Playoffs start early for Wekiva

Mustangs clash with West Orange in do-or-die game

The Wekiva Mustangs have never made the playoffs in Class 8A. Not once in school history. But all of that could change tonight when they face the West Orange Warriors at the Raymond J. Screws Stadium on the West Orange High School campus. The winner of the game will officially qualify for the playoffs and face the Winter Park High Wildcats in the first round.

But in a sense, the playoffs begin tonight for Wekiva. Win and advance. Lose and go home.

The Mustangs (5-3, 1-1) are enjoying their best season in school history and should be seen as the favorite against West Orange (2-5, 1-1). All three of their losses came against playoff bound teams (Dr. Phillips, Timber Creek and Apopka). In the Apopka game they lost 38-31 on two Deshawn Massey touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game. They also have a 50-14 blowout victory over Winter Park on their resume', a team they will face in the first round of postseason if they defeat West Orange.

In contrast the Warriors were decimated by graduation after two straight district titles in 2014 and 2015. All five of their losses also came against playoff teams, but by larger margins. Three of the Warriors losses were to Winter Park 50-14, Dr. Phillips 40-3 and Apopka 56-20. On offense, West Orange is led by senior quarterback Austin Burton, a transfer from Newton South High School in Massachusetts, who was offered a scholarship to play at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Wekiva is led by three seniors - quarterback Trey McGee, workhorse running back Jaylon Fair and wide receiver Wesley Touze.

Kickoff tonight is at 7PM. The winner of this game would play Winter Park on November 11th at 7:30PM, and if Wekiva beats West Orange and Winter Park, it would set up a rematch of that classic Mayor's Cup game against Apopka (if the Blue Darters win their first round playoff game against Timber Creek) on November 18th at Roger Williams Field at Apopka High School.