Foundation Academy first-year coach DJ White put his trust in Sam Wood Friday night, and the junior running back delivered.
Wood scored three overtime touchdowns as Foundation rallied from an early deficit to knock off Lake Highland Prep on the road 48-42 in the triple overtime. Wood had four total TDs for the game, which was a Sunshine State Athletic Association quarterfinal.
“It felt great, the coaches trusted me and I delivered it and it’s great to celebrate with my brothers,” Wood said. “I get it from God. I only fear God and he blessed me with the ability to play football and I take every opportunity I get to run hard and finish through every play.”
Sam Wood was all smiles after scoring 4 touchdowns to lead Foundation Academy to a 48-42 three-overtime victory over Lake Highland Prep on Friday night. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
The game was all about defense in the first half as Lake Highland (7-3) held Foundation (10-2) to one touchdown to take a 14-7 lead.
Foundation came out fired up in the second half, and both teams wound up the fireworks. Foundation was without starting quarterback Braydon Marks, who was a coach’s-decision scratch. But no worries. Junior Dustin Cormier stepped in and was admirable in relief.
The Lions tied the game in the third quarter when Cormier hit Cole Huntley with a short pass at about the 50-yard line. Huntley caught the ball in traffic, then spun away from his defender and somehow managed to stay in bounds as he raced 52 yards for a touchdown.
Orlando-area Week 12 high school football scoreboard (SSAA)
From there the two teams marched up and down the field trading touchdowns. Lake Highland got touchdowns from quarterback Will Wankelman and Eddie Bohne, with a Foundation touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Cormier to Ben Ford sandwiched in between. LHP led 28-21 with 5:32 left, the same fnal score the Highlanders had Foundation by earlier in the season.
This time, Foundation went to work, and it was mostly Wood doing the damage. He had four carries for 19 yards during a 55-yard scoring drive. Cormier hit Ford with a big 12-yard pass to get the ball to the 4-yard line, and three plays later, Cormier, on 4th-and-goal with 27 seconds left, hit Noah McMullen with a 4-yard TD pass to tie the game.
In the overtime, it was all Wood. LHP could not stop him as he bulldozed his way into the end zone on three straight possessions. LHP set the Lions up for the game-winning opportunity when Talan Henderson, who had been brilliant all night, was stripped of the ball and fumbled to lead off the third overtime. Foundation took advantage and two Wood carries later, the celebration was on.
There were many times when the momentum seemed to be in Lake Highland’s favor, but Foundation was resilient and determined.
“What a game. I believe it’s the first time we’ve won 10 games in a season,” Coach White said. “It’s been a tremendous season. I’m so proud of the boys, so proud of this coaching staff. I cannot do it alone.
“Man, that’s a great team over there. We lost to them in Week 3 and what a battle. That’s what we talk about, from Day 1, since we’ve been here. We just want to keep fighting.”
Lake Highland Prep’s Talan Henderson runs off the field after scoring his second overtime touchdown Friday night in the Highlanders 48-42 loss to Foundation Academy. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
Lake Highland was right there, step for step, but the game was going to come down to whoever made the first mistake. LHP turned the ball over and Foundation seized the opportunity.
“That’s what quarterfinal games are like, state championship games. Little things make the difference,” LHP coach Ben Bullock said. “Coach’s White’s group over there is doing a fantastic job, they’ve got a really good squad and we wish them the best luck going forward.”
It was a tough loss.
“There is nothing I can say or do to make it not hard,” Bullock said. “It’s gonna be hard for a while, but there are really good lessons in this and that’s part of competition. Sometimes it’s not always gonna go your way.”
Wood had just over 100 yards rushing and had 4 touchdowns. Cormier passed for just over 150 yards and three TDs. For LHP, Henderson ran for just over 60 yards and had two touchdowns.
Foundation advances to the SSAA semifinals and will travel to face Mount Dora Christian next Friday night. MDCA throttled Aucilla Christian on Friday.
Mount Dora Christian 46, Aucilla Christian 21 — TJ McCormick scored 3 touchdowns, one on a scoop-and-score fumble recovery for the Bulldogs (11-1). Noah Sleger scored 2 touchdowns and Isaac Farling one.
West Nassau 45, Umatilla 36 — Umatilla saw its perfect season come to an end on the road. The Warriors finish 11-1.
Friday night’s scores
SSAA Playoff Games
11-Man Championship Quarterfinals
Foundation 48, Lake Highland Prep 42 (3 OTs)
Mount Dora Christian 46, Aucilla Christian 21
Atlantic Division Quarterfinals
West Nassau 45, Umatilla 36
11-man 1A Semifinals
Bishop McLaughlin 39, Geneva 19
Windermere Prep at Marco Island Academy, Sat., 1:30 p.m.
11-man 3A Quarterfinals
Master’s Academy 29, Orangewood Christian 28
8-man 1A Quarterfinals
All Saints 45, City of Life 12
St. Francis Catholic 54, Lake Mary Prep 48
8-man Quarterfinals
Real Life Christian 32, Bell Creek 20
Elsewhere
West Oaks 16, Joshua Christian 8
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
