of regional play after a 27-14 thrashing by Olympia.

This time around, hopes are resting on a pair of big shoulders calling plays for the Wildcats. With one season left before he heads to the University of South Florida, Woulard has a final shot at erasing memories of a season that could have been, and a postseason cut short.

They host Edgewater at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Showalter Field.