TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Football previews: Class 4A-District 10

ADVERTISEMENT

Tribune staff

Published: September 1, 2009

LETO FALCONS

STADIUM: Mahin-Hoffman Stadium, 4409 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 4A-10

COACH: Hugh Dehnert (8-22, fourth season)

ON OFFENSE: Blessed with the biggest offensive line he's had since he became the head coach, Dehnert expects a lot from this unit this season. A lot of its success will be because of running back Jeremy Deering. With nearly 30 Division I scholarship offers, Deering's prepared to end his football career with a flourish. He's had back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard seasons and will surely get a third. New quarterback Dominic Marino and receiver Micah Leon have the skills to open things up.

ON DEFENSE: Dehnert's got a lot of talent on this side of the ball. One of the team's leading tacklers last season, outside linebacker Lorenzo Laporte is back. So is defensive back Fred Timmons. They are two of the hardest hitters on the team.

SICKLES GRYPHONS

STADIUM: Gryphons Stadium, 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 4A-10

COACH: Pat O'Brien (15-36, sixth season)

ON OFFENSE: With new additions to the coaching staff, quarterbacks coach Brian Turner and offensive coordinator Jeff Blum, the former Chamberlain coaches have implemented the triple-option scheme. There are three players vying for the starting quarterback spot – Jeff Wilton, John Hendrick and even starting middle linebacker Scott O'Donoghue. Whichever one wins the job, the other two will be involved also. Running back Cary White is also expected to carry a big load.

ON DEFENSE: O'Donoghue won't give up his day job even if he wins the starting quarterback job. He led the Gryphons with 126 tackles last season and will be key in stuffing the run this year. Defensive lineman Eric Taris and free safety Danny Fernandez are other key returners for the defense. Sickles also picked up a great defensive lineman, Ian Hopkins, just after the start of fall practice. Hopkins transferred from Alonso.

Other 4A-10 teams: Boca Ciega and Largo

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT