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Mount Dora Christian returns key two-way player Ben Glass from last year’s 12-2 team. (Chris Hays\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\nThe FHSAA unveils its new Independent Football League this season, and the overwhelming consensus among Orlando-area coaches is positive.<\/p>\n
The league has two divisions (A and B), based on student enrollment counts, and both brackets have North and South regions with eight teams in each. That adds up to 32 teams getting to experience postseason play. The North and South region winners will play league championship games at The Villages on Dec. 4.<\/p>\n
The A Division has schools with more than 900 students. The B Division has smaller schools with less than 859 students.<\/p>\n
Unlike the FHSAA state championship classifications, the Independent League has no districts and no mandatory opponents. Schools are free to design their schedules. The playoff participants will be selected based on MaxPreps\u2019 final regular season rankings.<\/p>\n
Mount Dora Christian coach Kolby Tackett was a big proponent of the change and he is happy to be back with the state\u2019s governing body.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they did a good job listening to the needs,\u201d Tackett said of the FHSAA. \u201cWe\u2019re really excited about it because we\u2019re back under the FHSAA umbrella, which ultimately is what we wanted to be. That was the easy motivator for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the 2025 rankings Mount Dora Christian was the highest-ranked team among those now in the Pool B list. Windermere, which is on a 20-game winning streak, was the highest-ranked school among those now on the Pool A list.<\/p>\n
Tackett\u2019s team returns the area\u2019s top returning rusher from a year ago in Isaac Farling, who ran for 1,721 yards and 27 touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Mount Dora Christian returns key two-way player Ben Glass from last year’s 12-2 team. (Chris Hays\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n
Windermere coach Riki Smith also embraces the move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s part of the growth process, maturation process here at Windermere High. We\u2019re playing a really tough schedule,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAdversity is coming. Hard is coming. So, just embrace the moment and we\u2019re gonna attack it one day at a time and the goal is to qualify for the postseason.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coaches whose teams made the switch from the Sunshine State Athletic Association back to the FHSAA this year have noted that the new format is very much like the formula the SSAA invented. A difference is that all SSAA teams made their playoffs.<\/p>\n
![\"Windermere](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TOS-L-gianni-rodriguez-01-02.jpg\")
Windermere sophomore quarterback Gianni Rodriguez has been battling teammate Dean Monroe for the Wolverines quarterbacking job in the preseason. (Chris Hays\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n
Umatilla coach Eric Samuels, in his fourth year at his alma mater, guided the Bulldogs to an 11-0 record last season before losing in the SSAA playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me it seems just like the SSAA. We still get a chance to make our own schedule, still get a chance to play for a championship and there\u2019s no district, so I\u2019m excited,\u201d Samuels said. \u201cThe last three years all we heard was, \u2018You\u2019re not playing anybody,\u2019 or \u2018You\u2019re playing in that other league,\u2019 but now there\u2019s no excuse, we\u2019re back in the FHSAA and we\u2019re ready to compete.\u201d<\/p>\n
Umatilla had the No. 3 ranking last year among teams now in Pool A. Innovation was No. 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re gonna come out and compete every week and what happens, happens, but I\u2019m excited. I do think we\u2019ve got a pretty good shot to make a deep run, even with our young team,\u201d Samuels said.<\/p>\n
Ralph King steps in as head coach at Cypress Creek to see if he can do something about turning things around for a program that has lost 31 consecutive games. He is the fifth coach in five years for the Bears.<\/p>\n
![\"Ralph](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TOS-L-ralph-king-01.jpg\")
Ralph King is the new head coach at Cypress Creek, the fifth coach for the Bears in five seasons. (Stephen M. Dowell\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n
\u201cMy job is to set a foundation. My job is to set trust. My job is to basically have a spring season right here at the beginning in preseason and focus on the fundamentals and focus on building a football-stable culture here at Cypress Creek,\u201d King said. \u201cI have to be a face for the kids to be there. Not just say, \u2018I\u2019m here for you guys.’\u201d<\/p>\n
King, who was working at Gateway High as a social studies teacher and formerly coached at St. Cloud among a number of stops, was hired for the position in July, so he\u2019s hit the ground running.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very simple. I\u2019m another face in five and it\u2019s very hard to trust that when you have had five coaches come in here and say they are going to build a program, and then go off, for whatever reason, and look for something else,\u201d King said. \u201cThe most important thing is that they have to trust in me that I am going to stay here and build a stable program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not monumental. It\u2019s slowly building a foundation. These kids deserve to win a game. They are 0-for-30 for the last three years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outside the FHSAA\u2019s new independent league, Cornerstone Charter, Faith Christian and Legacy Charter play in the SSAA. And number of Orlando area teams play 8-man football in the SSAA. That includes Orlando Christian Prep which dropped out of the state championship series after losing a number of players. The Warriors switched to play 8-man and are scrambling to schedule games.<\/p>\n
POOL A NORTH<\/p>\n
Colonial Grenadiers<\/p>\n
Coach: Austin Rocheleau (3rd year, 5-15).<\/p>\n
2025: 2-8 as independent.<\/p>\n
Cypress Creek Bears<\/p>\n
Coach: Ralph King (1st year as a head coach).<\/p>\n
2025: 0-10, independent.<\/p>\n
Freedom Patriots<\/p>\n
Coach: Brandon Pennington (2nd year, 3-7; career 17-24, 5 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 3-7, missed 7A playoffs.<\/p>\n
Innovation Bulls<\/p>\n
Coach: Leroy Kinard (3rd year, 13-8; career 128-54, 18 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 8-2 as independent.<\/p>\n
Lake Buena Vista Vipers<\/p>\n
Coach: Shawn Holmes (1st year, career 0-21, 2 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 4-6 as independent.<\/p>\n
Nova Lakes Rattlers<\/p>\n
Coach: Anthony Rivers (1st-year; career 13-18)<\/p>\n
2025: First-year program<\/p>\n
Oak Ridge Pioneers<\/p>\n
Coach: Antony Smith (3rd year, 11-10; career 15-37, 5 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 4-6, independent.<\/p>\n
Pine Ridge Panthers<\/p>\n
Coach: Alex Russell (2nd year, 2-8).<\/p>\n
2025: 2-8, missed 4A playoffs.<\/p>\n
University Cougars<\/p>\n
Coach: Dave Carrington (2nd year, 2-8; career 27-42, 7 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 2-8, independent.<\/p>\n
Umatilla Bulldogs<\/p>\n
Coach: Eric Samuel (4th year, 19-18)<\/p>\n
2025: 11-1, in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Windermere Wolverines<\/p>\n
Coach: Riki Smith (5th year, 25-12)<\/p>\n
2025: 10-0, independent.<\/p>\n
POOL B NORTH<\/p>\n
Geneva School Knights\u00a0<\/p>\n
Coach: Dave Langdon (4th year, 12-24; career, 105-148, 23 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 2-10 in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Mount Dora Christian Bulldogs<\/p>\n
Coach: Kolby Tackett (7th year; 49-20; career 71-31).<\/p>\n
2025: 12-2, SSAA runner-up.<\/p>\n
Master\u2019s Academy Eagles<\/p>\n
Coach: Bailey Grainer (4th year, 15-16; career 26-25).<\/p>\n
2025: 6-7, in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Trinity Prep<\/p>\n
Coach: Brian Kells ( 4th year, 7-23; career 62-69, 13 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 5-6, SSAA.<\/p>\n
POOL B SOUTH<\/p>\n
Central Florida Christian Academy Eagles<\/p>\n
Coach: Kevin Blackman (4th year, 12-13).<\/p>\n
2025: 9-1 in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Foundation Academy Lions<\/p>\n
Coach: Daniel \u2018DJ\u2019 White (2nd year, 10-3).<\/p>\n
2025: 10-3 in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Lake Highland Prep Highlanders<\/p>\n
Coach: Ben Bullock (10th year, 55-29; career 76-40, 13 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 7-3, in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Orangewood Christian Rams<\/p>\n
Coach: Jermel Jones (1st year; career 47-47, 10 seasons).<\/p>\n
2025: 6-5, in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Windermere Prep<\/p>\n
Coach: James Hamilton (3rd year, 10-10).<\/p>\n
2025: 8-3, in SSAA.<\/p>\n
SSAA 11-man<\/p>\n
Cornerstone Charter Ducks<\/p>\n
Coach: Alan Lambert (7th year; 21-28).<\/p>\n
2025: 6-5 in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Faith Christian Lions<\/p>\n
Coach: Robert \u2018Mo\u2019 Mahoney (2nd year, 1-10; career 6-21).<\/p>\n
2025: 1-10 in SSAA.<\/p>\n
Legacy Charter<\/p>\n
Coach: Brandon Bristow (2nd year; career 0-9)<\/p>\n
2025: 0-9 in SSAA<\/p>\n
Other independent<\/p>\n
West Oaks Flame\u00a0<\/p>\n
Coach: Victor Floyd (11th year, 37-64; career 67-115).<\/p>\n
2025: 3-8 as independent<\/p>\n