Sam’s spring football stops: West Orange High

Spring football is a special moment on the high school sports calendar because there’s just nothing else that’s quite like it. 

It’s a unique combination of the fanfare and pageantry of the fall’s Friday Night Lights and the hope that comes at the beginning of every new season. It either is a harbinger of your team’s upcoming dominance or of a long season ahead.

To celebrate this moment on the Florida high school sports calendar, Orange Observer Sports Editor Sam Albuquerque will be making the rounds during the 2024 spring football session to bring you all the best notes, tidbits and thoughts he picks up from visiting West Orange’s and Southwest Orange’s teams. 

The team featured in this edition of Sam’s spring football stops is West Orange High.

More from Sam's spring football stops: The First Academy | Foundation Academy | Ocoee High | Olympia High | Windermere High

West Orange High

2023 record: 3-7

Spring game: vs. Lyman at 7 p.m. on May 16

Coach: Geno Thompson, third season.

Key returners/additions: DB Ivan Taylor, DB Devin Jackson, WR Larry Miles and OL Nico Marti

The Warriors of West Orange High are yet again chock full of talent at nearly every position going into the 2024 spring football season for coach Geno Thompson. And despite a disappointing 2023 season, the returning senior group is ready to help flip the script. 

No. 1: The Warriors have electric athletes on both sides of the ball.

It’s no secret West Orange has a group of dynamic athletes returning from its 2023 team, but the sheer number of great to elite-level players athletes on this roster is remarkable.

In just the secondary, there are six players who probably will play at the collegiate level — Notre Dame commit Ivan Taylor, three-star prospect Devin Jackson, three-star prospect Devonte Anderson, Ole Miss-offered Donovan Lanier, Chakai Scott and Artavius Riley Jr. — not to mention the receivers; three-star prospect Larry Miles and Ole Miss-offered Ryne Brown. 

Simply put, West Orange has dudes on the outside. 

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No. 2: QB1 seems settled.

When asked about what the quarterback position battle looked like in the early portion of spring practices, Thompson was clear: Rising sophomore Brian Dillard is the quarterback.

Last season, Dillard shared time under center with Jack Reilly — who moved to St. Francis High in Illinois — totaling 519 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions on 84 total touches as a freshman.

Thompson said he expects Dillard to utilize his elite athleticism to extend plays and do whatever his team needs of him to win ball games.

No. 3: West Orange’s offensive line will be the backbone of this team.

Led by senior Nico Marti, who has moved inside from tackle to center this season, Thompson believes this group of offensive linemen will be key to making the Warriors offense click. 

“(They’re) going to take us as far as we can go,” Thompson said. “This year, our O-Line is head and shoulders above any other year I’ve been here.”

Sam Albuquerque is the Sports Editor for the Orange Observer. Please contact him with story ideas, results and statistics.

Email: [email protected] 

Twitter: @SamBAlbuquerque

Instagram: @OrangeObserverSam