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Football previews: Class 3A-District 8

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Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2009

BLAKE YELLOW JACKETS

STADIUM: James "Big Jim" Williams Stadium, 1701 North Blvd., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 3A-8

COACH: Harry Hubbard (38-33 overall, eighth season; first year at Blake)

ON OFFENSE: With the lack of size and depth on the offensive line, first-year coach Harry Hubbard said the team will run a spread offense in multiple formations.

"I have to use all of my talent," he said.

Junior quarterback Eugene Davenport has earned the starting position this year after sharing the spot with tight end Michael McFarland last season. As a sophomore, Davenport completed 67 of 157 passes for 866 yards and five touchdowns and also rushed for 211 yards and one touchdown.

"Eugene has the ability to make moves with his feet," Hubbard said.

Senior tight end Michael McFarland and senior receiver Phillip Davis will be the team's weapons in the passing attack. Last season, Davis caught 20 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns while McFarland, who verbally committed to Florida in the spring, 12 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

ON DEFENSE: Again, a lack of size of depth at the lineman position will force the Yellow Jackets to run a 3-4 formation. Linebackers Mike Moore and Greg Peterson and George Taliferno will be the standout players for Hubbard's defensive unit. Hubbard said McFarland (6-foot-6, 240 pounds) will also play sparingly at defensive end.

JEFFERSON DRAGONS

STADIUM: Sam Horton Field, 4401 W. Cypress St., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 3A-8

COACH: Mike Fenton (20-15, fourth season)

ON OFFENSE: This will be a fun offense to watch this season. Junior quarterback Quentin Williams was one of the county's leading passers last season. This year, with a full year as a starter under his belt, coaches have amped things up a bit and added some more complex routes. Wide receiver Andre Davis will be a favorite target of Williams. Davis burst onto the scene this summer and is a quarterback's best friend because he rarely drops the ball.

ON DEFENSE: Defensively, this might be the most talented group Fenton's had in his four years as the head coach. This unit will be led by a strong defensive line and also by linebackers Paul Brown, Otis Jones and Fred Overstreet and defensive back Rodney Mills.

SPOTO SPARTANS

STADIUM: Spartan Stadium, 8538 Eagle Palm Dr., Riverview

CLASS-DISTRICT: 3A-8

COACH: Dale Caparaso (24-28 overall, 4-7 at Spoto)

ON OFFENSE: The Spartans only threw the ball 115 times last year, but didn't throw one interception. Senior Jamar Burns, who started at running back last season, earned the quarterback position during fall practice. Burns was the second-leading rusher for the Spartans with 395 yards and four touchdowns. Spoto graduated its top receiver in June and second-year head coach Dale Caparaso is hoping Baker will become the new go-to receiver. In 2008, Baker caught six passes for 91 yards, including three catches for 44 yards against Bloomingdale.

Charles Waits, who played at Tampa Bay Tech last season, averaged 21 yards per carry during the team's spring jamboree, will be the featured back in Spoto's offense this season with Burns moving to quarterback. At Tech last season, Waits had five carries for 63 yards.

Linebacker Rodney Williams, who led the team in scoring last season with six touchdowns, will see an increased role at fullback with the departure of Tim Randolph, Spoto's leading rusher in 2008, who transferred to Robinson.

ON DEFENSE: Caparaso instilled an aggressive style of defense last season, blitzing more than half of the game to force opponents to change their game plan.

More often than not, the plan worked, and Caparaso is expecting an even greater season from a defensive unit the carried the program to its first playoff appearance.

"We're bigger and stronger," Caparaso said.

Matt Kacer, a transfer from Bloomingdale, should make an immediate impact on the defensive line. Kacer replaces recent graduate Sergio Robinson, who led the team in sacks in 2008.

All-County and All-State junior linebacker Rodney Williams returns for what could be a breakout season.

"Our defense is better this year," Williams said. "We have more athletes on the field."

Other 3A-8 teams: Dixie Hollins, Lakewood and Osceola

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