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Brian Wachtel

Land O’ Lakes seeks new football coach

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Land O’ Lakes High School athletics department underwent a search for a new head football coach in 2018.

The school again is heading back to the drawing board to find the next leader of its varsity football program, a mere two years later.

Chad Walker, who coached the Gators in 2018 and 2019, resigned from his post to become the head football coach at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa; the private school made the announcement official earlier this month.

Chad Walker resigned from Land O’ Lakes High School to become the head football coach at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa. The Gators program went a combined 9-11 in his two seasons. (Courtesy of Cambridge Christian School Athletics)

Walker’s exit from Land O’ Lakes marks the only varsity head football coaching vacancy in Pasco County this offseason.

Walker undoubtedly has big shoes to fill at his latest stop. He replaces Bob Dare, who in 11 seasons steered Cambridge Christian to five straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the 2A state title game in 2015. Dare also is Cambridge’s all-time winningest football coach, with 72 victories. Walker takes over a team that went 8-3 last season and reached the 2A regional semifinals, losing to Admiral Farragut.

Walker’s tenure at Land O’ Lakes was somewhat of a mixed bag, after he replaced former coach Brian Wachtel, who held the post for seven seasons from 2011 to 2017.

In Walker’s first season in 2018, the Gators went 7-3, narrowly missing the playoffs, but achieving its first winning campaign since 2013, restoring some confidence in the historic program.

Perhaps just as important that year, the Gators finally supplanted crosstown foe Sunlake High in the annual “Butter Bowl” rivalry game — the first such victory in eight years. (Land O’ Lakes did win the Butter Bowl game in 2011, but it was later forfeited due to recruiting violations.)

The 2018 team also saw wins over Citrus, Cypress Creek, Lakeland Christian, Pasco, Anclote and Fivay high schools, respectively.

Walker’s second season was a reversal of fortune, though.

The 2019 team slumped to a 2-8 mark, its only wins coming against Freedom and Zephyrhills Christian schools. And, most of the team’s losses were blowouts, with a 31-point loss, three 40-plus point losses and two 50-plus point losses, among others. All told, the Gators were outscored 137-363.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity football team went 2-8 in 2019. (File)

The letdown season was a bit surprising, as the team returned All-Conference quarterback Ethan Forrester and added a couple of prominent assistant coaches, including former NFL players Aveion Cason and Kelvin Kinney. The team, however, graduated about two dozen seniors from the prior season, including eight All-Conference selections.

Walker joined Land O’ Lakes as a 33-year-old with a background as a veteran college football assistant, with stops at Division I FCS, Division II and Division III levels. He was an All-Conference tight end at Division I FCS Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, then parlayed that into a professional stint in NFL Italy and the European Federation of American Football. While at Land O’ Lakes, he worked for Tampa-based Applied Science and Performance Institute (ASPI), which provides advanced training and development to college and pro football players and other athletes.

The next leader of the Gators’ program will become the sixth football coach in school history. Besides Walker and Wachtel, previous head coaches were Matt Kitchie, John Benedetto and Dan Sikes.

For many years, Land O’ Lakes had one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches Benedetto and Kitchie.

But, the team hasn’t made the playoffs since, as recent success of other programs in the county — as well as an ever-challenging district — have made winning consistently a tall task.

The team will have to groom a new starting quarterback with the graduation of Forrester, but the bulk of the roster is expected to return in 2020.

Published January 22, 2020

Spring football preview for area teams

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Spring football practices are underway at high schools across the state — though the first games of the 2018 season remain several months away.

Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions from April 23 to May 31, according to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) guidelines.

Here are five points to consider as spring practices ramp up:

How does Academy at the Lakes follow last year’s championship season?
The Academy at the Lakes Wildcats capped off a remarkable 11-1 season by winning the school’s first-ever eight-man state football championship.

Academy at the Lakes won the FCAPPS (Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools) eight-man state title en route to an 11-1 season in 2017. (File)

What will they do for an encore?
For starters, the Wildcats will need to manage without running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez, one of the most dominant two-way players in the Florida 8-man ranks. Besides rushing for more than 1,000 yards and scoring 25 total touchdowns, the team captain was equally dominant on defense with138 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. Gonzalez isn’t the only significant departure. The Wildcats also must find reinforcements for other All-State players including wideout Isaiah Smith, kicker Zachary Moore and All-Conference center Evan Lutz.

But, the cupboard isn’t totally bare on either side of the ball.

Key returnees include sophomore quarterback Jalen Brown (684 passing yards, 19 total touchdowns, one interception); senior tailback Jamaal Johnson (725 scrimmage yards, nine total touchdowns); and a pair of All-State honorees in senior defensive lineman Dylan Price (98 total tackles, 15.5 sacks) and sophomore offensive lineman Andrew Kilfoyl.

Also working in the Academy’s favor is the return of head coach Shawn Brown, who was recently named Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) Football Coach of the Year. Many of his assistants are expected to return, too.

Chad Walker, a former college coach, is Land O’ Lakes High’s new varsity football coach.
(File)

Can Land O’ Lakes turn the corner with its new coaching staff?
With new head coach Chad Walker in place, Land O’ Lakes hopes to reverse its streak of four consecutive losing seasons. Even at just 34, Walker brings a wealth of experience as a former college coach and professional player in Europe — knowledge he’ll use to try to inject excitement to one of the county’s most historic programs.

The Gators — coming off a 4-5 mark last year under former coach Brian Wachtel — won’t require a complete rebuild; they likely will feature some different schemes and wrinkles under the new coaching staff. Working in the program’s favor is a sizable senior class that includes 1,000-yard running back Kyle Leivas, leading pass catcher Nate Howard (14 receptions, 202 yards, one touchdown), and top defender Myron Bloom (76 total tacklers, five tackles for loss, two sacks). The role of quarterback, however, remains a question because of Ethan Forrester’s transfer to Wharton High School. Forrester, a rising junior, threw for nearly 800 yards along with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Will Cypress Creek show improvements in the program’s second year?
First-year sports programs typically struggle.

Cypress Creek High went 0-10 in their inaugural football season in 2017. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek Football)

Such was the case with newer Pasco County programs like both Sunlake and Wiregrass Ranch high schools back in 2007, when those programs went 0-10 and 1-9, respectively.

The same was true, more recently, for Cypress Creek, which completed its inaugural slate of 10 games without a single win. A new, young coaching staff combined with a senior-free roster and a mix of challenging opponents made Year One a long one, in which the Coyotes failed to score in seven games.

But, don’t be surprised to see the tide to shift a little in 2018 under second-year head coach Mike Johnson. He’ll finally have a large group of seniors at his disposal, including a talented pair of offensive playmakers in Devin Santana (10 receptions, 134 yards) and 6-foot-4 target Trevor Maxwell (10 receptions, 75 yards). Of course, development at the quarterback spot will be key. Rising junior Jehlani Warren completed just 37 percent of his passes and threw seven interceptions last season.

Can Zephyrhills continue winning without Charles Harrison III?
Whoever is named Zephyrhills High’s next starting quarterback no doubt has big shoes to fill.

The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs must replace graduating quarterback and three-year starter Charles Harrison III. (File)

For the past three years, the Bulldogs were fortunate to have one the county’s most prolific athletes under center in Charles Harrison III. He guided the Bulldogs to three consecutive playoffs appearances, including its first 10-win season in more than 20 years. Along with his on-field leadership, Bulldogs fans won’t soon forget the left-handed quarterback’s flashy playmaking ability with his arm and legs. That was most evident in last season, when Harrison III tallied 47 total touchdowns and more than 3,100 yards — numbers good enough to earn him Sunshine Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

He won’t be the only major departure from the defending District 8-5A champions, however. The Bulldogs also lose 1,000-yard rusher Elijah Thomas and several key defenders, including Zac Masci, Myles Carter and Sterlin Williams.

Even so, don’t be surprised if Zephyrhills finds a way to notch an eighth-straight winning season. Besides a steadying coaching presence in third-year head coach Nick Carroll, the Bulldogs have arguably the county’s most talented and explosive receiving corps in Ja’Quan Sheppard, Tre’Pavis Mobley, Cartrell Strong and Tyrese Wigfall. Both Sheppard and Strong hold Division I FBS offers.

Is Pasco in store for a winning season?
The Pasco High Pirates are looking to avoid a fourth-consecutive losing season. They were on track early in 2017 winning their first two contests. But, they ended the season on a six-game losing streak — including a 42-13 sour defeat to crosstown rival Zephyrhills in the season finale.

Pasco High is looking to avoid a fourth-straight losing season in 2018.
(Courtesy of Pasco High Football)

On the surface, the Pirates have the offensive talent to find more success this time around. Experienced senior quarterback Dylan Wood should have ample help with senior running backs Early Knight (778 yards, six touchdowns) and Jacquez Mobley (551 scrimmage yards, four touchdowns), along with one of the county’s most lethal receiving threats in junior wideout Darrion Robinson (25 receptions, 577 yards, eight touchdowns) — who’s also a threat in the defensive secondary (four interceptions, three passes defensed).

Defense as a whole, however, could once again pose issues as the Pirates graduate its top 11 tacklers from last season, including All-Conference linebacker Cameron Smith. The Pirates allowed nearly 30 points per game last season.

A challenging 2018 schedule won’t help matters, either. Just three if its 10 opponents (Gulf, Cypress Creek, Sunlake) had losing campaigns a year ago.

Five players to watch:

  • Chris Butash, quarterback, Carrollwood Day School, senior
  • Dylan Ridolph, linebacker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
  • Jeromy Reid, running back, Gaither, senior
  • Deon Silas, running back, Steinbrenner, sophomore
  • Javion Hanner, running back/cornerback, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, senior

Schools in Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2017 records)
Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): (2-7 overall, 1-2 district)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): (3-6 overall, 2-4 district)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): (7-4 overall, 5-1 district)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): (2-7 overall, 1-5 district)

Pasco County:

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (8-man-Florida Christian Region 2): (11-1 overall, 7-0 district)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): (3-7 overall, 2-2 district)
  • Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): (0-11 overall, 0-0 district)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): (4-5 overall, 1-3 district)
  • Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): (4-7 overall, 0-4 district)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): (4-6 overall, 2-2 district)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): (6-4 overall, 4-3 district)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): (9-3 overall, 4-2 district)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): (10-2 overall, 7-0 district)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): (8-3 overall, 0-1 district)

Spring game schedule
May 17
Zephyrhills Christian Academy at Cypress Creek, 7 p.m.
Lecanto at Land O’ Lakes, 7 p.m.
Mitchell at Wesley Chapel 7 p.m.
Zephyrhills at East Ridge, 7 p.m.
Jamboree: Alonso, Gaither, Steinbrenner at Sickles, 6 p.m.
Jamboree: Freedom, Hillsborough, King at Wharton, 6 p.m.

May 18
Hernando at Sunlake, 7 p.m.
Wiregrass Ranch at Tampa Catholic, 7p.m.
Pasco at Fivay, 7 p.m.

May 19
Carrollwood Day at Bishop McLaughlin, 1 p.m.

May 24
Jamboree: Lakeside Christian, Solid Rock, Academy at the Lakes at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 6 p.m.

Published April 25, 2018

New Land O’ Lakes football coach embraces program’s traditions

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Chad Walker, a veteran college football assistant, is bringing his experience to Land O’ Lakes High as its new head varsity football coach.

He is replacing Brian Wachtel, who resigned in November after a combined 25-42 mark in seven seasons. His only winning season was in 2013, when the team went 8-3.

Walker, was among 40 applicants for the position.

The Pennsylvania native was selected from a field of 11 applicants interviewed for the job, according to Land O’ Lakes High School athletic director Michael Frump.

Chad Walker has been named Land O’ Lakes High School’s new varsity head football coach. The 33-year-old has a decade of coaching experience, primarily at the postsecondary level. (Courtesy of Chad Walker)

At 33, Walker is relatively young. But, he doesn’t lack experience. He’s coached at the postsecondary level for about a decade.

His stops include Division II Pace University in New York, where he served as offensive coordinator/quarterback coach; Bridgton Academy in Maine, as head coach; Division III Kenyon College in Ohio, as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach; Division I FCS Lafayette College, coaching linebackers, tight ends and special teams; and Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, as defensive line coach.

Several of those roles required rebuilding and transforming losing programs into stable ones, Walker said.

He looks to do the same at Land O’ Lakes.

“I coached at Kenyon College, where we hadn’t won a game in four years. Pace University, the same sort of thing. So, I’ve always been a part of these turnaround jobs. I’ve really kind of learned what works, what doesn’t work,” Walker said in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Walker’s playing career also is notable.

Groomed as a tight end, he earned four varsity letters at Lafayette from 2002 to 2005 and was a Patriot League All-Conference selection in 2005.

He later played professionally for two years in NFL Italy as a player/coach and the European Federation of American Football in Sweden. A knee injury ended his playing career and routed him to coaching.

“Football’s my passion,” Walker said.

For the past year, Walker has served as director of football operations/quarterback coach at Tampa-based Applied Science and Performance Institute (ASPI), which provides advanced training to elite athletes and pro football hopefuls. He now is overseeing logistics for nearly 50 football players, as they gear up for the NFL Combine.

At APSI, he’s gotten to work alongside former Tampa Bay Buccaneers like Yo Murphy, Reidel Anthony, Booger McFarland, Todd Washington and others.

“Being around these former NFL players, seeing how they relate to the guys, seeing as how they coach on the field during position drills and different things — it’s really continued to help me grow, not only in the football side of things, but also in life,” Walker said.

While he balances his duties at APSI, Walker has been familiarizing himself with the Gators program.

He’s met with current and prospective players and assistant coaches, and has observed offseason workouts and weightlifting sessions.

He’s also spent time watching film of the 2017 season, evaluating returning players and their skillsets, while scouting team opponents.

He’s also in the process of filling out the rest of his coaching staff.

“One thing that caught my eye about Land O’ Lakes was the tradition,” Walker said. “Obviously, there’s some things to be done, but there’s some tools in place,” he added.

Walker becomes Land O’ Lakes’ fifth head football coach since the program started in 1975. In addition to Wachtel, previous head coaches were Matt Kitchie, John Benedetto and Dan Sikes.

For many years, Land O’ Lakes had one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches Benedetto and Kitchie.

However, the recent success of other programs in the county — as well as an ever-challenging district — have made winning consistently a tall task.

Despite taking over a Gators program in the midst of four straight losing seasons—and a 4-5 mark in 2017— Walker is optimistic about the future.

Said Walker, “I don’t necessarily think there’s an overhaul that needs to be done or a complete cultural change because I do think there’s a foundation there that you currently don’t see at a lot of places when people talk about, ‘Well, there hasn’t been success in the past.’

“I think Coach Wachtel laid a pretty sturdy foundation with that, and now it’s just to try and take it to the next level, and obviously get guys to buy into what my philosophy is and what our foundation’s going to be, and just learn to compete and to grow,” Walker said.

Part of that starts with encouraging more Land O’ Lakes athletes — such as the school’s basketball players — to join the football team.

“There are definitely athletes in the school right now I think can benefit not only the football program, but could benefit them as well,” Walker said, adding he went to see a Gators varsity basketball game within the first few weeks of being hired.

The new coach is mum on the types of schemes he plans to implement on offense and defense, but described it as “something that I’ve been successful with, and something I think the kids will enjoy as well.”

He added: “At the end of the day, it’s about the kids and bringing back some excitement in the Land O’ Lakes football program. We’re going to be, I think, fun to watch on Friday evenings.”

Playbooks aside, the Gators should have budding talent to work with — on both sides of the ball — in 2018.

Leading rusher Kyle Leivas, who tallied 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017, is expected to return for his senior season, teaming up with a promising quarterback, Ethan Forrester, who will be a junior this season.

On defense, the Gators are expected to return its top three tacklers in linebackers Myron Bloom (76 tackles, two sacks) and Clayton Hendriksen (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks), and safety Nate Howard (66 tackles, one interception).

Meanwhile, Walker’s experiences — especially as a college coach — may yield additional recruiting and scholarship opportunities for some of those Land O’ Lakes players.

“I do think one thing that is beneficial that I do bring to the high school level is the understanding of recruiting,” the new Gators coach said.

That includes such things as “how to market yourself to a college coach” and “how to market yourself to an admissions office academically,” he said.

There are also other things that need to be addressed, including community service and “growing yourself as a young man to put yourself in the right position,” Walker said.

NOTE: Spring practices begin in Florida on April 23; the first allowable day of contact practices is April 28.

Published February 21, 2018

Land O’ Lakes High head football coach resigns

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Land O’ Lakes High School’s varsity football program will have a new leader in 2018.

Brian Wachtel, the Gators head coach since 2011, stepped down following the team’s final regular season game on Nov. 3 — a 36-6 win over Fivay High School.

Wachtel, 39, announced his decision to principal Ric Mellin prior to the game.

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Michael Frump said the school will advertise the coaching vacancy after the Thanksgiving holiday

Brian Wachtel has stepped down as Land O’ Lakes High’s varsity football coach. A search for his replacement will begin after the Thanksgiving break. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

The Gators finished the 2017 season 4-5 overall, with a 1-3 district mark.

Wachtel’s entire seven-year run offered mixed results.

He posted just one winning season (8-2 in 2013) and a combined 25-42 record — including an 0-10 mark in 2011 where games were forfeited as a result of an ineligible player.

The Gators also failed to register a victory over rival Sunlake High School in the annual “Butter Bowl” during that period.

Wachtel came to Land O’ Lakes with considerable fanfare in 2011, after posting a 13-7 record in two seasons at Mitchell High School. His career as a coach began nearly 15 years ago as an assistant at his alma mater River Ridge High School, where he quickly rose up the ranks in the profession.

Land O’ Lakes historically has fielded one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches John Benedetto and Matt Kitchie.

However, the recent success of other programs in the county and an ever-challenging district made winning consistently a tall task.

While the Gators win-loss column left much to be desired, Wachtel and his staff mentored several athletes who advanced to the college ranks, at the NCAA Division I, II and III, and NAIA levels. Among them is Samford University’s Shaheed Salmon, a preseason FCS All-American who’s quickly developed into one of the nation’s most productive linebackers.

Additionally, Wachtel this year coached five players who’ve been selected to the Pasco County Senior East-West Classic—wide receiver Taylor Winn, offensive tackle Justin Collier, offensive guard Guston Farr, defensive tackle Xavier Arroyo and linebacker Matt Geiger.

Projecting forward, the Gators next coach should have budding talent to work with — on both sides of the ball — in 2018.

Leading rusher Kyle Leivas, who tallied 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, is expected to return for his senior season, teaming up with a promising quarterback Ethan Forrester, who will be a junior next year.

And, that’s not all.

The Gators defense is expected to return its top three tacklers in linebackers Myron Bloom (76 tackles, two sacks) and Clayton Hendriksen (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks), and safety Nate Howard (66 tackles, one interception).

Published November 15, 2017

Spring football preview: Pasco County

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Spring football practices are one week away for high schools across the state. Though the first games of the 2017 season remain several months away, Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions from April 24 to May 31, according to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) guidelines.

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

Cypress Creek Middle High School
Coach: Mike Johnson (1st year)
2016 Record: N/A

A brand-new program, Cypress Creek likely will face significant challenges in its first few seasons. The 2017 campaign, for instance, will feature no seniors, as current freshmen and sophomores zoned for the school will be pulled from both Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Mike Johnson

Meanwhile as spring ball approaches, Mike Johnson — entering his first year as a high school head football coach — is still finalizing his assistant staff. There are other logistical hurdles, too, as the weight room and athletic fields remain under construction at the school’s campus.
The Coyotes’ offensive and defensive schemes remain a mystery, though Johnson recently said he’ll gear the playbook toward the strengths of his eventual roster and coaching staff.
For comparison’s sake, other recent upstart programs in Pasco County have struggled in their early stages. Sunlake High, for example, went a combined 5-25 its first three years of existence, from 2007-2009. Wiregrass Ranch, likewise, went a combined 7-23 its first three seasons, also from 2007-2009.

 

Land O’ Lakes High School
Coach: Brian Wachtel (7th year)
2016 Record: 2-6

Put simply, the Land O’ Lakes Gators have endured a rough couple years on the gridiron. Since its last winning season in 2013 (8-2), the program went 4-6, 3-7 and 2-6.

Brian Wachtel

The 2017 campaign won’t be easy either, as four of the team’s first five games are on the road, including slates against Wesley Chapel and Sunlake.
To generate a turnaround, the Gators must find some consistency on offense — a unit that scored just eight touchdowns all year. That won’t be easy, with the team losing three of its top four receivers (Justin Kren, Hunter Carlisle, Brayden Lyman) from 2016; leading rusher Kyle Leivas (308 yards) does return, however.

The departure of kicker/punter Dylan Hohenthaner (38.2 yards per punt) shouldn’t be overlooked, either. The Indiana State University signee was a valuable weapon, averaging 38.2 yards per punt.

On a positive note, the Gators return rising junior linebacker Myron Bloom, one of the region’s most productive defensive players. An SAC East First-Team All-Conference selection, Bloom racked up 119 tackles and six tackles for loss.

 

Pasco High School
Coach: Tom McHugh (10th year)
2016 Record: 1-9

The Pasco Pirates look to regroup from last year’s 1-9 debacle — the program’s worst record since 1978. While the season was troublesome all around, perhaps the toughest moment for Pirates fans to grasp was a 49-0 home loss to crosstown rival Zephyrhills.

Tom McHugh

In 2015, the Pirates also experienced another setback to their nine-mile rival, losing 50-16.

Lopsided defeats aside, a bounce-back season could be in store for 2017.
Consider that several of Pasco’s top contributors were just sophomores last season, meaning there’s room for development and progress.
Expect players like running back Jamar Hicks Jr. (386 yards rushing, three touchdowns) and receiver Jacquez Mobley (20 receptions, 200 yards) to make significant strides as juniors.

Other key cogs — including linebacker Cameron Smith, and linemen Camron Craig and Cody Mercer — also return. All three were named to the 2016 SAC East All-Conference team.

There’s an opportunity for early-season victories, as the Pirates play four of their first five games at home, including matchups against Ridgewood, Gulf and Cypress Creek.

 

Sunlake High School
Coach: Bill Browning (11th year)
2015 Record: 7-3

Entering his 11th season as head coach, Bill Browning has the Sunlake Seahawks running like a well-oiled machine, compiling seven consecutive winning seasons. However, the program could be in for a slight rebuilding year in 2017, as heavy reinforcements are needed on both sides of the ball.

BIll Browning

First off, the Seahawks must replace one of the county’s top quarterbacks in Justin Hall (1,945 yards, 13 touchdowns, eight interceptions in 2016). Other skill players will need to be groomed on offense, since the Seahawks will be without its top four contributors in Tyler Peretti (40 catches, 866 receiving yards, six TDs) Cris Galdos (666 all-purpose yards, four TDs), Ryan Clark (23 receptions, 412 yards, five TDs) and Justin Metzger (562 yards rushing, four TDs).
Defensively, Sunlake will miss three of its top four tacklers, losing linebackers Izzy Aquino (67 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks) and Chris Williams (74 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks), and safety Jabriri Davis (55 tackles).

But, if history is any indication, new standouts may quickly emerge for the Seahawks.
And, that could be sooner rather than later, considering the program’s junior varsity squad went 6-1 in 2016.

 

Wesley Chapel High School
Coach: Anthony Egan (2nd year)
2016 record: 7-2

In his first year as head coach, Anthony Egan oversaw a remarkable turnaround for Wesley Chapel football, a program that hadn’t experienced a winning season since 2011.

Now, Egan looks to take the next step — a district title and a corresponding playoff appearance.

Anthony Egan

Though the Wildcats will be without two-year starting quarterback Jacob Thomas (806 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions), other offensive standouts return, including leading rushers Dexter Leverett (1,249 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Malik Melvin (358 yards, seven touchdowns).

The team’s top returning player, however, is cornerback Isaiah Bolden, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound Florida State commit.

A consensus four-star recruit, Bolden is ranked as the nation’s 22nd best cornerback for the 2017 class, according to ESPN.
The rangy athlete will once again be tasked with locking down the opposition’s top receiver and also contribute on special teams, where he averaged nearly 15 yards per punt return in 2016.
Another Wildcats player to watch is middle linebacker Austen Wittish, who led the team with 93 tackles last season.

 

Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach: Mark Kantor (3rd year)
2016 record: 7-3

It appears Wiregrass Ranch football has finally turned a corner, following last season’s program-high seven wins — good enough for District 8-8A runner-up.
Don’t be surprised to see the Bulls have another fruitful season, considering the bevy of talent returning to the field.

Mark Kantor

While a new quarterback must be groomed, the Bulls return 1,000-yard tailback Dada McGee (1,063 yards, 11 touchdowns), along with its top five wide outs, including 5-foot-8 slot back Adrian Thomas (17 receptions, 207 yards).
Meanwhile, the Bulls again feature one of the most feared secondaries in the region, thanks to the return of uber-skilled cornerbacks Jordan Miner and Shamaur McDowell. Both heavily touted Division I prospects, Miner claims more than 20 scholarship offers, while McDowell has 10.

The Bulls’ X-factor, however, may be newcomer Raymond Woodie III, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound dual-threat quarterback transfer from Carrollwood Day School. The rising junior likewise is being courted by major Division I programs, holding offers from the likes of Southern California and Michigan State universities. (Woodie III is the son of Raymond Woodie Jr., former University of South Florida defensive coordinator and current inside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator at the University of Oregon.)
Early season matchups against Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake should provide a good barometer of how the 2017 Bulls stack up.

 

Zephyrhills High School
Coach: Nick Carroll (2nd year)
2016 record: 8-3

Even with a first-time head coach, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs maintained their consistent level of success in 2016.
Last year marked the third consecutive eight-win season and sixth winning season overall for the program, leaving Bulldogs fans eager for the future.

Nick Carroll

The 2017 edition could prove equally generous to the Bulldogs, with the return of major pieces from a potent, balanced offense that averaged 341 yards per game and scored 50 touchdowns last season.
Some key returnees include quarterback Charles Harrison III (2,038 total yards, 26 touchdowns, five interceptions), leading rusher Elijah Thomas (649 yards, five touchdowns) and leading receiver Tre’Pavis Mobley (39 catches, 802 yards, 11 touchdowns).

Defensively, the Bulldogs return its top two pass rushers from last season — Sterlin Williams (8.5 sacks) and Ja’varrius Wilson (eight sacks)— along with middle linebacker Zac Masci (66 tackles, 2.5 sacks).

The Bulldogs, however, have some early tough tests, facing Wiregrass Ranch and Sunlake the first two weeks of the season.

 

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Coach: Mike Smith (3rd year, 11-man)
2016 Record: 7-2

Though the Warriors lose three key playmakers in Serion Bellamy (Shorter University in Georgia), Mykh’ael Chavis (Minnesota State) and John Emmanuel (Minnesota State), the team still has enough pieces to remain competitive in District 2-2A, in 2017.

Mike Smith

That starts with leading rusher Calvin Samuel, who racked up 695 yards and seven touchdowns on just 44 carries last season.
Other contributors, like leading receivers Kollin Eckel (133 yards, three touchdowns) and Eugene Davis (145 yards, two touchdowns), are also expected to return, marking the program’s third year of playing 11-man football.
Productive defensive players like lineman Jalen Spencer (24 tackles, 10 tackles for loss) and linebacker Alonzo Sampson (47 tackles, eight tackles for loss) should be back, too.

Next week The Laker/Lutz News will preview Hillsborough County teams in our coverage area.

Published April 19, 2017

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

 

New Wesley Chapel football coach settling in

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It’s been a while since the Wesley Chapel High School football team has celebrated a winning season—since 2011 to be exact.

Anthony Egan, the new head coach, hopes to change that.

Egan coached both the offensive and defensive line at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey for the past three seasons. He was named the Wildcats’ head coach in early January.

He officially begins working for Wesley Chapel High on Feb. 1 as an autism spectrum disorder specialist.

Anthony Egan was recently named the new head football coach at Wesley Chapel High School. He spent the past three seasons as an assistant offensive/defensive line coach at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey. (Courtesy of Anthony Egan)
Anthony Egan was recently named the new head football coach at Wesley Chapel High School. He spent the past three seasons as an assistant offensive/defensive line coach at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.
(Courtesy of Anthony Egan)

His first few weeks as Wesley Chapel’s head football coach have been a bit of a challenge logistically, as he’s had to drive from River Ridge to Wesley Chapel to orchestrate the football team’s offseason workouts and conditioning sessions.

Egan replaces Tico Hernandez, who stepped down after three tough seasons at Wesley Chapel, where he finished with a combined record of 4-26.

Despite the football program’s struggles over the past few seasons, Egan is confident he can improve the record, noting the program’s foundation and culture have already been instilled by the previous coaching staff.

“I’ve been checking out some of the talent we have, and I’m pretty excited about the quarterback, some returning running backs, and (we) even have a really good returning running back/linebacker, so I’m excited about coaching the kids that are coming back,” Egan said. “I’ve met the kids, and the kids seem to be excellent kids. …The (coaches) in the past have instilled that character in the kids.”

Quarterback Jacob Thomas, who’ll be a senior next season, is expected to be the centerpiece of the offense after throwing for more than 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015.

“That quarterback, J.T., is pretty good, so definitely I’m going to try to give him opportunities,” Egan stated. “If that means running a little bit of the spread (offense), that’s fine, but I definitely want to give him his due opportunities because he was a very good quarterback for (Wesley Chapel) last year.”

While Egan plans to implement some principles of the spread offense to accommodate the skillset of Thomas, he also plans to put his own stamp on the team’s offensive philosophy, with the hope of giving them a better chance to win more regular season games.

“They struggled at times last year when they tried to spread it out and run that type of offense, and I think they’d be a lot closer in some of those games, and maybe have a chance to win some of them at the end, if they’d kept it closer with a little bit more ball control,” said Egan, who’s a former high school offensive lineman. “Maybe by taking a different approach and what I’m going to try to do with the (team), we can try to get the wins up and the losses down.”

Despite a lackluster record in 2015, the Wildcats had opportunities for more wins —losing three games by a margin of 7 points or less, and another by just 12 points.

Besides a different offensive philosophy from the previous coaching staff, Egan will also implement a pressure-oriented, 4-3 defense on the other side of the ball.

“It’s an aggressive, run-stopping defense with a lot of blitzing,” Egan explained. “It’s kind of a newer defense, and I don’t know if a whole lot of people know about it.”

As he transitions to his new post, Egan is also in the process of filling out his coaching staff at Wesley Chapel. He retained both Leon Haynes and JV coach Kudura Douglas from Hernandez’s staff, but is looking to add two, or possibly, three more assistants.

Egan joins a solid list of River Ridge alums who’ve gone on to become high school head football coaches at some point in their careers. The others include Mike Gregory (Tampa Catholic), Ryan Benjamin (River Ridge), Andy Schmitz (Mitchell High School), Brian Wachtel (Land O’Lakes High School) and Justin Fenton (Hudson High School).

Published January 27, 2016

Gators’ goal: A return to its winning ways in football

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The Land O’ Lakes High School football team dipped to 4-6 record last year, after posting an 8-2 record the year before.

Head coach Brian Wachtel doesn’t blame bad luck or a lack of talent for the decline. He said it came down to execution.

Senior safety Colton Smith is ready for a leadership role this season.

“I don’t think we reached our potential last year,” Wachtel said. “There were a couple games that were close, but we just didn’t execute well in a half of that game, and that put us in the position that we were in at the end of the game.”

Half of the team’s six losses last year were by a touchdown or less, and only two were by more than 10 points.

The Gators also suffered some injuries last season, but Wachtel isn’t interested in excuses. He preaches a “next man up” philosophy, with the next player expected to contribute when the starter is unavailable.

And that philosophy will be put to the test this season at the most prominent position on offense.

James Pensyl, the standout lefty who helped Land O’ Lakes rank No. 1 in the district in passing yardage last season, graduated and signed on to play for Eastern Michigan University. That leaves Spencer Childress as the next man up, and Wachtel understands that means changes for his offense.

“As a coach you’d better adjust, and we’ve adjusted offensively,” Wachtel said. “We want to put our kids in a position to be successful. We’re going to put in our quarterback this year and play to his strengths.”

Land O’ Lakes coach Brian Wachtel focuses on limiting mistakes when his team suits up, including during hard-hitting practice drills. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)

While he doesn’t have Pensyl’s name recognition, the coach said Childress is an effective runner, which adds another dimension to his skill set.

Wachtel expects Childress to manage the game effectively, and they’re looking for a high completion percentage to keep the offense on the field.

The coaching staff also will rely on the team’s returning players to provide leadership.

Seniors, like Colton Smith, feel up to the task.

“The maturity level has risen for all of us, especially the seniors who have been here for day one of freshman year,” Smith said.

Being a leader for Smith means holding players accountable but not having a negative attitude toward his teammates. The safety and the rest of the players will depend on each other to get through the season successfully, and he wants to do that by staying positive and helping raise the bar for everyone.

“You see some people who just yell, yell, yell. And sometimes that doesn’t fix it. You’ve got to give them some confidence,” Smith said. “It’s all about making sure that they’re going to do what it takes, and not get them more angry with themselves so that they do worse.”

Now entering his fifth season as head coach for the Gators — and around 11 years in coaching overall — Wachtel still has the enthusiasm of a newer coach.

The offseason, the game film, the seven-on-seven practices and the daily drills still keep him engaged and eager to see his younger players develop, and his older players execute and reach their potential.

“I love doing it. It’s exciting to me. I love seeing the guys be successful. You get them for four years, and it’s fun to watch them grow,” he said.

Sometimes the progress is dramatic.

Wachtel singled out Jordan Ferrante, a defensive end who graduated last season, as an example of watching a player develop into something special.

When he entered the program, Ferrante weighed 130 pounds. But hard work and a lot of time in the weight room became a ticket to continuing his football career.

Ferrante will suit up for William Jewell College this fall, a school with a Division II football program in Missouri.

Wachtel’s current team might have other players who follow that path, but he isn’t letting them think about it just yet. They aren’t thinking about the playoffs, either. He wants them focused only on what’s ahead of them each week, so they can limit mistakes and realize their full potential this season.

“We’re just going to take it one game at a time, because we know where we want to be when it’s all said and done. But we also understand what we have to do to reach that, and its all about the process and taking the little steps to reach the end goal,” Wachtel said.

Land O’ Lakes Gators regular season schedule
(all times at 7:30 p.m.)

Aug. 28 at Wesley Chapel

Sept. 4 vs. River Ridge

Sept. 11 at Anclote

Sept. 18 at Sunlake

Oct. 2 at Lakeland Christian

Oct. 9 at Tampa Catholic

Oct. 16 at Springstead

Oct. 23 vs. Pasco

Oct. 30 vs. Mitchell

Nov. 6 vs. Fivay

Published August 26, 2015

Land O’ Lakes looking to build on last year, reach playoffs

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Nobody can accuse Land O’ Lakes High School of having a poor season in 2013.

They went 8-2 and held half their opponents to 14 points or less — including two shutouts — while scoring more than 30 points in each of six games. In many respects, they were a dominant team.

An improved offensive line is giving the quarterback more time to make plays in practice, Land O’ Lakes’ James Pensyl said. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
An improved offensive line is giving the quarterback more time to make plays in practice, Land O’ Lakes’ James Pensyl said.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

For most schools, those results might be good enough for a district title, or at least a playoff berth as district runner-up. But the Gators stayed home for the postseason because their two losses were to district foes Springstead and Sunlake, who finished ahead of them in Class 6A-District 6.

Head coach Brian Wachtel expects his team to remember what happened and apply some of those lessons from last season.

“It’s like being in a 100-meter race and the last 20 yards just not being able to kick it in,” Wachtel said. “And I think they’ve grown from that and worked hard and learned a lot from it. And they’re going to put a lot of that into this upcoming season.”

And the upcoming season should feature a good number of those players back in the huddle. Land O’ Lakes will return eights starters on offense from last year, including several skill positions. Having that many players return on one side of the ball is an asset for a team looking to build on last year, the coach said.

“I think it’s great for consistency when you have guys back that know what they’re doing, they’ve been in the system, they’ve got game experience, they’re more seasoned,” Wachtel said. “I think that definitely helps you when you’re going into the season.”

One of the returning players is quarterback James Pensyl. He was one of the area’s top passers last year with a nose for the end zone and a knack for limiting turnovers.

Pensyl, who has made an oral commitment to Oregon State University, can tell the offensive line has improved just by having more time to execute in practice compared to last year.

“Going against our defense in practice (last year), I barely had any time to throw the ball,” he said. “This year I have time. I have the time I’m supposed to have. I can make my drops and make the reads.”

The receivers also are showing more experience, with good knowledge of the routes and where they’re supposed to be on the field, Pensyl said.

Wachtel, now in his fourth year coaching the team, acknowledges that they play in a competitive district with difficult opponents. But the Gators already have proven they can win games, and are looking to finish stronger than last season, when they went 2-2 over their final four contests after beginning the year with six straight wins.

How they finish will once again be critical to their playoff fortunes, but right now the team is more focused on how they’ll start their 2014 campaign. Their schedule is back loaded with district games — they don’t face a team that defeated them last year until mid-October.

But the Gators aren’t looking past Week 1. Wachtel doesn’t want his team worrying about future opponents when they have other teams to face first.

“There’s no sense in looking down the road because you’ve got to take care of everything in the beginning,” he said. ”We just go week by week.”

The players have bought into the system, aren’t looking ahead, and are making progress toward the kind of focus and consistency required to be successful, Wachtel said. He also credits the coaching staff with helping build a strong foundation for a winning program.

But in the end, it’s not the assistant coaches nor Wachtel himself who will determine the team’s outcome in 2014. For all the preparations, game plans, workouts and practices, it’s the players who will have to take care of business when the games count.

“Those are the guys who’ve got to pull it off out there on Friday night,” Wachtel said. “We can put them in a position to be successful, but they’ve got to pull the trigger.”

And Pensyl is eager to do just that, by leading a team that will try to limit mistakes and play up to its potential.

“We’re definitely a playoff-caliber team,” he said. “We’re the only team that can keep ourselves from the playoffs.”

LAST YEAR: 8-2
2-2 in the district
third place in Class 6A-District 6

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
James Pensyl, quarterback
Ethan Weilant, wide receiver
Anthony Hendrix, safety

PLAYER TO WATCHConor Heaney, defensive line
“He’s a talented kid. When he cranks it up, he moves well. It’s a matter of getting out there on the field on Friday night and going 100 miles an hour.” — Coach Brian Wachtel

Gators 2014 Schedule
8/29 — at River Ridge
9/5 — Anclote
9/12 — at Ridgewood
9/19 — Mitchell
9/26 — Gulf
10/10 — at Hudson
10/17 — Sunlake
10/24 — at Fivay
10/31 — at Springstead
11/7 — Lecanto

Published August 27, 2014

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Collision Course: Gators, Seahawks battle for gridiron supremacy

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The one thing a high school football team can’t control is its schedule.

Some games look pretty lopsided; either a team is playing an outmatched opponent, or they’re facing a superior team and have little chance at success. Other games look evenly matched but reveal a lack of talent, which might produce a dull contest.

But every so often there’s a game on the schedule that features two powerful teams that have enjoyed a lot of success, and are in each other’s way as they battle for district supremacy. They both have a lot of strengths and relatively few weaknesses, and it will be up to the coaching staff and individual efforts on the team to try and exploit them.

It’s Land O’ Lakes versus Sunlake this weekend, and while James Pensyl, below, is ready to tack on to his 230 yards per game, the Seahawks will have to do without Dayton Feiden, left, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. Senior Esteban LeWallen is taking over after shutting out Wesley Chapel last week. (File photos)
It’s Land O’ Lakes versus Sunlake this weekend, and while James Pensyl is ready to tack on to his 230 yards per game, the Seahawks will have to do without Dayton Feiden, below, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. Senior Esteban LeWallen is taking over after shutting out Wesley Chapel last week. (File photos)

With a lot on the line for the teams and plenty of entertainment for the fans in the stands, those are the good ones.

One of those good ones is on tap Friday night at Sunlake High School, when the Seahawks (6-1, 1-1 in district play) host the Land O’ Lakes Gators (6-0, 1-0 in district play).

This isn’t just a matchup featuring two good teams: It’s the highest-scoring offense in the district (Land O’ Lakes has already put up 181 points) facing the stingiest defense (Sunlake has given up just 23 points all year, with four shutouts).

It’s also a true hometown rivalry, as the schools are less than 10 miles away from each other. And it’s critical to the standings, as both teams are chasing Springstead (6-1 overall but already 2-0 in the district). According to Land O’ Lakes Head Coach Brian Wachtel, following the game plan will be key in a contest featuring two good teams.

“Football is kind of like a chess match out there on the field,” he said. “The bottom line is, with football it comes down to execution. Your players have to execute the plays that are called.”

Nobody will be surprised if Land O’ Lakes tries to execute a number of passing plays, since they have a star in junior James Pensyl. He is averaging more than 230 yards per game, with a couple of rushing scores to complement double-digit touchdowns through the air.

Pensyl has shown a lot of growth in his second year, Wachtel said, and has a firm grasp of both the team’s objectives and the scheme they’re using to get there.

Even Sunlake Head Coach Bill Browning has taken note of Pensyl’s progress.

“He is vastly improved over last year,” Browning said. “They’ve developed a good scheme around him, that I think fits what he does well.”

Unfortunately for Browning, his own starting quarterback won’t be suiting up for Friday’s game: Junior Dayton Feiden suffered a recent knee injury, and was scheduled for surgery earlier this week. He’s out for the year.

That means senior Esteban LeWallen is transitioning from backup to starter (he was behind center for the team’s win against Wesley Chapel last weekend). With four years’ experience in the system, Browning saw good things in LeWallen’s first start and has confidence in him going forward.

Still, fans can expect a lot of running plays for Sunlake, specifically for star running back Nathan Johnson. The junior scored two more touchdowns last week against Wesley Chapel (boosting his season total to 10), and already is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing.

But Johnson isn’t guaranteed an easy time on Friday: Land O’ Lakes is second in the district with just 54 points allowed all year.

Dayton Feiden
Dayton Feiden

Still, Browning admits that Johnson will, as usual, be the focal point of their offense. “He is every week. It’s no secret,” he said.

No matter how the game itself plays out, both coaches are coming into the contest with a healthy respect for their opponent and the realization that this is a special week.

“This is a rivalry game. This is a community game. There will definitely be a great atmosphere there; there’s no doubt about that,” Wachtel explained.

And Browning agrees. “This is what high school football is all about. You want challenges like this as you play,” he said. “I would imagine that anybody who’s a high school football fan in Land O’ Lakes, Fla., will be at that game Friday night.”