Ray Icaza

Thanks for the love,  Apopka is always at the top in our area and had a great year again as they always are a tough out come playoff time (money time).  To advance you not only have to be good, but have a bit of luck on your side as the ball takes funny bounces.   Seminole looks like they have all the pieces this year.  With our young backfield we are transitioning from a run oriented offense to more of a mix of run and throw.  Not there yet offensively so if we can get some help on the offensive line where we do lose players, should be right back in the mix next year as we return 7 starters on the defensive side as well as first line subs.

Thanks for the love,  Apopka is always at the top in our area and had a great year again as they always are a tough out come playoff time (money time).  To advance you not only have to be good, but have a bit of luck on your side as the ball takes funny bounces.   Seminole looks like they have all the pieces this year.  With our young backfield we are transitioning from a run oriented offense to more of a mix of run and throw.  Not there yet offensively so if we can get some help on the offensive line where we do lose players, should be right back in the mix next year as we return 7 starters on the defensive side as well as first line subs.

Regarding Vero players that are seniors:  starting QB-Jackson Nairn, starting RB-Boby McMillan, staring receivers-Wendell Bethel & Nijah Brown, starting DE-Travonte O'Neal and on and on.  All IMPACT players, not as you imply seniors that just are on the team.  I went to the Vero game and saw that for myself. No one in our backfield is a senior or top receivers or DB's and 3 of 4 D-linemen are all sophomores.  All IMPACT players.  Regarding Kissimmee being a tweener town, so is Deland or Lake Minneola but they have decent teams now and they are getting more exposure than us in our local media. State wide, most in the know recognize the OHS tradition and that is good.   But for reasons I could only speculate, we don't get the same love from folks at the Sentinel or local high school TV highlights on any of the local stations.  That is a fact.

Unfortunately districts are decided by the FHSAA, so OHS has to play inferior teams such as Gateway and Celebration in Kissimmee plus other schools in SE Orange county that are not the best.  That is not our choice so over the years we have picked up games with Dr. Phillips, Edgewater. West Orange, Bishop Moore and other better teams in Orange county if they are willing to do home and home.  Also will go into Polk to play Lakeland, Lake Gibson, Winter Haven, Lake Wales and others of that caliber.  Our region includes Tampa teams but we don't pick them up as much although we have had games with Manatee and Tampa Jesuit.   In addition, one of the oldest state "rivalries" is with St. Cloud and the locals clammer for that game.  Last year we scheduled home and home vs Miami Columbus as well as Cocoa.  So we are not ducking anyone.  Coach Nick has done a good job as he now has 5 Regional Championships in the 11 years he has been head coach.  Most schools would be thrilled with that record.  

Unfortunately districts are decided by the FHSAA, so OHS has to play inferior teams such as Gateway and Celebration in Kissimmee plus other schools in SE Orange county that are not the best.  That is not our choice so over the years we have picked up games with Dr. Phillips, Edgewater. West Orange, Bishop Moore and other better teams in Orange county if they are willing to do home and home.  Also will go into Polk to play Lakeland, Lake Gibson, Winter Haven, Lake Wales and others of that caliber.  Our region includes Tampa teams but we don't pick them up as much although we have had games with Manatee and Tampa Jesuit.   In addition, one of the oldest state "rivalries" is with St. Cloud and the locals clammer for that game.  Last year we scheduled home and home vs Miami Columbus as well as Cocoa.  So we are not ducking anyone.  Coach Nick has done a good job as he now has 5 Regional Championships in the 11 years he has been head coach.  Most schools would be thrilled with that record.  

Unfortunately districts are decided by the FHSAA, so OHS has to play inferior teams such as Gateway and Celebration in Kissimmee plus other schools in SE Orange county that are not the best.  That is not our choice so over the years we have picked up games with Dr. Phillips, Edgewater. West Orange, Bishop Moore and other better teams in Orange county if they are willing to do home and home.  Also will go into Polk to play Lakeland, Lake Gibson, Winter Haven, Lake Wales and others of that caliber.  Our region includes Tampa teams but we don't pick them up as much although we have had games with Manatee and Tampa Jesuit.   In addition, one of the oldest state "rivalries" is with St. Cloud and the locals clammer for that game.  Last year we scheduled home and home vs Miami Columbus as well as Cocoa.  So we are not ducking anyone.  Coach Nick has done a good job as he now has 5 Regional Championships in the 11 years he has been head coach.  Most schools would be thrilled with that record.  

That is correct, but after Friday night this will be their 10th appearance in the final four tying Edgewater HS for the top spot in that stat in all of central Florida.   Quite an accomplishment when this program doesn't have the cache to attract top talent from other schools, but instead relies on its own homegrown players.

That is correct, but after Friday night this will be their 10th appearance in the final four tying Edgewater HS for the top spot in that stat in all of central Florida.   Quite an accomplishment when this program doesn't have the cache to attract top talent from other schools, but instead relies on its own homegrown players.