The Laker/Lutz News

Jamaal Johnson

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

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

Academy at the Lakes football relishes playoffs, breakout season

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Academy at the Lakes football head coach Shawn Brown anticipated a team turnaround before the season.

He was right.

After three consecutive losing seasons in the eight-man football ranks, the Wildcats are in the midst of one of its best in program history, with a state title in reach.

The team currently stands at 9-1, including a 7-0 mark in Florida Christian Region 2 — worthy enough for a No. 2 ranking in the state among all eight-man schools.

And, they’re just a win away from reaching the FCAPPS (Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools) championship game.

Most recently, the Wildcats downed Canterbury 54 to 6 in the state quarterfinals on Nov 17.

Academy at the Lakes’ offense is averaging a staggering 51 points per game this season, aiding the team during its eight-game winning streak. The Wildcats downed Canterbury 54 to 6 in the state quarterfinals on Nov 17.
(Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

The playoff blowout isn’t a shock. The Wildcats have scored an average of 51 points per game this season while allowing just 15.2 points per game.

That season-long dominance has allowed Brown and his coaching staff to build depth among its 24 active players — utilizing backups in place of starters during second-halves of several games.

“It’s been really neat to watch the whole dynamics of a true team, overall,” said Brown, who is in his fourth season as head coach. “Our starters giving up a lot of playing time for our backups to get in, and our backups this year have gotten a lot of playing time.

“Most teams don’t beat people like we have, where the backups get a lot of playing time.”

The team’s next game is Dec. 1 against Orlando’s Eastland Christian (10-1) — the only team to defeat the Wildcats this season, back on Sept. 7.

The Wildcats lost that matchup 50-35, despite entering halftime with a 28-14 lead. Brown explained dehydration and cramping issues among several starters stymied the team in the second half.

“We probably needed to be humbled,” Brown said, of the September loss. “We, as coaches, are reminding them that we’ve been on that losing side for so long, so we tell them to, ‘Respect the game.’”

Academy at the Lakes went 2-8 in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

Much of the past struggle can be credited to youth and inexperience.

This year’s team, however, is dotted with upperclassman and skill players.

Brown expected improvements this season, though not to this extent.

“Has it been a surprise to me to how we played? Absolutely. But, I can’t say we were going to come here and mop people like we have,” he said.

“At some point we were going to have a breakout season. It just happened to be this season,” he said.

Brown credits the team’s summer offseason program, which included weightlifting sessions three days a week, participating in Division I college camps, and competing in various seven-on-seven tournaments, sometimes facing 11-man schools from Classes 7A and 8A.

The work, Brown said, taught Wildcats “to be competitive.”

Pure talent and execution on offense is another key reason for the team’s historic run, added offensive coordinator Landon Smith.

Freshman quarterback Jalen Brown has displayed composure and maturity, throwing 11 touchdowns and just one interception.

Seniors Daniel Gonzalez (889 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns) and Isaiah Smith (17 receptions, 495 yards, 13 touchdowns) have been explosive playmakers, as has junior Jamaal Johnson (642 scrimmage yards, eight touchdowns).

“From one game to the next, we probably run about seven plays, and they just execute those plays very well. These kids are getting chunks of yards with the same play over and over,” Landon Smith explained.

“A lot of these kids have been here since eighth-graders, so at this point, they’ve had a number of years to learn this system. I like to think it’s the play calling, but I think it’s more of the kids and their talent and execution that’s making us, offensively, as good as we are,” he said.

The team’s defense likewise has flashed, posting a combined 59 sacks and 90 tackles for loss, 18 forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions — which includes 10 picks by freshman cornerback Jordan Oladokun, the younger brother of University of South Florida quarterback Chris Oladokun.

“I think what’s really leading to our success this year is we’re having fun,” said Jalen Brown, the son of head coach Shawn Brown.

“We’re winning, and starting new traditions and everything. The atmosphere is totally different this year than it was last year. We’ve got handshake celebrations and everything. Our defense cheers for our offense, and our offense cheers for defense.”

Seniors, too, are cherishing the 2017 campaign and what remains.

“It’s been an honor. It’s been an awesome ride,” Daniel Gonzalez said. “I wouldn’t want to end my senior year any other way. This is a heck of a ride. I’m having a lot of fun; all these guys are so into it, and everyone wants to win a state championship this year.”

Isaiah Smith defined this season as “awesome and inspiring.”

“Last year it was like having training wheels, and we were just getting our feet wet, to be honest. Now, this year, it’s kind of showing what we can do now,” Smith said.

“I think it’s just a statement of how far we can go to reach the top.”

Game-by-game results:
Aug. 25: at Citi Christian Academy (40-22 win)
Sept 7: Eastland Christian (50-35 loss)
Sept. 22: Canterbury (48-16 win)
Sept. 28: Solid Rock Community (80-0 win)
Oct. 2: at Saint Lucie Christian (49-12 win)
Oct. 13: Lakeside Christian (40-21 win)
Oct. 20: at Donahue Catholic (36-0 win)
Oct. 27: Seacoast Christian Academy (68-7 win)
Nov. 3: at Hernando Christian Academy (57-29 win)
Nov. 17: Canterbury (54-6 win)

Published November 22, 2017

Academy at the Lakes poised for breakout season

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After three consecutive losing seasons in the eight-man football ranks, Academy at the Lakes looks to make a splash in 2017, under fourth-year head coach Shawn Brown.

The Wildcats are coming off a 2-8 mark in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

But now — with a fruitful combination of talent, depth and experience — the Wildcats appear primed for a breakout year.

Academy at the Lakes running back/linebacker Danny Gonzalez is one of a dozen seniors on the 2017 squad. He was named to the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) All-State team in 2016.
(Courtesy of Joe Winn, Winning Photography)

“This is the first year we have everybody coming back since I’ve been here,” Brown said, during a late April spring practice at the Lake Padgett Estates East Sports Complex.

After having no seniors in 2016, the Wildcats expect to field a dozen on the 2017 roster.

Among them is Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) All-State linebacker Danny Gonzalez, who registered 165 tackles in 2016, the highest among all Florida eight-man players.

Doubling as a tailback, the 6-foot, 205-pound team captain was also the Wildcats leading rusher (608 yards, 10 touchdowns).

And, throughout his sensational 2016 campaign, Gonzalez received some national recognition, becoming a three-time nominee for MaxPreps/USA Football Player of the Week.

His performance has drawn the attention of multiple college scouts, including Millsaps College (Jackson, Mississippi), Florida Tech University (Melbourne, Florida) and Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, Michigan).

Impressive, considering Gonzalez didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year.

Instead, he played basketball through the eighth grade.

“He has come a long way,” Brown said. “He’s just turned into a pure football player in the last four years.”

Understanding football’s nuances was foremost to his development as a player, Gonzalez said. He acknowledged he “didn’t know a single thing” about the game when he first signed up.

“I think a lot of it was just learning the game a little bit more,” Gonzalez said. “Coach Brown was always helping me at the linebacker position, just teaching me.”

Seeing Gonzalez’s triumphs have encouraged other Academy at the Lakes students give football a shot.

Currently the 2017 squad has nearly 30 players, about a dozen more than last year.

“All the other kids have come out,” Brown said, “because they see Danny didn’t play before, and he’s been successful.”

Beyond the gaudy statistics and football skillset, Gonzalez’s best quality is his work ethic, the Wildcats coach said.

“Everything he does is at 100 percent. He doesn’t take plays off,” said Brown.

That mindset, too, translates to the classroom, where Gonzalez boasts a 3.8 grade point average.

“He’s a perfectionist, so he doesn’t like to fail at anything,” Brown explained. “I think that shows in his grades. If you say we’re going to play basketball one-on-one, he’s going to do everything to beat you. If you play pool, he’s going to try to beat you. If you play chess, checkers — I think it’s that he takes everything so seriously.”

Yet, Gonzalez doesn’t figure to be the only Wildcat filling up highlight reels.

The 2017 squad features several other impact players, including senior wide-out Isaiah Smith (28 receptions, 592 yards, seven touchdowns), junior tailback/defensive back Jamaal Johnson (702 all-purpose yards) and freshman quarterback Jalen Brown, who started as an eighth grader in 2016, passing for 1,116 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

“I think we have a good group where a lot of guys can make some plays,” Shawn Brown said. “Now we have the experience, we shouldn’t have as many mistakes in games, and we should win more games.”

His star pupil concurs.

“We’re just all trying to come together as a team this year,” Gonzalez said. “We’re just working together and make sure everyone works as hard as the next guy…”

Besides shedding tackles, the Wildcats look to shed perceptions about eight-man football, where games are played on a compacted 40 by 80-yard field.

“Some people give eight-man a bad rap,” Shawn Brown said. “They’re like, ‘kids can’t get recruited,’ but I look at a guy like Danny Gonzalez. A lot of colleges will recruit (eight-man) because it’s a skill-based game.”

To Brown, “football is football,” whether it’s six-man, eight-man or the standard 11-man.

“We do everything everybody else does,” he said.

The Wildcats will wrap up spring practices on May 25 with a jamboree against other FCAPPS programs.

Published May 10, 2017