Victory Christian has earned a chance to win a state title this Friday vs Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, FL). But before that happens, lets break down their season.
Victory Christian Storm
football since 2006
2006 10-4 HC Dedrick Dodge District Champions, Regional Champions, State Runner Up
2007 5-6 HC Brian Davis District Runner-Up
2008 9-4 HC Brian Davis District Champions, Regional Champions
2009 9-2 HC Jeff Schaum District Champions
2010 12-1 HC Jeff Schaum District Champions, Regional Champions
2011 8-3 HC Jeff Schaum District Champions
2012 4-6 HC Andre Dobson
Victory Christian is 10-3. The Storm lost 3 of their first 8 ball games this year, going 2-2 in the first 4 games of the year. Since game 8, Victory has won the last 5 games straight by a total score of 179-92. Their playoff run has been great; Defeating St. Edwards, Warner Christian and heavy favorite, North Florida Christian.
The Victory offense has thrived under pressure. In their biggest games of the season (The Playoffs – 3 games), they have produced 1,219 total yards. 2928 of those yards have been through the air and the recipient of 40 percent of those passing yards has gone to senior ATH, Nekari Jones.
Jones has 1170 receiving yards this season and 85 catches. 7 games with 100 receiving yards or better. He has 280 all-purpose yards in the last 3 games (playoffs). “I approach every game the same. But, I feed off of competition and trash talk from my opponents and the playoffs are when I have seen it the most. I see the opponent as someone who’s trying to beat me. So I take it personal. I just refuse to be beat or watch my teammates lose.
Jones and his team have been the underdogs in every playoff game this year. First year head coach, Tommy Lewis has motivated his team to overcome what the outside is saying and focus on what is being said on the inside. “We’ve always been the underdog so when we made it to the playoffs, it was just a reminder to make a statement every time we stepped on the field,” Jones said.
There are other players who are getting much more recruiting attention. Players who get more ink, more mail and more calls from college coaches. Jones feels, “My ability is overlooked because I’m not the ideal size and/or speed of a typical D1 receiver. Also because I play for a small school.” Listed at 6-1/175 pounds, Jones is the average size of many slot receivers, but undersized for the prototype major D1 receiver. But that does not take away from his ability to catch the ball in traffic, route running, athletic ability or game speed.
Victory has been pretty successful in their short history and First year Victory Coach Tommy “Socks” Lewis has been a MAJOR inspiration to his team. “Even outside of the football team, his presence on our campus is cherished by every individual at VCA. Especially in my life more than others because I look up to him as a son sees his father. He doesn’t only teach and coach football to me he’s also a teacher and coach of life for me. He helps mold me into the man I want to be one day. Coach Lewis is a blessing to VCA and we really appreciate him. Were going to state!” – Nekari Jones
IN HIS OWN WORDS
I believe we have the advantage of TEAM and UNITY over Champagnat. They may have more athletes but it won’t be the first time we’ve faced that. Our guys just have “that dog” in them that will rise to any occasion. No matter the circumstance, we will play snap to whistle for 4 quarters and have each other’s backs. We set a goal and we got to get it!