The Laker/Lutz News

Bill Browning

Prep football midseason review

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The 2019 Florida high school football regular season has reached the midway point. Here’s a closer look at how teams and players are faring from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Gaither Cowboys are off to a blistering 5-0 start and are ranked among the state’s top 10 teams in Class 6A.
(Courtesy of Gaither Athletics)

Perfect performers
At the midway mark, there are three programs sporting undefeated records — Academy at the Lakes, Gaither and Steinbrenner. What do each have in common? Potent offenses backed by efficient, veteran quarterback play.

  • Academy at the Lakes is averaging over 39 points per game. Junior quarterback Jalen Brown, a fourth-year starter, has completed 55% of throws for 785 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher (445 rush yards, six touchdowns).
  • Gaither is averaging over 38 points per game. Senior quarterback Tony Bartalo, a two-year starter, has completed 63% of throws for 1,320 yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. He currently boasts multiple Division I offers.
  • Steinbrenner is averaging over 48 points per game. Senior quarterback Haden Carlson, a three-year starter, has completed 64% of throws for 783 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. He is a FIU (Florida International University) verbal commit.

Also notable: Wiregrass Ranch (5-1) has received stellar quarterback play from sophomore Rocco Becht, who’s posted a 56% completion rate, 936 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators went 7-3 last year, but have struggled much of this season with a 1-5 mark thus far. (File)

Surprising struggles
Entering the 2019 season, Land O’ Lakes and Zephyrhills were expected to build off winning seasons and compete for a playoff spot in their respective classifications. But early season struggles has all dampened those hopes for both teams.

  • The Gators finished 7-3 last season — its first winning campaign since 2013. But, they’ve hobbled to a 0-5 start before finally securing a 44-0 win over Freedom last week. A team thin on seniors and an anemic running game has magnified the struggles.
  • One of the most consistent and dominant programs in Pasco County in recent years, the Bulldogs haven’t lost four or more games since 2012 and haven’t missed the postseason since 2013. But after losing 22 seniors from last year’s 11-1 squad, the Bulldogs have shown less bark this season. They lost their first three games, but have begun to show life with recent road wins against Wesley Chapel and Tarpon Springs, respectively.

New coaches finding their way

  • Sunlake has jumped to a respectable 3-3 mark under first-year head coach Trey Burdick, holding his own in assuming the role previously held by one of the county’s winningest coaches in Bill Browning. Under Burdick, the team is on pace to surpass the 4-6 mark the program has had each of the past two seasons. Better yet, Burdick, a longtime assistant under Browning, steered the Seahawks to a 34-23 victory over crosstown rival Land O’ Lakes in the annual ‘Butter Bowl’ showdown.
  • New Pasco head coach Jason Stokes already has led the struggling program to as many wins as it did all of last season. And while the 2-4 mark doesn’t seem all that great, the Pirates have battled hard in one possession losses to Sunlake and Springstead, respectively. With that, this year’s “9-Mile War” rivalry game against Zephyrhills should provide some more intrigue; Zephyrhills has won the past four contests. Stokes is no stranger to being a head coach in the Tampa Bay area — he steered Gaither to three playoff appearances between 2011 to 2016, and also had stints at Bloomingdale and Middleton, respectively.

Stat stuffers
Here’s a look at a top statistical performer from each high school in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Hillsborough County

  • Reggie Johnson II, Carrollwood Day, junior defensive end: 15 tackles, three sacks
  • Hussein Hafiz, Freedom, senior linebacker: 12 tackles (five for loss), three sacks
  • Deveon Knighton, Gaither, senior receiver: 28 receptions, 431 yards, six touchdowns
  • Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, junior tailback: 828 all-purpose yards, 11 touchdowns

Pasco County

  • Adrian Leverette, Academy at the Lakes, junior tailback: 379 scrimmage yards, five touchdowns
  • Jack Miller, Bishop McLaughlin, freshman receiver: 19 receptions, 502 yards, three touchdowns
  • Jehlani Warren, Cypress Creek, senior quarterback: 57% completions, 515 passing yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions
  • Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, senior quarterback, 39% completions, 790 passing yards, seven touchdowns, four interceptions; 336 rushing touchdowns, five touchdowns
  • Gabriel Barnes, Pasco, junior linebacker: 49 tackles, 20 hurries, three sacks
  • Mark Anderson, Sunlake, junior receiver: 475 all-purpose yards, three touchdowns
  • Brenden Maddox, Wesley Chapel, senior fullback/linebacker: 269 rush yards, four touchdowns; 45 tackles (six for loss)
  • Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior receiver: 735 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns
  • Tyler Davis, Zephyrhills Christian, senior tailback: 616 rush yards, six touchdowns
  • Zyree Roundtree, junior tailback: 483 rush yards, four touchdowns

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their current 2019 records)

Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (0-5 overall)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (1-4)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (5-0)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (5-0)

Pasco County:

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man) (4-0 overall)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (1-5)
  • Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (2-3)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (1-5)
  • Pasco High School Pirates (2-4)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks (3-3)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (2-3)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (5-1)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (3-2)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (2-3)

Published October 2, 2019

New Year in sports offers plenty to watch, experience

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As we embark on a new year, the sports world within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area promises to deliver plenty to watch, experience, and perhaps appreciate.

Here’s a closer look at some of the happenings in 2019:

One major development will be the progression of new sports facilities throughout East Pasco County  —  whether it’s the end-of-year completion of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, or the beginning of construction of others like the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills and the Christopher N. Chiles Aquatic Center in Land O’ Lakes.

Tied into all that, keep an eye on the initiatives put forth by Visit Pasco, the county’s tourism agency. Since rebranding its slogan to “Florida’s Sports Coast,” the county is looking to become a destination nationwide for youth and amateur sports.

Speaking of amateur sports, the new year is a good time to jump off the couch, get outdoors and pick up a new sport or activity.

AdventHealth Center Ice (formerly Florida Hospital Center Ice) will host several major tournaments in 2019, such as the USA Hockey adult men’s recreational national championships. (File)

The region presents countless opportunities year-round, from adult softball leagues at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, to recreational hockey leagues at AdventHealth Center Ice (formerly Florida Hospital Center Ice) in Wesley Chapel. Many local churches, including Idlewild Baptist Church, Grace Family Church and St. Timothy Catholic Church, offer their own sports leagues for all skill levels, from kickball and basketball, to flag football and soccer.

The cooler, early year temperatures are also a prime time to hit up the myriad of golf courses in Pasco. The St. Leo Abbey Golf Club in San Antonio and Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity are well-regarded, as are the more exclusive 36 holes offered at the Saddlebrook Resort & Spa.

Meantime, the adventure-seeking, fitness-oriented crowd may find it worthwhile to bike the Upper Tampa Bay Trail and the Withlacoochee State Trail; sign up for a Savage Race at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City; or, partake in Hillsborough County’s annual hiking spree, which includes visiting a number of nature parks and preserves countywide.

Several local churches, such as Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, offer a multitude of recreational sports leagues. (Courtesy of Idlewild Baptist Church)

There’s other fun, outdoor activities to give a try, too.

Exhilaration and excitement can also be found at places like TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park in Dade City and Skydive City in Zephyrhills. Horseback riding at Odessa’s Northwest Equestrian Conservation Park and rifle shooting at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays in Land O’ Lakes create a fun change of pace, in their own right.

Local sporting events are another highlight of the new year.

AdventHealth Center Ice will showcase its fair share. They include the Mrs. Hockey Invite, featuring the top U-12 girls talent from across the world; the 15th annual Toyota-USA Disabled Hockey Festival, the largest disabled hockey event of its kind; and, the USA Hockey adult men’s recreational national championships.

Silver Dollar Shooters Club in Odessa will play host to a series of premier events, including the Florida Hall of Fame Shoot/Silver Dollar Open, the Florida State Trap Shooting Championships, and the Southern Grand American Tournament.

This rendering shows the proposed Christopher N. Chiles Aquatics Center in Land O’ Lakes, which would add to the growing list of sports facility assets in Pasco County. (File)

Elsewhere, traditional sports-goers should also make a point to check out the various men’s and women’s college sports at Saint Leo University — consistently one of the nation’s Division II athletic programs — and Pasco-Hernando State College. Both institutions provide an up-close look at many athletes who wind up finding success in the professional sports ranks. That’s particularly been the case for Saint Leo’s baseball program, which has yielded seven MLB Draft picks since 2013.

Of course, the high school sports scene is worth watching as well.

The winter prep season is already underway, whereby several local schools are fielding top-notch basketball and soccer teams.

For instance, the Wesley Chapel boys basketball and Sunlake girls basketball have shown early promise, as have the boys and girls soccer teams at Wiregrass Ranch, among some others.

So, don’t be surprised if one or more of those squads wind up making deep playoff runs in their respective sport a couple months from now.

Come springtime, the central Pasco softball scene is sure to provide some exciting moments, as Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake each are coming off 20-plus win seasons.

The Savage Race, an extreme mud obstacle course, is held twice a year at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. (Courtesy of Savage Race)

Academy at the Lakes will be seeking its second-straight Class 2A state title, while Land O’ Lakes will be seeking its second Class 6A title in three years, respectively.

Both squads unquestionably have the veteran pitching firepower to again win state crowns, armed with Alabama signee Lexi Kilfoyl (Academy at the Lakes) and Tennessee signee Callie Turner (Land O’ Lakes) in the circle.

Other local softball programs like Gaither, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Cypress Creek are also coming off strong campaigns to inject some competition in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The 2019 football season, too, should offer some interesting wrinkles.

New coaches will take over at Pasco and Sunlake, effectively replacing two household names in Tom McHugh and Bill Browning, respectively.

Those programs — along with the other public schools throughout Pasco — will look to unseat Zephyrhills, which went undefeated last regular season and is now up to 19 straight regular season victories.

Another storyline to follow: Land O’ Lakes and the progression they make under second-year coach Chad Walker. In his first season as a high school football head coach, the 34-year-old Walker guided the Gators to a 7-3 mark in 2018 — the program’s first winning season since 2013.

The eight-man football ranks is sure to create intrigue, as well.

Academy at the Lakes will be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive state title.

The team — which also went undefeated in 2018 and is on a 20-game win streak — is expected to return many key pieces, including standout quarterback Jalen Brown, who will be a junior.

Published January 2, 2019

Top moments in sports during 2018

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Teams captured state titles and local athletes turned in outstanding performances, during a year that brought shining moments and lasting memories.

Here are some of the highlights, from across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

USA Women’s Hockey, fans celebrate gold in Wesley Chapel
Just days after celebrating a gold medal win in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the USA women’s ice hockey team returned to where their remarkable journey started — Wesley Chapel.

The U.S. women’s national ice hockey team posed for pictures on Feb. 28 at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. The team spent more than five months training at the facility and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. (File)

That’s where the team spent more than five months preparing for the Winter Olympics, training at Florida Hospital Center Ice and lodging at Saddlebrook Resort. It’s also where daily practices, off-ice testing and intra-squad scrimmages were used to determine the 23 players selected in May for the Team USA roster.

The team spent the better part of an hour on the afternoon of Feb. 28 greeting fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs at the Center Ice facility.

The event drew excitement from hockey enthusiasts, such as Wesley Chapel’s Rob Simonelli, who was prideful of the fact the Olympic team trained in his hometown.

“I just was excited that this was their home base. Just following them when they made this their home was kind of cool,” Simonelli said, at the time.

“They’re really friendly, and it’s nice that they decided to come and just kind of say ‘Hey’ to the people,” he added.

The surprise visit was part of a nationwide media blitz that also took them to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York City.

The week prior, the team defeated Canada in a 3-2 shootout to win gold, ending a 20-year drought for the women’s hockey program.

Florida Hospital Center Ice was picked as Team USA’s training ground over such hockey facilities in Boston, Chicago and other cities — placing a feather in Pasco County’s cap in its quest to become a top-notch sports tourism destination.

The time spent by the Olympic gold medalists in Wesley Chapel led them to later be dubbed by some residents as ‘Pasco’s team.’

The stay in Wesley Chapel likewise proved special for the elite athletes, from top-flight training digs and hospitality, to the warm, sunny weather.

Said defenseman Cayla Barnes, then the youngest member of Team USA at 19 years old: “These facilities were awesome, the staff here was amazing, and they really helped us with everything we needed. It was great to be down here, such nice weather, and really nice to train out here in preparation for the games.”

Added two-time Olympian and forward Kendall Coyne: “Hockey in Florida was new to a lot of us, but I don’t think it took long for us to realize that hockey is serious in Florida.”

Local small-school sprinter wins state title
It’s not often a small-school athlete gets to celebrate on a big stage.

But, that’s what happened to Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior Evan Miller.

He captured the Class 1A boys 100-meter dash title in a blistering 10.75 seconds at the Florida High School Athletic Association Track & Field 2018 Championships, at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior Evan Miller won first place in the 1A boys 100-meter dash in 10.75 seconds at the Florida High School Athletic Association Track & Field 2018 Championships.

The senior was also the final leg of the school’s gold-medal winning 4×100-meter relay team that scorched the competition with a 42.10 second mark — joining junior NyJohn Moody, sophomore Tyler Davis and senior Calvin Samuel.

Those marked the only first-place finishes at the state track & field meet among athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

It’s also noteworthy, considering Zephyrhills Christian has about 250 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade and was in just its second year offering a boys and girls track & field program.

For Miller, the memorable showing had been a year in the making.

The previous summer, the multi-sport athlete suffered a broken ankle during a 7-on-7 football tournament.

The injury forced Miller, a standout defensive back, to miss several games in the fall as a member of the Zephyrhills Christian varsity football team.

Unable to hit the gridiron, Miller hit the starting blocks instead, as part of his rehabilitation process.

The newfound sport proved to be his true calling.

Miller linked up with well-regarded AAU track coach and personal trainer BB Roberts, who runs the Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track Club, and lists NFL and MLB athletes as training clientele.

Roberts, a former track star in his own right at Wesley Chapel High School and Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, worked to correct Miller’s running form and technique, among other tips.

The fixtures shaved Miller’s 100-meter personal record from a still-impressive 11.2 to a 10.69 — which he set at the Steinbrenner High Invitational in early April.

Miller is now a freshman sprinter at Division I University of South Carolina, where he’s training under the Olympic pedigree of legendary head coach Curtis Frye.

Academy at the Lakes wins first state softball title
Buoyed by a longtime Division I coach in Diane Stephenson, one of the state’s top arms in Lexi Kilfoyl, and a potent offense averaging nearly seven runs per game, the 2018 Academy at the Lakes varsity softball team lived up to the preseason hype — finishing with a remarkable 26-4 record and winning its first-ever Class 2A state championship.

The state crown was a follow-up to an impressive 20-win season and regional final appearance in 2017.

Academy at the Lakes varsity softball won the FHSAA Class 2A state title on May 22 after defeating Monticello Aucilla Christian 1-0 in 11 innings. The Wildcats finished the season 26-4.

For the Wildcats, the most dramatic moment of the 2018 campaign came in its most important game.

Academy at the Lakes outlasted Monticello Aucilla Christian 1-0 in 11 innings on May 22 at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, in a game that featured a pitcher’s duel through wet, muddy conditions.

Kilfoyl, then a junior, outlasted Aucilla Christian senior and Florida signee Elizabeth Hightower by unleashing a 13-strikeout, fourth-hit shutout.

The softball sensation and Alabama signee also did some work with the bat.

Kilfoyl was responsible for the game-winning single that allowed freshman shortstop Brooke Blankenship to score on a two-out single in the 11th inning — unseating an Aucilla Christian program that had won state crowns two of the last three years.

Forecasting ahead, a state title repeat for the Wildcats  in 2019 certainly seems within reach.

Kilfoyl and Stephenson return, as do much of the key contributors from its state-winning squad.

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex breaks ground
The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex’s June 7 groundbreaking represented a major step for Pasco County, as it looks to become a premier sports tourism destination in the years ahead.

Expected to open in late 2019, the $44 million, 98,000-square-foot complex is slated to feature eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, a cheer and dance studio, a fitness center, and sports medicine and athletic training offerings.

The $44 million Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex is expected to open in late 2019. The 98,000-square-foot complex will have eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, a cheer and dance studio, a fitness center, and sports medicine and athletic training offerings. Also, besides the indoor gym, the complex will have seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground.

In addition to its indoor offerings, the complex will have seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground.

The complex — being built off State Road 54, near The Shops at Wiregrass— will operate on Monday through Thursday as a community-based sports center for youth, adults and seniors, while weekends will be set aside to host tournaments, competitions and other events that will generate hotel stays and tax revenues for the county.

The county will own the facility and share in anticipated profits with RADD Sports, a private company that will operate and manage the sports complex.

Officials say annual economic impact would be about $6.5 million for the new facility. Over 10 years, about $8 million or more in sales and use taxes would be generated, not including tourism taxes from hotel stays, officials say.

The  complex adds to a growing list of premier, state-of-the art sports facilities in east Pasco — and further markets the area as a sports tourism destination primarily for youth and amateur sports.

Other nearby offerings include Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, which opened in early 2017 as the largest hockey complex in the southeastern United States; Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, an upscale resort renowned for world-class golf and tennis training; and, Wesley Chapel District Park, which sits on 144 acres and contains 10 full-size athletic fields, and lighted outdoor tennis courts and basketball courts. Efforts also recently began in a quest to build a premier aquatics facility in Land O’ Lakes, as well as a multimillion dollar tennis complex in Zephyrhills.

Land O’ Lakes High honors ‘Voice of the Gators’
For Land O’ Lakes High School, the 2018 ‘Butter Bowl’ will go down as one of the most historic, as the Gators football team finally cracked an eight-game losing streak to crosstown rival Sunlake High School, with a 35-24 home victory.

Matt Connor, top, and Meaghan Connor of Land O’ Lakes positioned Mike Connor on the sideline area for a dedication of the press box in his name.

The most enduring moment of that Sept. 14 evening, however, happened right before kickoff.

That’s when a special dedication ceremony was held to honor longtime athletics booster Mike Connor. The press box space at John Benedetto Stadium named the Mike Connor Family Press Box.

The dedication drew dozens of friends and family, as well as current and former Gators coaches, who showed their support and appreciation for Connor, who passed away a month later at age 69.

Connor, a volunteer at the school since 1989, was instrumental in building a sustainable athletic and football booster club. His efforts also helped established a yearly scholarship fund for a male and female at the high school.

Connor, too, served as the ‘Voice of the Gators,’ calling the action of every Friday night home game for nearly two decades, and creating catchphrases, such as ‘a gaggle of Gators.’

An area business owner and Land O’ Lakes resident since 1982, Connor operated Taco John’s on the corner of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, as well as Beef O’ Brady’s in Wilderness Lakes. He was also noted for being a key part of the early successes of the Flapjack Festival and, later, in helping to create the Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest.

Academy at the Lakes wins its second straight football title
Following last year’s historic eight-man state title run, questions swirled about how the Academy at the Lakes football program would handle a newfound target on its back and the loss of several impactful players.

The team responded with aplomb— finishing with a perfect 10-0 record and winning its second straight eight-man state title, downing Miami Citi Christian Academy Fire 36-18 in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) championship game on Dec. 8, at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

In contrast to last year’s Wildcats team that relied heavily on do-it-all running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez — the  2017 Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) Heisman Trophy winner — the 2018 squad was forced to play together in all phases of the game.

Filled with new faces and inexperience at some positions, the Wildcats proved to be greater than the sum of its parts, winning games by way of stout defense and timely offense.

The Wildcats, too, showed their share of resiliency throughout the season.

For instance, they withstood a nagging early season injury to senior tailback Jamaal Johnson, who was expected to be one of the most dynamic players on offense; instead, he was only able to play bits and pieces of games from mid-October through the end of the season.

Meanwhile, in the playoffs, the Wildcats overcame a 16-0 halftime deficit in the state semifinals game against Duval Charter, ripping off 27 unanswered points to send them to the state championship game. The state title game also proved to be a test of mettle, as the Wildcats held onto a 22-18 lead late into the fourth quarter before pulling away for good.

Here’s a rundown of some other notable highlights throughout 2018:

  • Zephyrhills shuffleboard great Earl Ball surpasses 1,000 career points
  • Steinbrenner High School baseball coach John Crumbley enters the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame
  • Gaither High School alum/Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough is drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft
  • Land O’ Lakes High School’s Sydny Nasello wins Class 3A Player of the Year, and is named a 2018 Miss Soccer finalist
  • Saint Leo men’s lacrosse becomes the state’s first lacrosse program to make a national championship appearance
  • Carrollwood Day School varsity baseball reaches program’s first state final four
  • Academy at the Lakes varsity baseball celebrates its first winning season
  • Land O’ Lakes High School is one of three Pasco Schools named a Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School
  • Land O’ Lakes youth resident Brett Swanbom wins a world championship as a member of the 2018 U.S. Junior Barefoot Water Ski Team
  • Sunlake High School girls swimming & diving team unseats Land O’ Lakes High School to win the 2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference Championships
  • Former Gaither High School/current Hillsborough High School football coach Earl Garcia becomes all-time winningest coach in Tampa Bay
  • Wiregrass Ranch junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph sets the Pasco County record for career sacks, with 37
  • Longtime Sunlake High School football coach Bill Browning retires following a 29-year head coaching career throughout the North Suncoast
  • Zephyrhills High School football records an undefeated 10-0 regular season
  • Wesley Chapel High School basketball coach Doug Greseth wins 500th career game

Published December 26, 2018

Prep football regular season recap

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With the 2018 prep football regular season coming to a close — and playoffs set to begin — here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Zephyrhills notches perfect campaign
The 2018 campaign will be one to remember for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs.

Zephyrhills High finished the regular season with an undefeated 10-0 mark. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

They finished 10-0 and captured their second straight Class 5A, District 8 title — becoming the only public school in Pasco County to finish the regular season undefeated, and, marking the first time the program has had a perfect regular season since 1995.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs closed the year with a 49-0 shutout of the Pasco Pirates — the largest margin of victory in the long-standing 9-Mile War rivalry game that dates back to 1941.

Of course, the Bulldogs recent success is no fluke.

The program has posted eight straight winning seasons and five playoff appearances under its last two coaches, Nick Carroll and Reggie Roberts. Carroll is now 28-5 through his first three seasons as head coach. That includes 19 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Now Zephyrhills hopes for a deeper run in the playoffs than last season, when they lost an emotional 52-49 home contest to Green Cove Springs Clay in the Class 5A regional semifinals. They host Crystal River (8-2) on Friday in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals.

Gaither finishes strong to reach playoffs
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Gaither Cowboys were on the outside looking in to the Class 7A playoffs. But, a remarkable 21-20 win over Tampa Bay Tech in the regular season finale — as part of a three-game winning streak — propelled them to a No. 6 seed in the Class 7A, Region 2 bracket.

The win gives Gaither (7-3) some momentum in notching its second straight playoff berth, something the Cowboys will need this Friday against Plant (9-1) — a team they haven’t beaten in 10 contests, including a 44-34 loss back on Sept. 21.

But, don’t totally discount the Cowboys, who feature a balanced offensive attack and a dangerous pass rush to hang with many teams.

Land O’ Lakes thrives under new head coach
While the Land O’ Lakes Gators narrowly missed the playoffs, it was undoubtedly a successful  season for first-year head coach Chad Walker.

The Gators (7-3) notched its first winning season since 2013.

And, they finally upended crosstown rival Sunlake in the annual Butter Bowl game — winning for the first time in the series since 2009.

The big question is whether Land O’ Lakes can maintain the newfound success after losing a large senior class that includes a bevy of contributors on offense and defense. Working in the team’s favor, however, is the expected return of junior quarterback Ethan Forrester, who posted a 51.6 completion percentage for 1,252 passing yards and 12 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Local private schools are playoff-bound
It’s been a solid year for private schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, as Carrollwood Day School, Zephyrhills Christian, and Academy at the Lakes (eight-man) each qualified for the playoffs. Carrollwood Day (5-5) and Zephyrhills Christian (7-3) locked up No. 3 seeds in their respective Class 2A regions. Carrollwood Day is making its first playoff appearance since 2015, while Zephyrhills Christian is making its third straight postseason appearance.

Academy at the Lakes (6-0), meanwhile, with one regular season game remaining, has already secured the No. 1 seed in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) eight-man playoffs. The defending FCAPPs state champions, Academy at the Lakes, is on a 15-game winning streak.

Sunlake head football coach Bill Browning retires as one of Pasco County’s most accomplished coaches. (FIle)

Farewell to longtime Sunlake coach
After 29 years as a high school football head coach in the North Suncoast, Sunlake’s Bill Browning is hanging up his headset and putting away his playbook. The longtime coach made the announcement over the weekend after the Seahawks wrapped up its second straight 4-6 campaign.

Browning built the Seahawks program from scratch in 2007, turning it into one of Pasco County’s most dominant programs across the last decade, with a string of seven straight winning seasons. Browning now retires as the seventh-most winningest coach in Pasco County history (73). Prior to Sunlake, Browning coached a combined 17 years for Springstead and Hernando high schools, racking up a combined 92 wins— second all-time among Hernando County coaches.

Browning at Sunlake
2018: 4-6
2017: 4-6
2016: 7-3
2015: 8-3 (district runner-up)
2014: 9-3 (district champion)
2013: 9-2 (district runner-up)
2012: 8-2
2011: 10-2 (district runner-up)
2010: 9-1
2009: 4-6
2008: 1-9
2007: 0-10

Stat Stuffers
A look at some individual players who shined during the 2018 regular season

Dylan Ridolph

Doug Crawford, Zephyrhills, senior quarterback: Ranked among the region’s most efficient signal-callers, with a 72.3 completion percentage for 1,010 yards and 17 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, junior linebacker: Leads the state with 20 sacks, to go along with 77 total tackles and 30 tackles for loss.

Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day School, senior receiver: Extremely productive wideout tallied 42 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns. Has over 116 career receptions for over 2,000 yards in four years on varsity.

Kyle Leivas

Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior tailback: Posted 2,180 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. Also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second time with 1,252 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry.

Kavbion Marbra, Zephyrhills Christian, athlete: Seven interceptions is tied for fourth-most in the state.

Nyhohn Moody, Zephyrhills Christian, senior linebacker: Tackling machine ranks fifth in the state with 132 stops. Also has six tackles for loss and a sack.

Schools in The Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2018 regular season records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 5-5 overall, 2-2 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 4-6 overall, district 2-4

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 6-0 overall, 6-0 district (One regular season game remaining)

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 4-5, 4-1 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 3-7 overall, 1-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 7-3 overall, 2-2 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-8 overall, 0-4 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-6 overall, 1-3 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 10-0 overall, 6-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 7-3 overall, 1-0 district

FHSAA football playoff pairings for local schools
All kickoff times are set for Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Class 7A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 Gaither (7-3) at No. 3 Plant (9-1)

No. 8 Wiregrass Ranch (7-3) at No. 1 Lakeland (10-0)

Class 5A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 7 Crystal River (8-2) at No. 2 Zephyrhills (10-0)

Class 2A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 St. Francis Catholic Gainesville (4-5) at No. 3 Zephyrhills Christian (7-3)

Region 3 Quarterfinals
No. 6 Southwest Florida Christian (2-8) at No. 3 Carrollwood Day School (5-5)

Published November 7, 2018

Prep football mid-season review

By

With the midway point of the 2017 prep football season recently passing by, here’s a look at some noteworthy teams and players in The Laker/Lutz News coverage.

Best team: Zephyrhills High Bulldogs (6-1 overall, 5-0 district)

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs have been dominant under second-year head coach Nick Carroll. (File)

Aside from an early season hiccup to Wiregrass Ranch (31-to-29 loss), the Bulldogs have planted themselves as one of the top — and most electrifying— teams in the Tampa Bay area, under second-year head coach Nick Carroll. Look no further than its balanced, yet potent offense, which is averaging 49 points and nearly 400 total yards per game.

And, Zephyrhills now stands alone at the top of District 8-5A after securing a 38-35 win over River Ridge on Oct. 13 — ending the Knights’ 23-game district win steak that spanned back to 2013.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ toughest remaining game is an Oct. 20 road matchup against Wesley Chapel (6-2 overall), which has won two straight games since the departure of its top player, senior cornerback Isaiah Bolden. (Bolden was dismissed from the team on Oct. 4 due to undisclosed reasons).

Should Zephyrhills win two more contests this season, it will mark the fourth consecutive year the program has won eight games.

Consideration for best team also given to: Gaither Cowboys, Wesley Chapel High Wildcats, Wiregrass Ranch Bulls, Zephyrhills Christian Warriors

 

Biggest surprise: Gaither High Cowboys (5-2 overall, 4-1 district)

The Gaither High Cowboys are looking for their first winning season since 2014. (Courtesy of Gaither High football)

The Cowboys have utilized an explosive running game (280 rushing yards per game, 7.7 yards per carry) and suffocating defense (13 points per game allowed) to become one of the toughest teams to face in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Quite a feat, considering the Cowboys entered the season with just five seniors for first-year head coach Kirk Karsen.

Expectations this season were relatively tame, moreover, following the graduations of two Division I talents — linebackers Decalon Brooks and Estefano Feliciano — and top offensive playmaker in TJ Williams. Standout quarterback Gavin Denboer’s offseason transfer to Alonso High School didn’t help the team’s preseason outlook, either.

Though several of Gaither’s wins have come against struggling teams, the Cowboys quieted doubters after a convincing 23-13 win over Wiregrass Ranch on Oct. 6. In that game, the Cowboys rushed for a combined 259 yards, while garnering four sacks and forcing three turnovers.

With three regular season games remaining, the Cowboys look to secure its first winning season since 2014.

Consideration for biggest surprise also given to: Pasco High Pirates

 

Biggest slide: Sunlake High Seahawks (3-4 overall, 2-1 district)
While Sunlake was expected to be in rebuilding mode this season, it’s still startling to see a losing

Sunlake running back Bryant Beacham has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Seawhawks. (File)

record attached to the historically dominant program, under longtime head coach Bill Browning.

The Seahawks have had to mold a new quarterback and several starters, both on defense and at multiple skill positions.

A brutal regular season schedule hasn’t offered many favors, either.

Sunlake’s first three contests were against Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Wiregrass Ranch high schools — who have a combined 18-4 overall record.

And, it doesn’t get any easier, with road dates remaining against Mitchell High (7-0 overall) and River Ridge High(4-3 overall).

The Seahawks, meanwhile, will need to win two of its last three games to prevent suffering its first losing season since 2009. From 2010 to 2016, the Seahawks went a combined 60-16.

Disappointing season aside, Seahwawks fans have been able to witness one of the county’s top offensive playmakers, in running back Bryant Beacham. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior is averaging over 100 yards per game to go along with nine rushing touchdowns. He’s also on pace to become the program’s first single-season 1,000-yard rusher since 2014, when then-senior Nathan Johnson tallied 1,088 yards.

 

Five who’ve shined:

  • Charles Harrison III, senior quarterback, Zephyrhills High Bulldogs
    The three-year starter is arguably the county’s top signal-caller, tossing 21 touchdowns with just five interceptions, to go with a 62 percent completion rate.
  • Jordan Miner, senior cornerback/wide receiver, Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls
    The Penn State signee and four-star prospect has lived up to the hype as a jack-of-all-trades, making key contributions on offense (424 yards), defense (25 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defensed) and special teams (125 return yards).
  • Austen Wittish, senior linebacker, Wesley Chapel High Wildcats
    The 6-foot, 195-pound inside linebacker ranks among the state’s top tacklers (104 total tackles), to go along with five sacks.
  • Darrion Robinson, sophomore wide receiver, Pasco High Pirates
    The young 5-foot-11 wideout has quickly developed into one of the county’s most productive receivers, tallying 17 receptions for 412 yards and eight touchdowns.
  • Jeromy Reid, junior running back, Gaither High Cowboys
    The 5-foot-11, 190-pound tailback is having a breakout campaign, pacing all of District 8-7A with 863 rushing yards (123 yards per game, 9.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.Team records:
    The Laker/Lutz News coverage area includes the following schools from Hillsborough and Pasco counties:

    Hillsborough:
    Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): (2-3 overall, 1-1 district)

    Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): (2-5 overall, 1-3 district)

    Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): (5-2 overall, 4-1 district)

    Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): (2-5 overall, 1-3 district)

    Wharton High School Wildcats (Class 7A-Region 8): (2-5 overall, 1-3 district)

    Pasco:
    Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (8-man-Florida Christian Region 2): (5-1 overall, 5-0 district)

    Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): (3-4 overall, 2-2 district)

    Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): (1-6 overall, 0-0 district)

    Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): (2-4 overall, 0-2 district)

    Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): (4-4 overall, 0-2 district)

    Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): (3-4 overall, 2-1 district)

    Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): (6-2 overall, 4-1 district)

    Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): (6-1 overall, 3-1 district)

    Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): (6-1 overall, 5-0 district)

    Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): (6-1-1 overall, 0-1 district)

–Stats compiled from Maxpreps.com—

Published Oct. 18, 2017

The Laker/Lutz News prep football season outlook

By

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

Teams to Watch:

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

Steinbrenner High Warriors

Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo (sixth year)

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

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

 

 

 

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

Sunlake High Seahawks

Coach: Bill Browning (11th year)

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

 

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

Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls

Coach: Mark Kantor (third year)

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

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

Zephyrhills High Bulldogs

Coach: Nick Carroll (second year)

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

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

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

 

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

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors

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

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

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

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats

Coach: Tony Egan (second year)

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

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

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

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

Players to Watch:

 

Isaiah Bolden

Athlete — Isaiah Bolden, Wesley Chapel High senior

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

 

 

Jordan Miner

Cornerback — Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch High senior

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

 

John Dixon

Defensive Back — John Dixon, Wharton High junior

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

Ja’quan Sheppard

Receiver — Ja’quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills High junior

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

 

Dexter Leverett

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

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

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

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

Ten more to watch:

Athlete — Calvin Samuel, Zephyrhills Christian Academy senior

Cornerback — A.J. Hampton, Wharton High senior

Linebacker — Myron Bloom, Land O’ Lakes High junior

Linebacker— Adam Jarvis, Sunlake High senior

Linebacker— Matthew Wood, Gaither High senior

Offensive Tackle — Donovan Jennings, Gaither High senior

Offensive Tackle — Lavel Dumont, Wharton High senior

Quarterback — Charles Harrison III, Zephyrhills High senior

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

Wide Receiver — Tre’Pavis Mobley, Zephyrhills High junior

Statistics compiled by MaxPreps.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published September 6, 2017

Spring football preview: Pasco County

By

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

By

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

 

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

Pasco County debuts all-star football game Dec. 10

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Sunlake head football coach Bill Browning has one more game on the sidelines this year.

It’s not a playoff game.

It doesn’t count in the standings.

He’s not even coaching his Seahawks this time.

Still, it’s an important game.

Pasco's first all-star football game will feature teams made up of seniors representing the East and West sides of the county. (Image courtesy of Bob Durham and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
Mark Kantor of Wiregrass Ranch will lead the East team in the East-West Classic. (File Photo)

“It’s something that a lot of the coaches have wanted here for years. I’ve been pushing for it for a long time,” Browning said. “It will be the very first one. It’s kind of a big deal.”

The big deal is the Pasco County East-West Classic, the county’s first all-star football game. The best of the best will go head-to-head in a contest on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The game, organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, will have players squaring off from opposite sides of the county.

Players on the East team will represent Land O’ Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Pasco, Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian Academy.

Players on the West team will represent from River Ridge, Ridgewood, Mitchell, Anclote, Hudson, Fivay, Gulf and Sunlake.

Sunlake was placed on the West team for competitive balance purposes, Browning said.

Each team features top athletes who were selected by the coaching staff.

Browning is coaching the West team, with the other school’s coaches serving as his assistants. On the East side, the head coach will be Wiregrass Ranch’s Mark Kantor. Each roster of players is made up entirely of seniors.

The teams will only have a few practices together before the contest, so the game plans probably won’t be too complex.

Pasco's first all-star football game will feature teams made up of seniors representing the East and West sides of the county. (Image courtesy of Bob Durham and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
Pasco’s first all-star football game will feature teams made up of seniors representing the East and West sides of the county.
(Image courtesy of Bob Durham and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes)

The game is valuable to the players because if offers one more chance to impress teams at the next level, Browning said.

“It gives an opportunity for college coaches to see them in an all-star game against other very good players,” Browning said. “It’s just really a chance for the seniors to go out, have some fun and showcase their talent.”

For the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, there are additional benefits as well. The group has put in about $20,000 to make the game a reality, and wants area seniors to have another chance to show off their skills. But, they’ll also get a chance to play with teammates and coaches they wouldn’t have met previously, which allows them to foster new relationships and contacts throughout the county.

“They play on their individual teams all year. Now here’s a chance to play with the best from other schools. So there will be bonding, there will be friendships made for life, hopefully,” said Bob Durham, area director for the Fellowship of Christian athletes.

The game also allows coaches to work more closely together and to strengthen their bonds as well. Coaches are instrumental to the FCA, and having them work together is a positive experience for everyone involved, Durham said.

The plan is to make the game an annual event, with head coaching duties and game location possibly rotating from year to year.

Feedback has been positive from everyone involved, Durham said, which isn’t surprising, considering the popularity of football in Pasco County.

“Schools and people and fans love football here, and so this has just been a missing piece of the county in terms of football,” he said. “It fills a void. The community has been looking for this for years, and now it’s finally here.”

Tickets are $10, and parking is $5. Tickets are available at the gate, at the participating schools or at county Beef O’ Brady’s restaurants. For more information, contact Durham at (813) 784-4410, or email .

East All-Star Team 2015 Roster
Scott Edwards, QB                 Bishop McLaughlin

Matt Iovine, QB                     Zephyrhills Christian

Tommie Farmer, SS                Land O’ Lakes

Jackie Tucker, FS                    Zephyrhills

Jakiah Fielder, RB                   Pasco

Brandon Mosley, CB             Wiregrass Ranch

Issac Johnson, CB                  Zephyrhills Christian

Kevin Lee, LB                         Zephyrhills

Tre’un Everitt, RB                  Zephyrhills

Patrick Beatty, LB                  Bishop McLaughlin

Reggie Roberts Jr., CB            Zephyrhills

Jacob Carden, FB                    Zephyrhills Christian

T.J. Lee, LB                            Zephyrhills

Ty DeCaire, LB                      Wiregrass Ranch

Blake Castillo, LB                   Pasco

Mike Mosley, LB                   Wesley Chapel

Greg Smalls, LB                      Land O’ Lakes

Cole Blevins, DL                    Pasco

Colin Hankin, OG                   Bishop McLaughlin

Tristan Pauwels, OG              Wesley Chapel

Alex Ligocki, C                       Land O’ Lakes

Darryus Lowe, DL                 Land O’ Lakes

J’Won Pickett, DL                  Zephyrhills Christian

Naim Smith, OG                     Wesley Chapel

Kendall Graff, OT                  Land O’ Lakes

Jamal Mention, OT                Pasco

Tyler Ichimura, OG                Wiregrass Ranch

Jonah Thomas, OT                 Zephyrhills

Taylor Bleistein, WR              Wiregrass Ranch

Brian Mena, WR                     Wesley Chapel

Rashawn Kindell, WR            Land O’ Lakes

Kyle Kampsen, SS                  Bishop McLaughlin

Chase Oknefski, K                  Wesley Chapel

Marque Davis, DT                 Wiregrass Ranch

Published December 9, 2015