Windermere Prep continues undefeated run in impressive fashion | Observer Preps

The end of the regular season is setting up well for Windermere Prep’s varsity football team.

The Lakers have secured the Sunshine State Athletic Conference’s Coastal League-Central Division title. They are healthy. And, as was the case Friday afternoon against Lake Mary Prep, they continue to win games in impressive fashion.

Host Windermere Prep improved to 7-0 overall with a 58-0 victory over Lake Mary Prep. The Lakers scored a touchdown on all eight offensive possessions — the defense also contributed to the scoring with a first-half safety — as they finished atop the four-team Central Division standings with a perfect 3-0 mark.

Windermere Prep concludes its regular-season schedule next Friday under the lights (7 p.m. on Oct. 19) against visiting Bishop McLaughlin on Homecoming/Senior Night. The first round of the SSAC Playoffs then kickoff Oct. 26.

“This is the latest I’ve ever been in a season where we’re as healthy as we’ve ever been,” Windermere Prep head coach Jacob Doss said. “Going into the seventh week of the season, that’s very rare and — knock on wood — we want to continue that momentum. I need able bodies ready to go in the playoffs.”

Windermere Prep posted a 35-7 road victory over Class 2A state-ranked Foundation Academy the previous week, and the Lakers showed no signs of a letdown against fellow Sunshine State member Lake Mary Prep (1-6, 0-3). The overmatched Griffins found themselves behind 37-0 early in the second quarter and only a running clock put the brakes on the Windermere Prep offense.

Senior quarterback Kai Patterson was sacked for a 6-yard loss on the Lakers’ first snap, but that proved simply to be an aberration. WPS totaled 421 yards on 27 plays – good for a 15.6 yards-per-play average – and that included 312 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Najji Allen gained 128 yards on five attempts, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown run near the end of Windermere Prep’s 28-point first quarter and a 55-yard scoring gallop at the 9:55 mark of the second period. Joel Noel posted 107 rushing yards on four carries with TD runs of 21 and 76 (on the first offensive play of the second half) yards, while Rafael Betancourt had a 12-yard TD run with just under six minutes remaining.

Patterson went 5-of-5 passing in the first half for 109 yards and three touchdowns. All three scores happened in the opening quarter.

“We did have a chance to come out and do some good things,” Doss said. “We knew we wanted to throw the ball early, get in a rhythm and go as fast as we can. We did that, Kai [Patterson] found his receivers and they did their job.”

Patterson had an interception to end Lake Mary Prep’s opening drive and that set up a 19-yard TD pass to Khadry Jackson. He later found an open Ross Fournet for a 28-yard score, which capped a 43-yard drive, while Jackson jumped to make a catch against single coverage that resulted in a 45-yard touchdown.

Quentin Eckert and Andrew McLean sacked Griffins quarterback Logan McClure in the end zone for a safety with 10:14 left before halftime, making the score 30-0. The Windermere Prep defense completely stymied Lake Mary Prep’s spread offense, as the Griffins did not cross midfield until less than four minutes remained in the third quarter when Marvin Holifield went past the 50-yard line on a short run.

“There’s no question our defense gives the offense added confidence,” Doss said. “It gives me added confidence knowing we can go for it at certain times.”

Justin Kirtland converted all eight of his extra-point attempts for the Lakers, who led 44-0 at halftime and received quality performances throughout the entire roster.