TAMPA BAY
capable starters under center. Expect Troyvon Johnson to
take on more of the athlete role, playing wherever Moore
may need him on offense and defense. Running backs
Bernard Mitchell and Cornell Battles both return to the
backfield and give Lakewood a solid 1-2 punch.
LARGO PACKERS (6A- 9)
2015 RECORD: 6-4
THE COACH: Marcus Paschal
THE PLAYERS: Ozell Hall (Sr., LB/DL), Isaiah Bellamy (Jr.,
QB), Jaquan Hiers (Jr., RB), Calvin Lockett (Jr., WR), Logan
Doublin (Jr., LB), Jaquaze Sorrells (Soph., DL)
THE WORD: Losses to Osceola and Clearwater helped
ensure that Largo wouldn’t make the playoffs for the first
time under Marcus Paschal. The former NFL defensive back
looks to not make missing the postseason a regular trend,
as the school has been revamped and the program’s need
for a return to the state playoffs would be a boost. Junior
Isaiah Bellamy takes over at quarterback and his growth
physically will help the signal caller see the entire field,
with him being 6-foot- 4. He’ll be joined in the backfield
by returner Jaquan Hiers, who is the team’s top returning
rusher from last season. Junior wide receiver Calvin Lockett
had a solid spring and summer.
LENNARD LONGHORNS (7A- 9)
2015 RECORD: 6-4
THE COACH: Keith Chattin
THE PLAYERS: Jahryn Bailey (Sr., RB), Jalen Harrison (Sr.,
WR), Keivlan Griffith (Sr., DB), Jarrett Pryor (Sr., DL), Michael
Dixon (Sr., WR), Devin Black (Jr., QB)
THE WORD: The Longhorns enjoyed one of the best
seasons in the school’s brief history, but just missed out
on the postseason after dropping a heartbreaking 28-20
game to Plant City. Lennard was one of the most balanced
pass-run teams in Hillsborough County and return two of its
top offensive players from a year ago. Junior quarterback
Devin Black is back in the saddle as the starter after a
sophomore season that saw him throw for 1,826 yards and
toss 11 touchdown passes. Alongside Black will be senior
running back Jahryn Bailey, who rushed for 1,220 yards off
211 carries and scored 21 touchdowns. Those impressive
numbers offensively by Black and Bailey are hoped to be
surpassed this season with even more yards and a few
more touchdowns.
LETO FALCONS (7A- 8)
2015 RECORD: 0-10
THE COACH: Matt Kitchie
THE PLAYERS: Vashawn Jackson (Sr., DB), Christian Price
(Jr., RB), Roger Hodelin-arias (Jr., LB), Sonique Johnson (Jr.,
RB), Darryl Mercer Jr. (Jr., QB)
THE WORD: Wins have been very hard to come by at Leto
for Matt Kitchie’s group. The former Land O’ Lakes coach
endured an 0-10 campaign, in which the Falcons only
scored 20 or more points against Blake and Wiregrass
Ranch, respectively. It’s an uphill climb for the Falcons’
football program if they look to turn the corner and they’ll
try doing it this fall with a youthful group. Junior Darryl
Mercer Jr. played snaps last season at quarterback and
becomes the Falcons’ starter under center. He’ll be joined
on offense by running backs Christian Price and Sonique
Johnson. Defensively, safety Vashawn Jackson and
linebacker Roger Hodelin-arias are a couple of the team’s
top returning tacklers from last year.
LAND O’ LAKES GATORS
2015 RECORD: 3-7
THE COACH: Brian Wachtel
THE PLAYERS: Spencer Childress (Sr., QB), Dylan
Hohenthaner (Sr., K), Austin Farmer (Sr., LB), Quentin Smith
(Sr., RB), Justin Kren (Sr., DB), Matt Geiger (Jr., SS), Tylor
Winn (Jr., LB), Josh Brown (Sr., DB).
THE WORD: A side of the ball that most people wouldn’t
think Land O’ Lakes quite possibly would drop off on was
the offensive end, with former Tarpon Springs’ coordinator
Jonathan Williams calling the plays. Williams, who played
at New Hampshire when San Francisco 49ers coach Chip
Kelly was the head man, heads into his second spring
as the offensive coordinator and has tabbed his guy at
quarterback in Spencer Childress. The senior is mobile and
has a live arm, perfect for Williams’ zone-read offense. Running back Quentin Smith has turned heads at a few camps
and will likely be the Gators’ go-to-guy on the ground along
with Childress. Defensive back Justin Kren recorded five
interceptions in 2015 and heads up a stout defense.
MIDDLETON TIGERS (5A- 10)
2015 RECORD: 2-8
THE COACH: Fred Reid
THE PLAYERS: Jerome Godbolt (Sr., WR/DB), Jarrett
Dickens (Sr., OL), Ronald Peterson (Sr., WR), Taaj Pringle
(Jr., ATH), Javier Greene (Jr., OL/DL)
THE WORD: Better days are ahead for the Tigers,
and maybe a little closer than they think. Even though
Middleton won a total of two games in 2015, the Tigers
were competitive in losses to King, Robinson, Blake, Chamberlain and Spoto. All those losses could be spun around
and turned into wins this fall, with Middleton returning a
solid core. Junior Taaj Pringle proved to be a playmaker for
the Tigers last season and could see time at a few different
positions on offense. Wide receivers Jerome Godbolt and
Ronald Peterson round out a veteran receiving corps.
MITCHELL MUSTANGS
2015 RECORD: 9-2
THE COACH: Andy Schmitz
THE PLAYERS: Mychael Hamilton (Jr., RB), Adam Rogers
(Jr., DB), Mason Castricone (Sr., WR), Larry Dalla Betta
III (Sr., QB), Matthew Hegwood (Sr., OL), Spencer Conard
(Jr., RB), Chris Thomas (Jr., WR), Kymmani King (So., DB),
Michael Doyle (Sr., DL).
THE WORD: Mitchell lost one of the top wide receiving
duos in the Tampa Bay area in Dominic Fiumara and JJ
Lewis, whom both combined for 1,184 of the Mustangs’
1,651 yards receiving in 2015. Mustangs’ quarterback
Larry Dalla Betta III loses out on the two deep threats,
but will get to utilize running back Mychael Hamilton a lot
more. Hamilton had a breakout season last fall, rushing for
1,244 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns. Mitchell reached
the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and will have the
talent to reach the postseason again this fall, but will need
its defense to play well once again. Defensive back Adam
Rogers and lineman Michael Doyle will be counted upon to
lead an experience defensive unit that held opponents to
just 158 points last season. There’s no doubt Mitchell can
win another district title, but they must find creative ways to
fill in the voids left by Fiumara and Lewis.
NEWSOME WOLVES (8A- 6)
2015 RECORD: 5-5
THE COACH: Kenneth Hiscock
THE PLAYERS: Dylan Throneburg (Sr., LB), Alan Abreu (Sr.,
LB), Austin Stafford (Jr., OL), Elliot Morgan (Jr., OL), Patrick
Jolly (Jr., RB/DB), Landon Crews (Jr., QB), Neil Bryant (Jr.,
RB)
THE WORD: When teams play Newsome, one thing they
can expect a lot of is the run game. The Wolves specialize
in ground attack football, as they averaged 271.8 yards
per game via the run and don’t expect Kenneth Hiscock
to switch it up anytime soon. His offenses have been
impressive, and despite the graduation of quarterback Cole
Schaller and tailbacks Braxton Harris, Nate Simmons, the
Wolves will be just fine. Newsome returns players who saw
limited action, but will have obviously increased workloads
in the offense. Running backs Patrick Jolly and Neil Bryant
are a couple of the players that will need to step up. Along
with another strong defensive unit, which returns linebackers Dylan Throneburg and Alan Abreu, expect the Wolves to
be back in the hunt for a playoff berth this fall.
NORTHEAST VIKINGS (6A- 9)
2015 RECORD: 2-8
THE COACH: Jeremy Frioud
THE PLAYERS: Shaquan Johnson (Sr., RB), Eric Rumph
(Sr., WR), Tiandre Bryant (Sr., DB), Juan Martinez (Jr., K/P),
Keon Gulley (Soph., QB)
THE WORD: The Vikings are starting to shape into the
team Jeremy Frioud envisioned of when he left Largo as
the defensive coordinator to take the head coaching job
at Northeast. Frioud’s club has adopted a smash-mouth
mentality offensively, as the Vikings averaged nearly 200
yards rushing per game in 2015. One of the biggest reasons for those numbers is the running of tailback Shaquan
Johnson. As a junior, Johnson rushed for a team-high 1,250
yards and scored eight touchdowns. Joining Johnson back
on offense is wide receiver Eric Rumph, who was second on
the team in receiving last season with 313 yards. Defensive
back Tiandre Bryant leads an experienced defense.
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN MUSTANGS (2A- 6)
2015 RECORD: 5-5
THE COACH: Mike Alstott
THE PLAYERS: Griffin Alstott (Sr., QB), Kamen Wilmington
(Sr., RB/DB), Derrick Wright (Sr., WR), Ta’shim Knight (Sr.,
LB), Demetrius Jackson (Sr., WR/DB), Corey Yawn (Jr., WR),
Malachi Hooks (Jr., RB/LB), Jordan Bolds (Soph., ATH)
THE WORD: In the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ heyday of
Mike Alstott running the football, everyone in the Tampa
Bay area knew his name. Now plenty of people are getting
to know his son’s name, as Griffin has started to build
his own legacy and has a slew of college suitors after
his services once his prep career on the gridiron is over.
As a junior, Alstott threw 15 touchdowns and for 1,725
yards through the air. The impressive junior campaign has
attracted college scouts from all around to take a look at
the Mustang, but Northside Christian also has a few other
athletes who will make some noise on offense this season,
including wide receivers Derrick Wright, Demetrius Jackson
and junior Corey Yawn.
OSCEOLA SEMINOLES (6A- 9)
2015 RECORD: 7-4
THE COACH: Kevin Smalley
THE PLAYERS: Mark Cioffi (Sr., RB), Spencer Jacoby (Sr.,
OL/DL), Tony Niles (Jr., RB), Jaden Celeste (Soph., LB), Jake
Annand (Soph., LB)
THE WORD: Osceola is a team going through one major
transition. That huge change is coach George Palmer, who
retired after coaching the Seminoles 26 years at the helm.
The keys to the football program have been given to Kevin
Smalley, who will try to continue the legacy of Palmer, who
left with 128 wins to his name. The Seminoles did lose a lot
of seniors that contributed heavily in 2015, including Travis
Wateska and Chad Brittain, and both of those backs will
have to be replaced in some capacity. Both Wateska and
Brittain averaged over 800 yards rushing, respectively, so
expect tailbacks Mark Cioffi and junior Tony Niles to pick up
the slack. The linebackers will be led by the sophomore duo
of Jaden Celeste and Jake Annand.
PALM HARBOR UNIVERSITY HURRICANES (8A- 6)
2015 RECORD: 6-4
THE COACH: Reggie Crume
THE PLAYERS: Gavin Wyllie (Sr., DE) Cameron Mouton (Sr.,
QB), Nick Gust (Sr., RB/DB), Jamaine Derogene (Sr., RB),
Tyler MacMillan (Sr., LB), Parker Coxe (Sr., DB), TJ Colmery
(Jr., WR), Matt Tauber (Jr., LB)
THE WORD: Crume’s group set the tone early for the
2015 campaign. The message sent to Pinellas County?
The Hurricanes defeating East Lake 14-10 to kick off the
season. In what seemed from the outside looking in was
a monumental upset, was actually just the beginning of
Palm Harbor’s turnaround season. Palm Harbor went on
to defeat the likes of Seminole, Newsome, Alonso, Tarpon
Springs and Dunedin. The 2015 campaign was the best
season Crume has had at PHU, but the third-year coach has
his team heading towards the bigger picture: playoffs. Wyllie is getting serious FBS and FCS looks and the Hurricanes
return a couple their top rushers from last season in
running backs Gust and Derogene. Quarterback Cameron
Mouton also is back under center for Palm Harbor.
PASCO PIRATES
2015 RECORD: 4-6
THE COACH: Tom McHugh
THE PLAYERS: Javion Hanner (So., RB), Calvin Samuel
(Jr., WR), Michael Hughes (Jr., QB), Chris Debyah (Jr., DB),
Cameron Smith (Jr., LB), Doug Crawford (So., QB), Nathaniel
Hawkins (Sr., DL), Jamar Hicks (So., RB).
THE WORD: The Pirates are coming off their worst
season since 2006 when they finished 3-7 and missed
the postseason. Pasco is a team in flux, with last season’s
quarterback, Michael Penix, transferring to Tampa Bay Tech
during the off-season. Adding to that, Tom McHugh loses
all-everything athlete Jayvaughn Myers, who will be playing
at Auburn this fall. McHugh will re-tool the Pirates with a
underclassmen and leading the way is sophomore Javion
Hanner, who rushed for nearly 300 yards as a freshman.
Paired with ATH Calvin Samuel and Pasco has a couple
of offensive pieces to threaten any defense, but will need
someone to get them the ball. The battle for the quarterback position is wide open, with Michael Hughes and Doug
Crawford both vying for reps.
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