The
Wakulla News WHS Football Special Section
Inside
• War Eagle Football Photos • Team Schedules • Season in Review THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, September 3, 2009
Page 2F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Fall means footballs, War Eagles, Seminoles, Gators
Dear Readers: The Wakulla News is pleased to present another special section to highlight the War Eagle, Wildcat and Bear football programs in 2009. While the major focus is on the Wakulla High School War Eagles, we have included some information on the Wakulla Middle School Wildcats and Riversprings Middle
School Bears football programs. We have included the WHS cheerleaders and features on all aspects of the football program from the field to the press box. The 2008 season was a 5-5 campaign that featured a playoff berth and a loss against Panama City Beach Arnold. The War Eagles could make a claim to being average last year with higher expectations despite a young team this year. We hope that the special section will help parents, players and fans gear up for the 2009 football season. Expectations are always high for the War Eagle gridiron squad. The gridiron has been mostly kind to Wakulla. There is also some information included about FSU from our former General Manager Ira Schoffel who is at The Osceola. We appreciate the cooperation of the administration, coaches, boosters and players for helping us gather the information. A big thanks to Ken Fields, Lynda Kinsey and Karla Nelson for helping out with pictures. Enjoy the special section and tell us what you think. Contact me at kblackmar@ thewakullanews.net. Good luck War Eagles, Wildcats and Bears! Keith Blackmar Editor, The Wakulla News
Message from Superintendent David Miller Former coach knows football and a few other sports, too! Dear Wakulla County sports fans, As a former athlete, teacher, coach and principal, I have a deep appreciation for the value of athletic and extracurricular activities in the well-rounded education of our students. Lessons learned in these activities pay off later in life and prepare our students for the challenges of adulthood. I support all of our many programs here in Wakulla County and ask that you encourage our students. I want to wish the Wildcats, the Bears and the War Eagles the best of luck during their outstanding 2009 seasons. Superintendent David B. Miller
Good Luck, David Miller, Superintendent
Thursday, September 3, 2009
2009 Wakulla War Eagles 1 Tre McCullough SS, RB Jr. 5-8 155
CB, RB So. 5-7 150
T, DL Jr. 6-2 215
21 Marshane Godbolt RB, CB So. 5-11 160
55 Luke Taylor OLB, G So. 5-11 190
22 Antonio Kilpatrick (C) FS, RB Sr. 6-0 170
56 Mason Dotson C, NG Jr. 5-8 175
23 Kevin James LB, RB Fr. 6-0 180
57 John Cooper (C) T, DT Sr. 6-1 250
24 E.J. Forbes LB, RB Sr. 5-8 190
58 Nick Walker DT, G So. 5-10 255
25 Antonio Bowdry WR, CB Jr. 6-0 165
59 Dalton Hall C, DT Sr. 6-0 245
28 Willie Thomas (C) RB, LB So. 5-10 180
65 Jacob Thomas G, DT So. 5-7 175
33 Lorenzo Randolph (C) OLB, RB Sr. 6-0 200
66 C.J. Roberts NG, G So. 5-8 170
34 Fred Cummings LB, RB Fr. 6-1 205
67 Anthony Lanier DT, T So. 5-10 260
35 Mikel Cromartie CB, WR Fr. 5-7 160
69 Caleb Vernon DT, T Jr. 6-2 265
40 Conner Harrison LB, RB Jr. 5-8 175
72 Jeffery Miller DT, T So. 6-5 265
42 Branden Carden OLB, TE Jr. 5-8 170
74 Judson Messer G, DT Sr. 6-0 265
44 John Brown LB So. 5-8 175
77 Logan Barwick C, DT Sr. 5-8 250
50 Tyler Schmidt (C) OLB, OL Sr. 6-3 240
85 Tyler Pouncey G, DT Sr. 5-9 185
17 Josh Wilson Sr.
51 Matt Fields NG, G Jr. 5-8 190
99 Tevin Garner DT So. 5-9 225
18 Damonte Morris WR, CB So. 6-0 160
52 Tyler Brown (C) T, DT Jr. 6-2 190
20 Willie Blake
54 Tyler Corbett
2 Morgan Henry K Sr. 5-11 170 3 Darrius Lewis CB, WR Jr. 5-8 155 4 Jamar Ellis RB, CB Sr. 5-8 150 5 Deonte Hutchinson QB, CB So. 5-7 150 6 Justin Helmadollar SS, RB Jr. 5-9 170 7 Tamarick Holmes OLB, WR So. 5-11 190 8 Chris Hemmker WR, DB Sr. 5-7 150 10 Evan McCoy SS, RB So. 5-10 175 11 Demetrius Lindsey CB, RB Fr. 5-7 155 12 Casey Eddinger QB, P Jr. 6-0 175 13 Kyle Roddenberry FS, WR Jr. 5-8 155 14 Quanzee Davis FS, WR So. 5-7 165 15 Johnie Robinson QB, FS Fr. 6-0 160
“C” denotes a team captain. Colors: red, white and blue. Mascot: War Eagle. Head Coach Scott Klees
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Wakulla News – Page 3F
WHS Football
Youthful War Eagles have talent to surprise foes By KEITH BLACKMAR kblackmar@thewakullanews.net
The 2009 Wakulla War Eagle football team could be called young. Coach Scott Klees used the term as he unveiled his fourth edition as head coach under the August sun. Klees has youth all around the team, but the offensive line does have a core group of seniors. The dozen seniors includes: Morgan Henry, Jamar Ellis, Chris Hemker, Antonio Kilpatrick, E,J, Forbes, Lorenzo Randolph, Tyler Schmidt, John Cooper, Dalton Hall, Judson Messer, Logan Barwick and Tyler Pouncey. Fall practice returned a familiar face in quarterback Casey Eddinger who missed spring practice to play baseball for Coach Mike Gauger. The economy and state budget woes forced the coaching staff to make a unique decision. With no money available to pay junior varsity football coaches, Klees decided to share the varsity and junior varsity coaching duties with his present staff. • The coaches who will be stalking the sidelines include: Head Coach Scott Klees,
Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Chris Tomaini, Running Backs and Assistant Head Coach James Vernon, Offensive Line Coach Grady Guess, Linebacker Coach and Special Teams Coordinator George Kilbourne, Defensive Backs and Special Teams Coach Eddie Metcalf, Defensive Line Coach Marcus Farlin, Outside Linebackers Coach Bronson Sweatt, Offensive Line and Defensive Line Coach and JV Defensive Coordinator Wayne Mackin, Quarterbacks Coach T.R. Roberts, Assistant Coach Brandon Randolph, Assistant Coach Andrew Johnson and Assistant Coach Josh Manning. Don Whaley and Matt Higgins are the trainers. Klees said he did not want to use volunteer coaches for the JV because the junior varsity is the life blood of the varsity program and he wanted better continuity between the two teams. • Wakulla was limited to three double practice sessions before school started. Other districts started school later than the running for the QB position are freshWakulla and had more two-a-days. But Klees working extremely hard.” Sophomore Deonte Hutchinson would man Johnie Robinson and junior Casey was not worried. “They have a great attitude,” he said of have been the starting quarterback if the Eddinger. Continued on Page 4F his players. “We’re real young and they are games started in August, said Klees. Also in
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Page 4F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Youthful Continued from Page 3F Experience returns in the backfield where E.J. Forbes, Lorenzo Randolph and Antonio Kilpatrick will run. On defense, the three runners will play linebacker (Forbes and Randolph) and safety (Kilpatrick). “We have nine players battling it out on the offensive line,” said Klees of the senior dominated position. • The schedule drops Godby, Rickards and Madison County, but gains Lincoln, Florida High, North Florida Christian and old rival Jefferson County. The district changes from Panama City Bay, Rickards, East Gadsden, Wakulla and Godby to Wakulla, Lincoln, Leon and Chiles. “We feel good about the schedule,” said Klees. “It is tough as always. We have a chance to win every game and a chance to lose every game” if the team does not give a supreme effort each week. Klees said the solidifying point for the team seems to have been an FCA camp in Marianna. “It was a turning point for these kids,” he said. “The secret to our success will be the unity built from that camp.” • Reflecting on the junior varsity program where Coach Scott Collins roamed the sidelines last year, Klees said district teaching positions were not available this year to put a new high
school teacher in as coach. “Our JV program is our future,” added Klees. “It puts more stress and work on the varsity coaches, but I think it will pay off. The freshman class is very strong.” • Captains for the 2009 season include six mostly upperclassmen: Antonio Kilpatrick, Lorenzo Randolph, John Cooper, Tyler Schmidt, Willie Thomas and Tyler Brown. Klees noted that several members of the 2009 team are sons of former players. Some of the sons, he smiled, may turn out to be better than their talented fathers. Willie Thomas and Marshane Godbolt are talented sophomores. The freshmen impact will come from Johnie Robinson, Kevin James, Fred Cummings, Demetrius Lindsey and Mikel Cromartie. Klees said he will alter the offensive game plan to take into account the quarterbacks on the field. Robinson was a starter on a Tallahassee team while Hutchinson started on the JV and Eddinger has varsity starting experience. “The expectations are always high at Wakulla,” said Klees. “We’re so young we don’t know how it will go, but it is always our goal to have a winning season and make the playoffs.” As usual, Wakulla has a group of seniors who could find their way onto college football fields in 2010. The answers to the football questions will start to be answered on Sept. 4 against Taylor County.
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Thursday, September 3, 2009
A look back at the 2008 season and a 5-5 record By KEITH BLACKMAR kblackmar@thewakullanews.net
The 2008 Wakulla War Eagle football season was a challenge for Coach Scott Klees and his players as several key seniors had graduated in the spring including Florida State University Seminole Nigel Bradham and University of Miami Hurricane C.J. Holton. The War Eagles would miss the playmaking abilities of Bradham an Holton on defense and would struggle on offense finding a rhythm. • The season opened on the road against Taylor County and the offense put 37 points on the scoreboard in a 37-7 victory Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. Lorenzo Randolph scored three touchdowns and Zach Klees threw for 98 yards and a touchdown. Klees used the rushing game effectively with Kendrick Hall, Kendell Gavin, E.J. Forbes, Mookie Forbes, Jamel Gavin and Antonio Kilpatrick adding yardage. Wilton Booth was the top receiver. Vince Walker led the defense. • Game 2 featured a shootout between Leon and Wakulla that was won by the Lions, 41-28. Zach Klees and Casey Eddinger combined for 119 yards passing and a touchdown. Kendrick Hall and Kendell Gavin led the rushing attack and Lee Smalls scored on a 25 yard pass play. Smalls had an interception for a touchdown. Michael Wise had a strong game on the offensive line. • Game 3 was a thriller against Deltona Trinity Christian that came down to a last second field goal. Unfortunately, Trinity kicked the winning three-pointer and Wakulla lost 30-28. Wakulla led by as many 14 points in the fourth quarter before the defense tired. Lee Smalls led the offense with two touchdowns and 103 yards worth of pass receptions. Willie Thomas rushed for 99 yards and Kendell Gavin had 52 yards rushing. Morgan Henry kicked a 25 yard field goal. Jordan Zuhl led the defense with nine tackles. • Game 4 was another thriller, but this time Wakulla came out on the winning side against Rickards in overtime, 22-21. Kendell Gavin scored a touchdown after Rickards took a 14-0 lead. He added a second score late in the game to tie the contest. Rickards scored first in overtime, but Wakulla countered with a touchdown and a two point conversion. E.J. Forbes rushed for 120 yards. Mookie Forbes and Vince Walker
led the defense with a total of 16 tackles and a fumble recovery. • Game 5 featured another down-tothe-wire finish as the War Eagles won in Blountstown, 16-6. Wakulla scored twice in the final two minutes for the victory. Lee Smalls had two key catches in the game to be named the offensive player of the game. He had 78 yards receiving and a touchdown. Smalls also led the defense with four tackles and two interceptions. Antonio Kilpatrick blocked a punt and Kendell Gavin scored on a 45 yard interception return. Zach Klees and Casey Eddinger combined for 100 yards passing. • Game 6 continued the War Eagle winning streak against Chiles. Wakulla won 23-2. Kendrick Hall rushed for 87 yards and Zach Klees threw for 150. Lee Smalls was the leading receiver with 56 yards. The defense was led by Tyler Schmidt with 12 tackles, two sacks and two caused fumbles. Jamel Gavin also had a strong game • Game 7 was a district battle against old foe Godby. There wasn’t much positive in this showdown as the Cougars topped Wakulla 40-0. John Cooper was named the offensive player of the game for his play on the offensive line. Tyler Schmidt was selected as the top defensive player. • Game 8 provided East Gadsden with a chance to get a rare victory over Wakulla, 3714. Kendell Gavin was a bright spot with 118 yards rushing and a touchdown He also had 13 tackles and two sacks on defense. Kendrick Hall and Casey Eddinger connected on a touchdown pass play. Willie Thomas scored on a 46 yard run and Lee Smalls and Leland Alyea had strong games. • Game 9 was a must win for Wakulla against Panama City Bay and the War Eagles topped the Tornadoes, 28-12 to qualify for a chance to play in a tiebreaker. Casey Eddinger and Lorenzo Randolph scored early and Kendrick Hall and Zach Klees connected later for a 22 point lead. Randolph scored later for the final margin. Vince Walker and Jordan Zuhl led the defense as Wakulla improved to 5-4 on the season. • Game 9A Texas Tiebreaker. Wakulla qualified for the state playoffs by winning the tibreaker over Rickards, 7-0. Rickards defeated East Gadsden in the first portion of the tiebreaker. Kendell Gavin scored a touchdown on a two yard run and Morgan Henry kicked the extra point. Continued on Page 5A
Thursday, September 3, 2009
WHS Football
Boosters for final season
The Wakulla News – Page 5F
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SWAT’s message is not about health. From left, Jack and John Cooper and Judson and Andy Messer have formed a strong bond through their activities on the Wakulla War Eagle Gridiron Club. The booster program provides many services for football players that the regular high school sports and school budget cannot afford.
War Eagles on the radio By KEITH BLACKMAR kblackmar@thewakullanews.net
Tune into the Wakulla War Eagles on WAVE 94.1 FM when the Christian music radio station broadcasts all of the War Eagle football action at home and on the road in 2009. The team will travel from Medart to Quincy and to Tallahassee and DeFuniak Springs to play road contests in addition to five games at J.D. Jones Stadium at Jerry Reynolds Field. Former War Eagle quarterback Craig Revell will be the play-by-play voice of the War Eagles with former another former War Eagle athlete, Ferrell Barwick, serving as a color commentator. Revell played quarterback under former Coach J.D. Jones.
The first regular season game will be played Friday, Sept. 4 against Taylor County in Medart. Taylor County is a former district foe from Class 2A days. Game broadcats begin at 7 p.m. with a pregame show. Kickoffs are generally at 7:30 p.m. unless they games are played in Leon County or in the central time zone, Walton County. Those games begin at 7 p.m. The district games also start at 7 p.m. Pregame shows will start at 6:30 p.m. if games begin at 7 p.m. Wakulla road games will be played against East Gadsden, North Florida Christian, Chiles, Walton and FAMU High. Home contests will be played against Taylor County, Lincoln, Leon, Florida High and Jefferson County.
Year in review Continued from Page 4F • Game 10 was another rough outing against Madison County. Madison County topped Wakulla 62-11. Casey Eddinger threw a 65 yard touchdown pass to Lee Smalls and Morgan Henry kicked a 37 yard field goal. Wakulla fell to 5-5.
• The Playoffs. Panama City Beach Arnold topped Wakulla in the first round of the playoffs, 44-7. WHS scored on a trick play from Zach Klees to Casey Eddinger to Lee Smalls. The play covered 73 yards. But Arnold added 41 straight points to win the game. Wakulla finished the season 5-6.
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Page 6F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Thursday, September 3, 2009
FSU’s new practice routine: Controlled chaos BY IRA SCHOFFEL, OSCEOLA Warchant.com Staff
Jimbo Fisher calls it “controlled chaos.” And he loves it. For the first time since he, Rick Trickett and company arrived at Florida State in early 2007, practices are being conducted at the pace Fisher prefers - somewhere between breakneck and warp speed. “We’ve changed the whole tempo - we’re getting more reps in less time,” Fisher said. “Nobody’s standing around. Everybody’s getting reps, and everybody’s getting chances. That’s the way you develop young guys. You don’t learn by watching. You learn by doing. “That’s the way we can get these young, talented guys reps. And the older guys get more reps.” By changing the format of practice, Florida State’s players are seeing a dramatic increase in repetitions per session - by as much as double in some cases. And they’re often doing it in a shorter amount of time than in previous years, which forces the players to concentrate when they’re physically tired. “It teaches you how to play at a fast pace,” Fisher said. “It teaches you to play at a game competition level. Not a practice
level - a game competition level. Where you’re training every day like it’s a national championship game. … “What happens is you learn to control chaos. And you learn how to deal with it.” The Seminoles are accomplishing this by frequently splitting the team across two separate fields. For example, the first- and third-string offense and defense will be on one field, while the second- and fourthstrings will be on another field. That means players have less time to wait between plays. “You might end up taking 10 snaps in a row,” junior offensive guard Rodney Hudson said. “And that will be beneficial in the games because you might have a 10- or 15play drive in a game.” “It’s a lot more intense,” sophomore defensive tackle Moses McCray said. “Everything is faster and up-tempo. The way we’re practicing now, the games should be cake.” While the veteran players are excited about the benefits of the ramped-up workouts, they also admit that it has been an adjustment. “It’s definitely been tough,” senior tight end Caz Piurowski said. “Some of the toughest practices ... you’re going from one field
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to the next and one drill to the next. It’s definitely tough, but I think it’s going to be real good.” One side benefit of the faster pace is that the players actually are getting extra conditioning work while shuffling from drill to drill. But the biggest impact might be seen in the rapid development of the freshman class. In previous seasons, young players often were forced to wait patiently for their turns while veterans took the majority of the snaps. This preseason, they were thrown into the fire from day one. “They’re getting every rep that the ones are getting,” Fisher said. “When you’re going on both fields, they’re getting the same number of reps. Now, they may do it wrong a little bit … but instead of watching it, they’re actually physically doing it. So it actually speeds up their development.” That is welcome news, even to the veterans. Though juniors and seniors never want to come off the field, they know the reality is that football is a physical game - and a starter can be sidelined on any play. “During the season, you can’t rely on your ones the whole time,” Piurowski said. “Injuries are going to happen. People are going to get tired. Fatigue is going to set in. You need
to count on your twos and threes and even fours sometimes. I think this is going to be huge, because it’s not just the ones and twos getting reps and the threes getting sprinkled in here and there. Everyone is getting reps. Everyone is learning the plays.” It also is providing an opportunity for second- and third-teamers to lead instead of always looking to the starters for guidance. “If I’m not up there on the upper field and one of the younger tight ends has a question, hopefully Beau [Reliford] or Ja’Baris [Little] can help answer the question,” Piurowski said. “Some of the younger guys that can kind of develop that [leadership].” Given all the benefits of the revised practice schedules, one might wonder why the Seminoles didn’t implement these changes last year or the year before. But Fisher said it simply wasn’t feasible. The players weren’t in good enough condition to handle the constant work, and not enough players had bought in to the new philosophy. “Not even close,” Fisher said. “Didn’t have the personnel, and didn’t have the mentality.” Ira Schoffel is the former General Manager and Editor of The Wakulla News.
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The Wakulla News – Page 7F
WHS Football
Leading the Wakulla War Eagle cheers in 2009
The 2009-2010 War Eagle Varsity Cheerleaders The Wakulla High School 2009-2010 cheerleading squads have been announced and they are ready to cheer for War Eagle sporting events. The cheerleaders recently won awards at the UCA Cheerleading Camp in Tampa in early August. The varsity squad won a first place in dance and a second place in cheers. The junior varsity won two first places in dance and cheers. VARSITY The varsity squad includes: Courtney Briggs, Amanda Piland, Olivia Tooke, Chaise
Bishop, Lelah Kelly, Chetseyn Cogland, Jasmine Casey, Captain Amanda Council, Kelsey Weems, Meredeth Flanders, Avery LeJune, Meci Brown and Shelbi Davis. The varsity sponsor is Coach Lori Sandgren. JUNIOR VARSITY The JV squad includes: Crystal Posey, Brittany Herold, Crystal Womble, Haley Hurst, Cedar Carter, Captain Brooke Edwards, Maddie Champany, Kala Pickett, Becca Pearce, Co-Captain Mary Warren Adkison, Alexis Crockett, Leann Griner, Erica Harrell, Hailey Clark and Holly Harper. The JV sponsor is Coach Bethany Evans.
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Page 8F – The Wakulla News
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a Wakull
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Thursday, September 3, 2009
ea
gl e
s
war
GO WAR WHS Football
1 Tre McCullough, 2 Morgan Henry, 3 Darrius Lewis, 4 Jamar Ellis, 5 Deonte Hutchinson, 6 Justin Helmadollar, 7 Tamarick Holmes, 8 Chris Hemmker, 10 Evan McCoy, 11 Demetrius Lindsey, 12 Casey Eddinger, 13 Kyle Roddenberry, 14 Quanzee Davis, 15 Johnie Robinson, 17 Josh Wilson, 18 Damonte Morris, 20 Willie Blake, 21 Marshane Godbolt, 22 Antonio Kilpatrick (C), 23 Kevin James, 24 E.J. Forbes, 25 Antonio Bowdry, 28 Willie Thomas (C), 33 Lorenzo Randolph (C),
MEMBER FDIC
EAGLES!
09
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Wakulla News – Page 9F
WHS Football
9 2 00 Wakulla
war
g ea
s le
34 Fred Cummings, 35 Mikel Cromartie, 40 Conner Harrison, 42 Branden Carden, 44 John Brown, 50 Tyler Schmidt (C), 51 Matt Fields, 52 Tyler Brown (C), 54 Tyler Corbett, 55 Luke Taylor, 56 Mason Dotson, 57 John Cooper (C), 58 Nick Walker, 59 Dalton Hall, 65 Jacob Thomas, 66 C.J. Roberts, 67 Anthony Lanier, 69 Caleb Vernon, 72 Jeffery Miller, 74 Judson Messer, 77 Logan Barwick, 85 Tyler Pouncey, 99 Tevin Garner
Proud Supporter of Wakulla High’s 2009 Football Program
Page 10F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The War Eagle coaching staff Head Coach Scott Klees, Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach Chris Tomaini, Assistant Head Coach-Running Backs James Vernon, Offensive Line Grady Guess, Linebackers-Special Teams Coordinator George Kilbourne, Defensive Back-Wide ReceiversSpecial Teams Eddie Metcalf, Defensive Line Marcus Farlin, Outside Linebackers Bronson Sweatt, Offensive and Defensive Line- JV Defensive Coordinator Wayne Mackin, Quarterbacks T.R. Roberts, Assistant Coach Brandon Randolph, Assistant Coach Josh manning, Assistant Coach Andrew Johnson, Trainers Matt Higgins and Don Whaley. WHS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
The Wakulla War Eagle coaching staff hopes to use their football knowledge to give their players the edge on the field.
Wakulla Middle School Wildcats
09/04/2009 H Taylor County High 09/11/2009 A East Gadsden High School 09/18/2009 A North Florida Christian 10/02/2009 H Florida State Univ, High • 10/09/2009 H Lincoln High School 10/16/2009 H Jefferson County High Homecoming versus the Tigers • 10/23/2009 A Chiles High School 10/30/2009 A Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs • 11/06/2009 H Leon High School 11/13/2009 A FAMU Developmental Research School in Tallahassee • Denotes a district contest Class 4A, District 3
Riversprings Middle School Bears
Wakulla Middle School coaching staff from left, Josh Sandgren, Michael Sweatt, Drew Cook, Bill Peck and Head Coach Bobby Wells.
RMS Bear Schedule Thursday, Aug.27 Jefferson County away Tuesday, Sept. 8 Havana* 6 p.m. WHS Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Florida High 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Wakulla Middle 6 p.m. at WHS Tuesday, Oct. 6 Marianna* 7 p.m. WHS Tuesday, Oct. 13 Quincy* 6 p.m. WHS Thursday, Oct. 22 at Taylor Co. 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct.27 Bowl Game TBD. ** Thursday, Oct. 29 Bowl Game TBD ** * home dates **bowl game’s are dependent upon final conference standings. Wakulla Middle School Schedule on Page 11A
Riversprings coaches, front, Head Coach Joey Jacobs, standing rear from left, Jason Darby, Aubrey Gavin, Steve Walker, Louis Hernandez, Trey Thaxton.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
WHS Football
Football in their blood
The Wakulla News – Page 11F
Some War Eagles carry on in college By KEITH BLACKMAR kblackmar@thewakullanews.net
The First Family of War Eagle football: Scott, Nicole, Owen and Hayden Klees
Photographer Ken Fields captures the War Eagles for future generations.
Wakulla High School has 12 former football players on college campuses ranging from Division 1 to the junior college ranks. The two most well known of the players are Nigel Bradham at Florida State University and C.J. Holton at the University of Miami. Cory Eddinger left FSU where he was a walk-on to gain a scholarship at the University of North Alabama. Darrion Wilson left the junior college ranks to play at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Tanner Jones is in the mix to play quarterback at Troy University. Briceton Wilson has joined the ranks at Pittsburg State. Tim Dawson went to Butler Community College. Jamel Gavin and Deon Bryant are at Hancock College in California. Leland Alyea is playing at Hanover College in Indiana. Troy Walker left Wakulla for FAMU. Zach Klees went to Methodist University in North Carolina. “We’re proud of every one of those guys,” said Coach Scott Klees. The players continue a tradition of a number of Wakulla football players continuing their career after high school. Ken Fields Photography–Weddings, Outdoor Portraits, Sports, Senior Portraits 926-9340 or (229) 344-1299 www.KenFieldsPhotography. photoreflect.com
WMS Wildcat schedule Tuesday, Sept 15 Havana Home 6 p.m. • Tuesday, Sept 22 Riversprings Home 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 29 FSU High Home 6 p.m. • Thursday, Oct 8 Taylor County Away 6 p.m. •
Thursday, Oct 15 Marianna Away 6 p.m. CT Tuesday, Oct 20 Jefferson County Away 6 p.m. Oct. 27 Bowl Games TBA. • Indicates games which include a fifth quarter.
Ponder shines in ‘Noles’ first scrimmage
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Page 12F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wakulla district opponent schedules; how they fared CHILES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Class: 4A - District: 3 09/04/2009 H Jefferson County High School (Monticello) 09/11/2009 A Rickards High School (Tallahassee) 09/18/2009 A Taylor County High School (Perry) 09/25/2009 H West Gadsden High School (Greensboro) 10/02/2009 H East Gadsden High School (Havana) 10/09/2009 H Leon High School (Tallahassee) 10/16/2009 H Godby High School (Tallahassee) 10/23/2009 H Wakulla High School (Crawfordville) 11/06/2009 A Lincoln High School (Tallahassee) 11/13/2009 H Hamilton County High School (Jasper)
LEON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Class: 4A - District: 3 09/04/2009 A Godby High School (Tallahassee) 09/18/2009 A Eastside High School (Gainesville) 09/25/2009 H Madison County High School (Madison) 10/01/2009 A Mosley High School (Lynn Haven) 10/09/2009 A Chiles High School (Tallahassee) 10/23/2009 H Lincoln High School (Tallahassee) 10/29/2009 H Crestview High School (Crestview) 11/06/2009 A Wakulla High School (Crawfordville) 11/13/2009 H Rickards High School (Tallahassee)
LINCOLN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WHS OPPONENTS: Class: 4A - District: 3 HOW DID THEY FARE? 09/03/2009 H Niceville High School TAYLOR COUNTY was 3-7 (Niceville) EAST GADSDEN was 5-5 09/11/2009 H Spruce Creek High School NORTH FLORIDA CHRISTIAN was 6-2 (Port Orange) FLORIDA HIGH was 9-1 09/17/2009 H Florida State University TALLAHASSEE LINCOLN was 7-3 High School (Tallahassee) 09/25/2009 A Rickards High School (TalJEFFERSON COUNTY was 1-9 lahassee) TALLAHASSEE CHILES was 0-10 10/02/2009 A Pine Forest High School WALTON COUNTY was 6-4 (Pensacola) TALLAHASSEE LEON was 7-3 10/09/2009 A Wakulla High School (CrawFAMU HIGH was 7-3 fordville) 10/16/2009 A Madison County High School (Madison) • WAKULLA WAS 5-5 10/23/2009 A Leon High School (Tallahassee) THE TOTAL WON-LOSS RECORD OF THE 11/06/2009 H Chiles High School (Tal2009 OPPONENTS BASED ON THE 2008 lahassee) 11/13/2009 H Godby High School (Tal- SEASON WAS 51-47. lahassee)
Everybody is a winner on WHS War Eagle Picture Day By KEITH BLACKMAR
Picture Day at J.D. Jones Stadium and Jerry Reynolds Field was blessed with some Saturday, Aug. 15 was cloudy, breezy welcomed cloud cover. and not quite as brutally hot as the temWakulla football players had only been peratures War Eagle football players have practicing since Monday, Aug. 10, but the become accustomed to in August. fieldhouse already had a familiar look and smell to it. For a football player or coach it seemed like Christmas morning. Pictures to be taken, but no afternoon practice. Players were 2473 Crawfordville Hwy tucked away in the locker room getting their uniforms on for picture day and coaches 850-926-2079 were decked out in their War Eagle gear. (next to El Jalisco’s) The banter between coaches and players picked up as the gathering grew larger. kblackmar@thewakullanews.net
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Players and coaches smiled as their pictures were taken for the game program and The Wakulla News. But the sun was hiding behind some clouds and the realization that there will be more August practices was not lost on players or coaches. Thirty minutes turns into two hours, then three as a variety of photos are shot. Junior varsity players begin to get a feel for the high school program and have their turn in front of the camera as well. Freshmen had only 1 1/2 days of school under their belts during picture Saturday. The varsity will be sporting new uniforms this year although the new uniforms
had not arrived in time for the photo shoot. The words rebuilding are used to describe the team, but all of the coaches enjoy the spirit of the team knowing how difficult the Class 4A District 3 schedule will be. Tallahassee represents the enemy this year as Chiles, Lincoln, Leon and Wakulla will battle it out for two playoff spots. Most of the coaches agreed, the first game of the season Sept. 5 in Medart against Taylor County will go a long way to determine how well Wakulla does as the team attempts to improve on the 5-5 regular season in 2008.
Seminole linebackers finding their voice By IRA SCHOFFEL Of The OSCEOLA
When he walks off the practice field each day, linebackers coach Chuck Amato’s voice is usually hoarse from talking … and yelling. And he’d like to see his players share that experience. The veteran assistant coach wants his linebackers to communicate verbally before every play, during the plays when possible, and even after the plays. “They’re starting to get a feel for that, because they see the importance of it,” Amato said. Gail Burton - Warchant.com Watson has spearheaded these daily postpractice meetings. While communicating comes naturally for some players, it’s not easy for everyone. So
senior Dekoda Watson is calling upon the other linebackers to meet in the locker room after every practice. There, they discuss the plays that went right, the plays that went wrong, and how they can improve. There are no coaches and no excuses. “I feel like that will help us individually and as a segment,” Watson said, acknowledging that the first few sessions featured some awkward silences. “But it keeps getting better and better.” Said junior middle linebacker Kendall Smith: “We ask each other what we did wrong and what can we do to get better, and we learn from that. Then we go to meetings and then we tell Coach Amato what we messed up in. … Dekoda came up with the idea, and it’s working. It’s helping us be
more verbal and think about what can we do to get better.” Watson said the key to the discussions is keeping a conversational tone. The players already hear enough criticism from the coaches in practice; this is a chance for them to speak openly and evaluate themselves. “I tell them, ‘I know this was my mistake. I know I lost this play. I know I should have been outside of this block,’” Watson said. “I show that we all make mistakes. And instead of somebody badgering, badgering and badgering, just talk to them. “If we can communicate off the field, then it should work on the field.” Though he isn’t there for the post-practice discussions, Amato is thrilled to see his players taking that initiative. Continued on Page 13F
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Wakulla News – Page 13F
WHS Football
The 2009 Wakulla War Eagle junior varsity football team, coaches
Bradham, Jones, Holton go to school
WAR
GO EAGLES
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C.J. Holton, University of Miami
Nigel Bradham, Florida State University
Tanner Jones, Troy University
FSU linebackers Continued from Page 12F He said the only way for the linebackers to improve is to understand their mistakes and learn from them - and there’s no better way than talking through them with peers. “If they want to be good, they’ve got to
put some time in on their own,” Amato said. “We’re all gonna make mistakes. We’ve all got erasers on our pencils. And they all wear out before the pencil does. … If we were perfect from the get-go, we wouldn’t need to practice 29 times before we play our first game.”
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Page 14F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Images from the 2009 Wakulla War Eagle Picture Day
By KEITH BLACKMAR
Picture Day on Saturday, Aug. 15 at J.D. Jones Stadium and Jerry Reynolds Field. It wasn’t all serious business for WakulAbove, War Eagle players put on their la War Eagle football players at the 2009 game face after group shots were snapped. Wakulla has some size this year although speed is always a good thing to have as well. Top right, Casey Eddinger changed his uniform from baseball to football and displayed his quarterback arm. Teammates were catching his tosses down the field and throwing back to Lorenzo Randolph, 33, while other units of the team were having their pictures taken. Below right, Matt Fields, Luke Taylor, WAR Randolph, Dalton Hall and Tyler Schmidt show that their time in the weight room EAGLES has not been wasted. Wakulla will need a strong, physical presence on the gridiron to take on larger schools like Lincoln, Leon, Chiles and others. kblackmar@thewakullanews.net
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Please help show your support for the 2009 Wakulla War Eagles by purchasing season tickets from the Wakulla Gridiron Club. Call to see if your seats from last year are still available. There will be five home games this year. Tickets can be purchased online at www.wakullagridiron.com or payments can be mailed to the Gridiron Club, 21 Tupelo Dr. Crawfordville, FL. You may contact Abbie Messer at 509-3902 for additional information.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
WHS Football
The Wakulla News – Page 15F
Florida State University depth chart and schedule QB 7 Christian Ponder | 6-2, 217, Jr., RS 3 E.J. Manuel | 6-4, 223, Fr., RS 16 Will Secord | 6-3, 204, Fr., HS TB 38 Jermaine Thomas | 6-1, 190, So., 1V 33 Ty Jones | 5-11, 203, So., 1V 39 Tavares Pressley | 6-1, 202, Jr., RS 24 Lonnie Pryor | 6-1, 195, Fr., HS WR 80 Jarmon Fortson | 6-3, 223, So., 1V 86 Rod Owens | 6-0, 183, Sr., RS 84 Rodney Smith | 6-6, 208, Fr., HS 19 Josh Gehres | 6-3, 195, Fr., HS WR 83 Bert Reed | 5-11, 165, So., RS 9 Richard Goodman | 6-0, 191, Sr., RS 14 Avis Commack | 6-4, 195, So., 1V 87 Cameron Wade | 6-6, 209, So., RS WR 8 Taiwan Easterling | 5-11, 187, So., RS 89 Louis Givens | 5-8, 170, Sr., 3V 82 Willie Haulstead | 6-3, 210, Fr., HS TE 81 Caz Piurowski | 6-7, 271, Sr., 3V 88 Beau Reliford | 6-7, 241, So., 1V 85 Ja’Baris Little | 6-4, 226, So., 1V 40 Matt Dunham | 6-2, 250, Jr., RS OT 67 Andrew Datko | 6-6, 283, So., 1V
76 Garrett Faircloth | 6-6, 288, Fr., HS OT 77 Zebrie Sanders | 6-5, 288, So., 1V 73 Rhonne Sanderson | 6-4, 288, So., 1V OG 62 Rodney Hudson | 6-2, 285, Jr., 2V 73 Rhonne Sanderson | 6-4, 288, So., 1V OG 79 David Spurlock | 6-5, 285, So., 1V 57 Brandon Davis | 6-2, 281, Jr., RS C 60 Ryan McMahon | 6-3, 282, Jr., RS 63 A.J. Ganguzza | 6-3, 268, So., RS 59 Henry Orelus | 6-2, 292, Fr., HS DE 96 Toshmon Stevens | 6-5, 228, So., HS 95 Kevin McNeil | 6-2, 257, Sr., 3V 91 Craig Yarborough | 6-0, 241, Sr., 3V DE 98 Markus White | 6-4, 261, Jr., 2V 49 Brandon Jenkins | 6-2, 240, Fr., HS 55 Jamar Jackson | 6-4, 240, So., RS 93 Everette Dawkins | 6-2, 258, So., 1V NT 56 Kendrick Stewart | 6-2, 271, Sr., RS 72 Budd Thacker | 6-2, 276, Sr., 3V 93 Everette Dawkins | 6-2, 258, So., 1V DT 90 Moses McCray | 6-2, 298, So., 1V 99 Jacobbi McDaniel | 6-0, 267, Fr., HS
97 D. McAllister | 6-3, 263, Fr., HS LB 13 Nigel Bradham | 6-2, 235, So., 1V 44 Maurice Harris | 6-0, 212, So., RS LB 36 Dekoda Watson | 6-2, 226, Sr., 3V 12 Nigel Carr | 6-3, 230, So., 1V 16 Mister Alexander | 6-2, 227, Jr., RS LB 29 Kendall Smith | 6-1, 230, Jr., 2V 48 Recardo Wright | 6-2, 226, Sr., 3V 51 Aaron Gresham | 6-2, 237, So., RS CB 15 Ochuko Jenije | 5-10, 188, Jr., RS 28 Dionte Allen | 5-11, 172, So., RS 5 Greg Reid | 5-9, 175, Fr., HS CB 21 Patrick Robinson | 5-11, 194, Sr., 3V 26 AJ Alexander | 5-11, 180, Fr., RS 27 Xavier Rhodes | 6-2, 195, Fr., HS S 22 Korey Mangum | 6-0, 202, Sr., RS 10 Nick Moody | 6-1, 235, Fr., RS 30 Jajuan Harley | 6-2, 210, Fr., HS S 20 Jamie Robinson | 6-2, 188, Sr., RS 4 Terrance Parks | 6-1, 196, So., 1V 37 Ed Imeokparia | 6-0, 186, Fr., RS K 18 Dustin Hopkins | 6-2, 174, Fr., HS
41 James Esco | 6-1, 205, So., 1V H 18 Dustin Hopkins | 6-2, 174, Fr., HS 41 James Esco | 6-1, 205, So., 1V P 45 Shawn Powell | 6-5, 217, So., 1V PR 83 Bert Reed | 5-11, 165, So., RS 5 Greg Reid | 5-9, 175, Fr., HS LS 65 Zack Aronson | 6-2, 218, Sr., RS
Sept. 7, Miami-FL (ESPN) 8 p.m. Sept. 12, Jacksonville St. (ESPN360) 6 p.m. Sept. 19, at BYU (Versus) 7 p.m. Sept. 26, South Florida TBA Oct. 3, at Boston College TBA Oct. 10, Georgia Tech TBA Oct. 22, at North Carolina 8 p.m. Oct. 31, NC State TBA Nov. 7, at Clemson TBA Nov. 14, at Wake Forest TBA Nov. 21, Maryland TBA Nov. 28, at Florida TBA
WAKULLA HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 09/04/2009.... H......Taylor County High School (Perry) 09/11/2009.... A......East Gadsden High School (Havana) 09/18/2009.... A......North Florida Christian School (Tallahassee) 10/02/2009.... H......Florida State University High School (Tallahassee) 10/09/2009.... H......Lincoln High School (Tallahassee) 10/16/2009.... H......Jefferson County High School (Monticello) (Homecoming) 10/23/2009.... A......Chiles High School (Tallahassee) 10/30/2009.... A......Walton High School (DeFuniak Springs) 11/06/2009.... H......Leon High School (Tallahassee) 11/13/2009.... A......FAMU Developmental Research School (Tallahassee)
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Page 16F – The Wakulla News
WHS Football
Thursday, September 3, 2009
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