PHOTOS: Down to the final seconds, West Orange claims “The Shield”

The infamous Battle for the Shield lived up to its expectations all the way to the final seconds. 

To send off the 21 year rivalry game, Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson came on the field to do the coin toss. Johnson graduated from Ocoee High School and he has remained in the area ever since.

Once Ocoee’s football team kicked off the ball at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 to West Orange, pads clashed and tension rose. The Knights and the Warriors weren’t just fighting for a year of bragging rights by earning “The Shield” — they were playing for a district championship. They both entered the field tied for first place in 7A District 5. 

With 22 seconds left on the clock, West Orange’s running back Jayden Ammonds pushed his way into the end zone against Ocoee’s line. He sealed the Warriors fate and finalized the team’s 21-14 win over the Knights. 

“We knew it was going to be a dog fight,” Geno Thompson said, West Orange’s head coach. 

That it was. 

TURNING POINT 

Ocoee maintained all of the game’s offensive momentum in the second quarter. The Knights discovered its run-game was working against the Warriors defense so they continued to attack from the ground. The strategy put Ocoee up 14-0 to close out the first half. 

It was a turnover free game until Ocoee’s QB Tyson Davison threw an interception, followed by West Orange’s QB Andrew Chung throwing one of his own. 

Once they shook off the dust, West Orange’s players put on their battle armor and ran back a kickoff 98 yards. The team then ran again and found the end zone for the first, but not last time of the game. 

The Warriors dialed in its defense and forced a turnover on downs, which sent the team down the field for it’s second touchdown. Ocoee continued to push to keep fighting and break the tied game but in the end it was West Orange who extended its possession of “The Shield.” 

“I’m proud of the way they played with each other,” Thompson said. “Just the fact that we never quit. Defense made nothing but stops, they didn’t give up another play. Offense had three great drives to score. You can’t get any better than this.” 

The team has claimed six of the last seven district titles. Thomspon said that’s the level of play the coaching staff have set on their players. Now the team’s goal is to get over the regional hump.