Football Game Preview: Ocoee Knights vs. Hudson Cobras

The Ocoee Knights will venture away from home to take on the Hudson Cobras at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Ocoee will be strutting in after a win while Hudson will be coming in after a loss.

Ocoee was handed a heart-breaking three-point defeat in their last game, but they sure didn't let that happen against West Port on Friday. The Knights simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Wolf Pack 42-0. The Knights have beaten the Wolf Pack the last seven times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Wolf Pack has come to flipping the script.

This one was won in the trenches and the lion's share of the credit has to go to Nehemiah Burgess and Kamari Shaw. Burgess gained 51 total yards and two touchdowns while Shaw gained 14 total yards and two touchdowns.

Ocoee's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB three times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Cornelius Laney, Justin Pierre, and Kymani Fils-Amie, who each picked up one sack apiece. Another thorn in West Port's side was Laney, who picked up a sack and made four total tackles (4.0 for loss).

Meanwhile, Hudson was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were five points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 20-15 heartbreaker at the hands of Dunedin.

Ocoee will have to contain Christian Garrett as he made an impact in Hudson's last game. He rushed for 38 yards and one score, and also threw for 97 yards and one TD.

Hudson's defeat dropped their record down to 1-5. As for Ocoee, their victory bumped their record up to 4-2.

Ocoee didn't have too much breathing room in their contest against Hudson when the teams last played back in October of 2024, but they still walked away with a 22-16 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Knights since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.