Okeechobee High School secures 14-10 comeback victory in pre-season scrimmage
First-year coach Antwan Blatch praises team resilience as Okeechobee utilises second-half momentum to defeat Patriots in Vero Beach
Okeechobee High School’s football team secured a 14-10 comeback victory against Master's Academy of Vero Beach in a pre-season scrimmage held in Vero Beach on Friday. The Brahmans overcame a 10-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Patriots, utilising a structured second-half approach that included a 10-minute running clock compared to the 12-minute quarters used in the first half.
Master's Academy established an early lead, capitalising on an interception on a tipped pass on the opening play of the game. Freshman quarterback Jackson Fromag connected with sophomore Banks Swearingen for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Following another interception by Swearingen, senior Burt Lockhart kicked a 25-yard field goal to extend the Patriots' advantage to 10-0 before the break.
Okeechobee first-year coach Antwan Blatch emphasised the importance of the team's resilience. "I'm proud of their effort," Blatch said. "We've got to get into shape. They got down early and didn't quit. They believed in what we were doing and eventually we came out and started to pop late."
The Brahmans began their comeback in the third quarter, controlling the ball for the entire 10-minute period. Sophomore quarterback Christopher Sneed scored on a 3-yard sneak. Okeechobee held Master's Academy to a three-and-out on their subsequent possession before freshman Elijah Gordon scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter, carrying the ball 17 times for 97 yards in the match.
Senior John Immerfall kicked the extra point to make the score 14-10. Sneed sealed the victory with an interception on the final play of the scrimmage. Master's Academy coach Stephen Boyer described the scrimmage as "huge" for preparation, noting that the team would have been "extremely rusty" without the opportunity to play.
The event featured special teams drills without blocking on kickoffs, extra points, or field goals, while allowing for full-contact offensive and defensive plays. The scrimmage served as a critical preparation step ahead of the 2026 high school football season, with both coaches highlighting the developmental value of the contest.
