Postseason Primer Part 2: Time to Shine

With the regular season officially reaching its end, several West Orange football teams are poised to make playoff runs this fall.

In our second and final playoff preview, we take a look at three of the area’s private school teams that will make postseason runs in 2021.

FOUNDATION ACADEMY LIONS

2021 SNAPSHOT

Record: 7-3

Coach: Andre Walker

Key Wins: Orangewood Christian, Northside Christian, West Oaks Academy

Playoff Opponent: Victory Christian 

With so many new faces and a new head coach, Foundation Academy managed to put together a strong 2021 campaign, finishing the year with a 7-3 record. 

The Lions used a strong, balanced attack on offense and a strong defense led by its defensive line to terrorize opposing teams all season. 

Quarterback Greg Jones performed well in his first season as the Lions’ quarterback, throwing 14 touchdowns and running for eight. He and running back Noah Kapusta have been a powerful two-headed monster on the ground, with Kapusta adding four touchdowns. 

Walker was impressed with how his team fought through adversity throughout the season — especially when fate dealt them the occasional bad hand.

“The injury bug hit us hard this year at times, but I’m proud of the team and how they have fought during the season,” he said. “That tenacity and toughness is something that definitely characterizes this group.” 

On the defensive side, Foundation Academy is led by three Power 5 commits in Donovan Branch, Reggie Jean and Bryan Thomas Jr. Jean and Branch have committed to play at the University of Connecticut, while Thomas is slated to play for the University of South Carolina. Edward Byrd is the other cog in the machine on the defensive line. Thomas and Byrd led the team with 11 sacks and 10 sacks, respectively. Branch and Jean had eight and seven. 

Linebacker Sam Zagame led the team in tackles with 96. He is the standout in a linebacking core that has struggled at times to be consistent during the season. Walker said play at the linebacking position will be key heading into the playoffs. 

“We’ve got our two linebackers who are doing well,” he said. “We just need to get our third linebacker going. If that can happen, our defense as a whole is going to be even more sharp.” 

Foundation’s postseason journey begins against Victory Christian, which it will host Friday, Nov. 12. Despite all the adversity the team has faced this season, Walker is confident about his group’s chances in November. 

“We are looking forward to hosting a home playoff game in front of our fans,” Walker said. “It’s always special when you get to do that. I’m ready to go into battle with this team. They are a special group, and I couldn’t be more blessed to coach them.” 

THE FIRST ACADEMY ROYALS 

2021 SNAPSHOT

Record: 7-2

Coach: Leroy Kenard

Key Wins: West Oaks Academy, Windermere Prep, Father Lopez

Playoff Opponent: Lake Placid

The First Academy finished its regular season with a 35-6 win over North Florida Educational to improve its record to 7-2. Now, the Royals will host Lake Placid Friday, Nov. 12, in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.  

The Royals’ bread and butter all season long has been the running back tandem of Terrence Mosley and Dinari Bennett. Mosley led the team with 1,040 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, while Bennett finished with 878 yards and 11 touchdowns. Opposing teams have had trouble stopping either one throughout the season, which gives head coach Leroy Kenard confidence in his team’s chances during the postseason.

“Any time that you can get a home playoff game is great,” he said. “We like our chances. Terrence is quite a player, and he’s one of the best running backs that we’ve had at First Academy. He does everything well.” 

Not to be outdone, quarterback James McGinn has made plays when needed. Furthermore, the defense only has surrendered more than 10 points twice. However, one of those came when the Royals played Orlando Christian Prep on a Monday and then had to face Calvary Christian just a few days later.

“We dropped a touchdown pass in the last two minutes of the game … and dropped an interception with 40 seconds left,” Kenard said. “We didn’t practice on Tuesday, had practice on Wednesday, then walkthrough on Thursday before playing Calvary Christian. If you can take that week out, we had a successful season.” 

In each of its victories, The First Academy has used Bennett and Mosley to pound opponents into submission and eat up as much clock as possible. Many of the teams the Royals played didn’t have an answer for the ground-and-pound. 

“A lot of people don’t run our style of offense anymore,” Kenard said. “They run elements of it … but they don’t run it enough. Going into games, it’s the first opportunity for teams to see how we play. If you haven’t seen it, that can be a tactical advantage for us.” 

Regarding Lake Placid, Kenard said the main keys to victory will be limiting mistakes and winning the field-position battle. With the team fairly healthy, the Royals have a chance to be successful in the postseason. 

“We always say, ‘What’s rule No. 1 of football? Don’t beat yourself,’” Kenard said. “We’re going back to work on fundamental work and things we haven’t done enough of. We want to make sure we are sound in every element of the game.” 

WINDERMERE PREP LAKERS

2021 SNAPSHOT

Record: 4-5

Coach: Brian Simmons

Key Wins: Orangewood Christian, Space Coast, Cocoa Beach

Playoff Opponent: Frostproof

The best way to describe Windermere Prep’s 2021 Lakers is that they are a tough team that found a way — despite the adversity thrown their way. With injuries decimating the roster at various points in the season, the Lakers had to make do with the group they had. 

It seems to have been worth it, because despite their 4-5 record, the Lakers are in the playoffs. They enter the Class 3A playoffs as the No. 5 seed and will travel to face Frostproof Friday, Nov. 12.

Windermere Prep’s game against St. John Paul II Academy was supposed to take place Nov. 5, but because of illness and a short roster, coach Brian Simmons canceled the game. 

“With the amount of injuries we had and who we had hurt, I applaud this team for fighting the way they did and put themselves in position for the playoffs,” Simmons said. 

The Lakers only had their full roster in week one, when they faced Orangewood Christian. Heading into their playoff game against Frostproof, several players who had been nursing injuries this season would be back, he said. 

The Lakers earned their victories through a full-team effort. Players such as running back Jackson Bennett and quarterback Zane Fullmer have led the way on offense, along with receiver Hunter Goldberg. Meanwhile, Khamari Jones leads the defense with 41 tackles during the regular season. 

Now, as the Lakers being playoff play, Simmons hopes his team can stay injury-free and focused on the aspects of the game they can control.

“We tell the kids, ‘Don’t worry about winning or losing. Go out there and worry about the process and play with a good effort. The results will happen, whatever they may be,’” he said.