SIGHTS NIGHT
FRIDAY
THE OBSERVER’S GUIDE TO THE 2025 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON
Welcome to Friday Night Sights!
MICHAEL ENG
Aside from the Christmas season, the return of football is probably my favorite time of the entire year.
At the beginning of every season, I fall in love again with all the action on the field, the cheers and the raucous student sections. I love how the distinct rumble of the drumline’s bass drums guide me from the parking lots to the stadiums. I love the sizzle of the hamburger patties and hot dogs on grills. And I love the smell of the air as cleats dig into the grass.
Oh yes, the beginning of football season is a joyful time indeed.
To commemorate the occasion, I’m thrilled to present our 2025 edition of Friday Night Sights — our annual celebration of this glorious time. Inside, you’ll find in-depth previews of our area’s seven public high schools and five private schools. You’ll find an outlook on each team, interviews with the coaches, players to watch, full rosters and schedules.
But wait, there’s more!
Friday nights in West Orange and Southwest Orange are much more than just the games taking place on the gridiron. The spectacle wouldn’t be complete without the myriad other groups and organizations that come together to create that incredible atmosphere.
So inside these pages, we’re also celebrating our marching bands, as well as the many trainers who keep student-athletes healthy. We also caught up with some of the area’s best PA announcers — the voices that narrate all the on-field action.
We hope you enjoy this edition of Friday Night Sights and that it convinces you to take in a Friday football game this season.
To stay connected, make sure to grab copies of our newspapers; bookmark OrangeObserver.com; and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram (search for Orange Observer).
Good luck to all our teams this year. See you on the sidelines!
GET YOUR GAME ON!
2025 All-Orange Observer high school football preseason teams
SAM ALBUQUERQUE SPORTS EDITOR
Once again, West Orange and Southwest Orange are chock full of talented high school football players. At almost every position on the field, there are a multitude of high-level college prospects spread throughout the area being recruited by or have already committed to some of the biggest programs in country.
To celebrate these athletes, we present our 2025 All-Orange Observer high school football preseason teams and our preseason offensive and defensive players of the year.
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
A.J. CHUNG, WEST ORANGE HIGH
On paper, the Warriors sophomore quarterback, who threw for 861 yards on 103 attempts with eight touchdowns, being selected as the area’s top offensive player for the season might
seem like a bit of a stretch. To this, we say, respectfully: Go watch the tape of the Warriors spring game or kickoff classic before filing any complaints.
Simply put, Chung is the most exciting and talented quarterback in the area and as he rocks the No. 12 entering his first season as West Orange’s QB1 his playing style, throwing motion and effective mobility are reminiscent of a young Aaron Rodgers — who just so happens to be one of his favorite QBs.
Beyond his insane arm talent and lightning quick processing ability, Chung will be leading a high-powered offense with weapons at every level — such as Louisville commit Devonte Anderson, leading receiver Edison Delgado, leading rusher Jayden Ammons and newcomers Yuto Kawamura-Johnson and Dakiren Glover — and a solid offensive line led by returning starters Fenway Cochrane and Alex Castellanos.
When it’s all said and done, the sophomore with offers from Arkansas, USF, FAU, Virginia Tech, Purdue and more is worth the price of admission.
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
C.J. BRONAUGH, WINDERMERE HIGH
On the opposite side of the
spectrum to Chung is Windermere’s four-star defensive back who is committed to play for the Florida Gators, C.J. Bronaugh.
One of the highest sought after prospects in the area, the 6-foot-1 lockdown corner and multiple-time state champion sprinter had a breakout season for the Wolverines in 2024, catching six interceptions, returning three of them for touchdowns in just eight games played.
Unlike Chung, however, Bronaugh might actually not be worth the price of admission. Because he’s so good at shutting out the opposition’s best receiver, the other team’s quarterback won’t dare look his direction — let alone risk a turnover by throwing to the man Bronaugh is covering. But if you insist on watching the young man do wind sprints, I’d recommend you buy a ticket to one of his track meets in the spring, which is a more entertaining version of his dominance.
Regardless of whether it’s fun to watch the future Gator pick on opposing receivers and terrify quarterbacks, there’s a reason why he had more than 30 offers to play college football next season and why he’s the Observer’s pick for preseason defensive player of the year.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
n QUARTERBACK
A.J. Chung, West Orange, So.
n RUNNING BACKS
Zion Matthews, Dr. Phillips, Sr. Henry Rogers, Windermere, Sr.
n WIDE RECEIVERS
Jaylen Davis, Windermere, Jr. Edison Delgado, West Orange, Sr.
Demetrice McCray, The First Academy, Sr.
Brian Williams Jr., The First Academy, Sr.
n OFFENSIVE LINE
Chancellor Barclay, The First Academy, Jr.
Reed Ramsier, The First Academy, Jr.
Deuce Forrester, Windermere, Sr. Fenway Cochrane, West Orange, So.
R.J. Stamm, Dr. Phillips, Sr.
DEFENSE
n DEFENSIVE LINE
Jayden Buckhanon, Dr. Phillips, Sr.
Maurice Jones Jr., Dr. Phillips, Sr.
Matheus Kaminski Cordeiro, West Orange, So.
Lex Willis, The First Academy, Sr.
n LINEBACKERS
Holden Kubitz, Horizon, Sr. Willems Noel, Windermere, Sr.
Kingston Shaw, The First Academy, Sr.
n DEFENSIVE BACKS
C.J. Bronaugh, Windermere, Sr. McHenry Fortilien, Dr. Phillips, Sr.
Dariyon Gordon, Ocoee, Sr.
Devin Jackson, The First Academy, Sr.
UTILITY
n ATHLETES
Devonte Anderson, West Orange, Sr.
Ja’Cari Jackson, Olympia, Sr.
Kaio Oliveira, Horizon, Sr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
n QUARTERBACK
Tyson Davison, Ocoee, Sr.
n RUNNING BACKS
Jaelyn Powell, The First Academy, Jr.
Sam Wood, Foundation Academy, Jr.
n WIDE RECEIVERS
Marvin Brown, Ocoee, Jr.
Peyton Hollern, Windermere Prep, Sr.
Noah McMullen, Foundation, Sr.
Davy Murphy, Central Florida Christian, Jr.
n OFFENSIVE LINE
Jordyn Aiken, Lake Buena Vista, Jr.
Teagan Blust, Central Florida Christian, Sr.
Tyler Duvermont, Ocoee, Sr.
Fuad Maali, Olympia, Sr.
Will Trimble, Windermere, Sr. DEFENSE
n DEFENSIVE LINE
DeMarco Henderson III, Dr. Phillips, Jr.
Elijah Mosby, Windermere, Sr.
D.J. Whiley, The First Academy, Sr.
n LINEBACKERS
Aiden Cubero, Foundation Academy, Sr.
Aiden Harris, Olympia, Sr.
Abishai Smith, Horizon, Jr.
Nolan Turner, West Orange, Sr.
n DEFENSIVE BACKS
Cole Huntley, Foundation, Jr.
Danny Odem, The First Academy, Sr.
Xayvion Mincey, Dr. Phillips, Jr.
Chakai Scott, West Orange, Sr.
UTILITY
n ATHLETES
Stoley Cenemat, Lake Buena Vista, Jr.
Brian Dillard, The First Academy, Jr.
Eric Weems Jr., Olympia, Sr.
Thomas Lightbody | TK Photography West Orange quarterback A.J. Chung launched a pass during the Warriors preseason game against Horizon High.
Tammy Forrester
Windermere Wolverines’ shut-down corner C.J. Bronaugh enters 2025 as one of the area’s top players.
2024 RECORD
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, at Dillard (8 p.m. start)
Friday, Aug. 29, vs. University
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Apopka
Friday, Sept. 12, at Ocoee
Friday, Sept. 19, at Wekiva
Friday, Sept. 26, vs. Olympia*^
Friday, Oct. 10, at East Ridge*
Friday, Oct. 17, at Edgewater
Friday, Oct. 24, vs. Celebration*
Thursday, Oct. 30, at West Orange^ (6:30 p.m. start)
* District game
^ RIVALRY GAMES
RIVALRY GAMES
WEST ORANGE WARRIORS
Rivalry name: “Ole” Orange Crate Game
Trophy name: “Ole” Orange Crate
2025 game: Friday, Oct. 24 at West Orange
2024 result: Beat West Orange, 33-11
OLYMPIA TITANS
2025 game: Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Olympia
2024 result: Beat Olympia, 42-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ZION MATTHEWS
Senior | Running back
Despite splitting time in a loaded backfield in 2024, Matthews managed to average 7.8 yards per carry and score six touchdowns on just 42 total touches. With both of his 2024 backfield part ners graduated, Matthews will be featured as the workhorse back for a Panthers team that’ll need to lean on its run game as it introduces a new starting QB for the first time in four years.
MCHENRY FORTILIEN
Senior | Defensive back Fortilien, a 6-foot, 180-pound corner with multiple D-I offers in cluding one from his coach’s alma mater, Syracuse, will be one of the key returning starters to this Pan thers defense that should be the backbone of this team. In 2024, he racked up 28 tackles, three for a loss, caught three interceptions and forced one fumble.
DR. PHILLIPS PANTHERS
6500 TURKEY LAKE ROAD, ORLANDO, CLASS 7A, DISTRICT 9
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE:
BILL SPOONE STADIUM
The 6,000-seat stadium, which sits in the literally shadow of Universal Orlando’s Hogwarts Castle, is home to one of the most passionate fanbases in Southwest Orange. Named after Dr. Phillips High Schol’s founding principal, Bill Spoone, the Panthers home field is the largest of any area program.
o matter what happened the season before — whether you won a state title or lost every game — one thing remains the same for the Dr. Phillips Panthers under legendary coach Rodney Wells: The standard is the standard,
“Once you win a state championship, that’s the standard you always hold yourself to, and we can’t allow that standard to drop no matter what,” Wells said. “It doesn’t matter that we lost 29-30 seniors from last season’s team. Even if those guys were pillars of the program ... the expectation is still the same. We
COACH’S CORNER
had a great season last year, getting to the final four, but we made some critical mistakes against Lake Mary that we have to clean up going forward to keep our standards. If we do that this year, we’ll meet our goal — which is the same every year: Win the district, get home field in the playoffs and go 5-0 in the playoffs.”
With a young roster, new starters across key positions and a tough schedule, one might be inclined to doubt Wells ability to maintain the standard he expects from his program, do so at your own risk because the Panthers don’t rebuild, they reload.
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
TRANSFER TRACKER
CAMREN WEST
Senior | Quarterback
2024 Team: Osceola High
“West is special,” Wells said. “The kid can run, he can throw. The only issue right now is that he’s just trying to catch up on the verbiage of our plays and learn what our OC Tyrone Sapp is looking for on offense. He’s definitely a dynamic player, and both West
“It doesn’t matter the personnel, we have to be able to run the ball, stop the run and play good defense and special teams. That’s who I am as a coach and that’s the formula we’ve been winning with here for a long time, so we’re going to keep doing that. With this group we have a lot of speed, more than we’ve had in a while, so hopefully, we can utilize that speed to get some big plays within our offense.”
— Rodney Wells
2024 RECORD:
1-9
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, at Olympia
Friday, Aug. 29, at Lake Nona
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Wekiva
Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Forest*
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Evans
Friday, Sept. 26, vs. Winter Springs
Friday, Oct. 10, at South Lake*
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. Lake Minneola*
Friday, Oct. 24, at Davenport*
Friday, Oct. 31, at Windermere^ * District game
^ RIVALRY GAME
Rival: Windermere High Rivalry name: Battle of the Grove Trophy name:
The Smudge Pot 2025 game:
Friday, Oct. 31, vs. Horizon 2024 result:
Lost to Windermere, 13-7 (OT)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
KAIO OLIVERA
Senior | Athlete
“I can’t say enough about Kaio. I’ve been coaching a long time, and he’s just one of the best young men I’ve ever been around, if not the best,” Thomas said. “He just does everything right. He works hard and has a lot of natural ability to go along with the fact he also has a 4.0 GPA and is just a great human being. That’s why West Point and Navy wanted him to play there, and why he eventually committed to West Point. He is just that guy, and he’s a great leader for us.”
HOLDEN KUBITZ
Senior | Linebacker
“Kubitz had a pretty good offseason and showed out at the FCA camp we went to,” Thomas said. “He’s just a tackling machine. He’s not the biggest guy or anything, but he’s just a scrappy guy (who) does whatever it takes out there to make a play. He just loves this game.”
HOME FIELD
ADVANTAGE:
HORIZON HIGH STADIUM
The Hawks home field — thanks to their devoted fanbase and the special energy that local lore says comes from the Hawks’ Eye, a natural sinkhole wetland the stadium is built around — in just a short period of time has grown into a difficult place for visiting teams to go in and get a win.
HORIZON HAWKS
10393 SEIDEL ROAD, WINTER GARDEN, CLASS 6A, DISTRICT 6
Horizon’s 1-9 record, the worst finish to a season in the program’s four-year history, is a misleading representation of the type of team that the Hawks put on the field in 2024. The fact the Hawks went 1-4 in five one-possession games is evidence of that misrepresentation. With that perspective and the return of a majority of its offense led by do-itall athlete and Army commit Kaio Oliveira and a stout offensive line and a variety of key pieces on its defense — including its dynamic linebacker trio of Holden Kubitz, Abishai Smith and Trace Kulczar — expect the Hawks to be one of the area’s surprise teams in 2025.
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
COACH’S CORNER
“From our spring game, which went really well … to our summer workouts, we’ve had a great offseason. We feel like (we’ve done well) at getting stronger in the weight room during the offseason. We also added one of our track coaches to the football staff, so that’s helping us get faster, as well. But overall, we just have great kids, good parents and a good community behind us that’s helped us grow each year.” — Dennis Thomas
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, at Cypress Creek
Friday, Aug. 29, vs. Colonial Friday, Sept. 5, at University
Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Oak Ridge
Friday, Sept. 19, at West Orange
Friday, Sept. 26, vs. Windermere
Friday, Oct. 10, vs. Lake Weir
(7:30 p.m. start)
Friday, Oct. 17, at Innovation
Thursday, Oct. 23, at East River
Thursday, Oct. 30, vs. Liberty
PLAYERS TO WATCH
STOLEY CENEMAT
Junior | Athlete
“That kid has ice water in his veins,” Peddy said. “You can’t break him. He gets knocked down, and the kid pops up every time. Last year, I saw him get body-slammed and he just popped right back up like nothing happened. He’s just a different type of athlete and a big leader for us. He’s going to play more receiver this year. I’ll put him on defense too, but he’s just that dude for us.”
MARLEY SHAVER
Junior | Linebacker
“He’s not scared to come up against somebody and just get physical,” Peddy said. “He’s just a tough kid. Just watch him run around the outside against a big guy, and he’s not scared. It’s nice to see a kid like that take what we’ve been trying to implement in our guys for the past three years.”
TRANSFER TRACKER
JORDYN AIKEN
Junior | Offensive, defensive lineman
2024 Team: Evans High Aiken is a massive get for this Vipers team, he adds a 6-foot-5 nearly, 300-pound presence to the front of both the offensive and defensive
LAKE BUENA VISTA VIPERS
11305 DARYL CARTER PARKWAY, ORLANDO, INDEPENDENT
For Lake Buena Vista coach
Brant Peddy, 2025 doesn’t feel like Year 4. Rather, it feels like the start of the program he’s been wanting to build is finally here.
“What I’ve seen from these kids since we started this summer has been amazing,” Peddy said. “I wasn’t sure what we were going to have, but we’ve had (more than) 30 kids showing every day since the summer, and they’ve been getting better and better and better each day because of the hard work they’ve put in. I’ve pushed them mentally and physically, tried to break them mentally, and these kids just want more. They want to stay late; they want to come in early; they want to work on the weekends. They hold each other accountable. The mental toughness is really getting there. This is still a process, but just seeing them come
COACH’S CORNER
“We coach hard, and that’s because if we don’t, if we’re not tough on these kids, we’re setting them up to fail in life.
So from Monday to Thursday, we’re going to coach hard,
in and put the work in, and the consistent numbers of what we’ve had, with the core group of kids we have is going to translate when we go out there on Friday nights.”
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
and when Friday comes around, we’re going to love them. These kids know I love them, and I want the best for them. Ultimately, that’s what we’re doing here — not just trying to get better at football, but teach-
ing them life lessons. Trying to make sure we’re doing everything right in school, outside of here. Kids have so many more distractions nowadays. They have so many decisions and choices, and life is made up of
TEAM SNAPSHOT
NO. 8: Orange Observer preseason power ranking
POSITION GROUP TO WATCH:
Offensive line: “Our offensive linemen are probably the leaders of this team,” Peddy said. “There’s not a whole lot of them, but that first five, they’re a good group. They really don’t come off the field for us, so they lead by example.”
OUTLOOK: “We play a lot of great teams in that independent schedule,” Peddy said. “We’re all right there; I feel like we’re all even. But you know, they all have great coaches, they have great players, I just hope that we can keep doing what we do and keep giving effort. Hopefully, we can compete with those teams and maybe we can sneak in a win or two there somewhere.”
COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH Brant Peddy (second season)
ASSISTANT COACHES
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
With a lively band and a increasingly involved fanbase, the young Vipers’ on-campus stadium not only brings a fun Friday Night Lights experience but also offers the unique backdrop of one of the prettiest views of the sunset you could get from an area school.
the choices you make. All we as coaches can do is try to help them make the right ones and these kids have bought in to what we’re doing.”
— Brant Peddy
Voices carry
West Orange and Southwest Orange football fans are lucky to have talented announcers narrating all the on-field action.
LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER
Sitting in a small booth considered the best seat in the house, public address announcers diligently work to keep the audience informed of the facts during a game. With computers, rosters, microphones and enthusiasm, PA announcers introduce players, announce scores, starting lineups, game progress and more.
Indeed, these voices are a critical component of each teams’ home-field atmosphere and advantage. And without them, Friday night football just wouldn’t be the same.
THE FIRST ACADEMY:
JOE FANA AND DR. TIM DIX
Having worked at The First Academy for more than 25 years, Joe Fana realized he wanted to get more involved with the school’s sports teams.
Six years ago, he became the PA announcer for the school.
Fana said he was never good at sports but has a deep love for them, so he started participating in sporting events as much as possible.
“Through the process of my time here, it became evident that I really wanted to use some of the gifts and talents that God has given me to help the school in the way of doing PA announcing,” Fana said. “Once I started doing it, I just knew how much
I really loved it and enjoyed engaging with the spectators and the athletes as well. … It’s my way of finding a way that I could contribute and hopefully make it an enjoyable experience during our athletic competitions.”
He explained that PA announcers don’t just sit down and start announcing. There is a lot of preparation that goes with it.
“We learn about not only our
own teams, but we learn about the opponents as well in a couple different ways,” Fana said. “We learn about ‘Who have they been playing?’ ‘What are the different student athletes?’ ‘Who are the student athletes to really keep an eye on?’ We (also) spend time trying to get to know the pronunciation of the student athletes, because it’s something that honors them on the (field)
and also honors their families. We do the best we can to pronounce names correctly.”
Fana will celebrate his 500th game as a PA announcer this fall.
“I can’t think of another place I’d rather be.”
In addition to Fana, TFA has another familiar voice in Tim Dix.
Dix grew up playing sports, and when he got to high
the
over
Sam Albuquerque
Joe Fana, left, and Dr. Tim Dix are the voices heard at Warden Stadium this football season.
school, he began taking speech and communication classes. Through those experiences, he became comfortable with public speaking, which became apparent to the school’s softball coach, who then asked Dix if he would be interesting in doing PA for softball games. He said yes.
Twnety-nine years later and he’s still announcing.
Dix has been at The First Academy for four years as a teacher and PA announcer, now severing as an assistant principal.
“For me, it’s the love of sports,” Dix said. “I love being around it. I love contributing to the excitement and to what’s taking place on the field. I love the opportunity to highlight students as well.”
Dix talked about the love and support students give him if he calls one of their names on the
and getting to be a part of that. Watching that team grow and gel.”
DR. PHILLIPS HIGH: RICHARD COLGAN
Besides teaching math at Dr. Phillips High, Richard Colgan also coaches cross country and track.
But that’s not all.
He’s also the PA announcer for the school.
His career as an announcer began shortly after graduating college, though Colgan said he didn’t do it for quite some time until moving to Florida from New Jersey.
“It makes me feel more connected to the game if I’m announcing or keeping stats,” he said. “It helps me to appreciate the game on another level.”
Like Dix, Colgan enjoys when his students come up to him
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
much they liked hearing their names,” he said. “That’s the really fun part of the job.”
Colgan said there’s a Florida bylaw that doesn’t allow PA announcers to act as cheerleaders. They must remain neutral throughout the games.
It’s not always an easy, but announcers go through training before stepping into the role.
To make the game as entertaining as possible without being a cheerleader, Colgan uses emphasis on certain words and says things enthusiastically, when appropriate.
This is his fourth year acting as PA announcer for the Panthers.
“They seem to like me announcing the games,” he said. “So as long as they like me announcing it, I’m happy to do it.”
WINDERMERE PREP:
JOHN ROE
John Roe has been announcing at Windermere Preparatory School for three years but has been in the industry for years.
He said his origin story is simple. At his kids’ games, he was very vocal — much to the dismay of his kids and his wife.
We’re either going to have to sit apart at games or you’re going to have to shut up, his wife, Beth Roe, said to him.
Beth Roe is the girls volleyball coach at the school, and at her first coaches meeting of the year, she mentioned her husband to the athletic director, who said the school was looking for an announcer.
While in the booth, Roe said he approaches the role as announcer with care and vigilance.
“I try to remember that this is high school sports, and those are all kids,” he said. “They’re still learning. Most of them are trying their hardest.”
He said he tries to make sure nobody walks away feeling upset about something he said of their performance.
“I try to be very positive, very excited for the home team without being over the top,” he said. “I try to recognize when the other teams do good work, as well.”
Roe said he thinks of himself
being an addition to the game.
“I try to make it as entertaining as possible for the fans without being a distraction,” he said. “I try to do things that the fans would appreciate and enjoy, (but) I try to approach it that the game is more important than anything I do.”
He said one of the best parts of being an announcer is being able to be close to the action.
Roe said all PA announcers are putting forth their best effort while performing their roles and duties. And they never want to be a distraction.
“If people don’t remember anything about what I did after a game is over — that’s important to me,” he said. “I’m there to help (the audience) enjoy the game — but not be memorable — in a positive way. If somebody remembers something that I said or a mistake I made, or some over-the-top comment that I made — that’s not appropriate.”
CENTRAL FLORIDA
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY:
MARC STOMPRUD
When Marc Stomprud was a young boy, he would watch bas-
ketball games on TV all the time.
One day, he heard a PA announcer doing the starting lineups and announcing when people scored.
“I thought to myself ‘Man, I would love to do that one day,’” he said. “And so I always wanted to do that.”
When he was in college, he heard the school’s basketball team needed a PA announcer.
“I just walked right into the athletic director’s office and just told him I was interested, and he gave me a shot,” Stomprud said.
“I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Aside from being the head of school at Central Florida Christian Academy, Stomprud has announced for multiple sports, including football, basketball, softball, volleyball and lacrosse.
“As I got to know the Athletic Director Kyle (Wills), I mentioned to him, ‘Hey, I’ve been announcing my whole life. I love announcing and if you ever need me to, I will.’”
Do as many games as you’re willing to do, Wills told him.
As his side gig for most of his life, PA announcing allows him to enjoy the fun, enthusiastic
NEW NARRATORS
Both Ocoee High School and Foundation Academy will have new PA announcers this year.
atmosphere game-day brings.
“My favorite thing is probably when we do senior nights or homecoming, because it’s a very festive night,” he said. “There’s usually a bigger crowd for those games, there’s more electricity in the crowd. … It makes it fun.”
Besides the fun, announcing comes with responsibilities and seriousness, he said.
“I only announce facts — so and so scored, so and so fouled, so and so is the starting player — that kind of thing,” he said.
“I think people sometimes misunderstand that the PA announcer is supposed to be like a hype man or more a play-byplay… The PA announcer is just announcing facts.”
He said there are ways to make the crowd entertained without being a cheerleader, such as emphasizing certain calls for dramatic effect.
2024 RECORD:
5-5
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, at Apopka*
Friday, Aug. 29, at Olympia
Friday, Sept. 5, at Lake Nona
Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Dr. Phillips
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Boone
Friday, Sept. 26, at West Port*
Friday, Oct. 3, at Hudson (7:30 p.m. start)
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. Winter Park
Friday, Oct. 24, vs. West Orange*^
Friday, Oct. 31, at Jones
* District game
^ RIVALRY GAME
WEST ORANGE WARRIORS
Rivalry name: The Shield game
Trophy name: The Shield 2025 game:
Friday, Oct. 24 vs. West Orange
2024 result: Lost at West Orange, 21-14
OCOEE KNIGHTS
1925 OCOEE CROWN POINT PARKWAY, OCOEE, CLASS 7A, DISTRICT 5
TRANSFER TRACKER
NEHEMIAH BURGESS
Senior | Running back
2024 Team: West Orange High Burgess is a bruising back who not only brings a tough presence to the Ocoee run game but also adds even more experience to this talented team. Last season, he rushed for 460 yards and three touchdowns on 83 carries for the Warriors.
DAMAR’EON CAWTHON
Senior | Wide receiver
2024 Team: Apopka High “Damar’eon is going to be key for us as an outside receiver,” Gurley said. “He has some wheels on him, very good hands and is very knowledgeable in routes. He still needs to develop a bit more because he hasn’t had that experience of just catching a bunch of balls but we can see his talent just by doing a couple of 7-on-7s. What he can do when the ball is in his hands is fun to watch.”
HOME FIELD
ADVANTAGE
Game days at Ocoee High are different than any other Fri day Night Lights experience in West Orange, thanks to the Knights’ tremen dous marching band, electric dance team and a loud-and-proud fanbase. The Ocoee faithful should have plenty of reasons to make a ton of noise this season.
Much has changed for the Ocoee Knights in 2025, including new coordinators on both sides of the ball, a new starting quarterback and a load of new players up and down the roster. However, if you ask third-year coach Buck Gurley about all that’s new, he’ll remind of what remains the same: the game of football.
“Football has not changed, right?” he said. “It doesn’t matter who’s calling plays, we’re always going to go out there and try to take advantage of what the other team is giving us. If
outside have the advantage we’re going to throw them the ball. Football is all about taking advantage of what the opponent is giving you.”
That mindset, combined with the toughness Gurley instills in his players from the very start of camp and a
COACH’S CORNER
“This group is showing a lot of leadership. A lot of the players (who) were hurt last season have come back with a different type of energy and
heap of athletes all over the Knights’ roster and, well, expect Ocoee to put on a show every time the Knights step on the gridiron.
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
desire. Those players have come back with a championship attitude, which now has gravitated toward the rest of the team and is building something special. … It all start with our tough-
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MARVIN BROWN
Junior | Wide receiver
“Marvin is a very speedy wide receiver, who has now grown a lot thanks to the work he’s put into developing his hands,” Gurley said. “He’s been catching everything over the summer, especially the deep ball. Which, him, as that deep threat this season for us is just phenomenal.”
DARIYON GORDON
Senior | Defensive back
A three-star prospect with offers from Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, UCF and others, Gordon is a shutdown corner back for the Knights. His length, standing at 6-foot-1, top-notch ball skills and ability to shadow receivers makes him the best press man corner in the area.
ness, and from what I’ve seen, this year, we’re going to be an extremely physical team with a year more of experience.”
— Buck Gurley
2024 RECORD
4-6
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. Horizon
Friday, Aug. 29, vs. Ocoee
Friday, Sept. 5, at Boone
Friday, Sept. 12, at Timber Creek
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Lake Nona
Friday, Sept. 26, at Dr. Phillips*^
Friday, Oct. 10, vs. Celebration*
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. West Orange^
Friday, Oct. 24, at East Ridge*
Thursday, Oct. 30, at Winter Park
* District game
^ RIVALRY GAMES
DR. PHILLIPS PANTHERS
2025 game: Friday, Sept. 26, at Dr. Phillips 2024 result:
Lost to Dr. Phillips, 42-0
WEST ORANGE WARRIORS
Rivalry name: The Backyard Bowl Trophy name: The Fence 2025 game:
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. West Orange 2024 result: Lost at West Orange, 35-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ERIC WEEMS JR.
Senior | Athlete
The son of a former NFL player, the Titans’ offensive weapon is like a Swiss army knife, being deployed in a variety of ways which usually ends up with the Bethune-Cookman commit getting the ball and carryig it for a chunk of yards.
JA’CARI JACKSON
Senior | Defensive back
Primarily used as a shutdown corner, expect to see the ultradynamic UCF commit spend some time at receiver and maybe even at quarterback again this season for the Titans.
TRANSFER TRACKER
DANIEL STILLS
Senior | Defensive back 2024 Team: Foundation Academy
A speedy athlete who played in all three phases of the game for the Lions, Stills will be used primar ily as a corner for the Titans. With his ad dition, expect the Titans secondary to be one of the best in the area in 2025.
OLYMPIA TITANS
4301 S. APOPKA-VINELAND ROAD, ORLANDO, CLASS 7A, DISTRICT 9
After a season in which all but one starter returned from the previous year, this season brings a much-needed measure of consistency to the Olympia Titans football team
“We don’t have many big changes coming into this season, but we have some,” Olympia coach Travis Gabriel said. “Every school is going to have some changes from season to season. Even if it’s the same kids on the roster,
COACH’S CORNER
something has changed within them. Whether it’s the experience or if they got bigger or stronger. We might have moved a kid from one position to the next. For us, that’s where the changes are coming from this year … and these guys have been consistent with showing up and putting in the work during the offseason. I think that’s the biggest thing with this group — our consistency.”
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
“We’re just going to lean on one another. I’m going to lean on my assistant coaches to help put our kids in the right place to compete, and then we’re going to depend on the kids to go out there and perform to the best of their ability. … I never measure anything off wins and losses: That’s never going to be me. I just want to continue to see these kids get better. I’m going to do what I can to help us be better week in and week out, and as long as we’re getting better, I’m going to always celebrate that as success.”
— Travis Gabriel
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The home of Olympia football, Titan Field is an on-campus stadium that sits in a mini-valley and provides a unique bird’s eye view at its hilltop entrance. Although smaller than some of its other counterparts, the cozy stadium gets awfully rowdy thanks to a lively student section, making Titans home games a real treat for the Olympia faithful.
TITAN FIELD
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. Evans
Friday, Aug. 29, at Wekiva
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Titusville
Friday, Sept. 12, at Boone
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Lake Buena Vista
Friday, Sept. 26, at Apopka*
Friday, Oct. 10, vs. West Port*
Friday, Oct. 17, at Olympia^
Friday, Oct. 24, at Ocoee*^
Thursday, Oct. 30, vs. Dr. Phillips^ (6:30 p.m. start)
* District game
^ Rivalry games
PLAYERS TO WATCH
A.J. CHUNG
Sophomore | Quarterback
After splitting time from under center as a freshman, Chung will take over as the Warriors’ QB1 in 2025 and is expected to lean on his array of weapons to take the West Orange passing game to the next level. With a live arm, good mobility and 6-foot, 170-pound frame, the sophomore gunslinger — whose game is reminiscent of a young Aaron Rodgers — has impressed college coaches and picked up offers from Arkansas, FAU, Purdue, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and more.
DEVONTE ANDERSON
Senior | Athlete
A shutdown cornerback on defense and a threat to take it to the house whenever he gets the ball on offense or as a returner, Anderson, a three-star Louisville commit, will play a key role in every phase of the game for the Warriors in 2025. 2024
TRANSFER TRACKER
DYLAN HOSKINS
Senior | Defensive back
2024 Team: Ocoee High
Coming over from West Orange’s bitter rival, Hoskins is not only another stellar addition to the Warriors’ always-talented secondary but also brings a heap of experience to the veteran group. Being deployed often as a nickel corner in West Orange’s spring game, the 5-foot-11 transfer should play a key role this season.
YUTO KAWAMURA-JOHNSON
Junior | Wide receiver 2024 Team: Komaba
Gakuen High (Japan)
Landing in West Orange from as far east as one can go, the 5-foot11, 185-pound receiver is a physical specimen. Lining up with leading receiver Edison Delgado, twoway athlete Devonte Anderson and speedster Dakiren Glover, the transfer from Japan could fly under the radar this season.
WEST ORANGE WARRIORS
1625 BEULAH ROAD, WINTER GARDEN, CLASS 7A, DISTRICT 5
COACH’S CORNER
The West Orange Warriors are primed to have another phenomenal season under fourth-year coach Geno Thompson thanks to its well-rounded and experienced roster with strengths on both sides of the ball.
Along with the Warriors returning key players from every position group, the resilience this 2025 group has shown is what makes Thompson believe this could be a special season.
“Last year, I believe there were six games that ended up (going down to) the final drive,” he said. “Whether we were on offense having to score to get a win, or we were on defense having to defend the win, in all six of those games, we came away with the with the W. The resiliency of that team is still showing through this year. … (Look at) the spring game ... we were down by 14 points going into the fourth quarter. This team didn’t back down. This team didn’t bat an eyelash.”
“For us at West Orange, it’s all about sacrificing me for we. Everything is about laying it down for the brother next to you. In everything that we do, we try to not just build up the (kid) as a football player but also as a good hu man being, as good individual in the classroom (and in) the community. We truly try to be the best version of ourselves and help the kids be the best version of themselves.”
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
RAYMOND SCREWS STADIUM
With one of the area’s most rabid fanbases, led by its student section, a huge and always packed home-stand and a top-notch band, cheer team and dance team, game days at West Orange’s on-campus stadium, Raymond Screws Field, is a prime example of what Friday Night Lights are supposed to feel like.
— Geno Thompson
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. Harmony
Friday, Aug. 29, vs. Cypress Creek
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Colonial
Friday, Sept. 12, at University
Friday, Sept. 19, at East River
Friday, Sept. 26, at Lake Buena Vista
Friday, Oct. 10, at Oak Ridge
Friday, Oct. 17, at McLaughlin
Friday, Oct. 24, vs. Innovation
Friday, Oct. 31, vs. Horizon^
^ RIVALRY GAME
Rival: Horizon High
Rivalry name:
Battle of the Grove Trophy name:
The Smudge Pot 2025 game:
Friday, Oct. 31, vs. Horizon 2024 result:
Beat Horizon, 13-7 (OT)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
C.J. BRONAUGH
Senior | Defensive back
Despite missing two games in 2024, the four-star Florida commit led the Windermere secondary with six interceptions and established himself as one of the best overall defensive backs in the state. Coming into 2025 with a clean bill of health, the 6-foot-1 sprinter will be key for the Wolverines.
HENRY ROGERS
Senior | Running back
In just seven games for the Wolverines in 2024, Rogers led the team with 595 rushing yards on 87 carries — an average of 6.8 yards per carry — and seven touchdowns. With a new QB1 and an experienced offensive line, expect the powerful back to be featured early and often for Windermere.
TRANSFER TRACKER
BREYLON SANCHEZ
Senior | Quarterback
2024 team: Lyman High
“He’s got a live arm and he has some escapability,” Smith said. “Right now, it’s just more or less about getting up to speed with the playbook and developing chemistry and timing with our weapons.”
WINDERMERE WOLVERINES
5523 WINTER GARDEN-VINELAND ROAD, WINDERMERE, INDEPENDENT
After the Wolverines finished a perfect 10-0 while playing its first season as a member of the Orange County Independent League and christening a new on-campus stadium, coach Riki Smith and his crew will try to adjust to the circumstances of 2025 and recapture the magic that made 2024 the best season in program history.
“Schematically, on offense, we’re going to be a little bit different,” he said. “Last year, we were more spread out and finesse. This year we’re going to be more of a power run, heavy personnel-type team. We’ll definitely throw the ball a bit, but we’re going to lean on the experience and physicality of our offensive line. … On defense, it’s kind of the opposite. We lost all four of our starters up front, and those were guys were good, and they were stout. This group is more athletic as a whole, a lot
COACH’S CORNER
faster and aggressive too, so we’re going to lean on that speed to hopefully attack the QB and play suffocating defense on the back end. We feel really good about our secondary. We have C.J. and Braylon Speed manning our outside corner positions,
and then we bring back two safeties in Eddie and Diego, who started last year for us. So we feel good about the secondary, I also feel good about our linebackers.
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
“My focus isn’t on matching last season’s record; it’s on becoming a better football team than we were last year. That’s the standard of Windermere football. We want to improve every year. Whether that’s one step or that’s five steps. … We don’t let our record deter mine our success. We know that if we focus on the right things, that’ll take care of itself. So we’re just focused on getting the little things right each day. That’s the kind of person I am; I focus on the little details and getting it right over and over again, and that’s what we’ve really been harping on this offseason ... our job as coaches is to make sure, we keep them dialed in and not let them get complacent.”
— Riki Smith
After opening its brand new oncampus football stadium in 2024, the Wolverines officially have a place to call home and, now, have had an entire offseason to develop the identity of their home field. As the season begins, following the unprecedented success of the program in 2024, expect the Windermere faithful to be a factor in leading its boys of fall to victory.
JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON
Of course, no Friday night football game would be complete without the marching bands. And this year, music fans at Dr. Phillips, Horizon and Windermere high schools are in for a treat.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
High school stadiums come to life almost every Friday night during football season.
From cheers by the crowds and student sections to whistles from referees to the booming voices of announcers, there are sounds all around.
But the loudest sounds come at halftime, when the football players clear the field, and it’s time for the marching bands to shine.
Much like football teams, marching bands across West Orange and Southwest Orange have been gearing up for Friday night lights for weeks.
For some, the Friday halftime performances are an opportunity to sharpen their shows to prepare for competitions. For others, the games are an opportunity for bands to showcase their talents and have fun on the field.
Lake Buena Vista’s Viper Vanguard will present “The Vanished” this season, while the theme of the West Orange Warrior Band’s show this year is “Robin Hood.”
All bands will debut their 2025 field shows as the football season begins, and with the numerous hours of dedication and passion poured into every practice and performance, their halftime performances are can’t-miss.
The Sound of Horizon has grown since its inception five years ago to include at least 200 students. The program initially started with 36 students.
HORIZON HIGH
Charlene Cannon, band director for Horizon High School, watched about 200 students show up to band camp with excitement in their eyes.
She recalled five years ago when Horizon High opened its doors for the first time to welcome freshmen, sophomores and juniors on campus. The band consisted of 36 students, 19 of which played wind instruments. The rest were percussionists or members of the color guard.
Cannon said it has been incredibly rewarding to see the growth of the band program since the school’s inception.
“I believe that focusing on building a positive culture in a place where students feel safe and accepted and able to pursue their passion as a band student or as a color guard student has truly been the emphasis that has built the problem,” Cannon said.
She said building a program from scratch has been a humbling learning experience. Staff and students have found ways to adapt as the program has increased in numbers so quickly. The program is buying more instruments and ensuring everybody has what is needed to participate.
“I would much rather have a lot of students (who) are happy and enjoying the program than just limiting it,” Cannon said. “It’s important everyone has access to what we do.”
The largest growth in the program has been in percussion and color guard.
Cannon said the color guard is important because it makes the band look good as the color guard is the “vibe of the show” bringing a splash of color to the performance. Having the color guard start at seven or eight students five years ago to 35 today has been tremendous, she said.
The band started with four percussionists in the front ensemble and a couple students in the drumline. Now it consists of 37 percussionists, which
means the drumline and front ensemble have a bigger impact.
Unlike other bands in West Orange and Southwest Orange, Horizon High School’s Sound of Horizon is not a competitive band. Cannon said the band wants a competitive product, but the band will not participate in competitions.
“The emphasis is more so on the individual musician and the individual performer and just putting on a great show and doing a great job while we do it,” she said.
This year, Horizon’s band will be performing its “Villain” show, which has a dark twist and is a darker show compared to previous years. Cannon said it’s the first time the band is performing a show with a darker theme. It plays with the idea that “every villain is the hero of their own story,” she said.
“The emphasis is more so on the individual musician and the individual performer and just putting on a great show and doing a great job while we do it.”
— Charlene Cannon
From “How Villains are Made” to “Be Prepared” from Disney’s “The Lion King” to “Seize the Power” to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” each song in the show emanates the villain theme with a bad guy woven through it.
While the focus of last year’s band was building community, this year, Cannon said the students and staff have been talking about purpose, passion and unity. She said that focus will drive the program to the next level.
When it comes to the concert band programs, Cannon said having at least 200 students in the band program allows the classes to be split into a concert band, symphonic band and wind ensemble.
“We previously had a beginning band class last year, and actually, all of the students who were in the beginning band last year joined the program this year, which was great,” she said. “It was like our own feeder this year. We are still accepting beginners, but they are going directly into concert band, and I have students that are taking that class as a secondary band class to mentor those beginning students.”
DR. PHILLIPS
Because Dr. Phillips High is a performing arts magnet school, Sarah Lightbody, one of the school’s band directors, said the caliber of players already is raised.
“That means, even if you’re not in the magnet program, in the band, we still expect really high standards from them,” Lightbody said. “A lot of kids will try to match up to the magnet kids just because they’re always here and they’re always in front of them. It just means we have very high standards for our kids, but we also really try to have a lot of fun with them.”
Dr. Phillips High School’s band earned the Otto J. Kraushaar Award for straight superior ratings at all assessed events for the school year.
Lightbody said earning the award propelled the band into a successful year as it continues its legacy of success. The DP band program has earned a superior rating at the marching band Music Performance Assessment for at least the past 19 years.
“We always try not to emphasize the rating at MPA; we try to emphasize performing to your
“Everyone’s best is going to look a little different,” she said. “It’s nice to see everybody is trying so hard and encouraging each other, and truly, you can see it. You feel it on the field too, all of them pushing each other to be their best.”
— Sarah Lightbody
best abilities, but it’s still pretty cool to say there’s two decades of really, really high-level scores,” she said. “We’re not competitive, so we just do this for fun — for the joy of musicmaking.”
Although the students care about sounding good, playing hard music and the rating,
Courtesy photos
The Dr. Phillips High School marching band is ready to take the field with its show “Beyond the Rainbow.”
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
Lightbody said at the end of the day, people’s favorite memory is playing with their friends and being part of a team.
Lightbody said the emphasis for this year simply is enjoying their craft and doing their best.
“Everyone’s best is going to look a little different,” she said. “It’s nice to see everybody is trying so hard and encouraging each other, and truly, you can see it. You feel it on the field too, all of them pushing each other to be their best.”
This year, Dr. Phillips’ show is “Beyond the Rainbow,” featuring music from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked” and “The Wiz.” It’s the storytelling journey of Dorothy after she ends up in the whimsical land of Oz.
Despite the movie “Wicked” taking the world by storm and becoming a phenomenon, Lightbody said the choice in selecting the show didn’t come from the movie. She said it all stemmed from the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” As Lightbody and the school’s other band director, Jonathan Money, began talking show ideas, Lightbody said she brought up the concept of a rainbow and as the discussion progressed, it turned from “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
to “No One Mourns the Wicked” and on.
“It wasn’t just the movie, but that does help the hype quite a bit,” she said.
Lightbody added the best way the band will be able to showcase the performance is through the drill, which was created by former DP band director Charles Waterford. The band will be marching in the forms of tornadoes, houses and symbols, making the story come to life in another way besides music and colors from the color guard.
WINDERMERE
The Fighting Wolverine Band and Guard will be taking its show “Rhapsody in Madness” to the Florida Federation of Colorguard Circuit Outdoor Championships in The Villages and the Bands of America Orlando Regional Championship at Camping World Stadium this year.
The ensemble consists of at least 160 students this year who will perform songs by Queen, Muse and Pixies.
“‘Rhapsody in Madness’ is a play on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ and just finding the harmony within the chaos of everything that’s going on,” said Marc Kolodinsky, the band director.
Kolodinsky said he wants to give students various oppor-
tunities to perform in different environments, which is why the band and color guard will compete in the FFCC Outdoor Championship and Bands of America — especially with both competitions being local this year.
Camping World Stadium will be an “amazing venue” in which the band will perform, Kolodinsky said.
“At the BOA regional, there’ll be bands from all over the country,” he said. “Last year, there were some bands from California, Oklahoma that came down. There’s that aspect of we are in Central Florida, which is a tourism area, so a lot of these great bands from around the country see this as an opportunity to travel and come down here for that. It’s exposing the kids to students from all over the United States that are doing the same exact thing that they’re doing and just being able to see it live is something that’s almost become a lost artform.”
Kolodinsky is in his third year as Windermere’s band director and has seen the program grow from 107 students in 2023 to at least 160 this year.
He said this year’s class of freshmen is one of the largest classes to come through the band during his time at the school. With this comes pros
and cons. More students means more opportunities to perform various aspects of drill and produce louder sound, but also there are more students who are learning the basics of marching and trying to play and march for the first time.
“It’s exciting to have a good number of families that are involved,” he said. “The hardest ensemble to assimilate into is the marching band, because not only are you just sitting down playing, but now you’re having to remember where to go on the field, not get hit by flags and sabres and rifles — and stay together.”
“(Bands of
America)
is
exposing the kids to students from all over the United States that are doing the same exact thing that they’re doing and just being able to see it live is something that’s almost become a lost artform.”
— Marc Kolodinsky
Michael Eng
The Windermere High School marching band will return to the Bands of America Orlando Regional Championship for the first time since 2022.
2024 RECORD
3-6
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
CENTRAL FLORIDA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY EAGLES
700 GOOD HOMES ROAD, ORLANDO, INDEPENDENT
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. Trinity Prep*
Friday, Aug. 29, at Marco Island Academy
Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Saint Stephen’s Episcopal*
Friday, Sept. 19, at Bronson
Friday, Sept. 26, vs. Windermere Prep
Friday, Oct. 3, vs. Master’s Academy
Friday, Oct. 10, at Cornerstone Charter
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. Boca Raton Christian
Friday, Oct. 24, vs. Seven Rivers Christian * Region game
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DAVY MURPHY
Junior | Wide receiver
In his first season with the Eagles, Murphy gained a total of 1,409 all-purpose yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
“I believe everybody on schedule knows who he is,” Blackman said. “Davey is a remarkable talent, and it is a blessing to get and keep him here. … The fact that he’s decided to stay and stick it out with CFCA tells you what he thinks of the program, what we think of the program, where the program is headed.”
NYSHAUN DRYE
Freshman | Athlete
In nine games for the Eagles last season, Drye showed his versatility and athleticism on both sides of the ball. As an offensive weapon, he scored five total touchdowns and gained 493 all-purpose yards. On defense, he racked up 34 total tackles, caught three interceptions and had three pass break-ups.
COACH’S CORNER
Following a winless season in 2023, CFCA coach Kevin Blackman’s first season, 2024 saw the Eagles capture three wins with one of the youngest teams in the area. As the 2025 season begins, Blackman’s team has taken the momentum from last year and used it to build what might be the year’s surprise team in the area.
“Our team saw a lot of success in the spring, and it kind of built their confidence coming into the fall,” Blackman said. “A lot of that came from our offensive line, giving confidence to all of our skill positions and our QBs, because they knew they’d have time ... We didn’t run the ball well last season, and I want to emphasize that this year. If we do, it gives our QBs time to throw the ball, helps allow them to go from their main reads to their check down. That starts with the line, and I’m excited to see where our line is going to be this year.”
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
TRANSFER TRACKER
GAVIN PRIVATZU
Eighth grade | Quarterback 2024 Team: Foundation Academy
One of the most talented young quarterbacks in the area, Privatzu should feature under center along with last year’s starter Mason Mathis. The middle-school-age QB possess a rocket arm and an already-advanced level of understanding of defenses.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
THE EAGLES’ NEST
Central Florida Christian’s on-campus field, located on the campus of Church at the Cross, is famously marked by the massive cross towering over church buildings.
“All of our returning players have been in the weight room this offseason. We’ve been doing 7-on-7s, essentially wherever and whatever we’ve asked of this group they’ve been doing it, and to me, that shows a lot of maturity. They’re understanding what it takes to be champions, which for
a lot of these guys is a big development from two years ago, considering some had never played football in their lives. Going from that to being part of establishing our culture and understanding what we’re trying to do here as a Christian football team is amazing. We’ve really be able to come together as a family and incorporate some
new faces that are just falling right in line. When you have leadership from the players, when they help keep their teammates ac countable, that helps create something special. That’s been the biggest thing I’ve seen this offseason is that peer accountability.”
— Kevin Blackman
2024 RECORD:
9-1*
*The First Academy was stripped of its nine wins in 2024 by the FHSAA because of rule violations.
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. Milton (Georgia)
Friday, Aug. 29, vs. Central (Alabama)
Thursday, Sept. 4, at Treasure Coast
Friday, Sept. 12, at Eau Gallie
Friday, Sept. 19, at Venice (7:30 p.m. start)
Friday, Sept. 26, at Gadsden County (7:30 p.m. start)
Friday, Oct. 3, at St. Frances Academy (Maryland)
Saturday, Oct. 18, vs. The St. James Academy (Virginia)
Friday, Oct. 24, vs. Hun (New Jersey)
Friday, Oct. 31, at Lakeland (7:30 p.m. start)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
CHANCELLOR BARCLAY
Senior | Offensive lineman
At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, the senior offensive guard — and reigning Orange Observer Football Player of the Year — is one of Florida’s highest touted college recruits thanks to his combination of size, athleticism and remarkable leadership. Expect the Clemson commit to lead a dominant offensive line group that will establish the tone for this explosive Royals offense.
DEVIN JACKSON
Senior | Defensive back
Considering his ability to play press coverage, zone, off-ball, drop into the box to contest the run and even chase down a quarterback on a blitz, not only is the TFA senior the definition of versatility, he probably has Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning daydreaming of ways to deploy the 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety when he gets to campus next season.
HOME FIELD
ADVANTAGE:
KROY CROFOOT FIELD
AT WARDEN STADIUM
The friendly confines of Warden Stadium has been a haven for the Royals, who have posted a 72-17 record playing at home dating back to 2008. TFA will need every advantage it can get as it will host some of its toughest games from its 2025 schedule.
THE FIRST ACADEMY ROYALS
BRUTON BLVD., ORLANDO, CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 6
The 2024 football season was a whirlwind for The First Academy.
On the upside, TFA completely overhauled its program with new coaches and players and established itself as one of the most recognized programs in the state. However, the Royals also were investigated and sanctioned by FHSAA, resulting in two-year postseason ban and the suspension of head coach Jeff Conaway for 2025.
On the field, the Royals graced the Southwest Orange community with some of the best football it has ever seen and, despite the postseason ban and suspension, this season is shaping up to take the program to the next level. Not only
COACH’S CORNER
“On defense, we were good last year, and we have 10 starters coming back … most of (whom) have gotten bigger and stronger and faster during offseason, so I’m excited to watch our defense play. … We have the best defensive coordinator in the country in Jacob Gill, and with his staff, they do a remarkable job of getting our
do the Royals have a roster full of highlevel college prospects but also they have the national schedule to match — playing eight teams ranked in High School Football America’s top 300 teams, seven of which fall within the top 100.
“Every kid and every coach on our team and, probably, every fan ... wants to see a good football game,” Conaway said. “No one wants to go see an unfair matchup, so we tried to schedule great matchups — matchups that would challenge us. … When your goal is to develop champions on and off the field, you need to put yourself in a position to compete against somebody as good or better.
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
defense aligned and assigned to go up against offenses that, week after week, are always so different. Of fensively, the leadership that our of fensive line has is uncommon, and that starts with Chancellor Barclay and what him and all of our guys up front can do. Their versatility opens up the door for us to be very multiple.”
— Jeff Conaway
TRANSFER TRACKER
BRIAN DILLARD
Junior | Athlete
2024 Team: West Orange High
After helping the Warriors from a variety of positions in 2024 — including quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back and returner — the do-it-all athlete will bring another electric playmaker to the Royals program.
LANDEN HOLLEY
Junior | Quarterback
2024 Team: Wesley Chapel High
With the graduation of the Royals starting QB from 2024, Salomon Georges Jr., Holley joins the program with big shoes to fill but even bigger hype. The 6-foot-2, three-star recruit with offers from Florida, UCF, Purdue and others brings a cannon arm and ability to create plays with his legs that will keep defenses guessing all game long.
Tip-top shape
MEGAN BRUINSMA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When people watch sports, they often focus on the athletes, how they’re playing that game, the score and the time left on the clock.
Their second focus might be the coaches calling out new plays or frantically calling a timeout with four seconds left and a chance to win the game.
Spectators see all of the action, including the people who run out onto the field when injuries occur. But what they don’t see is the various other roles the folks helping injured athletes play.
Athletic trainers spend countless hours preparing and shaping athletes. They play a vital role in keeping the people in jerseys safe from all the elements.
“It’s a very behind-thescenes type of job,” said Robert O’Quinn, assistant athletic director at Windermere Prep. “The only thing you see (in the NFL) is that athletic trainer running on the field on Sundays with water to give to teams and towels. That’s the tip of the iceberg, and that’s where the misconception lies.”
O’Quinn said people see athletic trainers working with football players on Friday night games, but they don’t see when an athlete comes to him during the day to do treatment. Sometimes, athletes will come five to eight times a week for rehab. Athletic trainers are also present at every football practice.
“Football is a sport in Florida that pretty much has its own island of rules, and no other sport is quite like football,” O’Quinn said.
Athletic trainers are required to be at every football practice and every game because of the amount of rules surrounding the sport, a new but important one is the Zachary Martin Act, which
At Windermere Preparatory School, athletic trainers play a critical role in nurturing athletes back to health and teaching them proper technique.
centers around dealing with heat.
Windermere Prep utilizes a device that measures the “wet bulb index,” which evaluates
heat, humidity, sun angle and wind speed to produce a number that determines how long athletes can be outdoors.
The wet bulb index at the
end of July read black, which meant athletes could not practice outside. A red reading indicates athletes can only be outside for an hour, with 20 minutes being dedicated to getting water.
“It’s on an athletic trainer to bring that out and stop coaches in their tracks and let them know it’s too hot,” O’Quinn said. “(They’re) in tune with technology and tell our coaches what we can and can’t do for the health and safety of our players.”
Athletic trainers are also responsible for watching for lightning at practices. If lightning strikes within the radius of the school they clear the fields for 30 minutes and if no other strikes happen in that time, they can go back outside.
O’Quinn knows injuries are
bound to happen when playing sports, but tracking environmental conditions further ensures athletes safety.
It’s a seven-day-a-week type of job, and no day looks the same.
O’Quinn said he and the athletic director start their weeks on a Sunday, which they call “informational day.” They plan out what will happen during the week and the areas they need to emphasize. Mondays are the first practice day of the week, and the first day athletic trainers see their athletes since the weekend, but the week is fresh so they don’t have many injuries. On Tuesday, they begin to see more injuries, such as ankle sprains and muscle strains, from practicing.
“You’re rehabbing in house,” he said.
Courtesy of Windermere Preparatory School
Robert O’Quinn spoke with a doctor before a game to update medical personnel on athletes’ conditions and their specific needs.
Athletic trainers’ presence is critical at games and practices to ensure everyone’s safety.
Athletic trainers have another full practice day on Wednesday, but Thursday is the first lighter day of the week. O’Quinn put it as “a breath of fresh air,” and he spends it preparing for game day. He forms a list for coaches of available and unavailable players.
Then game day hits and they say goodbye to relaxation, spending all of Friday preparing the home field or hopping on a bus with the team and setting up on that field.
“Game days are the most fun, because you get to see all the week’s efforts being spun into one day,” O’Quinn said. “(Solutions for injuries) can get super creative, so to do those things and watch them have success on Friday is probably the high of it all.”
He often sees an athlete who was injured on Tuesday come back to play on Friday. The athletic trainers use protective taping or bandaging to help support a muscle for a game and think outside the box by constructing padding to cover a bruise.
“(Windermere Prep) has a great partnership with Orlando Health, where if I do have an injured athlete, I can reach out to doctors specifically, and they usually get an appointment within 24 hours,” O’Quinn said.
Saturday mornings they treat anyone who suffered an injury during the game and curates a list of who has come in before starting the week over again.
In addition to treating injuries, athletic trainers teach athletes how to prevent them and prepare their body for their respective sport.
At Windermere Prep, the strength and conditioning coach and athletic trainers work together to prepare athletes and talk about the individual needs of each student. In the weight room, the school uses a system called Perch. Using a camera attached to the top of a weight rack, each athlete can track strength, velocity and output. The system also critiques form and flexibility to provide instant information on how to improve performance.
“We take that, and we bridge that with athletic training and conditioning, trying to make a holistic athlete,” O’Quinn said.
It teaches the studentathletes a lot about what their next level could look like after high school. They learn how to be attentive and intentional with their time inside of the weight room, allowing them to build a “sound body” throughout their life.
The testing and data is especially important for trainers during the summer months.
Unlike teachers, athletic trainers don’t get summers off. Windermere Prep opens up their doors for athletes to work on imbalances or issues present in season, such as one side being weaker than the other or a lack of flexibility causing injury.
“(Athletes) have an opportunity to come in, and we strip everything away and we work on those basics and a holistic view of the body to get them ready to go into their next season,” O’Quinn said.
Working one-on-one with athletes allows athletic trainers to develop strong connections with, which to O’Quinn is the most rewarding part of the job.
The athletic training room isn’t a “hangout spot,” but O’Quinn acknowledged injuries can be mental and physical. When an athlete comes in five times a week for 45 minutes for rehab, they talk and share stories and laugh.
“That helps (the athlete) out in a way that the physical isn’t helping them,” he said.
Connecting with the athletes allows trainers to humanize themselves a bit more. It makes rehab into a positive experience, rather than focusing on the negative elements of being injured.
“It’s so rewarding in the sense that when the athlete returns back, they’re going to check in with you,” O’Quinn said. “(They say) ‘Hey Mr. O’Quinn,’ or sometimes, ‘Hey coach, I’m feeling really good. Thank you for everything you did. This is what’s going on in my life, and I’ll see you later.’”
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15, at Master’s Academy
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. Cornerstone Charter Academy*
Friday, Aug. 29, at Lake High land Prep (6 p.m. start)*
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Santa Fe Catholic*
Friday, Sept. 12, at Jupiter
Christian (6:30 p.m. start)*
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Eustis
Friday, Oct. 3, at Bronson
Friday, Oct. 10, vs. Master’s Academy (Vero Beach)
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. Cocoa Beach
Friday, Oct. 24, at West Oaks Academy
FOUNDATION ACADEMY LIONS
15304 TILDEN ROAD, WINTER GARDEN, SUNSHINE STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE NORTH REGION
PLAYERS TO WATCH
SAM WOOD
Junior | Running back
In nine games last season for the Lions, Wood was electric coming out of the backfield, rushing for 779 yards on 126 carries — an average of 6.2 yards per carry — with nine touchdowns. With the return of most of Foundation’s stout offensive line and a toughas-nails attitude instilled by its new coaching staff, expect Wood to continue to be the workhorse back in 2025.
AIDEN CUBERO
Senior | Linebacker Cubero not only returns as a vocal and emotional leader for the Lions in 2025 but also as Foundation’s top returning tackler, having racked up 75 total and eight tackles for a loss last season. Add in his 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble from 2024, and it is clear to see why his new coach is leaning on him to lead this defense.
TRANSFER TRACKER
NOAH MCMULLEN
Senior | Wide receiver
2024 Team: Orlando
Christian Prep
“He’s an athlete, just a speedy kid,” White said. “We’re happy to have him back at Foundation from OCP, and we expect a big year from him. He’s just one of those guys who is going to be produc tive on the field and really impor tant as a senior leader, as well. Even though he just got here in the spring and didn’t play with these guys last year, by the way he works and his commit ment to excellence, he’s been able to garner the respect of the team very quickly.”
The Foundation Academy Lions enter the 2025 as one of the two area programs with a new head coach, hiring former Apopka football standout Daniel “D.J.” White to take over the program. White joins the Lions after spending his time coaching in college — most recently, serving as the linebackers coach at Delaware State. With college coaching experience and legendary mentors, White is ready to lead the Lions into its next era.
“I’ve had a lot of great mentors ... like Rick Darlington or Geno Thompson — who have given me a lot of great advice,” White said. “(Thanks to those experiences) it’s helped make this a relatively smooth transition. … When I look (at our) young men, they’ve been through so much within the last year as they’ve embraced me, what I’m about.”
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
“Our motto right now is culture over scheme. We want to bring a culture and build a solid foundation for this program. I’m happy where things are, but we all know we have a long way to go. No one here is under the impression that we’ve arrived. Make no mistake about it: We all know we have to get much better. … But I love the commitment the boys have shown. They’re bought in, they want to be better and so, now, as coaches, we just have to show them how to do that. Overall, though, the thing I love the most about this opportunity is I’m able to represent Christ. Leading these young men to Christ is the biggest blessing and biggest joy that I get from this job.”
— Daniel White
HOME
FIELD ADVANTAGE
LION FIELD
Built in 2017 as part of Foundation Academy’s initial $1.5 million athletic complex project, Lion Field, similarly to the team playing on Friday nights, will see a whole lot of new in 2025. Located at the school’s Tilden Road campus, the athletic complex will have a brand new track surrounding its field, new stands that substantially increases the number of seats available and a brand new press box.
LEGACY CHARTER EAGLES
1550 E. CROWN POINT ROAD, OCOEE | SUNSHINE STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE EIGHT-MAN
2024 RECORD
5-6
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15, at Lake Mary Prep
Friday, Aug. 22, vs. First Coast Christian
Friday, Aug. 29, at Geneva Classical Academy
Friday, Sept. 5, at Oasis Christian (5 p.m. start)
Friday, Sept. 26, at City of Life Christian Academy
Friday, Oct. 3, at Merritt Island Christian
Friday, Oct. 17, at Hernando Christian Academy
Friday, Oct. 24, vs. Academy at the Lakes
PLAYERS TO WATCH
WYATT CANAAN
Junior | Offensive, defensive lineman
One of the two returning members of Legacy’s 2024 team, Canaan will play a vital role along both the offensive and defensive lines — which will have size and be a strength for this young team.
JASON CONSERVE
Sophomore | Athlete
The most versatile and athletic member of the Legacy team, Conserve will be the go to playmaker for the Eagles in the run game and the perimeter for the offensive and in the secondary for the defense.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
OCOEE BULLDOGS FIELD
Having called the off-campus field at 560 Flewelling Ave., Ocoee, its football home for a number years, the Legacy football family has developed a special relationship with the field given the large amount of players and coaches that have started their youth football careers there.
Football for the Legacy Eagles is going to look a whole lot different in 2025 than it did in 2024 — not only because there’s a new head coach roaming the sidelines or the new players on the field but also because they’re playing a whole new game: Eight-man football.
“When it came up, we knew it was definitely going to be a learning experience,” Legacy coach Brandon Bristow said. “We had to read the rule book about 15 times to make sure we were doing everything right. So, it’s been an interesting time trying to get ready for the season. I’ve had to scrap some of my plays, because they definitely don’t work in eight-man, given the condensed field. … We know this season is going to be a bit of a grind, so we’re just going to have to push through at times. We’ve only
COACH’S CORNER
got about 12 guys total at the moment, so we know it’s going to be a dog fight every time. Right now, we’re just praying to stay healthy and hopefully fight through this season.”
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
“We have a bunch of freshmen at pretty much every spot, with only two guys (who) come in with any football knowledge or experience, so we’re all learning on the go. I’ve only taken over the program a few weeks before the season started, so we’re trying to progress as best we can by keeping it very simple and from a schematic point of view … I want to be as balanced as we are physically able to be.”
COACHING STAFF
Head coach
Brandon Bristow, first season Assistant coaches Defensive coordinator, linebackers coach: Jed Ebersole Offensive, defensive line coach: Jackson Toth Wide receivers, defensive backs coach:
— Brandon Bristow
2024 RECORD
2-7
2025 SCHEDULE
Games begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 29, at Trinity Prep*
Saturday, Sept. 6, vs. Marco Island Academy* (1 p.m. start)
Friday, Sept. 12, at Faith Christian
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Bishop McLaughlin Catholic (4 p.m. start)
Friday, Sept. 26, at Central Florida Christian
Thursday, Oct. 2, vs. Geneva (4 p.m. start)
Friday, Oct. 17, vs. Bronson (6 p.m. start)
Friday, Oct. 24, at Duval Charter (6 p.m. start)
* Region game
PLAYERS TO WATCH
PEYTON HOLLERN
Senior | Athlete Hollern leads an established group of playmakers on the outside for the Lakers on both sides of the ball, playing at any of the skill positions from quarterback, running back and receiver on offense to defensive back on the flip side of the ball.
ANTONIO FARAH
Senior | Athlete
Along with Hollern, Farah is one of the more dynamic players on the outside for the Lakers’ offense and defense, helping in the receiving game and in shutting down the opponents passing game as a defensive back.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Lakers on-campus stadium has one of the most unique features — or lack thereof — that gives WPS a specific advantage when playing at home. The field doesn’t
WINDERMERE PREP LAKERS
Year 1 for Windermere Prep coach
James Hamilton was about taking a young group of athletes and teaching them football. And as the Lakers took those lessons and established their understanding of the game, they enter 2025 knowing what it takes to become a quality football team.
“With such a young team, us understanding that football is really a year-round sport has been big for the program,” Hamilton said. “Knowing the offseason is really just January and February, and then spring ball starts and then summer workouts after that. This group is starting to understand that, in order to be good in the fall, you have to be here in the summer to continue to get stronger, get faster and work on your craft. They’re starting to realize that and it’s allowed us to grow as a team.”
—SAM ALBUQUERQUE
COACH’S CORNER
“This summer was a big summer for us, having more kids here. Usually, some of our kids aren’t here in the summer, so we don’t have a huge number of kids. But this year we’ve had a much larger number, and it’s allowed us to put in work
in the weight room and get stronger. We’ve been able to compete at 7-on-7 tournaments, which have been big for us. Just being able to do football things out here this summer with a young group has been helpful. It’s not crazy: The more football you play, the better you’re going
to be. So I think that helped us, so has just being around (one another more), doing things like the tournaments, just hanging out, having dinners and things like that, is going to carry over to the field this season.”
— James Hamilton
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The Guidance Guru
Seniors, College Applicants – It’s Go Time!
College deadlines are around the corner. Is your College App started? Are your essays ready to
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Jaime S.
NEXT LEVEL: West, Southwest Orange players thrive in college, pros
Despite not having an NFL or college team, football in West, Southwest Orange doesn’t stop on Fridays. Here’s a list of the area’s notable alums who are thriving on the gridiron every Saturday and Sunday in the fall.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE
SPORTS EDITOR
It’s no secret West Orange and Southwest Orange County is football crazy. It’s almost as if stepping onto the gridiron is a birthright to anyone from the area.
That deeply embedded love for the game is one of the reasons why the area has become a hotbed for developing highlevel college and even professional football players over its history.
To highlight the tremendous athletes who started their football journeys in West Orange and Southwest Orange, we have compiled a list of notable players making a name for themselves at the collegiate and professional levels of football.
DR. PHILLIPS
NFL
n Matt Milano, Class of 2013, Buffalo Bills, LB
n Tanner Ingle, Class of 2018, Los Angeles Rams, DB
NCAA
n Stephen Dix Jr., Class of 2020, Arkansas, LB
n Payton Kirkland, Class of 2023, Colorado, OL
n Jashad Presley, Class of 2024, UTSA, DB
n Malikl Wright, Class of 2025, Duke, DB
n Mykel Calixte, Class of 2025, FAU, WR
n Stanley Anderson-Lofton, Class of 2025, Middle Tennessee, QB
THE FIRST ACADEMY
NCAA
n Julian Anderson, Class of 2024, Pitt, DL
n Evan James, Class of 2025, Furman, WR
n Aden Hall, Class of 2025, UTSA, LB
n Noah Devine, Class of 2025, Bethune-Cookman, OL
FOUNDATION ACADEMY
NFL
n Danny Stutsman, Class of 2021, New Orleans Saints, LB
NCAA
n Bryan Thomas Jr., Class of 2022, South Carolina, DL
n Donovan Branch, Class of 2022, UConn, DL
n Reggie Jean, Class of 2022, Northern Illinois, DL
n J.T. Bronaugh, Class of 2024, Eastern Michigan, RB
HORIZON
NCAA
n Daniel Porto, Class of 2023, Florida A&M, K
n Evan Reinhart, Class of 2025, Stetson, OL
OCOEE
NFL
n Jordan Phillips, Class of 2022, Miami Dolphins, DL
NCAA
n Asaad Waseem, Class of 2022, FAU, DB
n Zachary Tobe, Class of 2023, Georgia Tech, DB
n Trey Smith, Class of 2023, Purdue, DL
n Joshua Guerrier, Class of 2025, Pitt, DB
n Diego De Pina, Class of 2025, West Florida, DL
n Kims Pierre, Class of 2025, Mercer, DB
OLYMPIA
NFL
n Trevor Siemian, Class of 2010, Tennessee Titans, QB
n Joe Milton, Class of 2018, Dallas Cowboys, QB
NCAA
n Victor Jones Jr., Class of 2022, Florida A&M, WR
n Kamran James, Class of 2023, Florida, DL
n Jalon Thompson, Class of 2024, UNC, DB
n Tyler Cross, Class of 2024, Wofford, TE
n Parker Moss, Class of 2025, Lafayette College, OL
WEST ORANGE
NFL
n Stone Forsythe, Class of 2016, New York Giants, OL
n Jaylon Carlies, Class of 2020, Indianapolis Colts, DB
NCAA
n Jayden Gibson, Class of 2022, Oklahoma, WR
n Matthew McDoom, Class of 2022, Cincinnati, ATH
n Javan Robinson, Class of 2022, Arizona State, DB
n Brendan Flakes, Class of 2022, Northwestern, DL
n Jordan Castell, Class of 2023, Florida, DB
n Jordyn Bridgewater, Class of 2024, UCF, WR
n Ivan Taylor, Class of 2025, Alabama, DB
n Nico Marti, Class of 2025, Mars Hill, OL
n Donovan Lanier, Class of 2025, Ball State, DB
WINDERMERE
NCAA
n Lucas Glassburn, Class of 2024, Temple, K
n Isaiah Nell, Class of 2024, Wofford, RB
n Noah Wright, Class of 2024, Bucknell, OL
n Daniel Bradley, Class of 2025, South Dakota State, DL
n Jack Reilly, Class of 2025, Murray State, QB
n Micah Winslow, Class of 2025, Stetson, DB
WINDERMERE PREP
NCAA
n Tyler Simmons, Class of 2024, Virginia, DL
Former West Orange defensive back Jaylon Carlies now plays for the Indianapolis Colts.
File photos
Former Ocoee standout Jordan Phillips is now with the Miami Dolphins.
