The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Locals shining in college football

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With the college football season in full swing, dozens of players from Pasco County can be seen showcasing their skills on Saturdays throughout the fall. Nearly 50 players from east Pasco are a part of various programs at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, Division II, Division III National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and Junior College.

Three to watch:

(Courtesy of Rutgers University)

Janarion Grant; Rutgers University; senior wide receiver
The former Pasco High School star has proved himself a dynamic all-purpose playmaker at the Division I level ever since stepping foot on the Rutgers campus. Besides one of the program’s receiving leaders this season (12 receptions, 113 yards through three games), the fifth-year senior is tied for the NCAA all-time record for kick/punt return touchdowns with eight. At 5-10, 178 pounds, Grant is often praised for his elusiveness and straight-line speed — qualities that may make him a highly sought special teamer priority in the NFL.

The speedster was granted a medical redshirt for this season after he underwent broken ankle surgery last September and missed the final eight games of the 2016 season.

Grant had an illustrious career at Pasco High School, where he set the county record with 77 career touchdowns. In his final two prep seasons, Grant was part of Pirates squads that reached the Class 5A state final four in 2011 and made a regional final appearance in 2012.

(Courtesy of Samford University)

Shaheed Salmon; Samford University; senior linebacker
Salmon was one of 97 players selected in July to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team. Thus far, the sturdy 6-foot-2, 232-pound Land O’ Lakes High School product has lived up to the hype, ranking among the nation’s leaders in tackles per game (10.3).

That production has some outlets coining him a legitimate NFL prospect.

He had his breakout campaign last season, where he started 11 games at linebacker and finished second on the team with 93 tackles, including 50 solo stops.

Salmon graduated from Land O’ Lakes High in 2014. He led the Gators in tackles (117), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks (8.5) as a senior, and earned third team All-State, and first team All-County and All-Conference honors.

(Courtesy of Charleston Southern University)

Shane Bucenell; Charleston Southern University; sophomore quarterback
Bucenell earned Charleston Southern’s starting quarterback out of camp after he went 6-2 as a starter last season, passing for 1,100 yards and a Big South Conference-leading 15 touchdowns. Besides arm talent, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder redshirt sophomore also is a viable threat with his legs — he rushed for 325 yards and four touchdowns in 2016.

In three games this season, Bucenell has passed for 396 yards and three touchdowns, with a 52 percent completion rate.

Bucenell graduated from Wiregrass Ranch High School in 2015. He became the school’s career touchdown passing leader, and set school records for passing yards and completions in a single game. He also was a standout in baseball and track throughout his high school career.

Here’s a running tally of known Pasco County players from The Laker/Lutz News coverage currently competing at the next level:

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School

  • Patrick Beatty (defensive back) — Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)
  • Scott Edwards (defensive back) – Luther College
  • Marc Herrera (linebacker) — Malone University (Canton, Ohio)
  • Joe Mastrino (wide receiver) – Lyon College (Batesville, Arkansas)
  • RJ Perciavalle (defensive back) — Washington and Lee (Lexington, Virginia)
  • William Potosky (tight end) — University of Southern Mississippi
  • Luis Valentin (wide receiver) – Ave Maria University

Land O’ Lakes High School

  • Joshua Brown (cornerback) – Warner University (Lake Wales)
  • Spencer Childress (quarterback) – Lyon College
  • Andy Dowler (punter/kicker)— Geneva College (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania)
  • Jordan Ferrante (linebacker/defensive lineman) – William Jewell College (Liberty, Missouri)
  • Liam Heaney (tight end)— Black Hills State University (Spearfish, South Dakota)
  • Dylan Hothenthaner (kicker) – Indiana State University
  • Cedric Lowe (linebacker) – Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama)
  • Shaheed Salmon (linebacker) — Samford University (Homewood, Alabama)
  • Larenz Scroggins (running back) – Jacksonville University
  • Quentin Smith (wide receiver/running back) – Malone University
  • Ethan Weilant (wide receiver) — William Jewell College

Pasco High School

  • Janarion Grant (wide receiver)— Rutgers University (Piscataway, New Jersey)
  • Jayvaughn Myers (defensive back) – Auburn University (Alabama)

Sunlake High School

  • Tommy Berrios (defensive back)—Southern Virginia University
  • Joseph Jean-Baptiste (defensive back) – University of West Florida
  • Tyler Peretti (wide receiver)—Southeastern University (Lakeland)
  • Chris Williams (defensive back)— Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Austin Yeloushan (linebacker)— Jacksonville University

Wesley Chapel High School

  • Ellrie Allen (safety)— Florida A&M University
  • Kyle Brown (defensive back) — Beloit College (Wisconsin)
  • Davon Henry (wide receiver) — Missouri Valley College
  • Angel Ramos (linebacker) – Missouri Valley College
  • Na’im Smith (offensive lineman) — North Park University (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Jacob Thomas (quarterback) — Mars Hill University (North Carolina)

Wiregrass Ranch High School

  • Taylor Bleistein (wide receiver) — Hanover College (Indiana)
  • Elijah Brooks-Davis (defensive lineman)—Sewanee University (Tennessee)
  • Dylan Bryan (wide receiver/linebacker) — Ave Maria University
  • Shane Bucenell (quarterback) — Charleston Southern University (South Carolina)
  • Chris Faddoul (punter) — Florida A&M University
  • Vinnie Haider (offensive lineman/defensive lineman)— Sterling College (Kansas)
  • John Harris-Scott (safety) — Trine University (Angola, Indiana)
  • Evan Hogan (offensive lineman)—Keiser University (Fort Lauderdale)
  • Mark Hutchinson (wide receiver) — Florida International University
  • Brandon Mosley (defensive back) — Feather River Community College (Quincy, California)
  • Jason Winston (defensive lineman) — Stetson University (Deland)

Zephyrhills High School

  • Jaylen Pickett (linebacker) — Eastern Michigan University
  • Antwione Sims (running back/safety)— United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy

  • Serion Bellamy (running back) — Shorter University (Rome, Georgia)
  • Mykh’ael Chavis (running back) — Minnesota State College
  • Matt Iovine (quarterback) — Minnesota State College

Published September 27, 2017

Area football games rescheduled

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With Hurricane Irma wiping out athletic events for schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties for the week of Sept. 11, many anticipated Friday night football contests already have been rescheduled, or played, in some cases.

In Pasco, a few local schools didn’t waste much time agreeing to make up games on Sept. 18, including the Zephyrhills High squad, which traveled to Ridgewood High, and Wesley Chapel High’s team, which hosted Fivay High. Zephyrhills Christian Academy was set to host St. John’s Lutheran, but the latter forfeited the game.

High school football contests seldom are played on Mondays, but Florida High School Athletic Association permitted practices on Sept. 17 with the approval of each individual school and/or school district, giving coaches an additional day to work with players.

Other Pasco County schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area scheduled to play on Sept. 15 have since pushed contests back a week to Sept. 22:

  • Land O’ Lakes at Sunlake (7:30 p.m.)
  • Bishop McLaughlin at Ocala Christian (7 p.m.)
  • Cypress Creek at Pasco (7:30 p.m.)

Public schools in Hillsborough, meanwhile, will make up the Sept. 15 slate of games beginning Oct. 2. It marked the second straight week public schools in Hillsborough cancelled games.

The county’s public schools were closed all last week due to Hurricane Irma, and the district did not permit teams to resume practice until Sept. 18.

The following games scheduled for Sept. 15 in our coverage area that will have to be made up on a Monday in October include:

  • Steinbrenner at Manatee
  • Freedom at Gaither
  • Wharton at Leto
  • Wiregrass Ranch at Sickles

With regard to the FHSAA’s new playoff point system for football, as originally planned, total points will be determined by dividing points earned by games. If a school somehow falls below the eight-game minimum requirements, FHSAA executive director George Tomyn may waive the minimum game requirement on a case-by-case basis.

The new system, passed last September, bases football postseason berths on a points system in Class A-4A. The new format, beginning this season, is designed to reward teams for winning records and strength of schedule.

In the FHSAA’s biggest four classes (5A-8A), the district champion still automatically qualifies for regionals, with the remaining 16 spots decided by points.

Winning Wiregrass
Wiregrass Ranch High is one program hoping to keep its momentum in between a two-week layoff from football games.

Under third-year head coach Mark Kantor, the Bulls are off to its first 3-0 start in school history.

Mark Kantor has guided Wiregrass Ranch to its first 3-0 start in school history. (File)

Coincidentally, Kantor — who previously coached three seasons at Hudson High and compiled a 15-13 mark — now has the most wins in Wiregrass Ranch history, with 12; the school’s football program was launched in 2007.

Just one other public school in Pasco remains undefeated — Mitchell High (3-0).

The Bulls have been tested early on, battling to one-possession victories over Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake high schools. And, despite several key departures in the offseason, the Bulls may be stronger than last year’s 7-3 District 8-7A runner-up squad. Junior quarterback Grant Sessums, the leading passer in the county (504 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, 57 percent completion rate), has lived up to preseason billing, as has senior cornerback/Penn State University commit Jordan Miner (13 tackles, two interceptions). The Bulls have also received breakout contributions from a pair of sophomore linebackers in Dylan Ridolph (31 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks) and Nick Gaziano (30 tackles, three tackles for loss, forced fumble).

Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, Wiregrass Ranch saw three of its top players — cornerback Shamaur McDowell, athlete Raymond Woodie III, tailback Da Da McGee — transfer elsewhere.

The Bulls host Wharton (1-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Sunlake Seahawks were one of 87 high school programs that attended the USF-Illinois game on Sept. 15. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Generous gesture
In the wake of Hurricane Irma’s impact on Florida, the University of South Florida (USF) provided complimentary admission to last Friday’s football game vs. Illinois to first responders and their families, as well as to Florida high school football teams, many of which have had their games cancelled as a result of the storm.

Eighty-seven high school teams, such as Steinbrenner and Sunlake, took up the offer. Even schools as far as Orlando, Lakeland and Vero Beach showed up.

“It’s all about us giving back,” USF head coach Charlie Strong said, during a press conference last week. “We want to make sure that everyone is working to give back and get their life (together). It’s going to take a while, we know that. When things happen, we just want to make sure people understand that we do understand. We’re not going through what they’re going through, but we can help them get through what they’re going through.”

Another offer for local standout
Cameron Smith, arguably one of the top defensive players in Pasco County, recently picked up a scholarship offer from Ursinus College, a Division III program in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. The latest offer is one of several for the Pasco High senior linebacker, who also holds offers from Albright College (Reading, Pennsylvania), Warner University (Lake Wales), Webber international (Babson Park) and West Virginia State University (Institute, West Virginia).

Pasco High senior linebacker Cameron Smith has added his growing list of scholarship offers. (File)

Smith, a 2016 SAC First-Team All-Conference selection, currently leads the Pirates in tackles with 12.

Here’s a running list of other known players from our coverage area in Pasco County to have at least one scholarship offer:

  • Dylan Gonzalez, Academy at the Lakes, senior linebacker
  • Tylor Winn, Land O’ Lakes, senior wide receiver
  • Adam Jarvis, Sunlake, senior linebacker
  • Isaiah Bolden, Wesley Chapel, senior defensive back
  • Chaz Neal, Wesley Chapel, senior defensive end
  • Daniel Biglow, Wiregrass Ranch, senior wide receiver
  • Kwesi Littlejohn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior safety/running back
  • Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior cornerback
  • Devaun Roberts, Wiregrass Ranch, senior tight end/defensive end
  • Adrian Thomas, Wiregrass Ranch, senior wide receiver
  • Charles Harrison III, Zephyrhills, senior quarterback
  • Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, junior wide receiver
  • Sterlin Williams, Zephyrhills, senior defensive lineman
  • Javion Hanner, Zephyrhills Christian, junior running back
  • Calvin Samuel, Zephyrhills Christian, senior running back
  • Alonzo Sampson, Zephyrhills Christian, senior linebacker
  • Evan Miller, Zephyrhills Christian, senior defensive back
  • Javan Smith, Zephyrhills Christian, junior tailback/linebacker
  • Jalen Spencer, Zephyrhills Christian, junior defensive end/linebacker

Published September 20, 2017

Cypress Creek football coach earns weekly honor

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Elsewhere in the Pasco County prep football scene, Cypress Creek head football coach Mike Johnson recently earned Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach of the Week honors for his team’s Week 1 win over Gulf High on Aug. 25 — the school’s inaugural regular season football game.

The honor means Johnson will receive a $2,000 grant to help maintain and upgrade the Cypress Creek football program.

Cypress Creek head football coach Mike Johnson earned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach of the Week honors for his team’s Week 1 win over Gulf High on Aug. 25. (File)

At the conclusion of the season, a Buccaneers High School Coach of the Year will be selected and earn an additional award from the pro franchise.

Candidates are chosen based on coaches that have led their schools to an impressive victory, and demonstrated a commitment to fundamentals, player safety, sportsmanship, academic development and community engagement.

Johnson, in his first year as a varsity head coach, has no seniors on the roster, as only underclassmen from Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass high schools were rezoned to Cypress Creek. The school, at 8701 Old Pasco Road, has about 1,500 students in grades six through 11 this year.

The first-year program also was at a disadvantage when it had limited participation in spring drills and no spring game, as most players were occupied with other sports and activities at their former schools.

Johnson previously coached at Stuart Middle School and served as an offensive line coach at Wesley Chapel High School, under former head coach Ben Alford.

Johnson, who also was a former defensive back at Division III Eureka College in Illinois, bases his coaching foundation on what he refers to as the “5Cs”— Commitment, Consistency, Courage, Communication and Compassion.

Published September 13, 2017

Pasco Pirates off to solid start

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Just a few weeks into the regular season, the Pasco High football team already has surpassed its win total from all of last season.

In fact, they’ve doubled it.

Pasco High head coach Tom McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013. (File)

The 2016 season was unpleasant for the Pirates, losing nine straight games until they beat Gulf High — a struggling program that’s now lost 22 straight regular season games — in the season finale.

The 1-9 record was its worst since 1978, when Jimmy Sessoms coached the team.

The struggling campaign was a surprise to many, considering the Pirates often have been one of the county’s upper-tier programs under longtime head coach Tom McHugh.

McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013.

Additionally, under McHugh, the Pirates have produced some of the county’s top players who have gone on to collegiate and professional careers, including, defensive tackle Joey Ivie (University of Florida/Dallas Cowboys, defensive back Josh Johnson (Purdue University/Canadian Football League/Jacksonville Jaguars), athlete Janarion Grant (Rutgers University) and defensive back Jayvaughn Myers (Auburn University).

Yet, perhaps the biggest disappointment to the Pirates’ faithful wasn’t the abysmal 1-9 record, but its devastating 46-0 home loss to Zephyrhills High in the annual 9-Mile War — oftentimes a one-sided affair in which Pasco High claims the all-time series record 40-19.

This season, however, appears to be a strong contrast to last year.

The Pasco High Pirates have rebounded from last year’s dismal 1-9 mark. The 2017 squad features 17 seniors, including middle linebacker Cameron Smith. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum)

The Pirates handily won its first two contests over both Hudson High (22-10) and Gulf High (46-0), and proved dominant in its preseason game, a 36-18 victory over Ridgewood High.

And, unlike the 2016 season, the Pirates have a bevy of experienced depth, both on offense and defense. This year’s roster features 19 seniors. Last year’s had just seven.

Besides a steady, game-managing presence at quarterback in junior Doug Crawford, the Pirates display an explosive rushing attack currently averaging more than 200 yards per game — thanks to a trio of runners in senior Jaleel Hansberry, and juniors Early Knight and Jacquez Mobley.

The defense, too, has shown an ability to create pressure and limit opposing yardage, early on.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Pirates have three reigning All-Sunshine Athletic Conference players in senior offensive lineman/defensive tackle Camron Craig, senior middle linebacker Cameron Smith and senior defensive lineman Cody Mercer.

The Pirates, meanwhile, have several winnable games on their 2017 slate.

In addition to facing upstart Cypress Creek Middle High at home, the Pirates should match up well against Superior Collegiate Academy, along with district foes Sunlake— which appears to be in a rebuilding year — and Land O’ Lakes high schools.

But, contests against the likes of Mitchell, Springstead and Zephyrhills high schools should determine how good this team is.

And, how far it will go.

 

–Stats compiled by Maxpreps.com

Published September 13, 2017

The Laker/Lutz News prep football season outlook

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The 2017 high school football season is finally underway. As the games unfold, here’s a look at some of the teams and players to watch in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Teams to Watch:

Steinbrenner head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo is looking for his third straight winning season. (File)

Steinbrenner High Warriors

Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo (sixth year)

Despite some key departures from last year’s 5-4 squad — including starting quarterback Colin Wray’s defection to Clearwater Central Catholic— the Warriors look primed for a third straight winning season. That was evident in their Aug. 28 season opener, a 19-0 road shutout of Freedom High School. If that game is any indication, Steinbrenner features a strong running game led by senior Dionte Waldron and freshman Deon Silas, and big-play receivers in senior Brandon Garcia and sophomore Aidan Bitter. The Warriors have no shortage of playmakers on defense, either. Besides the return of a pair of tackling machines in senior linebacker/safety Charles Stephens (99 tackles in 2016) and senior defensive tackle Juan Batista (87 total tackles in 2016), the Warriors have others — including senior end Cade Murray and junior linebacker Logan Kilburn— capable of making stops behind the line of scrimmage.

The Warriors still need to find a steady, reliable presence at quarterback, especially with difficult matchups remaining against the likes of Jesuit, Bradenton Manatee, Sarasota Riverview and Tampa Catholic high schools.

 

 

 

Sunlake has seven straight winning seasons under head coach Bill Browning. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum, PascoCountyfb.com)

Sunlake High Seahawks

Coach: Bill Browning (11th year)

It’s tough to doubt the Sunlake Seahawks and its run of seven straight winning seasons — each with at least seven victories. However, the consistent program may be in for a slight rebuilding campaign after losing numerous contributors on offense and defense from last year’s 7-3 squad. Besides developing a new quarterback in either senior Ryan Kasper or junior Hunter Watts, dynamic playmakers on offense also need to emerge. Similar questions remain on defense, as the Seahawks replace three of its top four tacklers from last season. Meanwhile, Sunlake’s schedule doesn’t get any easier, with matchups against Wiregrass Ranch, Springstead, Brooksville Central and River Ridge high schools.

 

Wiregrass Ranch looks to be one of the top teams in Pasco County. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum, PascoCountyfb.com)

Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls

Coach: Mark Kantor (third year)

Wiregrass Ranch appears to be one of the top teams in the Tampa Bay area, even after a tumultuous offseason that saw three of its top players — cornerback Shamaur McDowell, athlete Raymond Woodie III, tailback Da Da McGee — transfer elsewhere. The team’s strength was evident in the Bulls memorable 31-29 season-opening victory over Zephyrhills High, where their talent and moxie reigned supreme. Junior quarterback Grant Sessums, in his first year as a starter, could emerge to become one of the county’s most productive signal-callers, especially with a senior-laden group of pass-catchers, in A.J. Brown, Devaun Roberts and Daniel Biglow. Establishing a capable running game also could go a long way in Sessums’ and Wiregrass’ success. The Bulls, meanwhile, return one of the region’s top players in versatile, ball-hawking cornerback Jordan Miner, a Penn State University commit. Besides roaming the defensive backfield, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound athlete also is utilized on offense and kickoff returns.

Zephyrhills is seeking their fourth straight playoff appearance. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum, PascoCountyfb.com)

Zephyrhills High Bulldogs

Coach: Nick Carroll (second year)

One of the county’s most successful programs of late, Zephyrhills has the talent and depth to secure a fourth straight playoff appearance. It all starts with senior dual-threat quarterback Charles Harrison III, the county’s top returning signal-caller (2,038 total yards, 26 total touchdowns, five interceptions in 2016). And, there’s no lack of weapons at Harrison’s disposal, with the return of leading rusher Elijah Thomas (649 yards, five touchdowns) and leading receivers Tre’Pavis Mobley (39 catches, 802 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Ja’quan Sheppard (25 catches, 443 yards, six touchdowns).

Defensively, the Bulldogs return two of their top pass rushers from 2016 — Sterlin Williams (8.5 sacks) and Ja’varrius Wilson (eight sacks)— along with senior middle linebacker Zac Masci (66 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and senior safety Myles Carter (25 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions).

Meanwhile, the rest of the season sets up relatively nicely for the Bulldogs, with manageable matchups against teams like Ridgewood, Fivay, Gulf, Anclote and Pasco high schools.

 

Zephyrhills Christian is looking to build off last season’s 7-2 mark. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors

Coach: Mike Smith (third year, 11-man)

The Warriors are proving last season’s 7-2 mark wasn’t a fluke, especially after downing Bishop McLaughlin 35-6 in its Aug. 25 home opener. The Warriors, competing in Class 2A for the first time, feature one of the county’s most prolific ground attacks, led by seniors Calvin Samuel (695 yards, seven touchdowns in 2016) and Alonzo Sampson, and Pasco High transfer Javion Hanner — each capable of explosive plays. The Warriors, too, feature a handful of impact players on defense, anchored by 300-pound sophomore defensive lineman Malik Jones and 215-pound junior linebacker/defensive end Jalen Spencer. One of the more intriguing tests for the Warriors will be on Oct. 13, when they face Carrollwood Day School at home.

Wesley Chapel returns several key pieces from last season’s 7-2 squad. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum, PascoCountyfb.com)

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats

Coach: Tony Egan (second year)

Besides having arguably the county’s top do-everything athlete in Isaiah Bolden (University of Oregon commit), the Wildcats have several pieces returning to a team that won its first seven games in 2016, before faltering down the stretch with road losses to Zephyrhills and River Ridge high schools.

It has a potent running game led by 1,000-yard rusher Dexter Leverett and Malik Melvin (358 yards, seven touchdowns).

With Bolden returning at cornerback, the Wildcats defense also features several other standouts, including inside linebacker Austen Wittish (93 tackles in 2016) and 6-foot-7 defensive end/Florida State University commit Chaz Neal.

The looming question is finding consistency at quarterback following the graduation of two-year starter Jacob Thomas.

Players to Watch:

 

Isaiah Bolden

Athlete — Isaiah Bolden, Wesley Chapel High senior

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound versatile athlete might be the top football prospect in all of Pasco County. The University of Oregon commit — with nearly 30 other scholarship offers— is a consensus four-star recruit widely regarded as one of nation’s top 20 cornerback prospects for the Class of 2018. Besides roaming the defensive backfield, Wesley Chapel High coaches utilize Bolden as a quarterback, punter and return man. He’ll also sometimes line up at running back and receiver.

 

 

Jordan Miner

Cornerback — Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch High senior

Like Bolden, Miner is another a blue chip, four-star cornerback committed to a high-profile college program (Penn State University). Nationally, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Miner is ranked among the top 30 corners for the 2018 recruiting class, where he’s lauded for his quickness, physicality and ball skills. He’s also an impact player on special teams, as he averaged 33 yards per kick return in 2016.

 

John Dixon

Defensive Back — John Dixon, Wharton High junior

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Dixon is quickly hopping on the radar of some of the nation’s premier college programs. His junior season just underway, Dixon already boasts offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Tennessee, South Carolina, South Florida and Maryland universities. Multiple recruiting outlets — like 247Sports and ESPN.com— rank Dixon as a four-star prospect and one of the nation’s top 25 cornerback prospects for the 2019 class. Dixon tallied 44 tackles and two interceptions in 2016.

Ja’quan Sheppard

Receiver — Ja’quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills High junior

One of Zephyrhills High’s many offensive playmakers, the 6-foot-2, 176-pound Sheppard is a dynamic threat, both as a receiver (25 catches, 443 yards, six touchdowns in 2016) and ball carrier (325 yards, five touchdowns). Besides having reliable hands, Sheppard has shown the capability for chunk plays of 40 yards and 50 yards. He currently has an offer from Samford University, a Division I Football Championship Series (FCS) program in Homewood, Alabama.

 

Dexter Leverett

Running back/defensive back — Dexter Leverett, Wesley Chapel High senior

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Leverett was Pasco County’s third-leading rusher in 2016, tallying 1,254 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 165 carries (7.6 yards per carry). And, he displayed consistency, with nine games of at least 100 yards.

Wesley Chapel head coach Tony Egan summed up Leverett’s rushing ability in an interview last season: “He’s got it all. He’s a power back, he’s explosive, and he’s got that top-end speed—the kid runs a 4.53 40 (yard dash). He’s just a really quick kid…and he can make cuts in the open field.”

Leverett is not just an offensive star. He’s also a key cog on defense, where he posted 75 total tackles last season.

Ten more to watch:

Athlete — Calvin Samuel, Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior

Cornerback — A.J. Hampton, Wharton High senior

Linebacker — Myron Bloom, Land O’ Lakes High junior

Linebacker— Adam Jarvis, Sunlake High senior

Linebacker— Matthew Wood, Gaither High senior

Offensive Tackle — Donovan Jennings, Gaither High senior

Offensive Tackle — Lavel Dumont, Wharton High senior

Quarterback — Charles Harrison III, Zephyrhills High senior

Running back/Linebacker — Dylan Gonzalez, Academy at the Lakes senior

Wide Receiver — Tre’Pavis Mobley, Zephyrhills High junior

Statistics compiled by MaxPreps.com

The Laker/Lutz News coverage area includes the following schools from Hillsborough and Pasco counties:

Hillsborough:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3)

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8)

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8)

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6)

Wharton High School Wildcats (Class 7A-Region 8)

Pasco:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (8-man-Florida Christian Region 2)

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC)

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3)

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6)

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6)

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6)

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8)

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8)

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2)

What’s New?
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) passed a new system last September that bases football postseason berths on a points system in Class A-4A. The new format, beginning this season, is designed to reward teams for winning records and strength of schedule.
In the FHSAA’s biggest four classes (5A-8A), the district champion still automatically qualifies for regionals, with the remaining 16 spots decided by points.

Published September 6, 2017

Local youth barefoot water-skier wins national title

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Brett Swanbom can be considered a rising star in the extreme sport of barefoot water-skiing.

The 11-year-old, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, has the medals to prove it.

Swanbom won first overall in the boys B Division (12 & under) at the 2017 United States Barefoot Nationals on Aug. 5 in Polk City. There, he claimed gold medals in jump and slalom events, and a silver medal in tricks.

Land O’ Lakes’ Brett Swanbom won first overall in the boys B Division (12 & under) at the 2017 United States Barefoot Nationals, on Aug. 5 in Polk City. The 11-year-old barefoot water-skier claimed gold medals in jump and slalom events, and a silver medal in tricks. (Courtesy of Bob Swanbom)

In April, Swanbom entered — and won — his first-ever tournament — the 2017 PGA Opener in Palm Beach Gardens.

He also went on to win a handful of other tournaments in Florida and Texas over the summer.

Those achievements paled in comparison to capturing the boys B Division national barefoot title, however.

“It didn’t really feel like it did at nationals; people come from all over America (to compete),” said Swanbom, a sixth-grader at Pine View Middle School.

A relative newcomer to the sport, Swanbom began barefooting just about a year-and-a-half ago. He first learned from his father, Bob Swanbom, a former show skier on the Wisconsin-based Tommy Bartlett water-ski team.

It became clear Swanbom was a natural.

“He just excelled real fast,” his father said.

Barefoot skiing, also referred to as “barefooting,” is water-skiing behind a motorboat without the use of water skis. It requires skiers to travel at higher speeds than conventional water-skiing (30 to 45mph); the necessary speed required to keep the skier upright varies by the weight of the barefooter.

There are three events in traditional barefooting:

  • Tricks: The skier has two passes of 15 seconds to complete as many different tricks as possible. All tricks have specific point values depending on difficulty. The skier also is awarded points for the start trick they performed to get up.
  • Slalom: The skier has two passes of 15 seconds to cross the wake as many times as possible. The skier can cross the wake forward or backward, and on two feet or one foot.
  • Jump: The skier travels over a small, fiberglass jump ramp. They have three jumps and the longest one successfully landed counts.

Swanbom already has earned a name for himself in barefoot water-skiing.

He’s one of just 23 sponsored skiers by the World Barefoot Center (WBC) in Winter Haven, where he receives training and equipment perks.

There, he’s been called Brett ‘Slalom’ Swanbom, for his masterful displays in the wake slalom event.

Brett Swanbom is currently ranked 27th in the world in the boys junior division (17 and under), according to the World Barefoot Council’s latest rankings. He’s won several events since competing in April.
(Kevin Weiss)

“He’s very, very good at the slalom ski,” Brett’s father said. “They think someday he’ll beat (two-time World Barefoot Champion) Keith (St. Onge) in the world slalom record.”

David Small, one of Swanbom’s instructors at the World Barefoot Center, is spellbound by the 11-year-old’s slalom skills.

“As soon as he could stand up beyond the boat, he’d be tearing up the slalom,” said Small, the world’s top-ranked barefooter and a six-time world barefoot champion.

“Natural ability helps him. The power-to-weight ratio on that kid is unbelievable. He’s so strong, and he weighs next to nothing.”

Besides his moniker, Swanbom’s abilities spawned a new rule allowing the barefoot jump event for boys under 12 years old, colloquially referred to as the ‘Brett Rule.’

“…They didn’t allow 11 year olds to jump, so I said, ‘Well, how can he ever win boys B Division?’” Brett’s father recalled telling barefooting officials. “Now if you qualify, and they see you’re really a good barefooter, they’ll let you jump. You have to go through some qualifications. They just don’t want somebody to go out there and get hurt.”

Swanbom is currently ranked 27th in the world in the boys junior division (17 and under), according to the World Barefoot Council’s latest rankings. Many ranked higher are 15, 16 and 17 years old.

“I’m very proud of him,” his father said. “He’s accomplished a lot in a short period of time and, with the guys at WBC, he’s learning from the best.”

Swanbom stays humble, realizing there’s ways to go to reach the world’s elite.

“I’m not there yet,” he said, modestly. “I haven’t really mastered tricks. I haven’t really mastered slalom, either.”

Doing so is contingent on flawless barefooting technique.

“He’s progressed fast,” Small said, “so it’s our job to keep him mentally grounded so that he doesn’t act up, and really to solidify the fundamentals of the sport…so he can really push forward and compete at a high level.”

Meanwhile, Swanbom has incorporated several sophisticated tricks to his repertoire.

That includes ‘tumble-turns’ — a 360-degree spin while butt-sliding on the water, then coming back around with feet planted — and ‘toe-ups’ — where a skier, with one leg locked onto the ski handle, rocks their body up on the water on one foot, without using hands.

“When you learn new tricks and you finally get it after a long time, you’re relieved, but proud of yourself at the same time,” Swanbom said. “Some part makes you proud, some part makes it fun.”

During events, Swanbom focuses on setting personal-bests, rather than his opponents.

“It’s not about going against another person — it’s (about) going against you,” Brett said. “First, you try to beat yourself, then you worry about the other person. But, I don’t really do that much.”

“If you win or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s just like if you had fun,” he said.

“With the kids, it’s all about them having fun,” added Small. “He really enjoys the sport. So, it’s not like he’s going out there and training and not having fun.”

Swanbom someday hopes to compete professionally and set a world record “at least in one event.”

A more immediate goal is joining the United States World Team, perhaps even the 2018 junior squad.

“I don’t see why he can’t be on the U.S. team for the junior world championships, and start actively competing against the rest of the world,” Small said. “As long as he keeps enjoying it; he’s got the mental ability, and the physical ability to do it.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Swanbom resides in Central Florida, often referred to as the “Water Ski Capital of the World.”

“Florida’s a great place to water-ski because you can ski year-round,” Bob Swanbom said. “You can’t do that in Wisconsin, and you might not be able to do that in Utah, and in Texas you can’t, sometimes.”

Interestingly, Land O’ Lakes is home to a pair of the sport’s most recognizable names, as both Don Mixon Sr. and Don Mixon Jr., live in Lake Padgett. Mixon Sr. is the past president of the American Barefoot Waterskiing Association and a former coach of the United States Barefoot Team. Mixon Jr. is a former barefoot professional, winning the 1994 World Barefoot Championship in Sydney, Australia.

Published August 30, 2017

Land O’ Lakes coaches named nation’s best

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The accolades haven’t stopped for the Land O’ Lakes High Gators softball program, months after winning its first-ever fast pitch state title.

The latest award spotlights the team’s coaches.

The Gators coaching staff has been named the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) High School Coaching Staff of the Year. The award came on July 27, and the Land O’ Lakes coaches beat out staffs from other top-tier programs in California, New Jersey, Illinois and Kansas.

The 2017 Land O’ Lakes varsity softball team show off their Class 6A state championships rings, during an Aug. 10 celebration at Beef O’ Brady’s at Wilderness Lakes. (Courtesy of Vinny Guarracino)

The recognition went to Gators third-year head coach Mitch Wilkins and assistants Edwin Rodriguez, Janet Sciales and Vinny Guarracino. They helped to guide the varsity team to a 29-3 mark, including a 3-1 victory over Plantation American Heritage in the Class 6A title game on May 20 in Vero Beach.

The staff previously was honored by the NFCA as South Region Coaching Staff of the Year on July 12.

Wilkins said the most recent NFCA honor was “completely surprising.”

“We were astounded to even be regional winners,” Wilkins said. “We were honored to just be nominated for regionals; I didn’t expect anything after that.”

Wilkins said he is glad the national honor recognized not only him, but his trio of assistants, too.

The entire staff, he noted, is diversified, each providing a crucial role in the team’s culture and achievements.

For instance, Rodriguez, the head junior varsity coach, instills discipline through development. Sciales, a hitting specialist, serves as a female soundboard for players. And Guarracino, the first-year volunteer assistant, provides the day-to-day exuberance.

“A lot of personalities that really work out well,” Wilkins said of the staff. “We’re all team players.”

“We each have our strengths and our skills,” added Sciales, who’s coached with Wilkins for six years, dating back to their stint at Hillsborough High School. “We all have our place and we function as a well-oiled machine, and none of us try to step on the other one’s toes. None of us bring a gigantic ego to (coaching).”

Guarracino concurred, saying the staff “works like one unit.”

The Land O’ Lakes Gators softball coaching staff was named the 2017 NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) High School Coaching Staff of the Year on July 27
From left, are Vinny Guarracino, Edwin Rodriguez, Mitch Wilkins and Janet Sciales. (Courtesy of National Fastpitch Coaches Association)

Part of that is the staff’s overall commitment to teaching the sport, explained Rodriguez, who has coached with Wilkins for three seasons.

“The passion that we have for coaching the girls and passing on knowledge makes us come together,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the love that we have working with the girls, because they’re receptive to (learning).”

But, the staff’s coexistence all starts with Wilkins, a retired Tampa police officer turned high school social studies teacher.

Besides the state title run—the first for any Pasco County school since 1992 — the Gators have gone a remarkable 80-9-1 in three seasons under Wilkins’ leadership, and they have firmly cemented themselves as a softball powerhouse beyond the Bay Area.

Guarracino, fresh to the coaching profession, described Wilkins as “a genius” and the main influence on starting his career.

“Coach is a little bit like a psychologist,” Guarracino explained. “He’s there for us, and he adapts his style of learning. I’m a big fan. He’s done a lot for me, and he’s been a big instructor for me.”

“Mitch knows more about ball than anybody I know, ever,” Sciales, a longtime coach herself, said. “He genuinely lives, eats and breathes softball. He thinks of things that I never even think of. He’s thinking two games in advance, three, five, seven games down the road. I’m thinking, ‘Let me just get to the next inning.’

“He’s always going to coaching seminars — anything he can do to get better.”

Sciales also noted Wilkins truly cares for each of his players.

“He’s so great with the girls, and he doesn’t yell,” Scales said. “I learned a long time ago that girls have to want to play for you. They need to want to perform for you, and he knows that. And, he’s very consistent with them, he never lies to them; he’s the fairest guy.”

She continued: “You will never find another coach that works harder to get his girls scholarships than him. He takes them to (softball) showcases, and he does that so they can get scholarships, and I don’t see a lot of other coaches doing that.”

For Wilkins, leading the Gators softball program is not about accolades or recognition.

Instead, “it’s all about the girls,” he said.

“Anything we can to do help them compete,” Wilkins said, “whether it’s helping them get a college scholarship, whether it’s helping them get prepared to move into college. Since I came aboard, every senior that’s come through the softball program and graduated (high school) has gone on to enroll in college.”

He stressed education “is first and foremost” for his players.

So, too, is “helping them become better people.”

“I just try and be that role model for them,” he said. “Show them that you don’t have get loud, and yell and scream and demean people, to get them to be motivated.”

Of course, the program’s success isn’t all about its coaches.

It’s about its deep roster, too.

“If we didn’t have the talent, then it’s almost impossible to get where we did,” Wilkins said. “What we do is try to develop their talent and do everything we can do to make sure they’re prepared for whatever situation comes up in a game.”

“You can’t win a race if you don’t have the horses,” Scales agreed. “It’s a combination of excellent athletes, great parents, and coaches being on the same page.”

Meanwhile, Gators players are appreciative for the makeup of the program’s coaching staff, and how each manages the team in practices and games.

“They’re really laid back compared to other coaches; they’re not going to yell at you,” said recent graduate Jessie McCallister, a standout centerfielder on the state title team.

“Obviously, when we do things wrong they’re going to get on us, but most of the time they’re really understanding,” said Destiny Rodriguez, a junior utility player.

“They all help us differently; they always give us good advice,” said junior ace pitcher Callie Turner. “It’s good because there’s no yelling involved in it. Like, I don’t remember a time, especially in the past few years, of them yelling. It helps us, especially as girls, when we’re not yelled at.”

Published August 23, 2017

Wiregrass Ranch High loses top rusher

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One of Pasco County’s top running backs is taking his talents south — to Hillsborough County.

Senior 1,000-yard rusher Da Da McGee has transferred from Wiregrass Ranch High School to Hillsborough High School, just weeks before the start of the 2017 prep football season.

Senior running back Da Da McGee, pictured far left, has transferred from Wiregrass Ranch High to Hillsborough High. McGee was one of the top rushers in Pasco County last season, totaling 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns on 180 carries. He is the latest high-profile transfer from Wiregrass Ranch, joining cornerback Shamaur McDowell and athlete Raymond Woodie III, who left the program in June. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum, PascoCountyfb.com)

McGee was one of seven tailbacks in Pasco County to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark last season, rushing for 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns on 180 carries.

And, he was one of just three tailbacks in east Pasco to accomplish the feat, joining Wesley Chapel’s Dexter Leverett (1,249 rush yards, 10 touchdowns) and Bishop McLaughlin’s Luis Valentin (1,072 rush yards, 11 touchdowns).

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound McGee also led Wiregrass Ranch in rushing his sophomore year (333 yards, three touchdowns), despite missing five games with a shoulder injury.

Losing McGee, a 2016 SAC (Sunshine Athletic Conference) East All-Conference First-Team Selection, marks a significant and the latest — blow to the Wiregrass Ranch football squad.

In June, the Bulls saw two other top players — cornerback Shamaur McDowell and athlete Raymond Woodie III— exit the program.

McDowell — a three-star prospect and University of Minnesota commit — transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, while Woodie III — a four-star prospect boasting over 20 scholarship offers — moved to Eugene, Oregon, with his family.

Yet, Wiregrass Ranch — coming off its best season in school history (7-3, District 7A-8 runner-up) — still remains a solid team, under third-year coach Mark Kantor.

The Bulls return senior cornerback Jordan Miner, a Penn State University commit and four-star prospect regarded as one of the premier players in the Tampa Bay area.

At Hillsborough, McGee will play for Earl Garcia, the winningest active coach in Hillsborough County with 236 victories. Garcia has produced more than 200 scholarship student-athletes. He’s also coached 15 players who went on to make NFL active rosters. (Courtesy of Hillsborough High School)

The Bulls also appear to have a promising starting quarterback in junior Grant Sessums.

With McGee’s departure, senior fullback Chase Oliver (443 yards, 7 touchdowns in 2016) figures to garner additional carries, as a between-the-tackles power runner.

McGee, meanwhile, joins a Hillsborough High program steeped in tradition since head coach Earl Garcia took over in 1993.

Garcia, the winningest active coach in Hillsborough County with 236 victories, has produced more than 200 scholarship student-athletes. He’s also coached 15 players who went on to make NFL active rosters.

Hillsborough High went 8-2 last season, but lost several key playmakers, including defensive end Zachary Carter (University of Florida signee) and running back Duran Bell Jr. (University of South Florida signee).

Besides Bell Jr., Hillsborough High graduated its other top two rushers in Drequan McCullough (494 rush yards, four touchdowns) and Russell Booth (192 rush yards, four touchdowns), giving McGee the inside track to become the team’s starting tailback.

–Stats compiled by MaxPreps.com–

2017 Kickoff Classic schedule
Schedules for the 2017 Statewide Kickoff Classic preseason football games have been released. All kickoff classics are scheduled for 7 p.m. Here’s a list of games involving Pasco County teams in the The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Aug. 17
Land O’ Lakes High School at Wesley Chapel High School

Aug. 18
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School at Superior Collegiate High School
Cypress Creek Middle High at Fivay High School
Mitchell High School at Zephyrhills High School
Ridgewood High School at Pasco High School
Wiregrass Ranch High School at Clearwater Central Catholic High School
Gulf High School at Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Lakewood High School at Sunlake High School

Published August 16, 2017

Cypress Creek football readies for inaugural season

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With the high school football season just around the corner, one school in Wesley Chapel is gearing up for its inaugural season.

The Cypress Creek High Coyotes began practices last week, in preparation for its first regular season home opener on Aug. 25 against the Gulf High Buccaneers.

The looming matchup brings intrigue, as it pits the upstart Coyotes against a Gulf program that has gone winless the last two seasons (0-20 combined in 2015 and 2016).

Mike Johnson, the Coyotes first-year head coach, expects the opener to be surreal, for players, coaches and fans alike.

The Cypress Creek High Coyotes began practices July 31 to prepare for the team’s regular season home opener on Aug. 25 against the Gulf High Buccaneers.
The Coyotes have about 40 players, enough to fill a varsity and junior varsity squad. The varsity program will play in Class 4A for at least two years. (Kevin Weiss)

“To be able to walk on the field for the very first time — that’s going to be a cool feeling for everybody,” Johnson said. “That first Friday night is going to be pretty cool. …Whether they (Gulf) break a long losing streak or we win the first game in school history, that’s going to pretty neat, whichever way it does go.”

The Coyotes currently have about 40 players, enough to fill varsity and junior varsity teams; the varsity team will play in Class 4A for at least two years.

The school’s first football team features no seniors though because only underclassmen from Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass high schools were rezoned to Cypress Creek.

The school, located 8701 Old Pasco Road, will have nearly 1,500 students in grades six through 11 this year.

For some players, like Logan Bercaw, switching schools was an adjustment.

Bercaw, a junior lineman, spent the past two years at Wiregrass Ranch.

“It was a little difficult,” he said, “because you started your first two years playing football at one school, thinking you’re going to finish there, and then you get switched out to a different school. It’s nice, because it’s a brand-new school, but it’s a pretty big change.”

Besides Bercaw, much of the 2017 team is composed of freshman and sophomores.

“We’re very young,” said Kevin LaChance, an assistant who coaches running backs and linebackers. “We’re just trying to get something built, start laying a foundation…and to do the best we can.”

With such a youthful roster, the Coyotes’ coaching staff spent much of the first week addressing basic fundamentals, such as safe tackling and blocking techniques, and focusing on running formations and ball protection.

Learning a new playbook and hitting the weight room were emphasized, too.

“We’re breaking it down to the very basics,” Johnson said. “All those basic fundamentals are really going to help them out in the long run.”

Inexperience aside, the head coach is pleased with the team’s results in workouts and practices thus far.

“We’ve been getting after it,” Johnson said. “They’ve come out and put in the work. I was very pleased with the amount of players we had out here and the effort they were giving. It’s definitely a positive.”

The summer practices are especially valuable, considering most of the roster didn’t participate in the program’s spring drills — occupied with other sports and activities at their former schools.

The early returns show the Coyotes have workable talent — particularly at skill positions.

“I think we’ve got some speed, which I enjoy,” said Johnson. “We’re loaded at running back. I think we’ve got quite a few running backs/receiver types.”

One of those is sophomore running back Keith Walker.

The Wesley Chapel transfer made varsity his freshman year, and earned playing time in a crowded backfield that featured Dexter Leverett (1,249 yards on 165 carries), Malik Melvin (358 yards on 53 carries) and Ellrie Allen (117 yards on 23 carries). There, Walker flashed breakaway speed on handoffs (136 yards on 13 carries) and as a receiver (102 yards on four catches).

The Coyotes also have found a viable starter at quarterback, in sophomore Jehlani Warren, a transfer from Wiregrass Ranch.  “He’ll be able to run the ball a little bit, too,” Johnson said.

Cypress Creek, meanwhile, marks Johnson’s first varsity head coaching gig.

He previously coached at Stuart Middle School and served as an offensive line coach at Wesley Chapel High School, under former head coach Ben Alford.

He believes he’s up to the task of leading a high school program.

“I learned over the years the process of how to manage and how to handle (a team),” said Johnson, also a former defensive back at Division III Eureka College in Illinois.

That includes conforming to a foundation he calls the “5Cs”— Commitment, Consistency, Courage, Communication and Compassion.

“I’m a big guy on, ‘Be here on time, show me effort in practice, and we’ll find a place for you,’” Johnson explained. “You’ve got to be here, and you’ve got to give me 100 percent all the time, and we’ll definitely find a spot for you, somewhere.”

What the program may lack in initial experience — coaching and playing — it makes up in its new digs.

Cypress Creek offers multiple practice fields adjacent to its football stadium, as well as a Fieldhouse and state-of-the-art weight room measuring nearly 2,300 square feet.

Locker rooms, moreover, features ample space to accommodate both high school and middle school teams.

“It’s very nice,” LaChance said of the facilities. “Everything looks fresh and new; the weight room looks amazing.”

“It’s phenomenal; you can’t beat it,” added Johnson. “If you’re enrolled here, I wouldn’t see why you wouldn’t want to play here. If you have any type of passion to play football, you’d want to be here and involved with that weight room and those practice facilities.”

“It’s definitely a fantastic opportunity for me and the coaching staff and the players,” he said.

Published August 9, 2017

Pasco County football schedules released

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The 2017 Florida high school football season is just a few weeks away. Here are the 2017 football schedules for Pasco County schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

ACADEMY AT THE LAKES WILDCATS
(8-man-Florida Christian Region 2)(All kickoff times are 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — at Citi Christian Academy (4 p.m.)
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — Bye Week
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — Eastland Christian
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — at Golden Rule Academy
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Canterbury
  • Week 6: Sep. 28 — Solid Rock Community
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — Bye Week
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — Lakeside Christian
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — at Donahue Catholic
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Seacoast Christian Academy
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — at Hernando Christian Academy

BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL HURRICANES
(Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference(SSAC)
(All kickoff times are 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — Zephyrhills Christian
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — at First Academy-Leesburg
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — Seffner Christian
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — Ocala Christian
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Bye Week
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — Santa Fe Catholic
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — Bayshore Christian
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — at Mount Dora Christian
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — at Foundation Academy
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — SSAC Playoff/Crossover
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — SSAC Playoff/Crossover

CYPRESS CREEK MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL COYOTES
(Class 4A-Region 3)
(All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — Gulf
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — at Ridgewood
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — at Hudson
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — at Pasco
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Land O’ Lakes
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — Bye Week
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — at Sunlake
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — Tampa Catholic
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — at Springstead
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Mulberry
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — at Anclote

LAND O’ LAKES HIGH SCHOOL GATORS
(Class 6A-Region 6)
(All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — at Ridgewood
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — at Anclote
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — Hernando (7 p.m.)
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — at Sunlake
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — at Cypress Creek
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — Bye Week
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — at Lakeland Christian
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — at Springstead
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — Pasco
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Mitchell
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — Fivay

PASCO HIGH SCHOOL PIRATES
(Class 6A-Region 6)
(All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — Hudson
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — at Gulf
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — Wesley Chapel
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — Cypress Creek
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Bye Week
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — Mitchell
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — at Superior Collegiate
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — at Sunlake
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — at Land O’ Lakes
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Springstead
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — at Zephyrhills

SUNLAKE HIGH SCHOOL SEAHAWKS
(Class 6A-Region 6)
(All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — Wesley Chapel
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — Zephyrhills
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — at Wiregrass Ranch
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — Land O’ Lakes
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Bye Week
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — at Springstead
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — Pasco
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — at Mitchell
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Brooksville Central
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — at River Ridge

WESLEY CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL WILDCATS
(Class 5A-Region 8)
(All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — at Sunlake
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — Wiregrass Ranch
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — at Pasco
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — Fivay
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Gulf
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — at Anclote
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — at Ridgewood
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — at Hudson
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — Zephyrhills
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — River Ridge
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — Bye Week

WIREGRASS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL BULLS
(Class 7A-Region 8)
(All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — Zephyrhills
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — at Wesley Chapel
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — Sunlake
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — at Sickles
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Wharton
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — Bye Week
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — at Gaither
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — at Freedom
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — Leto
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Plant
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — at Auburndale

ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS
(Class 5A-Region 8)
 (All kickoff times are 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — at Wiregrass Ranch
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — at Sunlake
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — Bye Week
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — at Ridgewood
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — Fivay
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — at Gulf
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — Anclote
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — River Ridge
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — at Wesley Chapel
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Hudson
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — Pasco

ZEPHYRHILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WARRIORS
(Class 2A-Region 2)
(All kickoff times are 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.)

  • Week 1: Aug. 25 — at Bishop McLaughlin
  • Week 2: Sep. 1 — Seffner Christian
  • Week 3: Sep. 8 — at Bradenton Christian (7:30 p.m.)
  • Week 4: Sep. 15 — St. John Lutheran
  • Week 5: Sep. 22 — at Tenoroc (7:30 p.m.)
  • Week 6: Sep. 29 — Bye Week
  • Week 7: Oct. 6 — at Victory Christian
  • Week 8: Oct. 13 — Kissimmee Avant Garde
  • Week 9: Oct. 20 — Indian Rocks Christian
  • Week 10: Oct. 27 — Kingdom Prep
  • Week 11: Nov. 3 — at Admiral Farragut