By Kyle Coppola
Umatilla High School Releases 2024 Football Schedule
The Umatilla Bulldogs have unveiled their much-anticipated 2024 Football Schedule, ushering in a significant shift for the upcoming season. This year marks a historic departure for Umatilla, as they veer away from their decades-long representation in the FHSAA Athletic Conference, choosing instead to compete in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference for 2024.
Among the scheduled matchups, fans can anticipate the renewed intensity of facing cross-town rival Tavares High School. Umatilla is set to revisit familiar adversaries, including Lake Weir, Father Lopez, and Central—teams they clashed with last season, clinching victories against Father Lopez and Central.
Injecting an element of excitement into the schedule, Umatilla welcomes newcomers Mount Dora Christian Academy (MDCA), promising an engaging matchup. MDCA has consistently proven itself as a powerhouse in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference over the past few years.
Adding to the roster of opponents are Interlachen, Taylor, Tenoroc, Stanton, and Crystal River—a lineup that aligns with Umatilla’s competitive aspirations. As the school strives to revitalize its athletics programs, with a particular focus on football, this strategic move signifies a positive step forward. While the prospect of competing for a conference championship in the SSAC looms for Umatilla next season, it is acknowledged that considerable groundwork lies ahead.
Anticipation builds for the upcoming months, with Spring Football offering a preview of Umatilla’s prowess. As August approaches, the Friday Nights spent beneath the vibrant lights at Umatilla High School hold the promise of being exceptionally memorable this season.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
