It’s been a very long time for the reason that Boone Excessive soccer gamers might stroll across the college hallways and say they’re undefeated after Week 4. To be precise, 17 years.
However head coach Andy Johnson, who has been on the college for 13 years, stated his gamers have dealt with their success properly. The Braves (4-0) are ranked No. 8 in this week’s Sentinel Tremendous 16 Coaches Ballot and might be dealing with No. 11 Ocoee (3-1) on Friday night time.
The opposite huge sport this week has No. 3 Jones (2-2) internet hosting No. 4 Osceola (3-1).
“Clearly they’re excited however, I feel, for essentially the most pat, holding it in perspective and simply making an attempt to get higher,” Johnson stated of his gamers. “They’re proud of what they’ve completed thus far.”
The spectacular factor about Boone is that the Braves have been capable of accomplish its finest begin since 2007 with greater than 10 transfers on the squad. In 2007, Boone began out 8-0 and completed 11-3, dropping within the state semifinals to eventual champion Seminole.
“I feel it speaks to the tradition of what we do at Boone. The youngsters which were in this system have embraced the brand new gamers,” Johnson stated, “and the newer gamers, they’re our form of guys. They’re team-first guys and I don’t suppose that’s all the time the case whenever you begin dabbling within the switch state of affairs.”
The stabilizing issue for Boone has been the coach’s son. Senior quarterback Sam Johnson is in his third yr because the starter for the Braves and his calm demeanor has helped convey this crew collectively.
“Yeah, I feel the children reply to Sam rather well,” Johnson stated. “He’s all the time been very poised, even when he was a younger quarterback. He stays fairly even-keel. Everytime you’ve received a great, skilled quarterback, it goes a great distance.
“He sometimes makes the fitting play when he’s presupposed to make it and the massive factor, whereas his stats aren’t eye-popping, he’s been very environment friendly and he hasn’t turned the ball over.”
Boone has solely turned the ball over twice this season, and the Braves have been capable of run the soccer, with senior working again Aaron Hardy averaging 130 yards per sport. The 4 straight wins is essentially the most since Boone received six straight video games in 2020.
This would be the Braves second-straight take a look at from a Tremendous 16 crew. Boone knocked off West Orange, the earlier No. 3-ranked crew, 27-21 final week.
Ocoee coach Buck Gurley has had his personal challenges in meshing transfers with present gamers. The Knights additionally had almost 10 gamers switch on this offseason, but they’ve been capable of get off the a great begin. Ocoee’s solely loss was a tricky one final week in opposition to Dr. Phillips. Ocoee led 22-7 however fell aside within the second half and misplaced 29-22.
“Oh man, Final week was self-inflicted …. we had the ball after we have been getting in twice and fumbled on the 1-yard line … additionally we dropped the ball on a move behind the tip zone, and defensively we missed an interception … we left 30 factors on the market,” Gurley stated. “We missed numerous alternatives … missed the performs we should always have taken care of.”
Like Boone, Ocoee runs the soccer, and the Knights are led by a few senior transfers in quarterback Tyson Davison, from Apopka, and working again Michael Blackmon, who was at Wekiva. Each gamers have over 200 yards dashing within the first 4 video games, and Apopka switch Jayden Safford additionally provides to the combination. Ocoee had some accidents final week so Gurley is hoping a few of these gamers are able to go.
Davison has been a giant key, in addition to a number of others, as impression transfers.
“We’ve had a fairly good group of men that got here in and meshed collectively and I feel it was one thing that our college wanted,” Gurley stated. “You are taking a man like Tyson Davison, who’s such an excellent chief on and off the sphere, so when he is available in, he offers you the vocal twine of the offense.
“Then you definitely take someone like Nehemiah (working again Burgess, from West Orange), who’s an brisk man. … Now all the sudden, you’ve got a few guys who’re much more vocal … it escalates apply. It’s been nice. We’ve been needing that.”
There are nonetheless 11 Orlando-area groups which might be undefeated: Edgewater, Bishop Moore, Boone, Lake Brantley, DeLand, East Ridge, Windermere, Innovation, CFCA, Umatilla and Windermere Prep.
Week 5 Friday night time schedule
(All video games are set for 7 p.m. except in any other case famous)
OPEN DATE: Lake Brantley, Lake Mary, Lyman, Grasp’s Academy, Oviedo, College (Orange Metropolis)
Tremendous 16 video games
No. 1 Edgewater (4-0) at Apopka (1-3)
No. 2 Bishop Moore (4-0) at Melbourne Central Catholic (1-2)
No. 4 Osceola (3-1) at No. 3 Jones (2-2)
No. 5 Dr. Phillips (3-1) at Wekiva (1-3)
No. 6 Evans (3-1) at Horizon (2-2)
No. 7 DeLand (4-0) at Deltona (2-1)
No. 8 Boone (4-0) at No. 12 Ocoee (3-1)
No. 9 The First Academy (2-2) at Venice (2-1)
Lake Buena Vista (3-1) at No. 11 West Orange (3-1)
Hagerty (2-1) at No. 12 Lake Mary (2-2)
No. 14 Windermere (4-0) at East River (1-3)
Creekside (1-3) at Winter Park (2-2)
Elsewhere
Ridge Group (1-2) at East Ridge (4-0)
Seminole (2-2) at Lake Wales (3-1)
House Coast (3-1) at Celebration (0-3)
Winter Springs (3-1) at Gateway (1-3)
Timber Creek (2-2) at Hagerty (2-1)
Lake Howell (3-1) at Concord (3-1)
Lake Minneola (1-3) at Lake Gibson (1-2), 7:30
Lake Nona (2-2) at Olympia (1-3)
Land O’Lakes (2-2) at Leesburg (2-2), 7:30
South Lake (3-1) at Mount Dora (0-3)
Oak Ridge (1-3) at Colonial (1-3)
Bradenton Southeast (2-1) at Cypress Creek (0-4), 7:30
Kissimmee Liberty (0-3) at Freedom (0-4)
Orlando College (0-4) at Innovation (2-2)
Orlando Christian Prep (3-1) at Neumann (3-1)
Haines Metropolis (1-3) at Poinciana (1-3), 7:30
St. Cloud (3-1) at Merritt Island (2-2)
The Villages Constitution (4-0) at Tavares (2-1)
Viera (2-2) at Tohopekaliga (2-1)
Pine Ridge (1-3) at Mount Dora Christian (4-1), 7:30
Seffner Christian (3-1) at Orangewood Christian (2-3)
CFCA (3-0) at Bronson (0-5)
Lake Highland Prep (2-1) at Cornerstone Constitution (3-1)
Eustis (1-3) at Basis Academy (3-2)
Miami Nation Day (0-2) at Religion Christian (1-3), 5
Boca Raton Christian (2-1) at Geneva Faculty (0-4), 6:30
Trinity Prep (3-2) at Father Lopez (2-2)
Brooksville Central (3-1) at Umatilla (4-0), 7:30
West Oaks Academy (1-3) at Interlachen (1-4), 7:30
Bishop McLaughlin (2-3) at Windermere Prep (3-0), 4