Weather ravaged the Central Florida area on the first week of high school football. The games may not have counted, but it was still an important week for players as they prepare for when the games start counting next Friday.
The biggest matchup of the day — a tilt between Osceola and West Orange — got off to a late start. And then ended in a 28-28 tie.
Maybe that is unsatisfying. But it is preseason, the Kowboys and Warriors did not need to go much farther than the four quarters. There is still the state tournament to settle the score.
Osceola running back Marcus Edwards helped Osceola score 21 unanswered points, scoring the Kowboys’ final score with 10 seconds left in the third quarter. Woody Barrett also scored two touchdowns for Osceola.
West Orange took advantage of two turnovers to take a 13-0 lead early on before Osceola made its comeback.
Among other scores around the area:
Lyman defeated Olympia 21-14.
Bishop Moore led Ocoee 14-7 at haltime before the game was called for weather.
Apopka defeated Lake City Columbia 35-14 in a dominant performance from the defending state champions.
Winter Park defeated Edgewater 14-10 at halftime. The game was also called for weather.
Oviedo defeated Wekiva 28-21.
Oak Ridge defeated Boone 14-10.
And Dr. Phillips defeated Jones 21-8.
To say the least, there should be a lot of excitement to get the season going next week with Orange County schools back in session this week and the fall officially beginning.
You can find complete highlight recaps for the Kickoff Classic games over at BHSN.
UCF Women’s Soccer falls to Florida in opener
Earlier in the day Friday, we previewed what will surely be an interesting city for the UCF Knights women’s soccer team.
The Knights have a lot of players to replace from last year’s NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament team and a lot of questions as players step up. The schedule though did not and will not lighten up. The expectation to reach the tournament again and win the AAC remains.
UCF did not get off to a good start though Friday against No. 8 Florida.
The Gators defeated the No. 17 Knights 2-0 at UCF on Friday. Freshman Mayra Pelayo scored in the 32nd minute for the Gators to start the scoring. The Knights put up a solid offensive effort in the second half, firing 10 shots but getting only two on goal. And obviously none went in.
At this point, UCF is not going to be what it will be at the end of the season. There is a lot of growth remaining and coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak admitted much after the first game of the season:
“We are a work in progress right now and that’s OK. I think that’s what the beginning of the season is about – to be tested early and do what we need to do to improve. I told the team, ‘We were outplayed tonight, let’s learn from this early on. I’m not worried. Let’s not be worried. We have to pick ourselves back up. We created chances, we had opportunities.”
UCF was certainly tested. The Knights will be tested again with a difficult schedule that includes a matchup in Tallahassee against the defending national champion Seminoles.
UCF will have the chance to get ready for that matchup with a game against Jacksonville next week. The Knights will have a chance to prove they can come together then.
