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Redeem Team?

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: September 4, 2008

The USA men's basketball team earned the moniker "The Redeem Team" in its quest to regain Olympic gold after a bronze-medal showing in 2004.

In 2007, the Nature Coast Technical football squad earned the equivalent of a silver medal, finishing second in both Class 3A, District 6 (to Crystal River) and the county (to Central).

Sure, the Sharks (7-4) garnered a second consecutive regional berth and were the only Hernando County club to reach the state playoffs.

But failing to repeat as the district champion and getting hung with yet another loss to bitter rival Central left the feeling of unfinished business.

"We expect to win the district, that's our goal every year," said Nature Coast Head Coach Jamie Joyner, beginning his fifth season. "We want to return to the state playoffs for the third year in a row.

"...It was definitely a huge disappointment (losing the district). It was a big letdown for us, hard to get over emotionally for the team."

The Sharks have another emotional hurdle to overcome. The team has dedicated the season to Scott Avery, a player who passed away at the end of the last school year.

"Obviously we're being as respectful as we can," Joyner said. "We'll use that as motivation for this season."

A fumble to forget

Nobody embodies the redemption theme more than the reigning county Player of the Year, junior running back Tevin Drake.

The 6-foot, 204-pound tailback suffered no sophomore slump, following up his 857-yard, 11-touchdown performance in half a season as a freshman with 1,527 yards and 22 scores.

In breaking Rian Williams' single-season school record for touchdowns, Drake earned an All-State selection, leaving little doubt where to find the focus of the Nature Coast veer-option offense.

"We expect greatness out of Tevin Drake and he expects it out of himself," Joyner said. "To this point I said Rian Williams was the best running back I ever coached. Tevin Drake is at another level.

"...Physically he's always been a downhill runner, which is great. He's a big kid. He runs hard. He never backs down."

Yet, Drake has something to prove. His fumble with 4:12 remaining in the regional quarterfinal against Citra-North Marion High essentially cost the Sharks a chance at upsetting the eventual region champion.

The second-ranked Colts scored twice following that turnover to turn a one-score game into a 34-13 rout. Drake ran for 108 yards on 25 carries and punched in two touchdowns, but that fumble still looms.

"This motivates me to keep the ball off the ground," Drake said. "If I keep the ball off the ground, we have a chance to beat North Marion. I don't want another game like that.

"...I want 2,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. That's 11 more than last year. I want to push myself to see if I can get that much."

"I think it will make him more dangerous," Joyner said. "He doesn't fumble the ball much. He's fumbled I think eight times in two years. But one in a game of that magnitude, you know it's something he's taken to heart. I don't think he's beating up on himself. But he's determined to not let it happen again."

It's fitting that a fumble proved Nature Coast's ultimate undoing. The Sharks fumbled the ball 30 times in the regular season, losing 14, a trend that has plagued them the past several years.

"It's something we've talked about since last season," Joyner said. "The big focus is the mental aspect. In practice we're harping on it; coaches with flags, punishment for putting the football on the ground.

"Last year we felt we were our own worst enemy. It's hard enough beating someone else; then to have to overcome yourself.

"Last year we had problems with the center-quarterback exchange. We went through a transition at fullback; we had problems there in the veer. But honestly except for us playing loose with the football, there's no explanation."

Changes on offense

Aside from Drake, the Sharks return junior fullback Antwan Story (565 yards, three touchdowns) and senior Eric Williams (244 yards, three touchdowns) in a deep backfield.

They also have their leading receiver back in senior Michael Fields (14 catches, 398 yards, two touchdowns) alongside junior Tony Roberts, who saw some action last year.

However, Nature Coast must break in an almost entirely new, though senior-laden, offensive line.

Senior Chad Dampier, a part-time starter last year, and Hernando High transfer Cory Emerson, a junior, will have the tall task of replacing Tim LaRose and J.J. Baker on the right side. The Sharks run most of their plays to that side.

Seniors Lane Dodson, Jacob Martin and Brad Lucier will line up left-to-right on the rest of the line. Junior Braddie Ellison gives Nature Coast a returning starter at tight end.

Joyner pointed to a Fellowship for Christian Athletes team camp that the Sharks attended this summer as bringing the team "further along at this point than ever before" and in particular allowed this new line time to jell.

"We're excited," Joyner said. "Last year the offensive line was a question mark because we were only returning two guys. This year it's a question mark because we're only returning one. We're not going to be as big as we have in the past. We've gotten more athletic than we ever have been.

"(Offensive line) Coach (Mike) Lastra always does a good job. He's probably our best position coach. They'll be some questions. He'll focus on them and give them the opportunity to prove they're up to the task at hand."

For the third year in a row, Nature Coast also has someone new under center. Junior C.J. Baker takes over at quarterback from Stephen Pelaez despite never throwing an official varsity pass.

He has almost no depth behind him, with Fields listed as his back-up. Fields has no prior experience at the position and Joyner admitted that's a concern.

"In our offense there's a lot of responsibility on the quarterback," Joyner said. "He (Baker) understands the veer, what we want out of the quarterback. We call a lot of audibles at the line, changing calls. That decision-making, the accountability, the work ethic. If the weight room is open he's here."

"It's going fine," Baker said. "I learned a lot from Steve (Pelaez). Coach is doing a good job of coaching me up and stuff.

"...I need to execute, run drills consistently. As long as I execute and get the job done, the team will have faith in me. That's all we need."

Linebackers and Liggett

Defensive coordinator Charles Liggett has established himself as a "doctor of defense" in consistently putting a solid unit on the field. Last year opponents averaged just 14.8 points per game in the regular season.

"I think the defense can do better, barring injuries," Liggett said. "Experience in the frontline and the linebacking corps. Every one of them has started on defense. Every one knows what we do as a team. Now it's a matter of, will they do it?"

Four seniors return at the starting linebacker positions: Howie Williams, Tadd Govedich, Britt Langley and Alfredo Lindo.

Returnees John Carbone, a junior, and D.J. Williams, a senior, are joined on the defensive line by new starters Rockkhem Greene, a senior, and Gary Myrick, a sophomore.

In the secondary, senior Avery Clemmons starts at safety with Roberts at one corner and Fields at the other.

Fields, the county's 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, earned All-State honors behind a county-record tying 10 interceptions.

"I think he's going to be better than last year," Joyner said. "I don't know if he'll have the numbers because I don't know if people are going to throw at him as much."

Though Joyner lamented the loss of safety Jimmy Huang, he too felt the defense could actually improve. The primary reason: linebackers and Liggett.

"I think we'll be faster," Joyner said. "I think the overall speed, it's going to be greater. We have eight seniors on defense, guys that have been in Coach Liggett's defense for four years. The guys believe in his philosophy. He's the professor; they'll do what he says."

If only the kicking game was as steady for the Sharks. They have Myrick penciled in as the punter, but the last-second move of Nick Allegra has the team in a desperate search for a place kicker.

D.J. Williams will handle kickoffs, and the team called up junior varsity kicker Matt Montano to fill the void left by Allegra.

"Special teams is a third of the game," Joyner said. "We take a lot of pride in special teams and not having a (proven) kicker is a huge concern."

District favorite
Nature Coast again figures to be a favorite in the district. Crystal River lost 22 seniors and its head coach while Hernando comes off a 2-10 campaign and will have a new coach, John Palmer.

Lecanto hasn't won a game since 2005, though Citrus returns star running back Antoin Scriven and will vie to return to the state playoffs for the fourth time in five years after a 5-5 2007.

And with Central in something of a rebuilding mode, the Sharks might have their best opportunity for their first win over the Bears - one more step on the road to redemption.

"For us it's always the same," Joyner said. "We've got to be able to run the football, stop the run and play great defense. And win the turnover battle. That's crucial for us."

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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