By Kyle Coppola
Umatilla High School Football Host First Playoff Game In A Decade
UMATILLA, Fla. — For the first time since 2014, the Umatilla High School Bulldogs will host a playoff game, marking a significant milestone for a football program revitalized under head coach Eric Samuels. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 5-4 record, a testament to Samuels and his coaching staff’s determination to get the program back on track after years of struggle. Umatilla will face Coral Springs Charter School at home on Thursday, November 1, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
(Dallas Cottle rushes the ball against MDCA earlier this year.)
“Hosting a playoff game again is huge for this team and our community,” said Coach Samuels. “These players have put in the hard work, and it’s showing.” Umatilla High enters the Sunshine State Athletic Conference 1A championship as the #2 seed and face off against #3 Coral Springs Charter School. The winner of that game takes on #1 seed Space Coast in the 1A Semifinal on November 8th.
Samuels’ impact on the team has been clear, as the Bulldogs improved to 5-4 this season. Dallas Cottle, Josh Wilson and Bryce Norflee have led the team offensively. Overall it’s been a terrific campaign for this group of players. What’s more is that the senior’s have earned one more home game this season. Regardless of what happens this will be the final home game of the season for the Bulldogs.
(Bryce Norflee has been spectacular this year. He will look to play in a State Championship game like his father Brian Norflee did in 1983 with Eustis High.)
Coral Springs Charter brings a competitive edge, but Samuels and his staff have prepared their team for the challenge. With a strong defense and key offensive playmakers, Umatilla is hoping to capitalize on home-field advantage in what promises to be an exciting showdown.
We hope all of Umatilla High come out and pack the house on Friday evening! It’s the final home Friday Night Lights game of the year! Be sure to come out and support the Umatilla High Bulldogs for the first time in 10 years in a home playoff game! How cool is that?
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.
