By Jeff Odom
During the next few weeks leading up to the first game of the 2013 high school football season, The Laker/Lutz News sports staff is previewing the new districts marked up by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).
Our first installment in the series takes a look at the highly competitive Class 7A-District 7:
Meet the teams
Freedom (3-7, 2-3)
Gaither (8-3, 4-1)
Sickles (8-3, 4-2 in 6A-8)
Steinbrenner (5-5, 2-3)
Tampa Bay Tech (7-4, 4-1)
Wiregrass Ranch (0-10, 0-5)
*records from last season
The big story
Gaither won its first district championship in more than nine years last season, but if the Cowboys want to lay claim to the top spot again this time around, it’s going to take much more in 2013 especially after losing 23 seniors to graduation.
One of the biggest keys for each team in 7A-7 will be how to handle district newbie, Sickles, which took the spot vacated by Chamberlain.
The Gryphons, who have won seven or more games in each of the last four seasons, have one of the most talented rosters in the area and showed what could be a taste of things to come in this year’s two-quarter spring jamboree, by knocking off Gaither.
However, the Cowboys seem like the one team that can detour Sickles’ district title hopes behind the leadership of third-year coach Jason Stokes, who no one should ever underestimate.
Hungry for victory
Wiregrass Ranch coach Mike Lawrence has his Bulls believing in one common goal this season — winning.
After suffering back-to-back winless seasons, Wiregrass Ranch promoted Lawrence to lead the team during the offseason when former coach Jeremy Shobe resigned. So far, the team has bought into Lawrence’s message, and its work paid off during the Bulls’ spring games as they earned victories against neighborhood-rival Wesley Chapel and Sunlake.
Will that momentum carry over to the regular season and finally get Wiregrass Ranch out of the district’s cellar? Time will tell. But look for plenty of fight — and possibly an upset or two – out of the Bulls.
Don’t count them out
Though each team loses multiple playmakers, both Steinbrenner and Freedom are coming into the new campaign with the feeling that they can stay competitive enough to, at the very least, compete for a playoff spot.
Steinbrenner came out of the gate stumbling last season with a 2-5 start, but under first-year coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo, the Warriors rallied to win three straight games and finish at or above .500 for the third time in the school’s four-year history.
It will be interesting to see if Steinbrenner can use its late surge as motivation to make a run. But after losing offensive stars like halfback Kendall Pearcey, wide receiver Jon Marc Carrier and a host of defensive playmakers like Trey Johnson and Logan McKnight, along with a tough non-district schedule with games against Alonso, Wharton and Jefferson, it’s a task that might be easier said than done.
“We have a very raw group that has a long way to go, but they realize that,” Perez-Reinaldo said after Steinbrenner’s spring jamboree. “We hope it’s a team effort that allows us to pull through. Our goal is to create a team concept.”
On the other side, Freedom also reaped the benefits of a first-year coach in Todd Donohoe as the Patriots added one more win to their record than they had in all of 2011 and showed major improvement on both sides of the ball.
Under Donohoe, Freedom also experienced a major culture change with players rallying around the former Strawberry Crest coach’s new philosophy.
“We’re not just going to accept average or OK or even good,” Donohoe said before the start of last season. “We’re striving to be great.”
This season, though, the Patriots will have major voids to fill after running back/defensive back Nate Godwin and tight end Isaac Tanner both graduated, and senior quarterback Taylor King transferred to Carrollwood Day School.
Still, Freedom has what it takes to make a playoff push and it may come this season.
Keep an eye on …
Alex McGough, quarterback, Gaither
McGough has been a key part of the Cowboys’ success during the past two seasons and all signs point to 2013 being a continuation of that.
The senior won’t have the burden of having to impress scouts this season after verbally committing to FIU last month, which could be a huge benefit for the signal caller.
If McGough can repeat his 22 passing touchdowns to go along with 1727 total passing yards, expect Gaither to be right there in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Amani Oruwariye, defensive back, Gaither
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Oruwariye returns as the Cowboys’ leader on what is already one of the best pass-defenses in the area. The three-star recruit from Rivals.com also has many Division I offers from schools including South Florida, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Syracuse, Nebraska, UCF and Iowa State.
Kezio Snelling, wide receiver, Steinbrenner
Snelling may have only played in one game for the Warriors last season, but his name will be one to remember when the season begins.
The junior busted onto the scene during Steinbrenner’s spring game against Alonso, scoring three touchdowns, including an 81-yard kickoff return with 33 seconds left in the game to seal the victory. If Snelling keeps it up in the regular season, senior quarterback Curtis Fitch should have nothing to worry about.
John Harris-Scott, running back, Wiregrass Ranch
The senior opened many eyes during the Bulls’ jamboree sweep and for good reason.
Harris-Scott rushed for more than 100 yards in Wiregrass Ranch’s games against Wesley Chapel and Sunlake and scored the Bulls’ lone touchdown — a game-winner nonetheless – against the Seahawks.
Along with junior quarterback Shane Bucenell, Harris-Scott will be one of many playmakers on the field for the Bulls this season.
Can’t-miss matchup
Tampa Bay Tech at Gaither, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Another late season meeting between these two district juggernauts may decide who goes to the playoffs and who goes home. Last season’s thrilling matchup was one for the ages as Gaither blew a 25-point lead, but held on late to clinch the district title with a 35-32 win. Expect another drama-filled event this year.
Quotable
“We are definitely rebuilding, but my approach doesn’t change too much. We look for effort and discipline. I think with our coaches and players we have better than average talent. I think we will be strong enough to give it a good run.” — Gaither coach Jason Stokes.
“Obviously, we will miss Pearcey as a player, but I don’t think losing him will have a negative effect. Losing players steps everything up. I guess you could see it as pressure on my role as a leader, but my teammates have my back.” — Steinbrenner senior quarterback Curtis Fitch.
“Coach Lawrence has put a lot of effort in and all the coaches have. They’re working their heart out. … (The spring game wins were) a big confidence booster for all of us, but we’re not going to get a big head. We’re going to stay humble and do our thing and work hard.” — Wiregrass Ranch running back John Harris-Scott.
Projections
- Sickles
- Gaither
- Tampa Bay Tech
- Steinbrenner
- Freedom
- Wiregrass Ranch
–Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter @JOdomLaker
