What started as a supposed blowout turned into an underdog story Friday night, with Oviedo High School’s district game against Evans High School. Fans, students, and the players received a shock Friday night in game against Evans.
“Our energy was up to the roof, because even though we beat them last year, they still doubted us, so we knew we had to win,” senior Samari Chilsom said.
His teammates agreed with him, recognizing how much was riding on this game. It’s never easy to go into a game you’re supposed to lose, but the Lions seemed ready to fight tooth and nail to defend The O.
“Regardless of what the media was saying, as a team we went into [the game] with a winning mentality. Nobody except the people in that locker room thought we would win and we played like we had something to prove,” Carmari Solomon said.
They came out with energy, energy that the photographers and staff on the sideline could feel all around them.
“On the sidelines, especially when you’re standing next the football players and you see how hype they are, that emotion definitely gets catered to everyone else on the sideline including me. It’s definitely different from being in the student section,” said senior photographer and yearbook editor-in-chief Gianna Fusco.
With many notable moments in the game, it was almost impossible for fans to tear their eyes away. While Evan’s took an early lead, the Lions defense had a switched flipped within them as they started playing like never before.
“Starting down 14-0 the way defense bounced back was incredible. everyone was doing their job and trusting others to do their own and that’s how we performed so well,” Solomon said.
Their tackles, reads, and coverage seemed to shut Evan’s down at every step. The Lions looked impressive. All they needed to tie up the game was the offense the crazy energy the defense was giving.
“Our pass defense is really good, so we knew we had to lock in and stop their run game to make them pass the ball,” Chilsom said.
With the offense up to par and matching the defense, the Lions were able to tie up this crazy game and at one point, even pull a touchdown ahead of the Evans Trojans.
“Offensively we kinda picked up off of defense. We started the game a little slow but even being down at halftime, the way we came back out I knew we were going to flip that switch and that’s what we did,” Solomon said.
With three minutes left in the game, and a tie still on the scoreboard, the Lions were dealt a lethal blow when starting quarterback Sebastian Galeano was injured, and he wasn’t getting up.
“Getting injured shocked my teammates and I, it was terrible timing with the game on the line. I’m so proud of the team and how they never gave up. Watching overtime from the sidelines was weird but I knew the team was gonna get the win and never give up,” junior Sebastian Galeano said.
With this injury, Caden Manning and Brock Joyce stepped in to play Quarterback.
“I was just hoping he was okay and knew that I needed to be ready to go in that tough situation,” sophomore Caden Manning said.
Even with the loss of their quarterback, the Lions continued to give it their all, winning the game 29-28 after the second overtime with a kick by Patrick O’Brien, winning the district championship once again.
