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Zephyrhills and East Pasco Sports

Area fall football preview: Pasco County

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The 2016 high school football season is just around the corner and several teams in our coverage area enter the year with intriguing storylines, standout players and must-see matchups.

Pasco Pirates
Coach: Tom McHugh (9th year)
2015 Record: 4-6
Spring Game result: 40-6 loss against Wiregrass Ranch

Land O’ Lakes Gators
Coach: Brian Wachtel (6th year)
2015 Record: 3-7
Spring Game result: 45-0 win over Gulf High

Sunlake Seahawks
Coach: Bill Browning (9th year)
2015 Record: 8-3
Spring Game result: 54-13 win over Hernando High

Wesley Chapel Wildcats
Coach: Anthony Egan (1st year)
2015 record: 2-8
Spring Game result: 54-20 win over Weeki Wachee

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls
Coach: Mark Kantor (2nd year)
2015 record: 2-8
Spring Game result: 40-6 win over Pasco High

Zephyrhills Bulldogs
Coach: Nick Carroll (1st year)
2015 record: 8-3
Spring Game result: 17-2 win over Crystal River High

Zephyrhills Christian Academy (ZCA) Warriors

Coach: Mike Smith (2nd year, 11-man)
2015 Record: 4-4
Spring Game result: 32-12 win over Lakeland Santa Fe

Three teams to watch:

 

Sunlake enters 2016 with six consecutive winning seasons. (File Photo)
Sunlake enters 2016 with six consecutive winning seasons.
(File Photo)

Sunlake Seahawks
The Seahawks enter the 2016 campaign with plenty of momentum, especially after a 54-13 thrashing of Hernando High School in their spring game. The Seahawks look to build on that May 20 victory, as well as their 8-3 mark in 2015. Sunlake returns several key pieces on offense and defense, starting with pro-style quarterback Justin Hall, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior capable of filling up a stat sheet (1,729 yards, 17 TDs, 3 interceptions) Hall will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, led by scatback Justin Metzger (577 yards, 5 TDs) and three receivers with at least 20 receptions (Ryan Clark, Cris Galdos, Tyler Peretti.) On defense, three of the team’s top four tacklers return, led by Galdos, a senior linebacker who makes plays all over the field. One major question for the Seahawks is how quickly a makeshift offensive line will gel after the graduations of three anchors—Leo Baez, Bryce Cooley and Joe Russum.

 

Staying healthy will be key for Wiregrass Ranch in 2016. (File Photo)
Staying healthy will be key for Wiregrass Ranch in 2016.
(File Photo)

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls
If not an improved team, Wiregrass Ranch High School should at least be an interesting one. The Bulls, who haven’t had a winning season since 2010, are stacked with Division I prospects — led by juniors Jordan Miner and Shamaur McDowell. Several new faces are expected to make an impact, as well, starting with former AATL two-way player Daniel Biglow, and A.J. Brown, a rangy wide receiver from Carrollton, Texas. Another player to keep an eye on is sophomore quarterback Grant Sessums, who’s opened eyes at various statewide football camps this summer. While a talented bunch, the biggest key to having more success is staying healthy all yearlong. Last season, Mark Cantor’s Bulls suffered 19 season-ending injuries, virtually crawling to a lethargic 2-8 finish.

Players like Myles Carter (No. 3) will be expected to step up for a Zephyrhills team that lost several impact players from last season. (File Photo)
Players like Myles Carter (No. 3) will be expected to step up for a Zephyrhills team that lost several impact players from last season.
(File Photo)

Zephyrhills Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are entering the 2016 season with a first-time head coach and several unproven players. Nick Carroll — a longtime Sunlake High School assistant — has big shoes to fill in taking over for the revered Reginald Roberts (39-23 in six seasons). The pressure to win immediately will be elevated, considering the program’s recent triumphs. But, winning won’t come easy, considering the Bulldogs’ top offensive playmaker — running back Antwione Sims — will miss several games due to injury. Moreover, the Bulldogs must find more impactful reinforcements after the graduations of their top receiver (Jackie Tucker Jr.) and top three tacklers (Kevin Lee, Arttonyo Lee Jr., Leonardo Guzman) from last year’s 8-3 team. The team will also be without defensive end Zander Lemay (47 tackles, 3.5 sacks), who recently transferred to Tampa Catholic High School — forcing the new coaching staff to find yet another replacement heading into the season.

Three players to watch:

Zephyrhills senior running back Antwione Sims
Depending on when one the of the area’s most electrifying playmakers returns to the field, fans will surely flock to the stands to see the 5-11, 196-pound Sims (2,093 rushing yards, 24 TDs.) The senior is likely to miss “most of the season” after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in March, but a possible late-season return could prove vital for the Bulldogs down the stretch. Once he returns to the gridiron, it will be interesting to see if Sims still has the same quickness and speed he showed in 2015. A consensus three-star recruit, Sims has 11 scholarships offers, which includes Boston College and Navy.

Sunlake senior receiver/linebacker Cris Galdos
What Galdos lacks in measurables, he more than makes up for with his production. The 5-foot-7, 170-pound do-it-all playmaker is widely viewed as one of the most versatile football players in Pasco County. His offensive statistics (21 receptions, 224 yards, 2 TDs) coupled with his defensive prowess (81 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions) are a key to Sunlake’s continued success. His workout numbers are also impressive: 4.60 40-yard dash, 30-inch vertical jump, 290-pound bench press and 405-pound squat. Galdos recently received his first scholarship offer (University of Saint Francis in Indiana) and is likely to receive a few more by the season’s end.

Wiregrass Ranch junior defensive back Jordan Miner
Pasco County typically doesn’t produce many Division I football prospects on an annual basis, so it’s always worth noting when a player entering just his junior year already has five DI offers— Bowling Green University, Middle Tennessee State University, University of South Florida, University of Toledo and Tulane University. At 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, Miner has the size that major college programs crave in a defensive back. In seven games last season, Miner made an impact in both the secondary (35 tackles, 1 interception) and as a kick returner (34 yards per return.) It won’t be a surprise if Wiregrass Ranch foes avoid the passing game, considering one of Miner’s teammates in the secondary — cornerback Shamaur McDowell — is also a Division I prospect, with several offers. Naturally, football runs in Miner’s family — his older brother, Jaye Miner, is a linebacker at Florida Atlantic University, a Division I school.

Three games to watch:
Wiregrass Ranch @ Gaither (Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.)

  • Two teams loaded with college prospects face off in a late-season game that’s sure to bring several recruiters to North Tampa.

Mitchell @ Sunlake (Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.)

  • Sunlake looks for revenge at home after Mitchell handed the Seahawks their lone district loss last season. The matchup also pits two of Pasco’s top quarterbacks against each other in Mitchell’s Larry Dalla Betta and Sunlake’s Justin Hall.

Zephyrhills @ Pasco (Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m.)

  • Though last season’s 9-Mile-War was lopsided in favor of the Bulldogs; this year’s matchup should be a closer affair.

Published August 10, 2016

Area spring football preview: Pasco County

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Spring football practices are underway for high schools across the state. While the first games of the 2016 season are still several months away, Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions between April 25 to May 31, according to FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) guidelines.

 

Here’s a look at what schools in our coverage area are working with:

Land O’ Lakes High School
Coach: Brian Wachtel (6th year)
2015 Record: 3-7                

The Land O' Lakes Gators are looking to avoid a third straight losing season. A more manageable season in 2016 should help. (File photos)
The Land O’ Lakes Gators are looking to avoid a third straight losing season. A more manageable season in 2016 should help.
(File photos)

Last season was rough for the Gators, who failed to win a home game at “The Swamp,” and were shutout by their primary rival in Sunlake High. Playing five consecutive road games didn’t help the cause, either. To relive their magical 8-2 season back in 2013, the Gators must find some consistent play at the quarterback position, whether that is from rising senior Spencer Childress or rising junior Jude May. Though the team loses their top two rushers from last season in Rashawn Kindell (526 yards rushing, 5.7 yards per carry) and Tommy Farmer (417 yards, 7 TDs), the Gators may have a breakout candidate in tailback Quintin Smith, who’ll be a senior. On defense, the Gators return standout safety Justin Kren, a capable tackler (51 solo tackles) and ballhawk (five interceptions).

Pasco County High School
Coach: Tom McHugh (9th year)
2015 Record: 4-6

A difficult schedule and some tough breaks steered the Pirates into a losing 2015 season. Despite starting the year 3-0, Pasco High ran into some tough competition in the middle of the season, losing four straight games to North Marion, Jesuit, Mitchell and Sunlake high schools. A heartbreaking 44-43 overtime loss to Springstead High added fuel to the fire. While the win-loss total doesn’t show it, the Pirates were loaded with talent, including cornerback Jayvauhn Myers (Auburn signee), offensive lineman Jamal Mention (Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College signee) and tight end Nick Bryant (Middle Tennessee signee). Coach McHugh must find a way to replace those productive players, and find a reliable quarterback after Michael Penix Jr. transferred to Tampa Bay Tech.

Sunlake High School
Coach: Bill Browning (9th year)
2015 Record: 8-3

The Sunlake Seahawks are looking to have their seventh straight winning season. To do so, Coach Bill Browning will have to replace several starters on the offensive line.
The Sunlake Seahawks are looking to have their seventh straight winning season. To do so, Coach Bill Browning will have to replace several starters on the offensive line.

Another year, another terrific record. That’s been the narrative for the Seahawks over the past six seasons under the leadership of head coach Bill Browning. Since 2010, the team has a combined record of 53-13. Though the team returns several players at the skill positions, one of the big questions leading into the season is how the team will fare on the offensive line, with the departures of Bryce Cooley (Angelo State signee), Joe Russum (Black Hills State signee) and Leo Baez (Bluefield College). If the Seahawks can create cohesion and provide enough protection in the trenches for standout pro-style quarterback Justin Hall (1,729 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs), they should be in store for another winning season.

Wesley Chapel High School
Coach: Anthony Egan (1st year)
2015 record: 2-8

The Wildcats have suffered four straight losing seasons, and now it’s up to first-year head coach Anthony Egan — a former River Ridge High assistant — to turn the program around. Luckily for Egan, the cupboard isn’t bare. Signal-caller Jacob Thomas (44 percent completion, 1,825 yards, 17 TDs, 13 INTs) returns as well as pass-catchers Ben Goins (31 receptions, 403 yards) and Devin Singletary (23 receptions, 240 yards). On defense, the Wildcats return their top three tacklers in Marcus Gillott, Ellrie Allen and Christian Austin. To improve their record, the Wildcats must find a way to develop a consistent rushing attack (rushers averaged just 2.6 yards per carry) and they must win close games (the team lost three games by seven points or fewer in 2015.)

Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach: Mark Kantor (2nd year)
2015 record: 2-8

Coach Mark Kantor embarks on year two of what is perhaps a long-term rebuilding job. Prior to Kantor’s hiring in 2015, the Bulls had three coaches in four years, combining for an 8-32 record during that span. To improve in 2016, the Bulls must find a way to stay healthy (19 season-ending injuries were suffered in 2015) and significantly improve on offense. The team averaged just 10.6 points per game in 2015, and was shutout in half of their games. If the Bulls can’t muster up better production from the quarterback position, it’ll be tough to secure a winning record.

Zephyrhills High School
Coach: Nick Carroll (1st year)
2015 record: 8-3

The Bulldogs notched their fourth straight winning season in 2015, but they’ll enter the 2016 season with a new head coach in Nick Carroll, a former Sunlake High assistant. Carroll will try to duplicate the success of former coach Reggie Roberts, but will have a challenge on his hands. Running back Antwione Sims, the team’s leading offensive playmaker, tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) over a month ago, and will likely miss several games in 2016. Additionally, Carroll must find a way to get Bulldogs players to gel, and learn the style of offense and defense he’s implementing. Carroll expects several incoming freshmen and sophomores to make an impact in his first season.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Coach: Mike Smith (2nd year, 11-man)
2015 Record: 4-4    

The Warriors had a respectable 2015 season, if you consider it was their first season playing 11-man football after they dominated the 6-man ranks for several years. However, the team may be in for a setback in 2016, as they’ll be without their top offensive player, wide receiver Issac Johnson (62 receptions, 1,013 yards), and top defensive player, defensive lineman J’ Won Pickett. Both Johnson (Iowa Western Community College) and Pickett (Minnesota State Community College) are playing football at junior colleges next season. The Warriors will also have to develop a new quarterback with the impending graduation of Matthew Iovine, an accurate passer (67 percent completion, 1,475 yards). Being without last year’s quarterback and top receiver may open the door to additional carries for returning running backs such as John Emmanual, Dwight Thomas and Mykh’ael Chavis.

Published May 4, 2016

 

Coach ‘excited’ for next season, despite obstacles

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Zephyrhills High first-year football coach Nick Carroll took over a program in turmoil when he was hired nearly three months ago.

He took the job in February amidst a report of an on-campus sex scandal implicating some of the team’s players, and was dealt another blow last month when news broke that its top offensive player had torn his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament during) during a football camp.
Running back Antwione Sims, who is set to begin his senior year, ran for a school-record 2,093 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. But, he will likely miss a significant portion of the 2016 season.

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound Sims—a Rivals.com two-star recruit with multiple college scholarship offers—accounted for nearly 57 percent of the Bulldog’s total offense last season.
“He’s taking care of it,” Carroll said in regards to Sims’ injury. “He’s going to get on the field as fast as he can. I know he’s very, very motivated.”

After losing one of the top skill players in Pasco County, Carroll is more focused on the players who are healthy, as he prepares his squad for the upcoming season.

(File Photo) Antwione Sims, left, goes up for a ball against former Sunlake player Terrence Jackson. The Zephyrhills Bulldogs will be without the star running back for a portion of the 2016 season due to a torn ACL. Sims rushed for a school-record 2,093 yards last season, helping to lead the Bulldogs to an 8-3 record.
Antwione Sims, left, goes up for a ball against former Sunlake player Terrence Jackson. The Zephyrhills Bulldogs will be without the star running back for a portion of the 2016 season due to a torn ACL. Sims rushed for a school-record 2,093 yards last season, helping to lead the Bulldogs to an 8-3 record. (File Photo)

“We’re going to pick up the pieces and find other playmakers,” said Carroll, who replaced veteran Bulldogs’ coach Reginald Roberts. “I got faith in the kids that are here. They want this opportunity just like any other kid does, and I think we’re going to be okay.”

One player that brings intrigue as a possible replacement for Sims at the running back position is Elijah Thomas, who will be a junior.

Thomas, a 5-foot-6, 150-pound scat back, was the team’s third leading rusher last season after totaling 222 yards on 18 carries (12.3 yards per carry). What he lacks in size, he more than makes up in speed—evident by his track results this spring.

Competing in the Sunshine Athletic Conference East track meet, the sophomore sprinter placed third in the 100-meter dash (11.26 seconds) and fourth in the 200 meters (23.81).
While Carroll certainly has a capable rusher in Thomas, the Zephyrhills coach acknowledged his staff must “mix up” the offense and create a more balanced attack to stifle opponents.

That philosophy places additional pressure on incumbent senior quarterback Charles Harrison III, who threw for 634 yards and 12 touchdowns, but completed only 45 percent of his passes.
Other players that may get looks at quarterback include rising senior Nick Loss, junior Jake Adams and freshman Dylan Wood.

Whomever starts at quarterback will also have to build a rapport with some new pass-catching threats with the impeding graduation of Jackie Tucker, who was last year’s leading wideout (24 receptions for 477 yards and 9 touchdowns).

Carroll said receivers Ja’quan Sheppard and Tre’pavis Mobley, who will be sophomores, have stood out thus far in offseason workouts. Those workouts have consisted of extensive weightlifting, speed and agility training, and route running drills.

“There’s some young kids that are really doing well against the air this spring, and we’re excited,” the head coach said. “We have been putting our time in and watching kids work on the field in regards to how competitive they are and seeing (them) compete against one another.”

Another receiving option that may figure into the equation is rising senior Darius Causey, who didn’t get playing time last year.

“He’s working hard in the weight room,” Carroll said. “He’s 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, and we’re looking at him to make some plays as well.”

Despite the injury to his top player and being tasked with trying to build trust as a new coach, Carroll has been very satisfied with what he’s seen from the roster since taking over the program.

“I’ve been really happy with how the kids have come together and the work they’ve put in as a team,” he said. “They’ve gotten a lot stronger. They are coming together as one.
“Now, we’re just excited for the opportunity to put it on the field and get things rolling,” Carroll said.

Published April 27, 2016

 

 

 

Former pro cyclist organizes community rides

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A former professional cyclist has created a weekend community cycling ride in Dade City that welcomes riders of all skill levels.

The ride, organized by Josh and Kaleigh Thornton, takes place each Saturday at 8 a.m., at the parking lot next to 14112 Eighth Street in Dade City.

Rides are typically two hours long, with varying paces, depending on each member’s skill level.

Josh Thornton, 37, has organized a Dade City community cycling ride on Saturdays. The free rides are open to cyclists of all skill levels. (Photos courtesy of Josh Thornton)
Josh Thornton, 37, has organized a Dade City community cycling ride on Saturdays. The free rides are open to cyclists of all skill levels.
(Photos courtesy of Josh Thornton)

Thornton, a professional cyclist from 2005 to 2009 and former member of the U.S. National Team, wanted to create a community ride to promote the cycling industry and bike advocacy in the area.

He said there’s currently a core group of 10 to 15 riders that have been showing up each Saturday over the past few months.

“It’s a really good ride, because it truly is for all skill levels,” Thornton, 37, said. “There’s other rides that are very fast and for very skilled riders, and a lot of people are intimidated by that, so this is kind of neat because it’s for anyone. We wanted something that really started in Dade City; there was nothing like that.”

“There’s no cost. Just show up and go, and hopefully hang out and meet some new people,” he added.

Throughout the course of the two-hour ride, the cyclists usually log about 30 miles, pedaling at an average pace of 13 mph to 15 mph. However, some less-experienced riders can opt to start out slow, and work their way up.

Thornton noted the group will typically “head out toward the hills” and ride along Darby Road. Other times, they’ll head north and hop on the Withlacoochee Trail.

“The roads that we pick are generally the less-traveled roads. That’s generally how most cyclists try to think,” he said. “We do have a couple different routes that we’ve done.”

Instead of trying to finish first, the rides are more about enjoying the scenery, and getting in some early weekend exercise.

“We have a protective group; we’re looking out for the other riders,” Thornton said. “You ride differently when you’re thinking like that as opposed to where you’re muscling around with the guys, jockeying for position.”

A regular group of about 10 to 15 people has been taking part in the rides for the past few months.
A regular group of about 10 to 15 people has been taking part in the rides for the past few months.

While still a small group, Thornton hopes the local rides will grow to the point where there can be multiple groups — like an A, B and C group —that can more closely match each rider’s skill level.

Although no longer a professional racer, Thornton is still very much involved in the cycling industry.

He operates a bike promotions and coaching business called Wicked Awesome Racing, and has also spawned a cyclo-cross racing series.

As opposed to a road race on pavement, Thornton’s Wicked Awesome Racing Series events are held on closed courses, like at Stanley Park in Lacoochee.

According to Thornton, cyclo-cross is currently the fastest growing form of cycling.

“It’s a much different form of cycling,” said Thornton, who competed in both road races and closed-circuit races (criteriums) as a professional. “It’s almost like a minor steeplechase kind of a race. It reminds me of cross-country in high school. You have a modified road bike— a little bit wider tires with knobs on them and the brakes are more like a mountain bike style brake.”

“The cool part about it is it’s a seven- to eight-minute loop, so you see the (racers) multiple times. It has this spectator-friendly aspect to it that you really don’t get when you go to a road race,” he added.

With Pasco County’s rolling hills and varying elevation points, the area offers an ideal setting for the cyclo-cross races, Thornton said.

“I’m from New England originally, and people see photos of (the course) and they don’t believe its Florida, because they think it’s flat as a pancake and there’s (only) beaches here,” he said.

For more information about the community rides, e-mail or call (352)-444-6413.

Published April 6, 2016

Zephyrhills basketball wraps up historic season

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The Zephyrhills High boys basketball team’s historic season has come to an end.

After reaching the state tournament for the first time in 50 years, the Bulldogs fell to the Poinciana (Kissimmee) High Eagles 70-52 in the Class 5A state semifinals at The Lakeland Center on Feb. 25.

Zephyrhills (26-5) shot just 36 percent from the field, including a porous 1-for-15 mark on three-point attempts.

Zephyrhills basketball coach Alan Reed cuts down the nets after the Bulldogs advanced to the state tournament for the first time in 50 years. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)
Zephyrhills basketball coach Alan Reed cuts down the nets after the Bulldogs advanced to the state tournament for the first time in 50 years.
(Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

Bulldogs head coach Alan Reed said his team was overmatched by the Eagles’ lethal combination of physicality and quickness.

“Their defense took us out of what we were trying to do,” he said. “We got some shots, but we didn’t get real good shots. The game was a very physical game…I had no problem with that; it’s just we didn’t respond to it offensively.”

At halftime, the Bulldogs trailed 33-16, before “playing even” with the Eagles (25-5) in the second half.

“We played them head-to-head…in the second half, but we created that (deficit) in the first half…and we weren’t able to gain ground,” the Reed said.

“We’ve been facing deficits like that all year, but we haven’t faced a team of that caliber all year to overcome the deficit.”

Coming into the season, Reed felt his team had a chance to have a very successful season, especially since the roster featured a bevy of seniors, including leading scorer Jeremy Oppenheimer (22.5 points per game.)

Reed noted Oppenheimer’s improved defensive awareness—understanding passing lanes—as a catalyst for the team’s deep playoff run.

“Jeremy’s a very good player, and he was a very good on-court presence,” Reed said “He scored a lot of points, but a lot of times he distributed the ball. He led us in steals (4.9) and also led us in rebounds (8.2).”

The team’s “unselfishness” was another factor in the Bulldogs advancing to the state tourney.

“We really, for the most part, played together as a team, played together as a unit, and I thought that was one of the biggest things for us,” Reed explained. “Each person performed to their abilities and didn’t try to do things they weren’t really good at when the lights were turned on.

“We had a couple of kids that were very good defensive players and rebounders, and that’s what they did.”

Reed, 68, hasn’t made a decision if he’s going to coach the team next year.

Seven players expect to return.

“All of them played some, and all are capable of stepping up,” Reed said. “The biggest thing is replacing Jeremy’s scoring ability. That’s going to be tough.”

Published March 2, 2016

Zephyrhills High gets new football coach

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One of the challenges that will face Nick Carroll as the new head coach at Zephyrhills High will be to lead a program that’s been in the midst of turmoil.

The team was successful in the win-loss column, but its former coach was replaced after a report surfaced about an on-campus sex scandal implicating some members of the football team.

According to a Zephyrhills Police report, the alleged sexual assault occurred on Sept. 1, and involved one female and several members of the football team after class hours on school property.

On Oct. 20, the female dropped the case after having difficulty remembering details regarding the incident, records show.

Nick Carroll recently was named the new football coach at Zephyrhills High School. He is pictured with his wife, Jill, and two sons Zacary, left and Maison, right. (Courtesy of Nick Carroll)
Nick Carroll recently was named the new football coach at Zephyrhills High School. He is pictured with his wife, Jill, and two sons Zacary, left and Maison, right.
(Courtesy of Nick Carroll)

On Dec. 18, the case was closed after the Dade City State Attorney’s Office recommended no petition be filed because “the facts and circumstances do not warrant further prosecution,” records show.

Carroll, who graduated from Zephyrhills High, replaces Reggie Roberts, who amassed a solid 39-23 record in six seasons, including an 8-3 mark in 2015.

Carroll is excited about his first-time head coaching gig, which happens to be at his alma mater.

“It’s a great feeling, because I used to walk these hallways, and I used to walk into the same locker room,” said Carroll, who was a member of the school’s 1996-97 playoff team. “I can still imagine all the great times that we had.”

Prior to his current appointment, Carroll was as an assistant coach at Sunlake High for nine years.

Working under Sunlake head coach Bill Browning, Carroll was responsible for coaching defensive backs, wide receivers and special teams.

After “paying his dues” at Sunlake, Coach Browning feels Carroll is well-suited to lead the Zephyrhills football program.

“He’s a knowledgeable coach,” Browning said. “He has a passion for the game, and he works very well with the student-athletes.”

Also working in Carroll’s favor is his understanding of the “makeup of the Zephyrhills community,” Browning added.

However, the challenge of appeasing the football-crazed community won’t be an easy task, especially since Carroll is replacing a beloved coach in Roberts.

For Carroll, there’s pressure to be successful immediately – to silence doubters.

“Zephyrhills is notorious for having good football teams; you’ve got to win games,” said Carroll, who played college football at Mayville State University in North Dakota. “I take that as a great goal for me. …We’re going to do things…in a positive way, to where we can get the kids to play the best game possible.”

Since taking over on Feb. 9, Carroll has a lot on his plate. He’s currently juggling his duties as the school’s physical education teacher and the implementation of his football program.

In between classes, Carroll has been meeting with current members of the football team, analyzing last year’s game film and filling out his coaching staff.

“I’m taking it one day at a time,” he said. “I’m working my way around, trying to make relationships with these (players). I’m waiting until I get my staff in place until I have an actual players’ meeting. …That way we can get going in the weight room.”

Carroll has already spoken extensively with the team’s top returning player in running back Antwione Sims, who rushed for 2,093 yards in 2015, setting a single-season record for his team.

The prospect of utilizing Sims’ talent intrigues Carroll as he deliberates what type of offense he wants to construct for the 2016 season.

“He’s a great running back. He’s very determined,” Carroll said about the 5-foot-11, 196-pound rising senior. “If you watch him on film, his feet are always moving. His legs are real thick, and as the game progresses, (defenders) start to fall off his legs.

“He’s a very hard runner,” he said.

The opposite side of the ball won’t lack for playmakers either, as rising junior Zander Lemay and rising senior Brett Lemay will anchor a stout defensive line.

While ZHS returns a solid crop of playmakers, Carroll must find a way to replace several key seniors from last year’s squad, including wide receiver Jackie Tucker, offensive linemen Austin Larkin and Jonah Thomas, and linebackers Artonyo Lee and Kevin Lee.

The departure of several players will force the newly minted head coach to rely on youth in his first season.

“There’s a lot of young guys that are ninth and tenth graders that are going to play integral roles in the development of this team,” he said. “We’ve got to get these kids to believe.”

The development process starts with offseason workouts, Carroll said.

“The weight room is a huge, huge part of building success,” he said. “Discipline is a huge part of that, and making sure the kids are held accountable.

“That’s very important to me.”

Published February 17, 2016

Zephyrhills’ girls weightlifting looks ahead to districts

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After finishing in second place to Sunlake High at the Eastside Tournament on Dec. 16, the Zephyrhills girls weightlifting team hopes to build off that momentum once district qualifiers begin.

The Bulldogs notched 47 points, behind Sunlake (71 points), but ahead of third-place finisher Land O’ Lakes (38 points) at the tournament.

“We did better than I expected and better than years’ past,” said Zephyrhills’ head coach Joseph Rinaldo, who’s in his ninth season. “Over the past five years, I think it’s the best we’ve ever done. Granted 71 to 47 is a big lead, but I didn’t expect for us to score as many points as we did.”

Zephyrhills’ Rebecca Swift performs a 90-pound clean-and-jerk before a panel of judges at the Eastside Tournament (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Zephyrhills’ Rebecca Swift performs a 90-pound clean-and-jerk before a panel of judges at the Eastside Tournament
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

The Bulldogs’ next test is the 1A district qualifier on Jan. 13 at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.

The road to advancing to regionals and possibly the state finals is perhaps more favorable for the Bulldogs since bumping down from Class 2A to 1A.

“We’re in a lower division now, and there’s less teams that we’ve seen in years past, so it should be advantageous,” Rinaldo remarked.

Rinaldo added there’s a “long way to go” before the Bulldogs can think about reaching the state championships. For example, the team must improve certain aspects of their weightlifting techniques by the time district qualifiers ramp up.

“There are things that aren’t major, but can be cleaned up,” Coach Rinaldo pointed out. “Some of these girls haven’t peaked yet. Some (girls) are still misfiring.

“It’s time to get people in the right positions to try to advance to regionals, and from there, try to get them to states,” he said.

Published December 30, 2015

Pasco-Zephyrhills ‘not just another game’

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Coaches are used to giving stock answers to common questions. Take things one game at a time. Play hard for 60 minutes. And, even if they’re facing a rival, it’s just another game.

Zephyrhills head coach Reggie Roberts isn’t toeing that line when it comes to the annual Pasco-Zephyrhills football matchup.

Zephyrhills coach Reggie Roberts was optimistic over the summer. Now he has even more to smile about, with his Bulldogs in the playoffs for the second straight year. But, with a 0-5 coaching record against Pasco, he knows it won’t be easy to finish the season with a victory. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Zephyrhills coach Reggie Roberts was optimistic over the summer. Now he has even more to smile about, with his Bulldogs in the playoffs for the second straight year. But, with a 0-5 coaching record against Pasco, he knows it won’t be easy to finish the season with a victory.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

“It’s not just another game. It’s the Nine-Mile War,” Roberts said, referring to the distance between the two schools.

“This is a rivalry game,” he said.

It’s also a game that has hurt Zephyrhills in seasons past. Three of the past four years, a loss to the Pirates cost the Bulldogs a playoff spot. Last season, the game didn’t impact the team’s ability to make the playoffs, and it reached the postseason for the first time under Roberts’ tenure. But, the Bulldogs still lost to Pasco.

For this season’s game, there is no playoff spot on the line. At 7-2, Zephyrhills is already playoff-bound. And at 4-5, Pasco won’t be in the postseason. But the game still means something, and Roberts has nothing but respect for Pasco.

“They’ve played some good football,” Roberts said, noting that the Pirates have faced a tough schedule. He also singled out their talented quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., as a player Zephyrhills needs to contain in order to be successful.

“We’re not going to sleep on them, thinking that they’re a .500 team. We know better than that. We know that they’ll be ready to play, and that we’re going to have to play our game,” he said.

Zephyrhills practiced hard before the season started, and have been rewarded with a 7-2 record. But, even over the summer, the players knew the season-ender against Pasco was going to be an important game.
Zephyrhills practiced hard before the season started, and have been rewarded with a 7-2 record. But, even over the summer, the players knew the season-ender against Pasco was going to be an important game.

Pasco has played their game each of Roberts’ five previous seasons as head coach at Zephyrhills. The Bulldogs are 0-5 against the Pirates during his tenure. It’s a far cry from the success he had as a student at Zephyrhills: He never lost to Pasco as a player.

Roberts remembers the energy and excitement of the game when he was on the field, and said he won’t need to give a big motivational speech to get his own players ready for the game.

“You don’t have to say much,” he said. “If I have to hype a kid up to play that game, I don’t know if he has blood running through his veins.”

Roberts definitely won’t have to hype up receiver Jackie Tucker. The senior wide receiver has been through several of the losses to Pasco, and he wants to finish his high school career as a winner in the rivalry game.

Tucker knew they had a lot to prove in this game, even before the season started.

“I have to show my doubters what we can do. They say that Pasco’s always been on top in the county. At Zephyrhills, we’re here to show them different,” Tucker said back in August. “It’s going to be a crazy game.”

With home-field advantage, Roberts expects the fans to contribute to the atmosphere. In fact, the game is perfect preparation for the postseason, Roberts said. Pasco-Zephyrhills has a built-in playoff atmosphere, and it’s a good way for him to see how the team handles a pressure situation with a lot on the line.

It’s up to his players to perform at a high level, but he expects the fans to do their part to keep the enthusiasm level high.

“We have a new dog pound section of the stadium. I’m sure that’s going to be packed and faces painted,” he said. “We have the truck pound on the north side of the end zone. I’m sure the loud engines will be revving, and those guys will be tailgating from the back of their trucks. There’s no other place like it.”

Published November 4, 2015

New season, higher goals for Zephyrhills football

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Last year, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs snapped an eight-year playoff drought by making the postseason for the first time since head coach Reggie Roberts took over in 2010.

This year, the path to an encore doesn’t begin on the practice field, or in the classroom watching game film.

It begins in church.

Head coach Reggie Roberts is looking to build on his team's 8-3 record and accompanying playoff berth last season. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Head coach Reggie Roberts is looking to build on his team’s 8-3 record and accompanying playoff berth last season.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

“I had one of the preachers from a local church say, ‘Coach, you’ve been praying for the playoffs and that’s what you got. Start praying for the state championship this year,’ ” Roberts said while taking a quick break during practice last week.

This year, the goal is a state championship.

But Roberts and the Bulldogs won’t be leaving things up to divine intervention. They’re putting in plenty of hard work as they prepare for the start of the season later this month. Music blares from loudspeakers during practice to keep the athletes motivated while they run drills. Offense, defense and special teams all take over parts of the field to get their practice time in before scheduled breaks.

The players have noted that there’s a new level of seriousness and focus as they prepare for the upcoming season.

“I’ve pushed them. Last week they said it’s been the hardest it’s ever been at Zephyrhills High School, and it probably is because the expectations are higher,” Roberts said. “We’re looking for better things.”

Roberts’ time as coach — he played tight end and linebacker for the school back in his playing days — has been marked by achieving better things. He took over a program that had won just six games in the previous two seasons. It took a year to get things the way he wanted, but since then it’s been a string of winning records, culminating in an 8-3 mark and a trip to the postseason.

Players like running back Myles Carter will be expected to step up for the Bulldogs this season.
Players like running back Myles Carter will be expected to step up for the Bulldogs this season.

The Bulldogs lost a close game to Suwannee High School, and it left them wanting a bigger taste of the postseason.

They’re aiming for a trip to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, where the state championships will be played in December.

Before they can get that far, though, they have to earn it on the field during the regular season.

And before that happens, Roberts wants them to earn it in their studies and in the community.

“The first thing my athletes have to understand is that football is an extension of the classroom. We are student-athletes first,” he said.

Roberts speaks with the decisive tone of a coach who knows what he wants from his players, and he’s already getting their support. They recently worked at a Purple Heart Memorial Dedication earlier this month, and he wants them to bring a blue-collar attitude to everything they do. By focusing on working together and getting things done in class, the coach is convinced it will make them better players on Friday nights.

Roberts will need players to step up and fill some big gaps left by graduating seniors. The coach misses all of them, since they all contributed to the team’s success. But standout players like quarterback Ty Tanner and running back Jaylen Pickett were more than role players, and they’ve moved on. That means the team has to find a way to move on as well.

The coach is confident the team can take the next step with existing talent like Myles Carter, Antwione Sims and Jackie Tucker. And Tucker, a senior receiver, shares his optimism.

“This offseason I’ve been grinding with my two younger quarterbacks, Charles Harrison and Dylan Wood, trying to get them to where my previous quarterback, Ty Tanner, was,” Tucker said.

The 6-foot-2, 188-pound wideout is in his third year with the Bulldogs, and he knows that means taking on a leadership role. He’s embracing the responsibility of being a voice for the team and making sure everyone is doing their job in practice, working out and getting prepared for the upcoming season.

And for Tucker, that includes himself.

“I hit the weight room 10 times harder than I used to,” he said.

The players work hard in the weight room and at practice, where Roberts’ assistants fine-tune their mechanics, and the team races through a battery of drills and exercises.

And, the head coach isn’t making any time for offseason distractions.

They’re in a new district this year.

Roberts isn’t concerned that the Bulldogs aren’t expected to do much with competition like River Ridge and Gulf waiting for them in 5A-8 (“If you look at the polls, we’re way down,” he said. “I love it.”).

The coach brushed off a question about playing longtime rival Pasco High School in November (“Hasn’t even crossed my mind.”).

Roberts also didn’t want to single out any one facet of his team that he expected to stand out this coming season.

But when pressed to choose one — offense, defense, or special teams — the coach gave a smile before responding with a tone that suggested the answer was final.

“Offense. Defense. And special teams,” he said before heading off to focus on his players.

Zephyrhills Bulldogs regular season schedule
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)

Aug. 28 at Wiregrass Ranch

Sept. 4 at Sunlake

Sept. 18 at Gulf

Sept. 25 vs. Fivay

Oct. 2 vs. Hudson

Oct. 9 at Ridgewood

Oct. 16 vs. River Ridge

Oct. 23 at Wesley Chapel

Oct. 30 vs. Anclote

Nov. 6 vs. Pasco

Published August 19, 2015

Shuffleboard club combines socializing, sports

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If you can’t clear and hide, you could end up in the kitchen.

That isn’t a down-home saying you might hear from your grandmother.

It’s sound sports advice. In the game of shuffleboard, clearing and hiding are moves you make with your discs, and the kitchen is somewhere you don’t want to be.

Steve Barnett is proud to show off his white Masters jacket, which he earned for his top play on the courts. His friends, from left, John Houghtaling, Chuck Moulton and R.L. Lay, appreciate the difficulty of Barnett's accomplishment, but that doesn't mean they won't tease him at every opportunity. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
Steve Barnett is proud to show off his white Masters jacket, which he earned for his top play on the courts. His friends, from left, John Houghtaling, Chuck Moulton and R.L. Lay, appreciate the difficulty of Barnett’s accomplishment, but that doesn’t mean they won’t tease him at every opportunity.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)

While they avoid the kitchen, members of the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club flock to their courts at 5209 Eighth St.

They play most mornings and many afternoons, too.

It might taper off a bit in the summer, but the courts are packed in the winter. And there’s usually a foursome willing to break out the cues and discs for a game just about any time of the year.

“This game can get in your head. It literally takes your life over if you really get into it,” said Chuck Moulton, who serves as the club’s treasurer and maintains the website.

Moulton isn’t really obsessed with the game, but he’s been an avid player since he first picked up a cue around 15 years ago. He took to it immediately, and over the years he moved up the ranks from novice to district amateur to state amateur to pro. The club has more than 150 members, and Moulton estimates that around 65 of them have reached the pro level.

That doesn’t mean it’s a cutthroat atmosphere when they play. Tournaments can get serious and players like to win, but what keeps people coming back is the friendships and camaraderie.

“Everybody’s really good friends. I’ll bet I have 500 to 600 friends through this sport that I can tell you their first and last name, where they’re from and something about them,” Moulton said. “It’s its own community.”

That community includes players like John Houghtaling, who moved to Florida from Cooperstown, New York. He used to spend winters here, but made it his permanent home a couple of years ago. And the shuffleboard club played a role in his decision.

“One of the biggest reasons why is the folks that I’ve met and the game, believe it or not,” Houghtaling said.

Steve Barnett, left, and Chuck Moulton enjoy an afternoon game at the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club's courts.
Steve Barnett, left, and Chuck Moulton enjoy an afternoon game at the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club’s courts.

Cooperstown is the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and Houghtaling sees similarities between that game and the one he plays almost daily. They both seem simple, but the nuances of each move and the strategies that go into each turn make them deceptively complex.

He said there is a game within the game of shuffleboard.

Some club members have been at the sport for decades.

Steve Barnett has only been playing a few years, but he’s already making his mark. Barnett qualified for the Central District Masters tournament, which requires accumulating points through good showings at tournaments. Only the top eight players for each gender get to participate each year, and the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club normally has multiple qualifiers, giving them a reputation for being one of the more talented clubs.

Barnett is proud of his Masters jacket, but it’s not the most meaningful part of the game for him.

“It’s probably the camaraderie, meeting new people, making friends with people,” Barnett said. We just came back from the Keys, my gal and I, and took one of our shuffleboard couples with us. We had a ball.”

Players can have a ball just sitting around the court and socializing with friends. Even if Moulton isn’t playing on a particular morning, he’ll still make his way down to chat and laugh with other club members. One of those members is R.L. Lay, who doesn’t go to tournaments anymore. After 14 years, he now chooses to play a few casual games most mornings and take in the social aspect of the sport.

“I’ll come in and I enjoy myself. I have fun, and I’ll play three or four games in the morning, and if they can talk me into the fourth one I’ll play. And they enjoy beating up on me,” Lay said with a smile.

Lay might take a good-natured ribbing from his buddies, but he’s no slouch with a cue. His specialty is sending opponents to the kitchen, the section of the court that subtracts 10 points if a disc is there at the end of a turn.

“I win my share of the games and lose my share,” he said.

Win or lose, the goal is for members to have fun at the club. And if there’s an inexperienced person who wants to give it a try, the regulars are ready to greet them with a handshake and tips on how to get started, Moulton said.

“If you came down and said ‘you know, I’m a newbie and I’d like to learn this game,’ all these guys would help you,” he said.

For more information about the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club, call Moulton at (813) 779-9513, email ">, or visit ZephyrhillsShuffle.com.

Published July 29, 2015