After a 22-23 campaign which saw the Lions finish 10-2 including a playoff overtime thriller victory against top team, the Wharton Wildcats, many thought the Lions would continue to build on their success going into the 23-24 season. While the Lions offense manned by Head Coach Greg Odierno accomplished just that averaging 41 point’s per game, an 8 point jump per game from the previous season, the Lions defense is what held them back all too often throughout the 23-24 season. The defense gave up 30-plus points in five games, something they had only done once the season prior. Lions defensive leader Joey Gioia knows what the unit has to do to get back on track.

 

“We need to play faster, stronger, and unselfish in order to improve on last season,” said Gioia. 

 

Headed into the new season the defense was not perceived as the concern, the offense however seemed bound for some sort of regression after two potent seasons. 

 

The Lions graduated seven starters on the offense, including two-year starter and record-breaking quarterback Jackson Latour, as well as offensive tackle, now Florida State Seminole, Tye Hylton. The Lions would see 77% of their total offensive production graduate, leading Oviedo’s fans to expect some sort of stepback. 

 

The opposite can be said for the Lions defense. The expectations were high for this group as they returned seven starters, including multi-year captains and three-year starters Brady Manning and Joey Gioia. 

 

However, the script would flip Friday night against the star-studded Bishop Moore Hornets as it was the veteran defense that would falter under the pressure while the Lions young, inexperienced offense would pick up right where the former had left off.

 

The Lions offense was led on the field by senior Quarterback Jerome Curry who while spending four years in the program and three on the varsity squad, had yet to start in his first game for the Orange and Black. Many would have been nervous going into the game, but not Curry.

 

 “I was just looking forward to having fun and playing ball with my guys,” said Curry.   

 

While Curry may have been inexperienced on paper, he looked the part of a veteran Quarterback on the field, completing seven of his 12 passing attempts for 252 yards and three touchdowns for the night, averaging 36 yards per completion all while leading the Lions to a 40 point performance. Curry talks about how he never once thought about giving up in his long trek to the starting job.

 

“I knew that if I’d given up I would always wonder what things I could’ve accomplished,” said Curry.

 

Other top performing Lions of the night included Chance Nixon who would put together 259 total yards, continuing to showcase his game-breaking speed, as well as Camari Solomen, a defensive asset for the Lions, intercepting star Bishop Moore quarterback Bjorn Jurgenson.

 

Jurgenson would dominate the Lions defense throughout the game to the tune of 432 total yards and three touchdowns leading the seemingly unstoppable offense and showcasing why he deserved his three star ranking.

 

Down 31-40 with only five minutes remaining, Jurgenson showcased just how talented and cool under pressure he is, leading two scoring drives for the improbable comeback victory over the Lions 45-40

 

Even after a disappointing performance in his eyes, star safety Brady Manning knows that the Lions defense has the ability to bounce back.

 

“I really think we’re one of the most talented units in all of Florida,” said Manning “It’s just about putting it all together as a team.” 

 

The loss now bumps the Lions down to 92nd in the state while Bishop Moore is boosted up to 51st. This loss also marked the Lions first week one loss in nine years, and the only under the Odierno regime.