THAT'S A WRAP: We recap the 2023 football season

It was another phenomenal season in West Orange and Southwest Orange full of great teams, tremendous student-athletes and the best fans in all of Florida. 

Only two teams — Olympia and Dr. Phillips — have a chance to make a postseason run this year. At 8-2, the Titans finished first in Class 4M, District 5 and are No. 3 seed in the playoffs. The 6-4 Panthers finished second in Class 4M, District 5 and are the No. 6 seed. Olympia and DP will face each other in the first round of the 2023 FHSAA Football State Championships at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at Olympia.

To celebrate all that happened in the 2023 football season, here’s a quick overview of the 2023 regular season for all football teams in our coverage area. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DR. PHILLIPS (6-4, 3-1)
Finished second in Class 4M, District 5; No. 6 seed in playoffs

Top Performers
LB/DL Damien Jackson, senior
Stats: 39 tackles, five for a loss, four sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery

LB Jerard Smith, senior
Stats: 92 tackles, six for a loss, one sack and a fumble recovery

HORIZON (5-5, 0-3)
Finished fourth in Class 3M, District 3; missed playoffs

Top Performers
LB Bo Kenney, senior
Stats: 103 tackles, 21 for a loss and five sacks

RB Jamarie Pierre, junior
Stats: 1,468 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns on 218 carries

LAKE BUENA VISTA (4-5, 0-1)
Finished second in Class 2M, District 4; missed playoffs

Top Performers
LB Sean Adekunle, junior
Stats: 42 tackles, eight for a loss and three sacks

ATH Micah Wilson, junior
Stats: 812 total yards, 13 touchdowns, three interceptions, one fumble recovery and three passes deflected

OCOEE (4-6, 1-3)
Finished third in Class 4M, District 5; missed playoffs

Top Performers
ATH Joshua Guerrier, junior
Stats: 744 total yards, five touchdowns, 38 tackles, two for a loss, three sacks and one interception

DL/LB Michael Mcclenton, sophomore
Stats: 202 tackles, 45 for a loss, 31 sacks and three forced fumbles

OLYMPIA (8-2, 4-0)
Finished first in Class 4M, District 5; No. 3 seed in playoffs

Top Performers
LB Arden Payne-Tonge, senior
Stats: 45 tackles, five for a loss and two sacks

RB Romelo Ware, senior
Stats: 1,314 total yards and 17 touchdowns on 145 touches

WEST ORANGE (3-7, 2-2)
Finished third in Class 4M, District 5; missed playoffs

Top Performers
ATH Larry Miles, sophomore
Stats: 899 total yards and two touchdowns

DB Artavius Riley, sophomore
Stats: 48 tackles, 10 for a loss, two sacks, three interceptions, three passes deflected and three forced fumbles

WINDERMERE (3-7, 0-4)
Finished fifth in Class 4M, District 5; missed playoffs

Top Performers
RB Isaiah Nell, senior
Stats: 1,174 total yards and 14 touchdowns

OL Noah Wright, junior
Stats: Zero sacks allowed, 30 pancakes

PRIVATE SCHOOLS
THE FIRST ACADEMY (6-4, 0-2)
Finished third in Class 1M, District 2; missed playoffs

Top Performers
ATH Julian Anderson, senior
Stats: 47 catches, 754 yards, 12 touchdowns, 28 tackles, 10 for a loss, two sacks, six forced fumbles and one interceptions

LB Kyler Priester, freshman
Stats: 44 tackles, 10 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced and recovered fumble 

FOUNDATION ACADEMY (7-3, 1-1)
Finished second in Class 1M, District 2; missed playoffs

Top Performers
ATH J.T. Bronaugh, senior
Stats: 1,950 all-purpose yards, 25 touchdowns, 112 total touches, 43 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles

QB Michael Dove, junior
Stats: 2,025 total yards, 35 touchdowns and three interceptions

OL/DL Drew Flournoy, senior
Stats: 63 tackles, 17 for a loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 24 pancakes

LEGACY CHARTER (2-6)
Sunshine State Athletic Association  

Top Performers
QB/CB Liam Lamprecht, senior
Stats: 1,168 total yards, 11 touchdowns, caught two interceptions, and made 10 tackles — two were for a loss.

LB/RB Jake Threadgill, junior
Stats: 73 tackles, 11 for a loss, two forced fumbles, one interception, 310 total yards and one touchdown. 

WINDERMERE PREP (1-7)
Sunshine State Athletic Association  

Top Performers
ATH Braden Haas, senior
Stats: 624 all-purpose yards, seven touchdowns, 23 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery