Football buzz: Knights eliminated from playoff race despite Week Nine win

OCOEE  One night after the Ocoee Knights recorded arguably their most impressive win of the season — a 16-12 victory over Wekiva Oct. 22 — they only could watch as the Hagerty Huskies ended their slim chances at a playoff berth.

Hagerty’s victory over Lake Howell Oct. 23 gave the Huskies four district wins ahead of their district finale against first-place Edgewater this week (the Eagles are 5-0 in the district). 

A win against Lake Minneola in Ocoee’s district finale Friday would only get the Knights, 3-2 in Class 7A, District 4, to four wins — and Hagerty owns a tiebreaker because it defeated Ocoee Oct. 2, 28-17.

Still, the Knights have had a turnaround season under first-year coach Ben Bullock, more than doubling their win total from 2014 (2) and recording the most wins for the program since 2009; Ocoee finished 7-4 that fall.

The win against the Mustangs comes just one season after Wekiva embarrassed Ocoee on its home field, 36-0. The Mustangs were regarded as one of Central Florida’s better team prior to losing consecutive games to Apoka and then the Knights.

A field goal by Candido Worrell with 45 seconds remaining sealed the victory over Wekiva for Ocoee.

Lions winners of five straight

The Foundation Academy Lions celebrated their senior night with a 62-13 win over visiting Harvest Community School. The victory makes it five consecutive wins for the Lions (5-4).

Four Foundation players — Jacquane Patterson, Gabe Walker, Konrie Brown and Lester Axson — scored two touchdowns apiece. Lance Axson also scored a touchdown on an interception. 

Patterson led the team with 190 rushing yards.