MONDAY MORNING QB: Five things we learned about West Orange-area teams, Oct. 26 and 27, 2023

West Orange- and Southwest Orange-area teams had varying degrees of success Thursday, Oct. 26, and Friday, Oct. 27.

By Michael Eng
| 11:44 a.m. October 30, 2023

Sports

1. FOUNDATION/TFA BATTLE TO THE END.
Foundation Academy and The First Academy treated football fans to an offensive shootout, with the Lions getting the win 49-41 over the Royals Friday, Oct. 27, at home. What’s more, the win secures Foundation a spot in the playoffs. After a relatively quiet first quarter that ended with Foundation up 7-0, the scoring opened up in the second half. Both the Lions and Royals found the end zone twice, giving Foundation a 21-14 lead heading into halftime. The scoring continued in the second half, and every time the Lions seem to be pulling away, the Royals battled back to keep the game close. With four minutes left in the game, TFA pulled within 8 points, 49-41. However, Foundation was able to hold on for the victory.

2. OLYMPIA A PERFECT 4-0 IN CLASS 4M, DISTRICT 5.
Olympia took a 22-7 lead into halftime and never looked back as it claimed the coveted Fence trophy. The Titans rode to victory on its vaunted rushing attack. Senior Romelo Ware piled up an astonishing 303 yards on 26 carries — a whopping 11.7 average yards per attempt — and four touchdowns. Quarterback Juan Gainous also carried the ball four times and one touchdown.

3. DP STIFLES SCRAPPY OCOEE TEAM.
Following a 31-21 loss to Olympia Oct. 13, Dr. Phillips High School has strung together two big wins in two weeks. Last week, the Panthers got the best of West Orange, 10-3, to reclaim the Ol’ Orange Crate trophy. In this game, they outlasted a fiery Ocoee squad (4-6), 27-19, to improve to 6-3 and 3-1 in Class 4M, District 5. DP took a 20-6 lead into halftime on Ocoee’s Senior Night. And even though the Panthers only managed seven points in the second half, it was enough to come out on top.

4. JONES TOO MUCH FOR HORIZON
Horizon struggled in all phases against Jones and lost 56-0. Jones’ offense had 261 yards through the air and 193 on the ground and were able to take a 42-0 lead into halftime.

5. LAKERS CONTINUE TO PLAY HARD
Despite another loss, Windermere Prep showed plenty of moxie in its 44-31 loss to Neumann (5-4). The Lakers took a 21-13 lead into halftime but could not overcome a Neumann’s 24-point third quarter.

author

Michael Eng

As a child, Editor and Publisher Michael Eng collected front pages of the Kansas City Star during Operation Desert Storm, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would pursue a career in journalism. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri — Columbia School of Journalism. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife and three children, or playing drums around town. He’s also a sucker for dad jokes.