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ExplorerHomer2

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Everything posted by ExplorerHomer2

  1. I swear I looked everywhere this morning and can't find that upload. Anyone have a direct link?
  2. Looks like it will be a good game. Columbus plays both CAI and Homestead this season, so time will tell regarding the quality of any of these wins relative to one another. CAI has some HUGE boys on that o line! On another note a couple weeks back we had our #2 receiver transfer out from Columbus to Homestead. So that was an unexpected loss that moves the scale a bit in Homestead's favor, except we don't play them at Harris this year. That's going to be a great game. We drive up to play CAI next Friday. Lets just keep the lightning away!
  3. Lots of schedules are about to change in Miami Dade County, on 9/22 weekend, because someone overlooked the Jewish holiday. Columbus has to reschedule the MNW game now...
  4. Looking forward to another great game this year, should we meet again at the finals. The Columbus defense was looking to field it's strongest squad ever this year. Just heard recently that our 5* TJ Capers managed to forego his senior year and is now enrolling at Louisville(?), not sure how that happened. Honestly, despite his ranking, he is probably the 3rd most impactful player on that defense. But will be a loss for sure. As for offense we probably have the best returning QB and receiver tandem in a very long while in Mendoza and Leon. That should be a fun pair to watch if the OLine can get it done. II don't know how a future Blue Darter / Explorer rematch can beat the last few in terms of excitement and close finishes, but I'd expect this year to be no different. Best of luck on your season!
  5. I don't know, man but you sound like a real dick. I know this forum is slow this time of year, but your schtick is tiring.
  6. Agreed. It worked for us last year, although the Central game banged us up and we lost a couple impact players for the season due to injury, making the playoffs that much more challenging. That's the fine line you hope to navigate between well-conditioned and banged up. And of course depth helps in that case. This year's defense (on paper) could be one of the best ever fielded, so that makes me feel good about the prospects, because we have, currently a coupe challenges offensively - namely our line. We have our spring game coming up but it is just an intersquad game so I don't know that we will get a full picture of anything until that CAI game come August. The players (and coaches) are really upset that we couldn't get a team to schedule us. Not sure what happened exactly, but that is a first for us.
  7. Basically the same as last year - travel twice to Tampa area for a couple quality games with CAI and Jesuit then non-district games MNW, Homestead, and a probable rematch with Central for the GMAC in Week 10. Fri, 8/25 Clearwater Academy International Away Thu, 8/31 Killian Fri, 9/8 Jesuit Tampa Away Fri, 9/15 Miami Palmetto Fri, 9/22 Miami Northwestern Fri, 9/29 Miami High Fri, 10/6 Homestead Fri, 10/13 Doral Academy Fri, 10/20 Opponent TBA (GMAC Championship) Neutral • Tournament Fri, 10/27 Goleman
  8. Yeah, right now we still don't have a week 0, nor did we secure a Spring game. Crazy. That said, last I heard Manatee was week 1. I'll see if I can get a definitive answer on Monday. Northwestern's schedule isn't finalized either from what I hear. I know we have them scheduled around week 4 or so, but I am looking forward to your game with them. However that looks to be September 8th, is that right?
  9. And I'm sure a number of posters on this forum who loved the ACA felt quite righteous calling it "Obamacare" . And if you don't know what ACA stands for, then my point is made. It's all politics. Hypocrisy and politics. And this is a football forum. So let's get off our high horse and drop the politics. And Ray, this point isn't to you in particular. Jam included.
  10. Oh, I'm not. We lose a lot on O-Line. Our offense may not average 35+pts a game like last season. However our D looks to be even better next year. I'm already predicting a very low scoring game week 0!
  11. Can't confirm NW playing Manatee, but I can confirm that Columbus will again play NW and Columbus is finalizing talks with Manatee as well for a preseason game. We already had 2 OOS games fail to materialize: had a Georgia school drop us and a trip to Elder Cinncinati fell through a week ago, so I'm not gonna say this is 100% just yet. Good to see Manatee back in the mix! Hope both Explorers and Bulls can make it happen over there on the West coast.
  12. Are you saying STA is a cheater team or Wharton? or both? kid transferred to two schools.
  13. LOL - to be fair, we have more than a few revolving doors around here, and Palmetto is one of them. We have kids come here and either because of grades or playing time, they end up leaving as was the case with Palmetto's Bobby Washington and Palmetto's starting QB Lucas Goenega. Kids want to come here for the facilities and the staff, but when it comes to playing time or grades, or culture, we lose quite a bit. I suspect this is the same with places like STA. So 5* guys like Julian Armella, come in, and in his case, he clashed with the culture and he went right back to STA. We often hear of the transfer in, but rarely hear when the same kids transfer out. 4* QB Adrian Posse last year is an example. That kid was awesome, but can't blame him for seeking play time. It's crazy how much movement we have now. Kids are chasing everything from rings, to coaches, to playing time, it's a wonder we are able to even graduate them. But what we have been seeing is a bit in an uptick in the academic capacity of some of these kids, guys like Sedrick Irvin Jr, and now Willis McGahee IV are solid student-athletes who are getting it done in the classroom. Coach Dunn pushes them there. Parents and the kids know they will get a great education and network coming out of Columbus, not just a ring or awesome weightroom. That said, I respect the hell out of the publics down here who do so much with so little in terms of pockets, staffing and facilities. Columbus is spoiled by comparison.
  14. Transfered from Palmetto to Columbus 4* EDGE Willis McGahee Jr. D looks to stacked again with a healthy Capers and Chavez back next season. RB will be a question mark and we lose a bit on the O-Line and special teams. QB and receiving core will be solid - with everyone returning.
  15. Got it. The play was on the Apopka side so from our vantage point across the field, we didn't see that important detail. Jumbotron wasn't helpful in discovering it either. On another note, I got word the next morning that the Apopka players and coaches heard abut our player who passed away on Friday and they more than graciously offered up their collection to the family of the deceased just prior to the game. What a class act by the Blue Darters. Definitely a fan of the program, both on and off the field. Outstanding sportsmanship - and simply good people.
  16. One didn't stand, but Columbus was flagged for a personal foul called on a 4th down play that would have given the Darters a 1st and goal. Head ref eventually waved off the flag. Also, in the final moments of regulation before the field goal attempt, the Darters came up short of the first, in bounds with 8 seconds left and no timeouts and the clock didn't move for about 10 seconds. Darters then began to line up for what would be an upcoming spiked ball, then the clock finally began to run. Got down to one second so they had a shot at the field goal which was eventually blocked. Those were the two I was referring to. So more like an almost questionable penalty and one bad no call. Both made for a more dramatic finish than needed.
  17. Hats off to Apopka. What a grueling game. Apopka fought hard as they have done all season and in the 4th tied it up. Several 3rd and long and a couple 4th down conversions. This game could have gone either way at several points. At one point it looked as if the explorers would lock it up only to throw a pick that revived the Darter's chances down inside the Explorer red zone. A couple questionable penalties and a blocked FG attempt and we end regulated at 10 a piece, First series in OT saw Apopka settle for a field goal. On the Explorer possession , Mendoza rolls left to pitch it to WR (and backup QB) AJ Arellano on a reverse and hits Mendoza on the run for the score. Final 13-16 Just when I thought the last CCHS v Apopka matchup was an incredible last minute finish, then we have this. These two programs have now built an exciting rivalry of mutual respect. Great game with 6,700 in official attendance, despite the weather. I want to congratulate the Darters on another incredible battle. Hope to see chapter 4 of this slugfest play out next year.
  18. Columbus not moving the ball at all. Ugly game. We enter the 4th still -10-3
  19. Halftime and Columbus clinging to a 7 point lead despite 3 Apopka turnovers. We’re now in a lightning delay. Bad weather south of us. columbus offense looking a bit aenemic. The good news is that two questions ajar players ended up playing tonight and have made the difference. Chavez has been everywhere on def see tonight and WR Leon broke some ankles on a nice TD pass from Mendoza. other than that, defense has been hashed a few times up the middle and by a scrambling Apopka QB. I do question the number of QB keepers being called by our OC. Irvin has maybe 5 carries on the night. special teams has been a mixed bag: 2 poor punts, and 1 poor kickoff. But Allen nailed a 30 yarder to close out the half. if Apopka had held o to the ball better this would be a differ er game. Let’s hope we have a game to finish tonight. columbus 10, Apopka 3
  20. Weather for today's matchup looks to be a bit wet. Thunderstorms rolling in around tailgate time and expected to continue (80+%) through 9pm. Might be a long wet night after a delayed start. Team had a rally yesterday - fans and players super jacked up. Adding to this year's human story, at the end of the rally we got word that one of our sophomore players, Patrick Baker, who had recently undergone a heart procedure, passed away. I imagine this news is hitting the kids differently. But I wonder how they will grapple with this heavy news. Of course the game was instantly dedicated to him. As for today's weather, it should be interesting to see if this limits the Explorer air attack. I do know the Apopka ground game has the potential to slowly wear down our thinner than usual defense (just got word that our number 2 LB Chavez will be a gametime decision, our number 1 Capers already out for the season). Saw that 2nd half in the Apopka/PBC game. That said, the our top tailback Irvin has been looking stronger each game, O-Line is healthy, and both our punting game and FG kicker have been reliable. I do think that Mendoza at QB will need to use his dual threat potential to secure the win. He likes to throw on the run. Still calling a Columbus win here, particularly with the home crowd advantage for the first time in this matchup, (expecting at least 3-4k fans if the weather holds) but I think it will be another nail-biter despite Columbus looking superior on paper. Max preps has us now as #23 in the nation. A state championship could vault this squad to the highest ranking all time, nationally. Columbus tailgate begins at 3:30pm today. Gonna be some rowdy, wet fans. Adelante, EXPLORERS!
  21. One thing that became clear last week is how much we missed our 5* LB (Capers) against Ocoee. Clearly, we were scored upon moreso that game than any other, except for the Central game, The good news? Even with our #1 receiver out in that game (Leon), we had enough offensive weapons to put up our average points per game. The good news for Apopka is that these two guys are both out for the season (knee and broken collar bone). Thankfully they are both juniors, but I know it kills them to miss this game. But it does obviously mean we are not up to full throttle for these final games. This is the time of the year where depth and heart will win it. Haven't seen Apopka D much, but I know Harper and Irvin are a 1-2 punch that is hard to stop. We also have a supporting cast and mobile QB in Mendoza who is healthy now. So I see Apopka scoring a bit more, but don't see our offensive output declining much. Maybe 31-24?
  22. Looks like we will have another Apopka / Columbus rematch for the 4M state championship! Congrats Blue Darters.
  23. Interception seals it. Columbus going to state finals. What a great game. Hats off to Ocoee. They really showed up tonight! Great game knights!
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