KEYS GRIDIRON GREATS

Sean McDonald Names His Top 11 Monroe County Football Teams

With school out and prep sports at their slowest, summer is the perfect time to delve into some topics that the Sports Wrap does not quite have space for during other times of the year. This week, we look back on some teams of the past to try and determine the greatest football teams in Monroe County history. Ranked in no particular order, we chose 11 teams to signify the 11 athletes who take the field at one time for each team.

1953 Key West High School

In an era in which a 200-pound lineman was considered formidable, the 1953 Conchs took on larger squads all across South Florida, refusing to back down to any opponent despite being outmanned most weeks. Coached by Ed Beckman, the Conchs amassed an 8-0-2 record that season, reaching as far as sixth place in the state according to various polls. It would be, and still stands as, the only undefeated season in school history. Despite a polio outbreak on the island, the Conchs won the Gold Coast Conference football championship that year with a hardscrabble team that endured a multitude of injuries. According to old news footage, the Conchs’ eleven suffered every imaginable issue, from sprains to carbuncles. Notable players included Joe Pineda, Ralph White, Red Stickney, Norman Allen, Don Cruz and Glynn Archer.

1953 Douglass School Tigers

There must have been something in the water in the ’40s which made the young men who populated the gridiron in the ’50s a notably tough lot. In 1953, the island of Key West had two spectacular football teams. Prior to desegregation, Black students attended Frederick Douglass School, which later became Glynn Archer Elementary. Coach Alphonso Dean’s ’53 Tigers earned respect and is largely considered the best school in team history. Scarce records do not reveal the team’s wins for the season, but the highlight that year was a lopsided 39-0 victory over Stuart Vocational High. The team’s roster included Donald Carey, Hugh Bryant, Robert Whyms, Joseph Kee, Floyd Sweeting, Alfred Curry, Lionel Ashe, Kernel Albury and James Leland.

1959

Key West High School

Amassing an impressive 9-1-1 record, the ninthranked Conchs suffered just one loss in ’59. That loss would be in their championship game at the Orange Bowl. Coach Harold Allen had the benefit of first team all-state quarterback George “The Matador” Mira, who would go on to play at the University of Miami, then professionally, as well as Boog Powell, who chose to play professional baseball with the Baltimore Orioles.

1978 Coral Shores High School

Coach Jim Mooney’s talented ’78 squad boasted three all-state players, including offensive linemen Clay Reed and Scott Stover as well as defensive back Mike Carrier. Their 7-3 record was the most wins for a Hurricanes team to that point.

1979 Key West High School

Coach Gene Roberts led the Conchs to their third consecutive district championship in ’79, going 8-2 on the season. Roberts’ team was so successful that he hosted a weekly cable television show featuring the Conchs football squad. His son, Preston Roberts, was named as an all-state second team member and signed to play at University of Florida. Leading the team on their stellar three-season run was running back Robert “Speedy” Neal. Neal broke the single-game rushing record for the Conchs with 261 yards –one of four separate times that season he rushed for more than 200 yards in a game, leading the entire state. He was named Player of the Year by Miami News, earned a spot on the first team all-state squad, and signed with the University of Miami, where he earned a national championship ring. Neal played for the Buffalo Bills following his successful collegiate career.

1981 Mary Immaculate High School

Coach Darold Leto earned the Coach of the Year award from Miami News after winning eight games and making a state playoff appearance in the ‘81 season. The big star for the Mariners that season was offensive lineman Paul Folsom, who earned second team all-state honors.

1989 Key West High School

The ‘89 Conchs became the first Keys team to play in a state championship game. Coach Pat Freeman’s team amassed a 10-2 record that season, traveling over eight hours to Daytona Beach to play in 30-degree weather. Over 3,000 fans took the trip and froze alongside the team. Freeman enjoyed one of the most talented rosters in Keys history. Offensive lineman William Roche and defensive lineman Chris Thompson received first team all-state honors and offensive lineman Chris Sauners and defensive back Blane Barroso were named to the third team. The star of the Conchs in ‘89 was Corey Sawyer, who was honored with first team all-state and Parade Magazine All-American status. Sawyer went on to play at Florida State, where he also earned All-American honors and an NCAA D1 national championship ring. He played in the NFL for the Bengals and Jets.

1993 Coral Shores High School

Coach Rich Russell’s third-ranked Hurricanes won their conference championship in the ‘93 season, setting a school record by winning 10 games. The 10-1 team had five all-state players on their roster that season, including third team defensive back Mike McGill, second team defensive lineman Terry Harrelson, running back Willie Whitehead and quarterback Matt Proskine. The star of the ‘Canes’ season was Demond “Kiki” Scott, who was first in the state in touchdowns scored with 26. Scott signed to play football at West Virginia while Proskine was signed to Lehigh University.

2000 Marathon High School

Coach Jerry Jones’ 2000 Dolphins ranked as high as eighth in the state that season, earning a 12-2 record. The 12 wins stands as the county’s most in a season over 20 years later. The team made it to the final four with help from running back Joey Struyf, who was awarded first team all-state team honors before playing at Florida International University. Teammates Jovani Gonzales and Jason Kitchen earned second team all-state honors, giving the Dolphins one of their most talented crews ever.

2013 Coral Shores High School

Coral Shores’s 2013 squad was led to an 8-3 record by Coach Ed Holly, who won the Southeastern Football Conference’s Coach of the Year award that season. The ‘Canes won their conference title and went on to the state playoff game, where they ultimately lost. Defensive lineman Anthony Rice was named to the first team all-state team before signing to play collegiate football at Iowa Western University.

1987 MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL

Marathon’s 1987 team earned a 9-1 record, giving the Fins their highest win percentage to date. The Dolphins were ranked second in the state by at least one news organization and won their district championship, breaking several scoring records along the way. The Dolphins put up 259 points that season and allowed just 75 by their competitors. Coached by Bill Sympson, Marathon’s ‘87 team boasted three-time all-state offensive lineman Vernon Goodwin and first team running back Troy Campbell, who was also named Miami News Player of the Year. It would be Campbell’s second time earning that honor. Odell Robbins, the team’s punter, was awarded second team status. Troy Campbell had a least 1,000 yards in all four years of his varsity career, and went on to play at Akron University.