By Kyle LoJacono
Brandon Debyah works so hard at football that previous coaches nicknamed him the little soldier.
His effort on the field has earned him a place on the Offense-Defense All America Bowl eastern team, the only player from Pasco County to make the squad.
“It’s a great honor,” Brandon, 13, said. “I never thought I’d be picked for something like this. I knew I was good, but I didn’t think I was good enough to make the team.”
Brandon is an eighth grader at Raymond B. Stewart Middle in Zephyrhills. His main positions are running back and linebacker, but his coach, Norman Scheuerman, said he never comes off the field during a game.
“Basically he can play all the defensive positions but defensive line and is great on our special teams,” said Scheuerman, who has coached the Bulldogs for five years. “He’s very well rounded. I can’t think of a more deserving player to make the team.”
Brandon was picked for the team after trying out during a football camp in Saint Leo. The game will match the best players from the eastern and western halves of the United States on New Year’s Day in Myrtle Beach, S.C. There is a game for both middle and high school students.
The best-known player to participate in the game is Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft in April. Also making the team last year was former Pasco High quarterback D.J. Clower.
“The Offense-Defense All American Bowl is the culmination of years of hard work developing a winning curriculum and reputation for excellence, as well as experience in working with young players,” said bowl director Matt Whittier. “… We are working to make this game a pure, annual tradition that athletes from all across the country can strive to be a part of.”
Brandon started playing football at 4-years-old in the Zephyrhills Police Athletic League. His mother, Kim, said all three of her boys have always loved sports.
“They all play soccer, basketball, baseball and football,” Kim said. “The funny thing is when he started playing he was the littlest one out there. Now he’s one of the biggest.”
Brandon is currently 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. His older brother, Josh, also played under Scheuerman at the school, while his younger brother, Chris, is in sixth grade at Stewart and will tryout for the team next year.
Last season Brandon averaged more than two touchdowns a game. He scored his first of the 2010 campaign in a 28-10 victory over Centennial Middle Sept. 14. The Bulldogs also won their second contest 21-6 against Dr. John Long Middle Sept. 21.
“He has grown a lot physically and mentally from last year,” Scheuerman said. “He’s come in from the summer break a lot stronger and faster, but he’s a much more intelligent player too. He finds places to get through the line when before he might have not followed his blockers.”
Scheuerman said Brandon also gets a lot of support from Kim and his father, Mike. They come out to each game to cheer him on.
“I love watching him because he works so hard, but he doesn’t see it as work because he loves playing football,” Kim said. “I’m so proud to see him running up and down the field doing what he loves.”
Brandon is just starting his football career, which he hopes will continue for another 20 to 30 years.
“I’m going to try as hard as I can to get a football scholarship to play in college,” Brandon said. “Then hopefully I’ll be good enough to be drafted by an NFL team and then play in the NFL. That’s my biggest dream.”
