A LITTLE EXTRA: West Orange and Ocoee to battle for "The Shield"

It all started in 2005, when Ocoee High School reopened its doors to the community — after a 30-year hiatus — as the new relief school for West Orange and Apopka high schools.

“The Shield has been going on for quite some time now,” Ocoee head football coach Sheddrick Gurley said. “This has been a huge rivalry game between the Ocoee and the Winter Garden area. It makes a huge rivalry between the two schools. Right now, West Orange is up in terms of the overall record, but again, we come to play ball.” 

The original Ocoee High School was established in 1883. But, in 1975, Ocoee closed its doors — as well as Lakeview High School — to make way for West Orange High School to open and serve the Winter Garden, Oakland, Tildenville, and parts of the Ocoee and Lake Butler communities.

“The Shield means a lot,” West Orange junior defensive back Ivan Taylor said. “All the games are really felt, but I think for this one, the team is going to come out with a different mentality. We are going to come in, we are going to stay humble, we are going to respect every opponent that comes to us, but we are also going to be better at play.” 

Even though the Warriors have been the defending champions of “The Shield” for the last three years, the Knights are ready to take on the challenge and claim it as theirs.  

Last year, West Orange defeated Ocoee during the regular season 41-17, which allowed the Warriors to take “The Shield” back home with them. However, during the post-season play, Ocoee took home an overtime victory of 29-28. 

Courtesy photo

“It’s personal to us,” Ocoee offensive lineman Onix Irizarry said. “It’s a battle, and we are trying to get it back. We beat them in the playoffs (last post-season); we showed them we can beat them. Now, we are just trying to do it again this season — show them we still got it.”

Like any rivalry game, emotions promise to be high on the field — and in the stands.

“Rivalry games are always going to be another level,” West Orange head football coach Geno Thompson said. “Regardless of how the season is going, those are always going to get the best out of your opponent as well as your team. When you are playing a game like that, you got friends and family that have played in those games. There’s a history behind it.” 

The current record for “The Shield” stands at 13-6 with West Orange in the lead. However, anything can happen when Ocoee and West Orange face each other again at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at Ocoee High School.