Just last Friday, the Oviedo Lions faced the Sickles’ Gryphons at home, entering deeper into their season with their second official game. Last year, the Lions best the Gryphons in a solid 58-0 victory, giving Lions fans an idea of what was expected in this year’s match up. 

The Lions went in angry this year after starting their official season with a loss.

“We’re hungry to get a win… we came off Bishop Moore feeling really bad, so hopefully our guys are ready to get back on the field,” said Coach Roberts, Assistant Coach of the Lions. 

After the previous week’s tough loss at Bishop Moore, this most recent success was a true breath of fresh air for the players, coaches, and fans.

When a similar question was asked to junior Damin Marquis, a devoted Lions fan, he said: “Losing that first one to Bishop Moore was a bad loss, but I think we will bounce back this week.”

It seems as if everyone on the field and in the stands had that same desire to win. 

With so many juniors on the team, it has some fans wondering how far this team will be going this year. And more than that, next year’s potential. 

“I think our roster is good. It just needs to develop,” said Marquis. 

Regardless of any doubts, this year’s roster has been proving themselves game after game, and regardless if we had won or lost, the team had given their all at Bishop Moore, with a score of 35-68.

Team morale was down significantly after the crushing loss the week before.

“No one has really smiled in the last seven days, it hasn’t been fun,” said Roberts. 

In preparation for Sickles, Oviedo’s coaches had some doubts.

“They have a lot of different formations they’re gonna give us, I think I counted almost 20… It’s difficult to prepare for,” said Roberts. However, the Lions are hitting back with their own extensive playbook. Play after play is memorized by every offensive player so that game time can run smoothly.

In a stark contrast, fans were absolutely hyped for the game against Sickles, and with a pep rally and lunch celebration with the Oviedo drum line, it was hard not to be. 

Fortunately, their hard work left the Lions with a happy ending in their next game.  Overall, Friday was a huge success; a 55-7 result seen as a win for everybody from the football team to the student body. Fans can only hope Oviedo can keep riding the victory train through Lake Brantley away from their home turf next week.