PHOTOS: Foundation Academy falls to Victory Christian Academy 36-7 in regional final | Observer Preps

Despite scoring on their opening drive and leading 7-0 through the first quarter, the Foundation Academy Lions (9-3, 2-0) were unable to keep pace with the Victory Christian Academy Storm (11-1, 2-1) as they lost 36-7 in the Class 2A, Region 2 final.

The Lions were down 19-7 going into the fourth quarter, but a failed fourth down conversion deep in Storm territory followed up by an 88 yard touchdown run from Cornelius Shaw effectively put the game out of reach.

Shaw had 16 carries for 269 yards and three touchdowns.

“(They’re a) very good football team,” said Foundation Academy head coach Brad Lord. “We hung with them. They hit it hard, they live football. That’s why they’re in the state semifinals or finals every year.

“It was great that we came out and competed,” he said. “We have some talent. We had a great senior class, broke a school record for wins, beat a good Zephyrhills team that beat them (Victory Christian Academy), but we didn’t have any answers for them. We did for three quarters and they wore us down in the second half.”

With the loss, the Lions finish the season with nine wins—which is the most wins in school history.

“They came together,” said Lord of his team’s performance this season. “This team did a great job, they had a great run.”