WE ARE 300: Ocoee Knights ready to take on Apopka Blue Darters

We are 300. 

That’s a phrase that has been engraved on the minds and hearts of all players on the Ocoee High School football team.

“That’s the brotherhood that this team has; that’s our motto,” junior quarterback Jackson Keillor, 16, said. “That’s the ‘I’ve got your back, you’ve got my back’ we live for.”

After a historic season last year during which the Knights made it to the Final Four, Ocoee is ready to make some noise this season. 

“We are not trying to be last year’s team,” head football coach Sheddrick Gurley said. “We are trying to create our own identity. As of right now, we just want to take it day by day and work on progression. That’s what we talk about every day in practice.” 

The Knights brought home their first win of the season after defeating Oak Ridge 27-13 Friday, Aug. 18. 

“We are very prepared (for this season),” defensive tackle Ezekiel Brinson, 16, said. “We’ve got to believe in each other; that’s our our team works. I believe in our offense a great deal, … I just hope that they trust us (the defense) to stop the other team, as well.” 

Ocoee has been working hard on having a one-game mentality, and this week they are focused on honing in on a formidable opponent in Apopka.

“That game is very important,” Gurley said. “To be honest, all games are important, but Apopka is one of those teams where I don’t think we have a win versus them. So, if we get to win versus Apopka, that would be huge for this team and huge for the community.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the boys have a new defense coordinator in Mike McClenston, who has been doing extensive work to ensure his players understand what they need to do on the line of scrimmage. 

“I am very excited; I feel like we have played a lot during the summer,” Brinson said. “We got to know each other well, and I feel like the guys that are starting have been coming together at practice. … So, it’s going to pay off a lot. We do a lot of running, and our conditioning has gotten better … so we are prepared for games at all times.”

Wen it comes to maintaining momentum, the team relies on skill and confidence — as well as encouragement from one another. 

“We sure have a close-knit brotherhood,” Gurley said. “They know when to joke around; they know when to take everything seriously. They are just a unique group. Don’t get me wrong: Every team has some immaturity here and there, but at least these guys understand that the brotherhood means a lot to them.” 

To stay competitive, the Knights have developed what they call a Championship Period during practice, which serves as scrimmage for games. 

“The first-team offense goes against the first-team defense,” Gurley said. “It’s pretty much the best out of five, and from there we take that in and go to practice. We just remain physical the whole time.” 

When looking forward to the games ahead, the Knights feel confident with their unique identity — and their potential to live up to, and even surpass, last year’s success.

“(Getting to the Final Four) — that’s the standard,” Keillor said. “We made it there last year, so I don’t see any reason why we can’t make it there this year.”