November 13, 2024
Mount Dora High Back In FHSAA Playoffs, Set To Face Dunnellon In Regional Quarterfinals
By Kyle Coppola
Mount Dora High Back In FHSAA Playoffs, Set To Face Dunnellon In Regional Quarterfinals
Mount Dora, Fla. – For the first time in a decade, the Mount Dora High School football team has returned to the playoffs, and the Hurricanes are set to face Dunnellon in the Regional Finals. Head Coach Luke Hutchinson has orchestrated an impressive turnaround, building the program back up after years of challenges. Apart from a pandemic-shortened playoff berth in 2020, when the team entered at 1-6, Mount Dora hasn’t made the postseason since their 9-3 finish in 2014, when they reached the FHSAA Regional Quarterfinals.
(Quarterback Jake Sepe has led the Canes all year long. He hopes to become the man at the helm to lead Mount Dora High to a playoff victory. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
Leading the Hurricanes’ offense this season is standout junior Tymir Gaines, who has amassed 1,689 rushing yards and 301 receiving yards for a total of 2.151 all purpose yards. Gaines, has 26 touchdowns this season.
Senior quarterback Jake Sepe has played a vital role in the Mount Dora High offensive machine. Sepe has recorded 1,538 total yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 14 yards per throw and showing poise under center. Receivers Tanner Waring and Zyshone Perry have been reliable targets throughout the season, with Waring contributing 564 receiving yards and Perry adding 415. Between the two they should pass 1,000 yards combined receiving against Dunnellon.
(Mount Dora’s Zyshonne Perry has 4 touchdowns this year and will look to help the Canes offensively against a tough Dunnellon secondary. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
The Hurricanes’ defense has also played a pivotal role in their success, anchored by senior EJ Balderas with 57 tackles and junior Elijah McGhee leading the team with 68. The defense is further strengthened by junior Colton Fickett, who tops the team with 4.5 sacks and has been relentless in pressuring opposing offenses all season long.
Dunnellon presents some unique challenges for Mount Dora High. After a 5 turnover game against The Villages on senior night, Mount Dora will need to limit turnovers if they want to win. Dunnellon has a tough defense. They come in after a 7-3 season. While the offense has had an alright season the defense has been where this team has won games. Senior Donnovin Gonzalez has 100 total tackles along with Dylan Donahoe who has 94 tackles on the year. Mount Dora will be challenged running the ball against Dunnellon. They will also have to contend with one of the best cornerbacks in the state Sean Martin who has 4 interceptions this year.
(Mount Dora High will attempt to do what no Hurricane team has done since any of the players were born. “Win An FHSAA Playoff Game.” Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
Coach Hutchinson’s leadership has guided the Hurricanes back to prominence, and as they prepare to face Dunnellon in a high-stakes Regional Quarterfinal matchup, Mount Dora is looking for their first FHSAA playoff Regional Quartefinal win since any of the Hurricane players have been born. This is going to be an awesome game! It’s at Dunnellon at 7pm on Friday night. Be sure to leave words of support in the comments! This is a huge opportunity for Mount Dora High football and we are so excited for them! Go Canes!!
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.
