October 30, 2024
Mount Dora Christian Academy Prepares for Quarterfinal Clash with Christ’s Church Academy
By Kyle Coppola
Mount Dora Christian Academy Prepares for Quarterfinal Clash with Christ’s Church Academy
Jacksonville, Fla. — Mount Dora Christian Academy (MDCA) faces a critical test Friday night as they head into a quarterfinal playoff matchup against Christ’s Church Academy, with the winner advancing to the SSAA State Semi-Finals. This game marks the second meeting of the season between the two teams, with Christ’s Church Academy having defeated MDCA 42-21 a few weeks ago at MDCA. The Bulldogs, now looking for redemption, are among the top eight teams in the SSAA. They actually have moved up from Class 5A last year into the SSAA Top Division.
(Frank Hicks leads the MDCA Bulldogs in receiving yards. He’s also been a force on defense with 4 interceptions.)
MDCA, led by Head Coach Kolby Tackett, comes into the matchup with an 8-2 record and a determined mindset, having moved up from Class 5A—where they claimed the Conference Championship last year—into the top State Championship division this season. Tackett’s coaching has been pivotal in preparing the Bulldogs to compete at this level, and MDCA has looked sharp down the final stretch.
Offensively, MDCA boasts a dynamic passing attack anchored by senior quarterback Jayden Burgos, who has thrown for over 1,100 yards and tallied 15 touchdowns. Senior Nathan Roach has been equally versatile, contributing 13 touchdowns with 280 yards rushing and 566 passing yards. The Bulldogs will also lean on wide receiver Frank Hicks, who leads the team with 572 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, as well as Seth Roach and Sean Mora, each with close to 300 yards receiving and six touchdowns apiece.
(Mikey Napoli has been one of the best linebackers in the Sunshine State Athletic Association. He continues to be a huge reason for the Bulldogs success.)
On the defensive side, MDCA has been anchored by standout senior Mike Napoli, who leads the team with 64 tackles and has caused two fumbles. The secondary has been a significant asset, with Frank Hicks and junior Blake Banks recording four and five interceptions, respectively, making the Bulldogs’ defense one of the best in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
Christ’s Church Academy enters the game with an 8-1 record, driven by a powerful offensive line and sophomore running-back Kyree Wilson, who has been a dominant force with over 1,200 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Drew Zak adds balance with 1,322 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, making the combination of Wilson and Zak a dual threat MDCA must contain to limit the Eagles’ possessions and control the game’s tempo.
Although MDCA enters as the underdog, their ability to execute on both sides of the ball, maintain defensive discipline, and create opportunities for their playmakers could swing the game in their favor. With a state semifinal spot on the line, both teams will look to extend their seasons with an eye toward a potential matchup against either Master’s Academy or Lake Highland Prep in the next round.
This is going to be an awesome football game between two great programs. We are so happy we get to see this matchup again. If it’s as entertaining as the first game, we are in for a real treat!
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.
