HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEWS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
NEWSOME WOLVES
@newsomewolvesfb Newsomefootball.com
KEY PLAYERS: Deandre Perez (Sr., WR),
Kyle Sellers (Sr., TE), Jason Albritton (So., RB), Kyle Hoerner (Sr., OL), Matt Rainey (Sr., OL), Patrick Lemelin (Sr., DL), Alex Judah (Jr., DL/LB), Caden Huffman (So., LB), Jack Arnone (Jr., DB), Ryan Eckley (So., K)
PLANT CITY RAIDERS 2019 SCHEDULE AUG. 23: at Bloomingdale AUG. 30: Spoto SEP. 6: at Alonso SEP. 13: Lennard SEP. 20: Durant SEP. 27: Riverview OCT. 4: at Robinson OCT. 11: Haines City OCT. 18: Sarasota Riverview OCT. 25: at Ridge Community
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he Wolves’ strengths rest in the trenches: Four of five offensive linemen return and the defensive line should be at least 8 to 10 players deep. Seniors Kyle Hoerner and Matt Rainey anchor that offensive line. Patrick Lemelin, who started every game last season, and junior Alex Judah lead the defensive line. For the Wolves to improve on their 4-6 season a year ago the secondary and skill positions are key. Deandre Perez will add defensive back to his roles in a bid to strengthen a unit susceptible to the big play. Jack Arnone is expected to lead the unit’s development after starting as a sophomore. In addition to Perez, tight end Kyle Sellers provides a reliable target and is attracting college attention. The task is to get them the ball more in a hybrid offense that has, for years, been run-dominated. Nick Felice and Kamarii Austin are vying to start at quarterback: Consistency is the most coveted quality for coach Christian Yockey in his second season. That won’t be a problem at kicker: Ryan Eckley has established himself among the area’s elite.
RIVERVIEW SHARKS
@rvsharkfootball riverviewhs.mysdhc.org
KEY PLAYERS: Barry Wyche III (Sr., QB),
Desmond Belser (Jr., Ath.), Cheyenne Graves (Jr., Ath.), Stazion Gage (So., Ath.), Gabriel Akpewero (Sr., WR), Kadeem Robinson (Jr. WR/S), Elmer Eubanks (Sr., Ath.), Christopher Duffy (Sr., LB), Aaron Smith (Sr., OT/G), Oliver Cushman (Sr., OG/T), Jason Albury (Jr., OT), Aidan Smith (Jr., DT/G), Ryan Peacock (Jr., MLB)
@PlantCityfb Plantcityfootball.com
KEY PLAYERS: Zamir’ Knighten (Sr.,
RB), Demario Williams (Jr., WR), Reagan Early (Jr., WR), Eric Mcleod (Sr., WR), Antron Robinson (Sr., DB), Keyshawn Green (Sr., LB), Emmanuel Baez (Sr., DE), D.J. Littles (Jr., DB), Jeren Bendorf (Sr., NG), John Lewis (Sr., NG), Raymundo Gonzalez (Sr., OT), Josiah Lancaster (So., OG/T), Andrew Walden (Jr., OT)
2019 SCHEDULE AUG. 23: Blake AUG. 30: at Durant SEP. 6: Brandon SEP. 13: at Haines City SEP. 20: at Strawberry Crest SEP. 27: at Newsome OCT. 4: Leto OCT. 11: at SRQ Riverview OCT. 18: at Ridge Community OCT. 25: Lennard
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friday night football tampa bay 2019 fnfmagazine.com
2019 SCHEDULE AUG. 23: at Jesuit AUG. 30: at Tampa Bay Tech SEP. 6: Gaither SEP. 13: Lakeland SEP. 20: at East Bay SEP. 27: at Bloomingdale OCT. 4: Armwood OCT. 11: at Strawberry Crest OCT. 18: Kathleen OCT. 25: Durant
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lant City looks for back-to-back playoff berths, but key vacancies need to be filled. Senior running back Zamir’ Knighten returns and may face a heavier workload (168 carries, 1038 yards), since only one other returning player carried the ball in 2018. Knighten is also a top pass catcher. Leading receiver Demario Williams (950 receiving yards) is back for his junior season. Senior Eric Mcleod completes one of the best and deepest receiver corps in the area. Senior transfer quarterback Makenzie Kennedy must transition to an offense that threw the ball significantly more than it ran last year. Plant City recorded 133 tackles for loss, including 30 sacks, but seven of the top 10 tacklers must be replaced. Senior Antron Robinson leads returnees, and senior Emmanuel Baez recorded six sacks in 2018. Juniors D.J. Littles and Williams and senior Jeren Bendorf saw action in 10 games, recorded double-digit tackles and must step up. Seniors John Lewis and Raymundo Gonzalez, junior Andrew Walden and sophomore Josia Lancaster should play roles in the trenches.
ROBINSON KNIGHTS
avid Coffey, the Sharks third coach in four seasons, takes the reins of a program seeking its first winning season since 2007. And he has some key pieces to build around, though exactly what sets and philosophy he will use them in remains to be seen. Barry Wyche III passed for 1,503 yards and completed 52 percent of his passes a year ago, but senior Gabriel Akpewero is the only experienced receiver returning. Junior Kadeem Robinson will be counted on to step up in a larger receiving role. Junior Desmond Belser led the team in rushing and carries. Wyche likely will be looking to get the ball into the hands of athletes Cheyenne Greaves and Stazion Gage. The latter played in six games last season as a freshman. Riverview must replace most of its starting defense: Senior Elmer Eubanks is the leading returning tackler despite playing in only a handful of games. Seniors Aaron Smith and Oliver Cushman likely will need to play key roles in the trenches, as will juniors Jason Albury and Aidan Smith. Senior Christopher Duffy and junior Ryan Peacock anchor the linebacker corps.
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fnf tampa bay 2019 presented by
@RHS _ FB _ Knights robinsonhs.mysdhc.org
KEY PLAYERS: Steven Verdisco (Sr., K),
Paul Miller (Sr., OL), Louis Kirchgessner Jr. (Sr., DB), Jaymes Wilson (Jr., RB), Destin Tiburcio (Sr., DL), James Furlong (Sr., LB), Clayton Lee (Sr., WR), Destin Gainer (Sr., DL), Leviticus McAfee (Jr., DB), Joshua Wiliamson (Jr., QB)
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2019 SCHEDULE AUG. 16: Steinbrenner AUG. 23: at Hillsborough AUG. 30: Alonso SEP. 6: at Freedom SEP. 13: Gibbs SEP. 27: at Booker OCT. 4: Newsome OCT. 11: Jesuit OCT. 18: Bayshore OCT. 25: Chamberlain NOV. 1: Plant
obinson was looking to get on even ground when it hired Craig Everhart to be the head coach, and he delivered with a 5-5 record after back-to-back losing seasons. The Knights still have a long way to go if they want to achieve their first winning season since 2012. “Last season was all about setting a foundation and establishing the appropriate culture for our program,” Everhart said. “(2019) will be an important year for the continued growth of our football program.” That growth will need to come with an almost entirely new lineup, as the Knights lost eight starters on offense (including four offensive linemen) and seven starters on defense. There’s also a three-way battle to replace record-setting quarterback Kobe Copple. One thing Robinson can hang its hat on is a strong finish to last season – after a heartbreaking, 21-20 loss to Middleton, the Knights closed things out with back-to-back wins over Jefferson and Bloomingdale. “We are graduating 24 seniors (in 2019),” Everhart said. “I am looking forward to see how this team comes together and answers the call.”