Weeki Wachee Falls in Regional Tournament, Season Ends in Brooksville

The Weeki Wachee Hornets' 2025 football season concluded in Brooksville on November 14 with a 44 to 19 defeat to Andrew Jackson High of Jacksonville in the regional FIT Tournament. Andrew Jackson established control through a multi touchdown performance by running back Antonio Queen and a special teams play that altered momentum, while Weeki Wachee produced scoring drives highlighted by senior Leelen Wright.

Andrew Jackson built an early advantage as Queen scored three touchdowns, helping the visitors separate from the Hornets. A blocked punt in the middle of the game swung field position and provided Andrew Jackson with an additional scoring opportunity that widened the margin. Weeki Wachee responded with several sustained drives, and Wright found the end zone multiple times, underscoring the senior leadership that anchored the Hornets this season.

The final score reflected the gap in explosiveness and big play creation on the day, but it also capped a season of progress for Weeki Wachee. This postseason appearance was the program's first outside of the COVID season, a milestone that drew attention from families and school officials across Hernando County. Players and coaches acknowledged the significance of the experience for younger team members and framed the result as a building block for the program's future.

On-field performance offered both reasons for optimism and clear areas for improvement. Weeki Wachee showed the ability to move the ball and finish drives, yet special teams and turnovers contributed to a deficit that proved difficult to overcome against a disciplined Andrew Jackson squad. The game highlighted the importance of depth and situational execution in postseason play, lessons that local coaches can use to shape offseason training and game planning.

For Hernando County residents, the Hornets' run to the regional tournament reflected broader community investment in high school athletics. The postseason trip brought attention to Weeki Wachee High School and provided experience for graduating seniors who carried the team through key moments this fall. As the program turns to winter conditioning and spring drills, coaching staff will evaluate personnel, strategies, and recruitment to convert this season's lessons into sustained competitiveness.

Looking ahead, Weeki Wachee faces the task of replacing graduating contributors while leveraging the gained postseason experience to deepen its talent base. For supporters and stakeholders in Hernando County, the immediate focus will be on maintaining engagement with the program, supporting player development, and ensuring the infrastructure and resources are in place to make future postseason appearances a regular expectation.