Countdown to kickoff: West Orange Football schedule analysis

With just five weeks remaining until the 2014 high school football regular season begins, we couldn’t stand the wait any longer and felt the need to get the ball rolling on our gridiron coverage for the fall.

Starting with our June 26 edition, we have been taking a team-by-team look at the respective schedules for each program within our coverage area. We have already taken a look at the schedules for Dr. Phillips (June 26), Ocoee (July 3) and Olympia (July 10) and for this week’s breakdown we will be analyzing the 2014 schedule for the West Orange Warriors.

No place like home

The staff at West Orange had better make sure Cooper’s Corner and the other concession stands at Raymond Screws Field are stocked up as the Warriors are set to play seven home games in 2014.

West Orange will take to the road just three times, traveling to take on district rival Olympia on Oct. 17 for “The Fence” and again on Nov. 7 to take on Ocoee with “The Shield” on the line.

As for the Warriors’ loaded home schedule, West Orange will play six of those games in-a-row. The pivotal home-stretch will run from Sept. 5 through Oct. 10 and feature games against Oak Ridge and Apopka — playoff teams from 2013.

Home-heavy schedule aside, there are three games on the 2014 slate that will really make the difference for West Orange.

The Warriors’ three district contests in Class 8A, District 4 will pit coach Bob Head’s against Apopka on Oct. 3, Olympia Oct. 17 and Evans on Oct. 31.

The 2014 season figures to shape up like 2013, with West Orange and the Blue Darters battling for the district title — but neither the Titans or the Trojans should be taken lightly.

Much ado about Apopka

If you see only one high school football game this season then this is the one.

The Warriors will host Apopka on October 3 in a matchup of state title contenders in Class 8A — a game that is sure to attract a capacity crowd as well as a strong presence from local television stations.

While a loss in this contest certainly doesn’t eliminate either team from making a play for the district runner-up slot, this game is undoubtedly about more than making the playoffs — at least for West Orange. To many, a rivalry is only a rivalry when both teams have shown the ability to defeat the other and that hasn’t been the case as it’s been a while since the Warriors defeated the Blue Darters.

On October 3, they’ll get that opportunity.

West Orange Football — 2014 Varsity Schedule

8/29 — @ Boone, 7:30 p.m.

9/5 — vs. Freedom, 7:30 p.m.

9/12 — vs. Oak Ridge, 7:30 p.m.

9/19 — vs. Leesburg, 7:30 p.m.

9/26 — vs. Jones, 7:30 p.m.

10/3 — vs. Apopka (district), 7:30 p.m.

10/10 — vs. Cypress Creek, 7:30 p.m.

10/17 — @ Olympia (district), 7:30 p.m.

10/24 — Bye

10/31 — vs. Evans (district), 7:30 p.m.

11/7 — @ Ocoee, 7:30 p.m.

Next week’s preview: Central Florida Christian Academy