Success seems like it had evaded the Villages Charter School‘s football program for much longer than three years.
Maybe because the last three seasons wasn’t exactly what the suburban, Mid-Central Florida football community was really used to. A combined 12-18 over the course of the last three seasons from 2022-24.
It was just back in 2021 that the Buffaloes notched a 11-1 season, reaching the regional final round of the Class 4A playoffs, before bowing out against eventual state finalist Cocoa.
Fast forward to present day and the Villages will face Cocoa once again, on the road at Tiger Stadium, tasked again with trying to remain undefeated. This time, however, not in the postseason and by many around the Sunshine State would say likely the favorite on paper in the matchup.
“Cocoa on paper, it might appear that they’re down but they are not down. They’re playing some really, really good teams and have been in those games,” Villages Charter School head coach Richard Pettus said.
“(Cocoa) still has the talent pool, especially defensively. We know this is going to be a challenge. We also know some folks won’t give us much of a chance, but as long as our kids believe, that’s all that matters.”
The reasons to believe that the Buffaloes could walk out of the Space Coast region 9-0 with one regular season game to go are plentiful. One primary basis would be the play of their defense, which has recorded three straight shutouts for the first time in program history.
Leading the charge on defense for the Villages is senior linebacker Cole Logan, who leads the team with 71 total tackles. Logan is joined by a myriad of other contributors on the defensive side of the ball, including strong safety Jeremiah Wimes (61 tackles) and defensive end Ashton Hunt (eight sacks).
“Our kids are flying around the way a defense is supposed to,” Pettus said. “(The defense) can’t get enough of film study. they do a great job of being a student of the game and really learning the game plan, but trying to put themselves in position to be successful. It all starts up front and I think that the defensive line has just done a tremendous job that’s helped our linebackers.”
Offensively, the Buffaloes received a big pickup via transfer in former IMG Academy running back Tranard Roberts, who came over during the off-season. Roberts has only played in a handful of games, which has given way to plenty of other playmakers on the team.
One player that has really stood out on offense is junior quarterback Jadence Kennedy, who has been one of the biggest surprises in Florida this fall. Kennedy has completed 72 percent (80 of 111) of his passes for 1,405 yards, 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
The receiving corps features multiple 300-plus yard pass catchers, including Jamarian Clark (455 yards), Kevonte Corbin (354 yards) and Omari Hill (306 yards).
With so many offensive skill set players on the offensive side of the ball, Pettus’ squad has seen their average go from 20.7 points per game in 2024 to 44.8 this fall.
The offense puts on a show on Friday nights at the Villages’ fairly new stadium, The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium, which is a state-of-the-art facility for the Buffaloes.
The five-story venue can hold upwards to 5,000 fans and Pettus points out to the excitement that the team has brought back into the community. He said that each home game has been sold out and if the Villages win their next two games, including Friday night’s versus Cocoa, they can expect to lock down Florida’s Class 2A, Region 2’s No. 1 seed and get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“We all have built something pretty special here,” Pettus added.
“The 24 years that I have been here, the community is behind us, win or lose. I mean, the last three weeks, we’ve hit record highs. When you win and you have success, it brings success. Our new stadium is completely packed and full now. We’re just in a great community that loves high school football.”
How to Follow Florida High School Football
For Florida high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Sunshine State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Florida.
