SPRING HILL—Bishop McLaughlin athletic director Mike Zelenka confirmed this morning that the Hurricanes have accepted an offer to play a football game against fellow Pasco private school Academy at the Lakes on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Spring Hill.

It will be the first time that each school faces a varsity opponent from its own county on the football field. Bishop McLaughlin is entering its third year of varsity football, while Academy at the Lakes is beginning its first year of 11-man.

The addition to BM’s schedule replaces the lost game caused by the cancellation of Tampa Bay Christian’s football season last week. AATL will drop its Sept. 7 game at Lake City Christian to make room for the Hurricanes, keeping its schedule at the maximum 10 games.

Friday evening, Zelenka and BM coach Marty Williams said the Hurricanes’ four seniors would play a significant role in deciding if the school would accept AATL’s offer. Losing the Tampa Bay Christian game gave the school an open date in the middle of the year, which could have been a benefit to the team with a smaller than average roster (24 players). Now the Hurricanes will play 10 consecutive weeks.

Here are the updated schedules for both teams…

Academy at the Lakes

Aug. 31 FT. MYERS GATEWAY
Sep. 7 open
Sep. 14 at Northside Christian
Sep. 21 at The Villages (JV)
Sep. 28 WINTER HAVEN ALL SAINTS’
Oct. 5 at Bishop McLaughlin
Oct. 12 TALLAHASSEE MACLAY
Oct. 19 HERNANDO CHRISTIAN
Oct. 26 at Gainesville Oak Hall
Nov. 2 CAMBRIDGE CHRISTIAN
Nov. 9 at Shorecrest

Bishop McLaughlin

Aug. 31 at Hernando Christian
Sep. 7 LAKELAND SANTA FE
Sep. 14 at Admiral Farragut
Sep. 21 at Calvary Christian*
Sep. 28 OUT OF DOOR ACADEMY*
Oct.  5 ACADEMY AT THE LAKES
Oct. 13 at Cambridge Christian*
Oct. 19 WINTER HAVEN ALL SAINTS’
Oct. 26 BRADENTON PREP*
Nov. 2 at Keswick Christian*
Nov. 9 open

HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS
*-district game