- April 19, 2024
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After going undefeated this year and winning a conference title, the Ormond Beach Pride now have a chance to add a regional championship to its trophy case.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
The Ormond Beach Pride hasn’t taken long to make its mark.
In its second year, the program’s Varsity team went undefeated in the regular season, won the Florida Youth Football and Cheer Conference and, Nov. 18, won the American Youth Football Southeast Championship.
And now, the team is prepping for a trip to Kissimmee Dec. 1-8, to compete in the AYF National Championship, against seven other regional champs.
The regional tournament took place Nov. 16-18, and saw the Pride win three games in three days, including its only two come-from-behind wins of the season.
In the first game, the Pride easily handled the Oviedo Knights for a 38-18 win before coming back against the University Giants, ranked No. 4 in the country, and winning 41-38 to set up a year-in-the-making rematch. The Spartans knocked the Pride out of the regional tournament last year.
But in the 2012 championship rematch, the Pride changed its fate.
With six minutes left in the game, the Pride trailed 18-6, and it looked like history might repeat itself. That’s when Denzel Houston solidified his status as the tournament’s best player, throwing a 60-yard touchdown to Jason Colubiale and running in the game-winning score on the Pride’s next possession.
Houston was named the Player of the Tournament. He scored five touchdowns in each of the first two games, to go along with his two in the championship.
“It felt good,” Houston said. “I have a good team and teammates.”
While Houston deflected the attention onto his team, his coach was more than happy to put the honor in perspective.
“I expected it,” said head coach Brian Colubiale, who was named the Coach of the Tournament. “We all expected it. It’s well deserved. ... He had a major impact. He stepped it up to a whole other level than what he had all season.”
Houston, in his second season as varsity quarterback, took over play-calling duties during the regular season, and while Colubiale called the plays at regionals, he said Houston had major input.
“Physically-wise, he met his match against the Spartans,” Colubiale said. “Intelligence-wise, I’d say he was better than all the competition. ... His football knowledge for an eighth-grader is beyond a lot of other eighth-graders.”
When asked about calling plays, Houston almost brushes it off. It’s something he’s used to. It’s just another part of the game.
Championship prep
After playing three games in three days, Colubiale gave the Pride Thanksgiving week off to spend time with their families, focus on school work and rest up. Next week, they’ll practice two or three times as usual, and make final adjustments before leaving for nationals.
“Staying conditioned is probably one of the biggest things (right now),” Colubiale said. “It’s a challenge with two practices a week, but coming off three games in three days, they’re pretty conditioned.”
Practices will consists of fine-tuning rather than major scheme changes. At 11-0, the Pride don’t want to disrupt what’s working and also don’t need to make as many changes as they did after the first few weeks of the season.
The team will work on its passing game, according to Colubiale, as well as fine tune routes, timing and defensive coverages.
