A Different World

Last week Hernando Christian Academy opened up its season triumphantly, downing new Sunshine State Athletic Conference rival Bishop McLaughlin, 21-14.
This week HCA travels to Orlando-Central Florida Christian  for a 7 p.m. non-conference game, facing a far different opponent in terms of style.
"It's a completely different world," HCA Head Coach David Raley said. "Bishop McLaughlin is hard, tough, in your face. They've always been like that. They run the ball, run over you, beat you up.
"This next week (CFC), they spread you out, they have an excellent quarterback, an excellent wide receiver and one or two excellent running backs. We don't an answer for that."
CFC, a Class 1B program, lost its season opener last week to DeLand-Lighthouse Christian, 52-13.
A year ago the Lions made this same trip and dominated the Eagles, 17-0. But the HCA roster has changed significantly since then, thanks in part to several transfers to Hernando High.
"Everybody is smiling a whole lot more than they were the week before," Raley said. "This bunch practices hard. All the adversity they went through made them a tight-knit bunch. We're not super talented by any stretch, but these kids work real hard.
"That (last week's win) was really important to us. It was a very big win, mainly just because of the adversity we went through."
Raley said that game helped him identify playmakers. He also praised the work of the offensive line.
As for repeating that effort this week, Raley admitted "it would be a wonderful surprise.
"Hopefully we'll stay in the game and play our game, hold them down," Raley said. "We have to control the clock, be able to run the ball. Our offensive line needs to be better than their defensive line and we need to be able to run the ball the way we like to run the ball."

Going to the game?

Take State Road 50 east to the Orlando area. Turn left on Good Homes Road. The school is located at 700 Good Homes Road.

BY THE NUMBERS: HCA VS. CENTRAL FLORIDA CHRISTIAN
- Compiled by CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

HCA leads series 2-1
Date                        Site         Result
11/06/04                 Home      W 42-14
09/01/06                 Home      L 12-13
09/08/07                 Away     W 17-0