Florida High School Football: Venice surges past West Orange in second half

VENICE, Fla.- The Venice Indians have not played with a fully healthy lineup all season long heading into Friday night’s Florida high school football Class 7A, Region 2 semifinal against the visiting West Orange Warriors.

On Friday night, the Indians had everyone back at full strength on the field and they resembled the team that won the Class 7A state championship a year ago. Venice used a dominant second half effort, scoring 42 points, en route to a 70-35 victory over West Orange. The Indians will move on to host the region final against Sumner, a 31-21 winner over Sarasota Riverview next week on Black Friday.

Though Venice head coach John Peacock isn’t looking any further ahead than next week, he knows his team is coming together at the right time.

“Pretty close,” Peacock said if Friday night was the best performance the Indians’ offense has had all season. “It makes it easier when everyone is there. I’m just worried about next week.”

The Indians (8-3) may not feel like they have seen the best version of themselves just yet, but if their play on the field supported anything, it strongly said otherwise.

After both teams exchanged blows throughout the first half, heading into halftime tied at 28-all, it would be Venice’s defense forcing a crucial turnover that turn the tide of the Florida high school football playoff tilt. The Indians went ahead 35-28 on a Darryon Jones (Howard commit) touchdown run and on the very next Warriors’ possession, West Orange turned over the ball via a fumble.

Moments later, junior running back Dorien Jones would scamper 25 yards to pay dirt, giving Venice a commanding 42-28 lead and would never look back.

West Orange would get on the scoreboard one more time, but sophomore quarterback Andrew Chung would have a tough time against the Indians’ defense, tossing five interceptions on the night. Chung would finish with three touchdown passes, finishing the season with 40 TDs.

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