By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Poinciana hosts Bishop Moore in a 5A District 7 test at Eagle Field Friday at 7 p.m.

The Eagles (1-4, 0-1 in 5A-7) are coming off a 49-20 loss at Lake Region that got off to a bad start before the opening kickoff. The bus took a wrong turn and the team arrived just minutes before kickoff.

“We had a lot of back and forth once we got into a groove, but we couldn’t be consistent or hold onto the football,” PHS Coach Cory Fleming said. “We moved it to the 10 the first two times we had the ball and turned it over. We made mistakes you can’t make and hope to win a football game.”

Poinciana scored to make it competitive, 14-7 at the half, when Michael Cirino hit Josh Lopez on an 8-yard touchdown pass and Neil Akkerman added the PAT 1:21 before halftime.

The Thunder (3-2) scored twice in first three minutes of the second half, but the Eagles scored twice in a 38-second span of their own in the third quarter in a strange sequence.

Theron Ellis scored on a 3-yard run to make it 28-13, but Lake Region returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a score. Freshman Devarius Turner returned the favor for Poinciana, taking the next kickoff 92 yards for an Eagles score.

“It was wild. You certainly don’t expect that,” Fleming said.

Bishop Moore (4-1, 1-0) warmed up with a 42-7 win over Harmony last week. The private school likely has one of the best backfields in Central Florida, with quarterback Danny May and a 1-2 runner punch of Tyler Floyd and Blake Tiralosi.

Fleming said his players know it will take a big effort to win Friday.

“It’s a good challenge, probably the biggest one all year,” he said. “They’re very disciplined and don’t beat themselves with mistakes, but we should be able to compete with them if we can hold onto the football. The kids are motivated by a district week. We preach about the playoffs being our goal.”

Poinciana has an open date Oct. 14 before visiting Lake Nona for another district contest Oct. 21.

Life Christian (0-4) seeks its first 11-man football win against Jacksonville Mandarin Christian at 7 p.m. at Archie Gordon Park.