Now that high school football teams are allowed to practice, the Sunlake Seahawks are running routes, conducting seven-on-seven drills, sprinting and diving to the ball.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)
They’re working hard, but head coach Bill Browning isn’t ready to hand out any awards just yet.
“Seven-on-seven in the summer plays a role, but it’s nothing but glorified PE (physical education) football,” Browning said. “I’m looking for reliability over ability right now.”
Browning’s seen too many quarterbacks and running backs who shine in drills, but lose their luster once the pads come on. So while he’s pleased with his team’s effort so far, he knows the Seahawks have a long way to go to match their recent string of success.
The success they’ve enjoyed includes the school’s first-ever district title last year and no less than eight wins in each of the past five seasons.
Living up to that standard won’t be easy.
Sunlake, like all teams, lost talented players to graduation. Guys — like Nathan Johnson, who paced the offense from the running back position — aren’t there to carry the load anymore.
They’ve also lost players to other issues, Browning said.
Three expected starters on defense won’t be with the team due to accidents on jet skis and motorcycles, as well as lingering injuries.
There won’t be any excuses at Sunlake, however.
Expectations are high, and Browning is looking for players to step up and fill those roles.
“We have some puzzle pieces to put together. We’re far from being polished yet,” he said.
“It’s our job as a coaching staff to get somebody else to replace them who’s a very good football player, and we’re working on that,” Browning said.
Some guys are hard to replace. Browning expects to use a committee approach to handle running back duties, in place of Johnson.
And, he feels good about the offensive line. The unit is mostly intact and experienced, and should be a strong point for the team, which will need them to provide protection for the quarterback, and open up holes for the running game.
“They’re all seniors. They all started last year, they all eat weights, and they all play physical football,” Browning said of the offensive line.
One of those linemen, Bryce Cooley, also sees his position as an important one for the team.
“Without an offensive line, I really think you can’t do anything on offense,” he said. “Seven-on-seven doesn’t mean anything, until you get the big boys out there.”
At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Cooley is one of those big boys who will be out there. Now in his third year with the team, he’s comfortable taking more of a leadership role. That means leading by example mostly, he said, but he’s not above calling out a teammate if they aren’t giving it their all.
Still, the Seahawks are more about camaraderie than calling each other out, Cooley explained. They spend time together away from the field and have developed friendships that make the team closer. He expects that synergy will help them when the season starts.
Until then, Cooley knows there’s a lot of work to do. But he said he loves it, and feels confident in what Sunlake can accomplish if everyone puts in their best effort.
“We’re just going to defend the title, hopefully, and do what we have to do,” he said. “I’ve got faith in these guys.”
Sunlake still has a little time before their preseason game against East Lake High School on Aug. 21, and the start of the regular season on Aug. 28 against Gulf High School. There will be preparation required before the team is ready, but Browning is no stranger to hard work. He’s taken the Seahawks from a winless squad in 2007 to a perennial playoff threat today. He also doesn’t take much time off when the season ends, and now looks forward to replacing top players and pushing the team to meet the high standard he’s set for Sunlake football.
“It makes me thrive. I like these challenges,” Browning said.
Sunlake Seahawks regular season schedule
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 28 vs. Gulf
Sept. 4 vs. Zephyrhills
Sept. 11 at Wiregrass Ranch
Sept. 18 vs. Land O’ Lakes
Sept. 25 at Lakewood Ranch
Oct. 2 at Springstead
Oct. 16 vs. Pasco
Oct. 23 at Mitchell
Oct. 30 at St. Petersburg
Nov. 6 at River Ridge
Published August 12, 2015
