Player of the Year: Robert Davis, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Davis was by any measure the most productive running back in the area, rushing for 2,221 yards on 203 carries, 10.94 per attempt, and 26 touchdowns, but his impact to the Patriots district title season and run to the Class 2A regional finals went deeper. He also recorded 46 tackles and five passes defensed as a defensive back to help Carrollwood Day go 10-2 and get to the doorstep of the final four.
Football offensive first team
–Quarterback: Alex McGough, Jr., Gaither. Shouldered much more of the offense in his second year on the squad. Completed 114 of 212 passes for 1,729 yards and 22 touchdowns.
–Running back: Eddie Burgos, Sr., Sunlake. Moved from wide receiver to run for 1,013 yards on 135 carries and 15 touchdowns while catching 17 passes for 152 yards and two scores.
–Running back: Jeff Keil, Jr., Wharton. One of the most dangerous runners in the second half of the year. Totaled 701 yards on 132 carries and eight touchdowns with another 425 yards on 28 catches and two scores.
–Running back: Kendall Pearcey, Sr., Steinbrenner. The versatile back ran for 756 yards on 118 carries and a team-high 11 touchdowns while adding 15 catches for 263 yards and another score.
–Receiver: Jon Marc Carrier, Sr., Steinbrenner. Was a big-play threat all year. Had 646 yards on 24 catches, 26.92 average, with five touchdowns.
–Receiver: Andy Embody, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Led all area athletes with 973 yards on 49 catches and 17 touchdowns for the district champion Patriots.
–Receiver: Keith Hopkins, Sr., Wharton. Snagged 47 catches for 902 yards and eight touchdowns while drawing double-teams to help free up other receivers.
–Receiver: Vu Le, Sr., Gaither. Listed as a running back, but did most of his damage as a receiver, catching 22 passes for 435 yards and six touchdowns.
–Offensive line: Sunlake. The unit, which is made up of five seniors, includes center Aaron Protch, tackles Trevor Highnote and Nick Hoffman and guards She’ron Wilkins and Zach Kweller. The Seahawks set a program record by rushing for 2,388 yards in large part to the big five.
–Utility: Shug Oyegunle, Sr., Gaither. Kept defenses guessing by catching 21 passes for 468 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 218 yards on 33 carries and another score.
Football offensive second team
–Quarterback: Vidal Woodruff, Sr., Carrollwood Day. The Robinson transfer gave the Patriots a true passing attack. Completed 96 of 155 passes for 1,649 yards and 25 touchdowns.
–Running back: Daquan Caesar, Sr., Wesley Chapel. Saved his best season for his last. Ran for 671 yards on 125 carries and five scores.
–Running back: Jake Carroll, Jr., Steinbrenner. A torn ACL ended his season early last year. Returned to rush for 506 yards on 120 carries and a touchdown.
–Running back: Sammy Sullivan, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. The Sunlake transfer powered his way to 391 yards on 51 carries while finding the end zone four times.
–Receiver: Marcus Brown, Sr., Gaither. The large target helped the Cowboys move the chains with 372 yards on 28 catches and five scores.
–Receiver: Alunte Fleshman, Sr., Freedom. The Patriots’ big-play threat grabbed 20 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns.
–Receiver: Deon Sampson, Sr., Wharton. The Wildcats’ underneath threat snagged 35 catches for 476 yards and eight touchdowns.
–Receiver: Ryan Shea, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The athletic Shea was a bright spot for the Bulls. Had 23 catches for 473 yards and two scores.
–Offensive line: Carrollwood Day. Center Jarrod Smith, guards Shilpen Patel and Adam Morse and tackles Carlos Acuna and Collin DeBosier. The line helped the Patriots average 390.8 yards of offense, 253.1 on the ground, and 38.8 points per contest.
–Utility: Austin Meyers, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Ran for 435 yards on 65 carries and eight touchdowns while adding another 348 yards on 26 catches and three scores.
Football offensive honorable mention
–Quarterback: R.J. Perciavalle, Jr., Bishop McLaughlin. Went 89-of-168 passing for 1,319 yards and 13 touchdowns.
–Quarterback: Josh Zifer, Sr., Sunlake. Had 491 yards on 51-of-85 passing and four scores, but shined more with his legs to the tune of 146 carries for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns.
–Running back: Andre Folkes, Jr., Freedom. The quick back carried the ball 81 times for 372 yards.
–Running back: Evan Gordy, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. The powerful fullback recorded 479 yards on 90 carries and 15 touchdowns.
–Running back: Ahkill McGill, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. Had 599 yards on 48 carries and 15 touchdowns as the wingback in the Wildcats’ wing-T offense.
–Receiver: Kyle Forchion, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Used his 6-foot-3 frame to catch 18 passes for 249 yards and a score.
–Receiver: Nate Lewis, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Had 469 yards on 19 catches and four touchdowns after missing half of 2011 with an ACL tear.
–Receiver: Johnny Rodicio, So., Freedom. Snagged 25 passes for 383 yards and two touchdowns.
–Receiver: Auden Tate, So., Wharton. The sophomore added to the Wharton’s explosive offense with 401 yards on 27 catches and two scores.
–-Utility: Colton Nussel, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Carried the ball 37 times for 229 yards and four scores while adding 321 yards on 18 catches and another two touchdowns.
Offensive Player of the Year: Chase Litton, Jr., Wharton. Litton went 181-of-310 passing for 2,732 yards, more than any other area athlete, with 23 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, but there was more on the 6-foot-6 junior’s shoulders. Wharton had to rely on passing game this year after the graduation of 1,300-plus yard running back Darius Page, and Litton picked up the slack to reach back-to-back postseasons.
Football defensive first team
–Linebacker: Jamari Cord, Sr., Gaither. Was always in the right spot to make big plays. Had 100 tackles, five sacks and four fumble recoveries.
–Linebacker: Rocky Enos, Sr., Wharton. Led all area athletes with 145 tackles while adding two sacks for the staunch Wildcats defense.
–Linebacker: Logan Marshall, Sr., Gaither. Recorded 108 tackles and five sacks as a key piece of the Cowboys’ defense.
–Linebacker: Logan McKnight, Sr., Steinbrenner. Topped 100 tackles again this season with 107, including 7.5 sacks, while picking off two passes.
–Defensive line: Nick Hoffman, Sr., Sunlake. Had four sacks and 44 tackles while deflecting three passes at the line.
–Defensive line: Antonio Joseph, Jr., Wharton. Racked up 66 tackles, seven passes defensed and 4.5 sacks as a defensive end.
–Defensive line: Max Orr, Sr., Freedom. Led all area athletes with 12.5 sacks with 65 tackles and forcing four fumbles.
–Defensive line: Shaheed Salmon, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. The defensive end lived in the opponents’ backfield with 6.5 sacks and 60 tackles.
–Defensive back: Eddie Burgos, Sr., Sunlake. The Seahawks’ top cover corner had four interceptions and five passes defensed.
–Defensive back: Javon Hammond, Jr., Gaither. Recorded four interceptions and 43 tackles as a first-year starter.
–Defensive back: Vernon Hargreaves, Sr., Wharton. Picked off five passes with five passes defensed, five forced fumbles and 110 tackles.
–Defensive back: Tyler McClain, Sr., Steinbrenner. Led the Warriors with four interceptions and seven passes defensed while adding 66 tackles.
–Utility: D.J. King, Jr., Gaither. Played safety, corner back, linebacker and anywhere else needed. Had 76 tackles as the Cowboys’ Mr. Versatile.
Football defensive second team
–Linebacker: Dom Neglio, Sr., Gaither. Seamlessly moved from running back this season. Had 85 tackles, including a sack.
–Linebacker: Sammy Sullivan, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Led his squad with 115 tackles, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries while adding four sacks.
–Linebacker: Matt Williams, Jr., Gaither. Led the Cowboys defense with 117 tackles while adding one sack.
–Linebacker: Ben Wood, Jr., Sunlake. A central point on the best scoring defense in the area. Had 86 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles.
–Defensive line: Andres Bautista, So., Steinbrenner. Picked up 53 tackles and a sack for one of the top defenses in the area.
–Defensive line: Justin Forchion, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Sacked the quarterback 4.5 times while adding 40 tackles and forcing three fumbles.
–Defensive line: Zack Lockhart, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin. Recorded three sacks, 57 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
–Defensive line: Jeshua Williams, Sr., Gaither. Picked up three sacks and 36 tackles in his first year starting.
–Defensive back: Joe Jean-Baptiste, Jr., Sunlake. The first-year starter had two interceptions, seven passes defensed and 51 tackles.
–Defensive back: Trey Johnson, Sr., Steinbrenner. Defensed six passes and 37 tackles while covering the opposition’s top receiver.
–-Defensive back: Amani Oruwariye, Jr., Gaither. Picked off three passes while adding 43 tackles.
–Defensive back: Larenz Scroggins, So., Land O’ Lakes. Had three interceptions, five passes defensed and 24 tackles.
–Utility: Shyheem Barthel, Jr., Steinbrenner. Totaled 4.5 sacks, 40 tackles and two interceptions as a true hybrid player.
Football defensive honorable mention
–Linebacker: Richie Bisaccia, Sr., Freedom. Recorded 61 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.
–-Linebacker: Dominic Cuono, Jr., Carrollwood Day. Led an improved CDS defense with 129 tackles and 3.5 tackles.
–Linebacker: Kyle Forchion, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. The two-way starter totaled 40 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
–-Linebacker: Colin Irwin, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. The inside backer ended the season with 94 tackles.
–-Linebacker: Darius Wells, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Led the Gators with 105 tackles while causing two fumbles.
–-Defensive line: Elijah Brooks-Davis, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Ended up with 4.5 sacks and 39 tackles.
–-Defensive line: Amari Brown, Sr., Steinbrenner. Picked up 4.5 sacks and 76 tackles this season.
–-Defensive line: Evan Gordy, Jr., Academy at the Lakes. Got to the quarterback for four sacks while adding 34 tackles.
–Defensive line: Thanasi Halkias, Sr., Gaither. Didn’t have the stats of others on his squad (30 tackles, two sacks) but played a key role at nose guard.
–-Defensive line: Daniel Ibsen, Jr., Wharton. Recorded 2.5 sacks and 40 tackles for the suffocating Wharton defense.
–-Defensive back: Max Frankel, So., Carrollwood Day. The sophomore posted 89 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
–-Defensive back: Nate Godwin, Sr., Freedom. Had two interceptions, five passes defensed and 47 tackles.
–Defensive back: Woodson Hyppolite, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The senior had two forced fumbles and 54 tackles.
–Defensive back: Daniel Villar, Sr., Steinbrenner. Had four passes defensed and 49 tackles for the Warriors.
–-Defensive back: Josias Vizcano, Jr., Wesley Chapel. The safety ended the season with 48 tackles, five sacks and an interception.
–-Utility: Lawrence Harbottlefraticelli, Jr., Wesley Chapel. Played at all levels of the defense and finished with 108 tackles.
–Utility: Isaac Tanner, Sr., Freedom. One of the Patriots’ team leaders had 4.5 sacks and 55 tackles.
Defensive Player of the Year: Ernest Suttles, Sr., Gaither. The defensive end terrorized opposing quarterbacks and running backs to the tune of 12 sacks, 88 tackles and four forced fumbles. The University of Iowa commit did much of his damage while fighting through double-teams and constantly being held and cut blocked on almost every play. His strength, speed and ability to read offenses made him someone the opposition had to account for on each down.
Football special teams
–-Returner: Andy Embody, Sr., Carrollwood Day. Totaled 475 yards on 16 punt and five kickoff returns.
–Returner: Keith Hopkins, Sr., Wharton. Shined as a kick returner, where he had 13 attempts for 310 yards.
–-Returner: Kendall Pearcey, Sr., Steinbrenner. Returned seven kickoffs for 331 yards and 14 punts for 160 yards.
–-Kicker: Conner Gilboy, Sr., Sunlake. Gilboy had 53 kickoffs, of which 26 found the end zone for touchbacks. Also had seven field goals and 29 extra points.
–Kicker: Dalton Gilson, Sr., Gaither. Turned 42 kickoffs into 36 touchbacks with four field goals and 31 converted extra points.
–Punter: Chase Litton, Jr., Wharton. Averaged 39.82 yards on his 28 punts while pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line nine times.
–-Punter: Dino Tsilionis, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Averaged 32.42 yards per punt on 33 attempts while dropping nine inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Coach of the Year: Bill Browning, Sunlake. Question marks were all around Browning’s team entering this season. The Seahawks graduated their top four rushers, leading receiver, starting quarterback, four starting offensive linemen and leading tackler from the 2011 squad. This season Sunlake went 8-2 scoring 30.2 points per game while allowing
