PHOTOS: Legacy Charter falls 28-21 to Lake Mary Prep -- Observer Preps

OCOEE After an intense back-and-forth game, some key mistakes and missed opportunities wound up costing the Legacy Charter Eagles (0-2, 0-1) as they were unable to sustain their lead and hold off the Lake Mary Prep Griffins (2-0, 1-0) in a 28-21 loss.

“I thought our team played well early,”  Legacy head coach Trent Hopper said. “The game plan was good and we were unfortunate the lead wasn’t more than it was at the half. … I’m however proud of our boys and how the young men fought throughout the game. There is no quit in these kids.”

After the Eagles missed an early field goal and turned the ball over on a fumble inside the Griffins five-yard line, the Griffins would capitalize and go up 8-0 on a pass from Walker Dycus to Judah Winfrey with 2:56 left in the first quarter.

Legacy responded right away, though, when Jalen Swift returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

Legacy would score again at the very end of the quarter on a pass from Jacob Worley to Matthew Penine to take a 14-8 lead.

With 3:47 remaining in the second quarter, Worley threw another touchdown, this time connecting with Dylan Clinger to extend the Eagles' lead to 13.

Legacy would go into halftime up 21-8.

The Griffins would close the gap early in the third quarter after a long pass from Dycus to Lionel Matos cut Legacy’s lead to 21-15 with 8:56 left in the third quarter. 

Later, in the same quarter, Lake Mary Prep would be the beneficiary of a bad snap on a punt for the Eagles which put the Griffins inside Legacy’s 20-yard line. Lake Mary Prep scored another touchdown on the following play to tie the game at 21-21.

Following a lightning delay that lasted an hour-and-a-half, Rycus’ third touchdown pass of the game gave the Griffins their first lead since the game’s opening quarter, with 6:11 left in the game.

Legacy would drive deep into Griffin territory, but a costly block in the back penalty pushed them back after a play that would’ve resulted in a first down inside Lake Mary Prep’s 20. The Eagles were unable to recover and were stopped two yards short on fourth down at Lake Mary Prep’s 21-yard line with 2:08 left in the game.

The game was called due to the sprinklers going off with 1:44 left in the game after Legacy had used all of their timeouts.

Legacy will be back in action on September 9 when it hosts the Jupiter Christian Eagles (1-0).

“We just need to do a better job of capitalizing on our opportunities,” Hopper said on what his team needs to improve for their game against the Jupiter Christian Eagles. "Jupiter is a good football team  and will give us another challenge.”