FCI going strong in the Cape
The Florida Christian Institute has changed its address, moving from Fort Myers to Cape Coral. The new school is located on Pine Island Road.
The football team pressed on with a new head coach and only four returning players. As November rolls around, the athletics teams, including football and boys’ basketball, have much to look forward to.
The Eagles (4-4) head to Dayton, Tenn., Nov. 11-13 for the annual National Association of Christian Athletes Football Tournament. It’s an opportunity for the team to see how it measures up against opponents from around the country.
FCI and Cape Coral Christian travel to Casselberry (near Orlando) Thanksgiving weekend for the “Black Friday Madness” basketball tournament, hosted by Regent Academy. Each of the eight teams in the field play three games in two days, Nov. 27-28.
FCI went 28-7 last season in basketball and won the NACA Division III national championship in Tennessee.
The football program has enjoyed its share of success on the national level. The Eagles played in the NACA Tournament several times in recent years. They won the Division I Championship in 2006 and added runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2008.
Their roster, though, went through significant turnover this season and it has taken some time to gel.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Eagles football coach Brent Burnside said. “It was late evolving because it was hard to get everyone together at the start of the year, and we lost a lot (of players). We’ve definitely exceeded some expectations.”
Burnside, who has played several years with the arenafootball2’s Florida Firecats, was an assistant coach previously with the Eagles. Victor Hall and Chris Wallace also have served as head coaches since the program began in 2003.
The Eagles are .500 this season after picking up a forfeit victory over Performing Arts Academy (Oakland Park) Friday.
The Eagles held a 20-12 lead over Performing Arts in the first meeting when the lights went out at Page Field, the Eagles’ home venue. They were scheduled to finish the final six minutes of that game and play a second game Friday, but Performing Arts since folded the team.
“We led 20-0 and our lead was starting to slip away,” Burnside said, “so it might’ve helped us that the lights went out.”
The Eagles have one more regular season game next Friday when they host Jacksonville Shekinah Christian, which they defeated 22-0 earlier this season.
When the team travels to Tennessee for the NACA Tournament it figures to be a different experience. That includes the setting, with mountains and some cold weather for this time of year, and the tournament format, which requires a team to play two football games within a three-day span.
“That’s different than anything I’ve ever experienced,” Burnside said.
Among the Eagles’ top performers are seniors Sharod Hayes, senior Aquilla Williams and junior Brandon Connor.
Hayes, a fullback/linebacker, leads the team in rushing and touchdowns.
Williams has been the team’s multi-purpose standout. He’s received reps at quarterback, tailback, receiver, safety, linebacker and return specialist.
Connor has developed into the team’s quarterback over the course of the season.
In addition to having players that attend FCI, the team lists players from other area charter schools that don’t offer football, such as Richard Milburn Academy, Life Skills and Coronado.
“Most of them have been through public schools and didn’t quite fit,” Burnside said. “This is an opportunity for them to get a second chance at it.”