PHOTOS: Legacy Charter outlasts Santa Fe Catholic in 32-29 win

With most schools rescheduling their games for Saturday or Monday due to Hurricane Dorian, all eyes were on Legacy Charter.

From start to finish, the Eagles (3-0) didn't disappoint, as they pulled off the close 32-29 win over Santa Fe Catholic on Friday, Sept. 6.

Going into Friday night’s game both Legacy and Santa Fe Catholic (1-2) were dealt difficult hands to work with, as each school was limited on practice time due to the hurricane.

Despite moving away from Florida, the FHSAA informed schools that athletic events would be up to the schools except for football, which had to be mandatorily rescheduled. Hopper contacted the FHSAA and got permission to hold their game, because he knew he couldn’t afford to play two games in a week.

“Being a small school is kind of hard, because everyone is rescheduling games for Monday,” said head coach Trent Hopper. “Well, if I get a guy banged up on Monday he might not be able to play on Friday — Santa Fe felt the same way. We kind of agreed, ‘Hey, let’s go ahead and do it, because it’s a non-district game and we don't want to jeopardize anything else going forward in the season.’”

Hopper didn't have that high of expectations for the game thanks to the weird week the Eagles had, so it came as a nice surprise when the Eagles showed up and fought through a tight game.

It took a bit for Legacy to get its scoring going, but with just 2:06 left in the first quarter quarterback Jacob Worley tossed a dime to Jayden Colon for around 35 yards for the score. The extra point would be bobbled away, giving the Eagles the early 6-0 lead.

The Hawks almost had an immediate response just a minute into the first quarter, but a 50-yard touchdown was wiped off the board by a penalty. Santa Fe would recover quickly on their next possession — which kicked off after a Worley interception — as they drove the field, before capping it off with a quick 25-yard touchdown pass. The extra point would put the Hawks up 7-6.

Just under three minutes later — with 4:15 left in the half — Worley would toss the ball out wide to running back Matt Cochrane, who proceeded to pass it over to Colon to put the Eagles in scoring position inside the 3-yard line. 

Cochrane would put the finishing touch on the drive with the short touchdown run. A two-point conversion later, and the Eagles would find themselves up 14-7. A field goal by Logan Tewson just before the half would boost the Eagles’ lead to 17-7 going into halftime.

The second half would see even more offense, as the Hawks and Eagles exchanged touchdowns throughout the third and fourth quarter. Jon Michael Samuel would pick up a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, while Worley would toss for his second touchdown of the game — this time to Colby McClure — in the fourth quarter.

Santa Fe would get a last minute touchdown, but a botched onside kick would seal up the 32-29 win for the Eagles.

“I feel fortunate to have won,” Hopper said. “I think our offense carried the whole team the entire night, and I’m a defensive coach. Our offense — they definitely did a good job and stayed balanced all night long.”

The Eagles will look to continue their win streak this Friday, Sept. 13, as they travel to Ocala to take on Ocala Christian (0-2).