Local Football Coaches React to Cancellation of Spring Sports
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) issued the following statement on April 20, 2020 in regards to the Spring High School sports season:
Hernando Christian Academy
Hernando Christian Academy keeping the momentum
Hernando Christian Academy is steam rolling along to maintain their top position for the girls’ basketball program in Hernando County. With Mike Drummond leading the Lady Lions in a 17-1 season, he relies on the team’s continued efforts to keep the plays in motion.
The battle stopped at Riverside.
Hernando Christian Academy falls to Riverside Christian in a 38-31 championship battle.
Article and Photography by ALICE MARY HERDEN
Trenton, FL -- “It was a quiet bus ride going up. It’s kind of hard to take it all in,” Jeff Knott said.
Hernando Christian Academy’s football team set a goal to be the 2019 6-man Florida State Champions. As every game they played brought them closer and closer, the road to the final championship game ended on Riverside’s home field.
Hernando Christian academy rebounds after a tough loss to Donahue
Article and Photography by ALICE MARY HERDEN
Hernando Christian Academy (HCA) was on a three-game winning streak until they met up with Donahue on September 27. The Lions didn’t make it easy for Donahue as HCA fell just 7 points shy of them with a final score of Donahue 45, HCA 38.
“We lost steam, but not a lot,” Asst. Coach Lance Schwan said. “We walked away from Donahue with a little bit more confidence. I think it’s going to turn into a positive thing and force these kids to keep going.”
"The train is starting to build up steam, boys."
Article and Photography by ALICE MARY HERDEN
Hernando Christian Academy (HCA) had a solid win Thursday night against Cornerstone Academy. Cornerstone had one loss in 2018 (10-1) and went undefeated the year (12-0) before. The last time HCA played against them was back in 2016 at the semi-finals. HCA won 54 to 29. The Lions proceeded to the Championship only to fall to Geneva in a close game 36-39. HCA will face Geneva in Lakeland on October 18.
Hernando Christian Academy officially starts their 6-man football season
Article and Photography by ALICE MARY HERDEN
On Thursday night Sept. 5, Hernando Christian Academy held their first 6-man football game against Newberry Christian Community, and it was a glorious win for the Lions; 43-12.
There was an uncertainty of how the team would perform due to practice cancellations, but Coach Raley was pleasantly surprised by the team’s ability to pull it off.
Irma’s aftermath causes scheduling chaos
Hurricane Irma is in the rearview mirror, but her impacts are still being felt. High school sports may be a low-level concern as the state recovers from the storm, however coaches and administrators are nonetheless scrambling trying to figure out how to move forward.
In Hernando County, where school and all activities had already been called off last Thursday through Saturday in preparation for Irma, prep sports have been shut down until Monday, when all schools will reopen. That means no practices and no games, even if they’re off campus or outside the county.
College signings spread out across the county
Back in February, Central’s football team dominated National Signing Day with four football players officially inking with college programs.
That quartet included the state’s leading rusher, De’Vonta Smith (Division I Appalachian State), defensive back Dominique Walker (D-I Florida Championship Subdivision FAMU), linebacker Josh Rivera (D-II Lincoln University in Pennsylvania) and safety Sam Garner (NAIA Webber International).
Those were far from the only signings among the six county schools, however, and they weren’t the only signees from Central, either.
Hernando Christian staff member arrested for sexual battery
On April 29th 2017, the Brooksville Police department received a complaint that alleged that multiple sex offenses were committed at a house in Southern Hill Plantation. An investigation led to the arrest of Bruce P. McAllister a staff member of Hernando Christian Academy on May 11th. The police report stated "that the husband of a principal at Hernando Christian Academy used a school sponsored foreign exchange program to lure victims to his home.
Nature Coast sweeps county tennis invite
The field wasn’t as complete as originally intended, but for the Nature Coast boys and girls tennis teams, what turned out be a county invitational this week proved a rewarding experience.
While the boys went down to the wire to edge Weeki Wachee, the Lady Sharks dominated two other county squads, as both captured first place in the tournament that was held Thursday and Friday at Delta Woods Park.