HEARTLAND
THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT PREP FOOTBALL IN THE
Heartland region is some of the best in the state of
Florida—and for good reason. With perennial powers like
Lakeland, Lake Gibson, Kathleen, along with small school
powerhouses Fort Meade, Lakeland Christian and Santa Fe
Catholic, the Heartland has a lot to offer when it comes to
quality gridiron action.
The Lakeland Dreadnaughts were knocking on the
doorstep of reaching the state semifinals a year ago and will
be loaded once again. All-world running back AJ Davis will be
need to produce the way he did in 2015 if Lakeland wants to
make a deep postseason run in Class 7A.
Across town, Lakeland’s rivals Kathleen and Lake Gibson
are not too far behind in the talent department, as each
program possesses talented linebacking corps. Their respective defenses will become the backbone. Teams like Lake
Region and Haines City are hoping that with new coaches in
place, they’ll be able to start anew and go through a seamless rebuilding process.
Heading a short stretch south into Highlands County,
Avon Park and Sebring are both programs that reached the
postseason in 2015 and each return the necessary talent to
clinch playoff berths again in 2016. Brian Lane will begin his
second season as the Blue Streaks’ quarterback and should
have a better grasp of what is going on.
Hardee is another Heartland region team going through
a coaching change and the Wildcats hope the infusion of
a new head coach may lead the program to the past glory
years. Fort Meade blew through competition in Class 1A last
season and will be a state title contender in 2016.
Expect a slew of teams to make deep postseason runs,
as Lakeland, Sebring and Fort Meade will likely have strong
chances to realistically compete for state crowns in their
respective classifications. – Andy Villamarzo
HEARTLAND’S ELITE TEAMS LOOK VERY STRONG AGAIN
ALL SAINTS ACADEMY SAINTS (IND.)
2015 RECORD: 2-7
THE COACH: Rob Hollway Jr.
THE PLAYERS: Chase Leland (Sr., LB), Brock Weirather (Sr.,
QB), Blake Wilson (Soph., OL/DL), Zach Wilson (Sr., ATH).
THE WORD: Early blowout losses to begin the 2015
season did the Saints in, with Rob Hollway’s team getting
shellacked by Bishop McLaughlin ( 49-6), Windermere Prep
( 48-8), Saint Stephen’s Episcopal ( 53-6) and Zephyrhills
Christian (25-0). The last two games of the season were
bright spots for All Saints’, as they played a close contest
with St. Joseph Academy and soundly defeated Jupiter
Christian 47-6. Ending the season on a good note has led
to positive vibes around the team during the spring and the
Saints have a few key returners hoping to turn the blowouts
into competitive contests, with senior linebacker Chase
Leland and quarterback Brock Weirather being two of the
team’s top players.
AUBURNDALE BLOODHOUNDS (6A- 8)
2015 RECORD: 3-7
THE COACH: Billy Deeds
THE PLAYERS: Chauncy Smart (Sr., WR/RB), K. J. Jenkins
(Sr., DL), Tyrie Francois (Jr., OL), Cequaveon Mathis (Jr., QB),
Javarse Smith (Sr., WR), Isaac Etienne (Sr., WR)
THE WORD: The Bloodhounds are looking for running
backs. That is, ones to fill the voids left by graduating
seniors Artavis Pierce and Jessie Britt, whom combined to
rush for 1,335 yards and scored 12 touchdowns between
the two. Now both players are gone and coach Billy Deeds
is out searching for the next tandem of backs and it’ll start
with senior Chauncy Smart, who rushed for 92 yards last
season. Quarterback Cequaveon Mathis, who threw for 425
yards and three touchdowns last seasons, returns to the
roster and brings experience to the position. Wide receiver
Isaac Etienne returns as the team’s top receiver, hauling in
eight passes for 259 yards and four touchdowns last fall.
AVON PARK RED DEVILS (4A- 6)
2015 RECORD: 11-2
THE COACH: Wade Jackson
THE PLAYERS: Moise Satine (Sr., ATH), Adarius Council
(Sr., QB), Dee Kerney (Sr., ATH), Ahmaad Smith (Sr., WR),
Claudy Antione (Sr., LB), Warren Buckner (Sr., ATH), Mike
McHayle (Sr., OL), Jaque Gordon (Sr., LB), Zack Landress
(Sr., OL), Montrae Braswell (Jr., ATH)
THE WORD: The ‘Hammer’ has brought back respect-
ability to the Red Devils’ football program. Wade Jackson
stepped in as Avon Park’s head coach a couple years ago
and has since then fully turned around a program that once
had no direction. Now coming off a campaign that saw the
Red Devils nab the Class 4A-District 6 championship, Avon
Park is looking to take the next step and that’s compete for
a spot in the Class 4A state championship game. Jackson
will have the necessary firepower to do so, as the Red
Devils do return a bevy of starters, which include offensive
stud running backs Moise Satine and Montrae Braswell.
The defense will be solid once again, with the unit being led
by a senior-laden linebacking corps of Claudy Antione and
Jaque Gordon.
BARTOW YELLOW JACKETS (7A- 7)
2015 RECORD: 5-5
THE COACH: Brian McCrae
THE PLAYERS: L.J. Cummings (Sr., DL), T.J. Harvin (Sr.,
QB), Jeremy Henderson (Sr., WR), Brandon Whitten (Sr., DB),
Chris Jones (Sr., LB), Kamel Smith (Sr., WR)
THE WORD: Brian McCrae and crew are searching for
that ever elusive above .500 season. The last time the
Yellow Jackets achieved a winning record was in 2009 and
that seems like ages ago for Bartow’s football team. With
McCrae, who coached at Bishop Snyder for three seasons,
heading into his second full season as the Yellow Jackets’
head coach, the team takes aim at winning more than
five games this fall. He’ll have to do so with a senior-laden
group and the returners on offense could make the difference in Bartow breaking the 5-win barrier, as quarterback
T. J. Harvin returns under center and will have a couple
experienced receivers in Jeremy Henderson and Kamel
Smith to throw to. Defensive end L.J. Cummings is apart of
a rebuilt defense that could be a stout unit this fall.
FORT MEADE MINERS (1A- 8)
2015 RECORD: 9-2
THE COACH: Jemalle Cornelius
THE PLAYERS: Cleveland Reed (Jr., OL/DL), Chad Fulse
(Sr., RB/LB), Ladarius Clark (Sr., DB/QB), Austin Castillo (Sr.,
LB/FB), Bryce Nelson (JS., OL)
THE WORD: A usual deep postseason run was derailed
early on in the opening round of the Class 1A playoffs when
Fort Meade traveled a few hours north to Trenton and was
soundly defeated 51-20. The Miners, who have won 23
district championships and won a state title back in 2004,
return a slew of starters from last year’s team. None may
be more important than offensive lineman Cleveland Reed,
who is being offered by a different college seemingly every
other day. The 6-foot- 4, 305-pound prospect will be heavily
counted upon in Fort Meade’s rushing attack that looks
to replace Tyler King’s 1,607 yards from a year ago. King’s
production will be collectively filled in by running back Chad
Fulse and quarterback Ladarius Clark.
FROSTPROOF BULLDOGS (1A- 8)
2015 RECORD: 2-8
THE COACH: Shannon Benton
THE PLAYERS: Jordan Gardner (Sr., TE), Joshua Jenkins
(Soph., QB), Jamar Fields (Jr., LB), Jamar Warren (Soph.,
ATH), Jacob Monk (Sr., OL), Jacob Warren (Jr., LB), Jeremiah
Salaam (Soph., ATH)
THE WORD: The Bulldogs are coming off a rough 2016
campaign, which saw Frostproof drop its first five games
before finishing the second half of the season at 2-3.
Losses to Avon Park, Hardee, Tenoroc, Indian Rocks
Christian and Lakeland to start 2015 was rough, but
the Bulldogs are looking to bounce back under Shannon
Benton, who heads into his third season as head coach
at his alma mater. The former Tennessee Volunteer player
will have some standouts from last season returning to the
field including rising sophomore Jeremiah Salaam, who has
an offer from Bowling Green on the table. Senior tight end
Jordan Gardner will be a key piece in the Bulldogs’ offense,
which must improve after only averaging 8. 7 points per
game last season.
GEORGE JENKINS EAGLES (8A- 7)
2015 RECORD: 2-7
THE COACH: Chris Canning
THE PLAYERS: Jayden Monroe (Jr., LB), Tony Lapine (Sr.,
DL), Jordan Domineck (Soph., DE/LB), Dezden Flowers (Jr.,
DB), Dylan Oliver (Soph., DB)
THE WORD: Missing out on a game last season left the
Eagles with a nine-contest regular season, but much room
for optimism around George Jenkins because of the youth
returning to the club this fall. One of the rising stars for
George Jenkins’ is sophomore defensive end/linebacker
Jordan Domineck, who has attracted some interest from
colleges over the spring and summer. Domineck had two offers heading into the summer and looks to be a vital piece
towards a potential turnaround in 2016. Another player on
defense that will be a key cog is linebacker Jayden Monroe
and defensive lineman Tony Lapine. Both were contributors
to the Eagles’ defense from a year ago and must make
more splash plays this fall.
BEST IN THE
REGION
1. Top 5 Teams
■ Lakeland
■ Kathleen
■ Sebring
■ Avon Park
■ Lake Gibson
2. Player to Watch
■ Cleveland Reed, Fort
Meade
3. Sleeper Player
■ Brian Lane, Sebring
4. Team on the Rise
■ Sebring
5. Best Atmosphere
■ Bryant Stadium,
Lakeland
6. Game of the Year
■ Lakeland at Kathleen
Lakeland QB
Holden Hotchkiss
Photo courtesy Student Sports
