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Football previews: Class 5A-District 7

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Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2009

BRANDON EAGLES

STADIUM: E.F. McLane Stadium, 1101 Victoria St., Brandon

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-7

COACH: John Lima (12-20, fourth season)

ON OFFENSE: The Eagles have the benefit of returning two of their biggest playmakers in running back Darius Lee and receiver Sean Watson. Lee, a junior, took over the starting job two games into the 2008 season and went on to have a very productive year, rushing for more than 800 games. Watson, a senior, proved to be a great target in the passing game late in the season, providing a plethora of big plays down the stretch.

The main concerns for the Eagles are who is going to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers and will the line be able to block.

Junior Josh Celerin and sophomore Alan Knipple are battling for the starting quarterback spot. Lima said both players have their moments, but their youth is still reason for concern. While Lima's hoping one show enough during preseason practice to win the starting job outright, it is possible the two end up splitting time under center.

The offensive line was ravaged by injuries last year, which devastated the unit's production in 2008 but also helped set the stage for this season. While most of those vying for playing time young, they gained some valuable experience last year when pressed into duty.

ON DEFENSE: The Eagles defense has typically been pretty good since Lima took over the program. Last year the unit held the opposition to 20 or fewer points in six of Brandon's 10 games, a respectable performance considering how much the offense struggled.

The secondary has the benefit with Watson and Lee doubling as defensive backs, and the defense also gets a big boost with the return of defensive lineman Sean Council, a converted linebacker who had 71 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2008.

Lima also expects senior linebacker Travis Freeman to play a key role.

FREEDOM PATRIOTS

STADIUM: Freedom Stadium, 17410 Commerce Park Blvd., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-7

COACH: James Harrell (first year coaching)

ON OFFENSE: First-year coach James Harrell was on the sidelines with one of the best offensive teams in the state in 2008 as the defensive coordinator at Plant, which won the Class 4A state title.

Harrell has hired longtime friend and former NFL running back and Wharton assistant coach James Jones as the offensive coordinator and said he wants to establish a physical style of offense.

"We'll run some spread offense," Harrell said. "We'll take what we can get."

Freedom's starting quarterback the last two years, rising junior Josh Grady, transferred to Armwood after the season, but Harrell is confident senior quarterback Tyler Guy, who transferred in from Zephyrhills, will give the team the ability to create balanced offense.

ON DEFENSE: Harrell said he plans on implementing the same defense he used at Plant, which helped the Panthers secure its second state title in three years.

"We'll run some over-under, 3-4 and Cover 2," Harrell said. "If you do what kids can do, then you win football games. You've got to get kids to lineup right and play assignment football. They like it so far. Its contagious."

Harrell feels the personnel he has on defense (DT Jahari Moore, LB Keith Lewis, LB Anthony Harrell, LB Shadow Williams and DB T.J. Mutherson) will establish Freedom as one of the more physical teams in Hillsborough County.

TAMPA BAY TECH TITANS

STADIUM: Titan Stadium, 6410 Orient Road, Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-7

COACH: C.C. Culpepper (16-6, third season at TBT)

ON OFFENSE: With fullback Maurice Hagens back for a fourth year of plowing through the opposition, everyone should know by now what TBT's offense likes to do – run the ball down your throat. What might surprise some teams this year, however, is the complexity of the Titans' run-oriented scheme, which can have multiple looks, as well as the ability to switch to a spread or shotgun formation.

With a line that averages more than 260 pounds per man and plenty of depth there, too, the power running game will be no problem for the Titans. The key to venturing deep into the playoffs will be the progress of junior quarterback Johnathan Williams, who has loads of talent but a lack of experience, and finding a feature back to take some of the load off Hagens. If TBT can do that, they will be difficult to contain.

ON DEFENSE: A big, experienced, hard-hitting defense is awaiting TBT's opponents this fall. Like the offense, the defensive line boasts depth and size and the linebacking crew, led by Sam Jones, Greg Hickman and Tim Stewart – is one of the best in the area.

Anchored by Jerome Speights, Darius Anderson and Derrick McCray, the secondary is also a formidable unit. In fact, on paper, there's just not a weak spot to pick one with this Titans defense.

WHARTON WILDCATS

STADIUM: Mitchell D. Muley Stadium, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-7

COACH: David Mitchell (32-13, fourth year at Wharton)

ON OFFENSE: Fourth-year head coach David Mitchell said he wants to run a spread offense, using a 2 RB Shotgun formation to maximize the speed and power of senior running backs Shane McEwen and Malik Williams.

McEwen rushed for 1,087 yards and seven touchdowns while Williams ran for 485 yards and four touchdowns.

The offense will have to rebuild with the loss of starting quarterback Andrew Clifford, now a freshman at South Carolina. Mitchell said DeAndre Mills, Ryan Hatter and Tanner Stocker could all see playing time at quarterback.

Xavier Fisher will be the team's go-to receiver. Fisher was the third-leading receiver for the Wildcats in 2008 with 16 receptions for 264 yards and two touchdowns.

Wharton graduated four starting lineman from last year's playoff team and the Wildcats will be counting on Nold's experience and size (6-foot, 260 pounds) to control the offensive line.

ON DEFENSE: Mitchell plans to run multiple formations, which will include a 50-50, 4-3 and Cover 2. Mitchell said he wants to be more aggressive on defense and will install more blitz packages.

Senior defensive tackle Eric Hammond, who transferred from Hillsborough via Chamberlain in the summer, will add size and strength to the defensive line. Last season at Chamberlain, Hammond stared at defensive tackle, recording 75 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery.

Senior defensive back Terrance Hicks will lead the secondary while Kyle Wilcox will shine at linebacker.

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