What can one opening on your schedule do for you?
For the Fort Pierce Central Cobras, it got them a national showdown at home with powerhouse Don Bosco Prep out of New Jersey.
“We needed a Week 5 opponent. An opponent dropped us and so we put it on the FHSAA {website] and then Don Bosco actually called us and need the same thing and they were looking for an out-of-state game, looking to travel to Florida,” Fort Pierce Central head coach Joshua Shaffer said.
The game was announced officially on Thursday by the school.
And it is very likely both teams could come into this game nationally ranked.
The Cobras finished this past season ranked No. 76 in the final HSFB100 National Rankings with 11-2 overall record, while Don Bosco finished ranked No. 63 with a 7-4 overall record.
While Don Bosco has been a nationally relevant program for many years and is use to scheduling nationally-ranked opponents during the season, for Fort Pierce Central it is something new for them. Overall, it has the entire program excited.
“It’s a big time opportunity for us, our kids and our program to play a team the caliber of Don Bosco. Looking at one of the best teams in the last 10, 20 years, multiple national championships, over 14 different state championships. It is pretty exciting for us to take this step and kind of a leap of faith here, where we are stepping out of our own comfort zone and playing a team that is out-of-state with that type of caliber behind them,” Shaffer said.
The possibility of having the game shown on national television is there and Shaffer said they are staying in communication with Don Bosco on how to handle this since this is the Cobras first time hosting a game of this magnitude.
However, this game could be a building block for the Cobras’ opening district game the very next week with Vero Beach.
“It has my experience the last couple of years in playing big time teams that competition helps you prepare better than anything. If we can come out of that week healthy and competing, hopefully having a good week that week then that will better prepare us for the week before playing Vero Beach,” Shaffer said.
Overall though, Shaffer said that it has been wonderful working with the staff at Don Bosco Prep in scheduling the game.
The game is scheduled for Friday, September 26 at Lawnwood Stadium in Fort Pierce.
The Varsity Message Board: What are your thoughts on Fort Pierce Central hosting Don Bosco Prep?
Feature photo from Fort Pierce Central Football Twitter account. Visit and follow them here.
