Transfers decimate Orlando Christian Prep roster; Warriors drop to 8-man football

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Football practice for high schools around the state officially began Monday, but Guerschom Demosthenes and the Orlando Christian Prep Warriors were not on the field.

After an offseason that saw a falling out between coaches, coaches leaving, then players transferring, Demosthenes is left with a gutted roster of 15 players.

The solution? OCP is playing 8-man football this year. Demosthenes is still scrambling to make a schedule. The Warriors are dropping out of the FHSAA’s Class 1A, Region 2, District 6.

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The coach thought the team could join the Sunshine State Athletic Association, but the deadline passed. OCP will be out on an island this season, playing completely independent. Demosthenes has only been able to schedule four games so far — against Merritt Island Christian, Bradenton Christian, Four Corners and Hernando Christian.

“Man, after getting rid of the coach, the parents got angry, decided we wronged the coach and they took their sons out of here,” Demosthenes said. “We’re left with 8-man football.

“The situation is bad. The kids didn’t have to leave. They were coerced to leave.”

There are differing stories as to specifically what happened. After the dust settled, offensive coordinator James Lynch and his son, linebackers coach Jamel Lynch, were both out. Jamel has landed at Innovation as the linebackers coach.

Extreme philosophical differences ultimately decided the fate of James Lynch, who left the school and will likely end up working for Leroy Kinard at Innovation High like his son. Lynch has another son, junior defensive/offensive lineman Jordan Lynch, who is now at Innovation.

Demosthenes is still trying to wrap his head around what has happened and what can be done to rebuild a program that he had turned into a state championship contender just five years ago.

The Warriors were 10-2 in 2021, and lost in the Class 2A semifinals to eventual state champion Jacksonville Trinity Christian 29-21.

“The body of work that we’ve done and the amount of kids that we have placed in college … there is a lot to be said,” Demosthenes said. “When you look back to the opportunity that was given to me to build this thing, I can honestly say, if I walked away today, God was with us and He would be proud of what we’ve done.”

In December, after last season ended, Demosthenes mentioned that he was nearing the end of his coaching career. He had just completed his 13th season at OCP and the current atmosphere surrounding high school football had started to wear on him.

“There are a lot of reasons why I’m not done. I can’t leave the program in the state that it is in. That’s not me. I won’t do that. OCP has been great to me,” Demosthenes said. “So, if I can just build it back up and hand the keys over to somebody else, I would feel much better leaving it like that, as opposed to just leaving it in the catastrophe that it is.”

He’s done nothing but win at OCP. He has a record of 102-38, and guided the Warriors to six consecutive FHSAA playoff appearances. That streak will come to an end.

Building the program back to what it was will be quite the task. He doesn’t know, for example, when his team will be play its first game this season.

“To be honest, I am at the tail-end of my career. I don’t know how much longer … when I first took the job in 2013, I was younger, I had a lot more zeal, but now, after 23 years into my career, with just the way football is transitioning … It’s definitely pushing me closer to retirement.

“We’re gonna give it a shot this year and have fun with it. It’s a new challenge, 8-man football. It’s only gonna be for a year because we have some really good numbers down at the middle school.”

The top players to leave the program include senior quarterback Alec Worden, who is now at Timber Creek. Worden threw for almost 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns last season. William Grinage, who led the team in tackles last season, is also gone. He is now at Edgewater.

“I wish all of those boys well, the ones who left. … I don’t hold any grudges. That’s not how we are designed as Christians,” Demosthenes said. “We just gotta put one foot in front of the other, build this thing and see where God takes it. … But I am OCP through and through.

“There are only two ways I will leave this place. Either I will get fired or God tells me to go.”

He’s beaten down but upbeat, confident and seems ready for the challenge.

“This is the best route for us as a school, as a program,” Demosthenes said. “I’m not going to abandon ship. That’s not who I am. I am a loyal guy. So we’re gonna ride this baby ’til the cows come home, or ’til the Lord tells me it’s time.

“I’m just waiting for the Lord to say, ‘It’s time.'”

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.

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