2024 Schedule Analysis: Old Plank Christian enters first year of 11-man football looking to win

Old Plank Christian (Jacksonville) is going into their first season as an 11-man program, having worked their way up over the years with 6-man football and then 8-man football. While transitions can be interesting, the transition to 11-man football can be challenging, including finding the right teams to put on the schedule. How did the Defenders do in scheduling for the 2024 season? Let’s look at our analysis here.

OLD PLANK CHRISTIAN DEFENDERS

2023 Record: 6-7 (SSAA 8-Man)

2024 District: SSAA 11-Man

2024 SCHEDULE

All Kickoff Times are 7:00 p.m. ET unless noted

Week 0 – Fri. 8/16 – Sarasota Christian
Week 1 – Fri. 8/23 – Impact Christian (Jacksonville)
Week 2 – Fri. 8/30 – BYE WEEK
Week 3 – Fri. 9/6 – at St. Joseph (St. Augustine)
Week 4 – Fri. 9/13 – at Mount Dora Christian
Week 5 – Fri. 9/20 – Bell
Week 6 – Fri. 9/27 – at Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville)
Week 7 – Fri. 10/4 – at Hilliard
Week 8 – Fri. 10/11 – Harvest Community (Jacksonville)
Week 9 – Fri. 10/18 – Palm Beach Christian Prep (Greenacres)
Week 10 – Fri. 10/25 – Trinity Christian (Deltona)

ROAD TRIPPING

The Defenders are taking four road trips this year, with three going out of Duval County, and the longest road trip going to Mount Dora Christian, which is a whopping 308 miles potentially round trip. The shortest road trip for Old Plank is going to be the trip across the Buckman Bridge to Christ’s Church Academy at the midway point of the season, clocking in at just 22 miles one way or 44 miles round trip overall.

To St. Joseph: 51/102
To Mount Dora Christian: 154/308
To Christ’s Church Academy: 22/44
To Hilliard: 32/64

Total 2024 Mileage: 259/518

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

Going into the first year of 11-man football, Old Plank has set themselves up with a schedule that will give them a few challenges with the likes of Sarasota Christian, who did well in 8-man football the past two seasons, and Mount Dora Christian as well as an improved Christ’s Church Academy team that won seven games last year. With that said, the first year of transitioning from 8-man football to 11-man football could be a bit of a challenge, and the schedule will allow the Defenders what they will need to do to grow in this next chapter as a program.

Old Plank Christian SOS for 2024: .425

2-Year Combined Opp. Winn-Loss: 86-114

THREE KEY GAMES

• Fri. 8/16 – Sarasota Christian – This is a game to watch as both teams transition to 11-man football. This will be fun and exciting to watch as the Defenders learn more about themselves as a program.

• Fri. 9/13 – at Mount Dora Christian: A good challenge for the defenders against the Bulldogs, who have been in the SSAA 11-man playoffs the past few years. A win here would certainly push the Defenders into being in the mix early for a playoff berth at the end of the season.

• Fri. 9/27 – at Christ’s Church Academy: Another game that could turn heads even more in the SSAA ranks if the Defenders beat the much-improved Eagles. This will also tell the Defenders what they need to focus on more as they finish off the back half of the season.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

With this being the first year of 11-man football for the Old Plank Christian, the schedule is decent for the Defenders to grow and win some games. While the game is similar, there are differences between 8-man and 11-man football and there could be some growing pains for Old Plank Christian. Overall, the Defenders’ transition will surely be one to watch among the SSAA ranks.