Area high school football teams are scrambling to fill voids in their schedules on the eve of preseason practices next week after receiving word that Faith Christian folded its program.
Colonial was scheduled to open the season at home against Faith on Aug. 24 while The Master’s Academy planned to welcome the Lions to Oviedo on Sept. 14.
Faith Christian, which went 9-1 in 2017 as a member of the independent Sunshine State Athletic Conference, had home games slated at its east Orange County campus against The First Academy on Aug. 31 and Orlando Christian Prep on Oct. 5.
Faith head coach Andre Dobson and athletic director Tony Medina, who were both out of town last week, did not respond to phone calls from the Sentinel on Monday.
Dobson returned to town Thursday after running a football camp in Portugal. He forwarded a statement from school administration via text message Tuesday stating that Faith is exploring 8-man football for this fall while eyeing a return to full strength by 2019.
“Unfortunately our numbers were too low to field a full football team,” the message read in part.
Faith Christian defeated Trinity Prep 28-27 in a spring game on May 25.
Several of the program’s top players left for other schools during the offseason, including standout wide receiver Andre Cooper II, who is on roster at Lake Nona.
Defensive back Zak Thomas is now at Boone while linebacker Jason Terry and offensive lineman Jonathan Ramos are both at East River.
Quarterback Ty Poorman and twin brother Cole are among a group of late arriving Faith Christian players planning to enroll at Orlando University.
Preseason practices for programs across the state begin Monday morning.
