Countdown to kickoff: Foundation Academy schedule breakdown

By Steven Ryzewski
| 2:41 p.m. August 1, 2014

Sports

We are inside of a month until the 2014 high school football season begins and soon players from around the area will be taking to the practice fields as fall workouts begin.

Our excitement over being just three weeks away from some live-game action has inspired us to double-up our preseason coverage this week, breaking down the schedules for both Legacy Charter and Foundation Academy.

Already, our “Countdown to kickoff” series has taken an in-depth look at the schedules for Dr. Phillips (June 26), Ocoee (July 3), Olympia (July 10), West Orange (July 17) and Central Florida Christian Academy (July 24).

Next up on our list of schedule breakdowns is Foundation Academy.

The Lions, under coach Brad Lord, will return a roster loaded with talent at the skill positions and are hopeful that they, like district-rival Victory Christian did a season ago, can make some noise in the FHSAA Class 2A State Playoffs.

Two’s company

There are 10 games on the 2014 schedule for Foundation Academy and, although there are no unimportant games in high school football, there are two games that are significantly more important than any of the others for the Lions this season.

Classified by the FHSAA as Class 2A, the Lions are in the three-team District 4. They, along with Orlando’s Agape Christian and Victory Christian in Lakeland will battle it out for two playoff spots.

There’s a unique duality to playing in such a small district. On the one hand, by simple mathematics it is much easier to make the playoffs. On the other hand, there is not much room for error when only two games decide whether a team will advance to the postseason.

A season ago the Lions found themselves on the outside looking in, dropping both district games but with a caveat — Foundation had eventual-Class 2A runner-up Victory Christian on the ropes before falling 20-17 and fell to Agape by just one possession, 22-14.

Building up to Victory

With Victory Christian standing tall as defending 2A-4 Champs and the FHSAA Class 2A State Runner-up from a season ago, the Lions’ date with the Storm on Oct. 17 looms larger than ever.

Foundation will take to the road to take on Victory, but their schedule plays in their favor leading up to the showdown. In the month leading up to the game against the Storm, the Lions play three consecutive home games that are then followed by a bye week on Oct. 10, meaning coach Brad Lord’s squad should be ready and raring for arguably the biggest game of the season.

Home is where the heart is

Foundation’s big game against Victory Christian may be on the road in Lakeland, but the bulk of the Lions’ games this season will be on their home turf of Walker Field in Winter Garden.

Foundation will host six home games this season, including a three-game home stretch starting in late September and a pair of home games to conclude the regular season.

The Lions went 3-2 at home in 2013.

Foundation Academy — 2014 Regular Season Schedule

All games to begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

8/29 — @ Lakeland Christian

9/5 — vs. The First Academy – Orlando

9/12 — @ Carrollwood Day, 4 p.m.

9/19 — vs. Taylor (Pierson)

9/26 — vs. Orangewood Christian

10/2 — vs. Hawthorne

10/10 — Bye

10/17 — @ Victory Christian (district)

10/24 — @ Trinity Prep