It was the perfect way to get the summer rolling for Oviedo seniors Sebastian Galeano, Jordan Donahoo, Carmari Solomon and Johnnie Cobbs.
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But the quartet, which has been playing together since freshman year, and the Lions could not quite put the finishing touches on the championship at the UCF 7-on-7 tournament on Monday night, losing to Lantana Santaluces in the title game 20-6.
A pair of interceptions off tipped balls by Santaluces’ Jayvon Dawson, a Miami commit, and Braxton Rhoden spelled the difference as an exhausted Oviedo team settled for runner-up in the eight-game tournament. Rhoden’s pick with 2:45 left in the game allowed Vanguard to run out the clock and capture the crown.
“I’m proud of our guys. We came out here on both sides of the ball, offense and defense, and competed and I think we got better. I’m proud of the way they handled themselves,” Oviedo coach Greg Odierno said.
Solomon, a two-way player at safety and wide receiver, had a huge day playing both ways and stood out among some great performances by many of his teammates. Galeano, the third-year starting quarterback, was hooking up with star receiver Donahoo all night, running back Cobbs had his moments, and senior safety Evan Sorkness and sophomore cornerback Jamarcus Laster also played well.
“Obviously Sebastian was slinging it all night. Jordan, everybody knows what he can do. Carmari, to me, is the best two-way player in the area, and we saw that tonight,” Odierno said. “We had a lot of people step up. I was really proud of sophomore corner Jamarcus Laster, who had a heck of a day, and then Carter Woods really made some phenomenal stops for us and Johnnie Cobbs is gonna be a guy we really rely on heavily in the fall.
“It was good. Obviously we wanna win this thing, but I’m proud of the boys, and it’s just another tool for us to evaluate in the offseason. We got a quick turnaround. We’re going to be at UF on Wednesday.”
Oviedo got into the championship game by staving off a charge from Ocala Vanguard in the semifinals 21-14. Solomon iced the victory with an interception in the end zone to end the game after scoring the winning touchdown. Donahoo and junior Chris Mondo also caught TD passes in the semifinal.
The Lions survived an all-area quarterfinal battle with Winter Park to get to the semis, edging the Wildcats 13-12.
Galeano, who committed to Yale this past week, was pleased with the way he and his teammates came together.
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“It was truly impressive. The work we put into this to get here is truly amazing. It really is,” Galeano said. “Of course, I thought we had that one, but it wasn’t there. I’m just glad that we got here to the final. It’s truly a blessing.”
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To be able to continue competing with his three fellow seniors in this era of transfer craziness has not been lost on Galeano.
“One hundred percent. … We call us the Core Four, ever since our freshman year,” Galeano said. “That’s what Coach O has provided for us is this time right now, and to play next to those kids is truly special and I can’t wait for what happens this season.”
Of course, there is only one ending he can imagine.
“I see state championship. All of the time we’ve put in. I can call them late at night, ‘Let’s go watch film,’ or early in the morning, ‘Let’s go get work,’ whatever,” Galeano said. “I see something that’s gonna be really special this year and people are going to be like, ‘Oviedo’s going like this?’ They’re gonna see us round three, round four … whatever it is.”
UCF head coach Scott Frost presented the runner-up helmet trophy to Solomon as a bit of a nod to his performance. Frost was pleased to see the competition on Monday, after UCF had to curb it’s offseason camp schedule last summer due to construction on the athletic facilities and the grounds around the Acrisure Bounce House, which is still undergoing renovations on a new press box and the addition of luxury boxes. Spruce Creek won the last 7-on-7 event at UCF in 2024.
“It’s important for us,” Frost said of being able to provide the camps this summer, “but I just love it for the teams. We have so many teams sign up who want to come compete against each other in a good environment. There were a lot of special players out here. It was cool to see the teams come together.”
“Really, at the end, that was the best part, having Coach Frost talk to our boys,” Odierno said. “They all got to compete in front of college coaches and show what they can do.”
Some other big performances from Orlando-area players in the tournament came from: South Lake corner Rome McKinnond, who had numerous pass break-ups; Winter Park corner Jaiden Douglas, who had three interceptions in the tourney; the quarterback-to-receiver connection of Winter Park’s Onrique Archie and Tristan Gunn, who recently committed to Kent State; and South Lake receiver Kyson Cleveland, who transferred from Boone, had a big day connecting with quarterback Tre Kelly.
Matthew Sullivan showed off his speed and shifty maneuvers at receiver for Bishop Moore, and Timber Creek made the quarterfinals, led by new quarterback Alec Worden, a transfer from Orlando Christian Prep.
Timber Creek tight end/defensive end Cutler Dodge and cornerback Cameron Wilkes also played well; Wekiva has some nice moments from linebacker Jaylyn Noel, and receivers Givonny Bufford and Bakery Manley.
TFA got to show off freshman quarterback Deuce Woods, who connected with standout receiver Brian Dillard often, and sophomore corner Bryscen Robb also looked good for the Royals, as did DBs Kymani Fils-Amie, Jaiziah Battle, David Coleman and Bam Whitfield.
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Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.