News Features

Umatilla Advances In State Football Playoffs

    “I’m excited and ready to go to war with my guys on Friday night.”
   Umatilla High School football coach Eric Samuels on Monday expressed the enthusiasm that is running throughout the Umatilla program, the high school, and broader community this week, as the undefeated (11-0) Bulldogs are set to play region top seed West Nassau in the second round of the Small School Athletic Association’s Atlantic State Championship.
   “The boys are fired up,” Samuels said, “They know this week is against a good opponent. They are focused and read to go.”
   Umatilla, the fourth seed in the region, advanced to this week’s game with a home win against Lake Weir. To continue the season, the Bulldogs will have to travel to Callahan outside of Jacksonville and defeat the Warriors, who come into the contest with a record of 10-1.
   Umatilla and West Nassau share two common opponents this season. The Warriors defeated Stanton High School in the first round by a score of 48-12. Umatilla opened its season against Stanton on August 15, with Umatilla winning by a score of 53-6. West Nassau defeated Lake Weir 48-12 on September 5, and Umatilla defeated Lake Weir 48-8 on October 3, and 26-12 this past Friday night.
   Friday’s game will kick off at 7 p.m.
   On paper, the teams are fairly evenly matched, with Umatilla scoring an average of 46 points per game to West Nassau’s 41. Umatilla averages 342 yards of offense per game, while West Nassau produces 393. And while Umatilla’s run/pass offensive statistics are fairly balanced at 148 rushing/194 passing, West Nassau relies on its rushing attack to produce points, averaging 314 rushing yards per game to just 79 passing.
   Overall, Umatilla has scored 506 points on the season to West Nassau has scored 446. The Bulldogs have allowed just 64 points this year, while West Nassau has allowed 138. West Nassau’s higher seed in the playoff is likely due to a perceived stronger overall schedule.
   “West Nassau is a well-disciplined team,” Samuels said of this week’s opponent. “Who do what they do well.”