By Kyle LoJacono
Last year the Zephyrhills Christian six-man football team reached all of its goals, including completing a perfect 13-0 record and winning a state title.
The majority of those players from that Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) championship team graduated, while others choose to play on public school squads like Zephyrhills or Pasco.
However, the 2011 Warriors season will go on, but as a middle school squad.
Zephyrhills Christian will compete in the FCAPPS middle school division. The goal is to build the program back up to the high school level as the Warriors get older, stronger and more experienced.
“It’s fun because we get to teach football to a lot of kids who are new to the game,” said Zephyrhills Christian coach and principal Mike Smith. “Here it’s a lot more about fundamentals. We can’t do a lot of things like we did last year, but we’ll get to build on this new foundation.”
Mike has found a few more differences teaching sixth and seventh graders from the juniors and seniors.
“The first day I had four kids crying because they didn’t want to run because it was hot, which is very different from the high school kids, but that has changed and by the fourth practice they were all ready to go,” Mike said.
The Warriors will have a familiar name at quarterback to start the year — sixth-grader Javan Smith. Javan is Mike’s youngest son and the brother of Mikey Smith, who was Zephyrhills Christian’s signal caller in 2010.
Javan had a front-row seat to the Warriors 2010 perfect season.
“I saw every game,” Javan said. “I was the announcer. It was a great experience. … We have the talent to do a lot here, but we’re still working on some things.”
One of the biggest players on the squad is ninth-grader Devon Grannis, an offensive lineman. He relishes the chance to build the program to that championship level.
“I feel honored to help build the program back,” Grannis said. “Maybe next year we can get back to that state final.”
Another player who Mike predicts will help return the Warriors to greatness is seventh-grader Nevada Taylor, a linebacker and running back.
“I really wanted to play, and this team has great potential,” Taylor said. “We’ve got a great coach who has helped us come a long way in a short time.”
Taylor said he looks up to Josh Roberts, who was the Warriors running back last year. The story is similar with seventh-grade linebacker Josh Wilcox, who looks up to Dale Smith Jr., last year’s starting linebacker.
“Watching (Dale) taught me how to be a linebacker,” Wilcox said. “He’s a great player.”
Dale graduated last year, while Roberts and Mikey decided to be home schooled and play on the Zephyrhills football team this season.
“Mikey and Josh both thought it was the right time to try and play with the public school,” Mike said. “They both want to play in college and wanted a chance to get a little more attention.”
Mikey is still around the program on a daily basis. He helps coach the offense during the team’s practices, held during the student’s normal physical education class in the afternoon. The timing allows the former Warriors quarterback to help the program before leaving for Zephyrhills practice.
It seems coaching runs in the Smith family.
“I love the sport, but I love helping the kids and impacting their life,” Mike said. “I believe with all my heart that football kept me in school. I believe it kept me away from drugs and alcohol. Those things were there, but I knew if I did those things I wouldn’t be able to play on Friday night.
“I try and translate everything we do into life for these kids,” Mike continued. “When things are difficult, I tell them lots of things in life will be difficult. But at the end of the day you don’t quit because things are difficult. You get up on your feet and keep fighting. I want to it be an impact on their life spiritually and mentally for years after they take off the pads for the last time.”
The Warriors play at Hernando Christian on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. They will close the season at home against Jacksonville Eastland Christian on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
