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Football previews: Class 5A-District 5

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Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2009

ALONSO RAVENS

STADIUM: Alonso Stadium, 8302 Montague St., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-5

COACH: Mike Heldt (35-36, ninth season)

ON OFFENSE: In his second full season as a starter, quarterback C.J. Bennett will have greater responsibilities. The University of Wyoming commit is fine with that. In fact, he knows the offensive scheme so well, coaches are comfortable with him making calls. Behind a physical offensive line, Bennett should have plenty of time to throw to his variety of weapons, including receivers Justen Davis, Jameel Gay and Dylan Fisher. Running back/wide receiver Jesse Anaya will line up in a variety of positions and running back Cody Verrelli is capable of pounding the ball when the Ravens do manage to run it.

ON DEFENSE: This is a rebuilding year for the Ravens. After losing FSU-bound Demonte McAllister and Teddy Eumo on the defensive line, the Ravens have been looking for several players to step up. One who has in a big way is defensive end Anthony Chickillo, a transfer from Gaither. Chickillo lead the Cowboys last season with 8.5 sacks and he's expected to provide a lot of pressure for Alonso. Also look for Joshua Armand to have a big year on the line.

CHAMBERLAIN CHIEFS

STADIUM: John Adcock Stadium, 9401 North Blvd., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-5

COACH: Joe Severino (68-90 overall, 16th season, first season at Chamberlain)

ON OFFENSE: First-year coach Joe Severino will run a Wing-T offense and will look to senior running back Roger Madraza to carry the load. As the third-string running back last season, Madraza rushed six times for 20 yards.

"He's very agile," Severino said. "He always goes 100 percent."

Severino said he will use a two-quarterback system, with senior Travis Hanchett and junior Thaddeous Baxley.

Hanchett was the back-up quarterback to Dontae Aycock last season, but did not complete a pass according to the team's statistics. He did rush three times for seven yards.

Baxley caught one pass for five yards a receiver and was also the team's kicker when the starter missed a few games due to injury.

"Travis throws better but Thaddeous runs better," Severino said. "They're both getting better at the other."

Whomever starts, 6-foot-4, 315 pound senior offensive lineman and Division I recruit Jarvis Henderson will be protecting him.

ON DEFENSE: Severino said he plans to run a 40 gap defensive formation. Former Chief and Kansas City Chiefs Oliver Hoyt has been hired as the defensive coordinator.

Junior Reshay Hubbard is the returning playmaker on the defense, coming off a sophomore season in which he totaled 73 tackles with four sacks as a member of one of the top defensive units in Hillsborough County.

Senior Justin Kirby will be expected to make plays on the defensive line. Last season, he recorded seven tackles and two sacks at linebacker. In the secondary, Dwayne Richardson will be key at strong safety.

GAITHER COWBOYS

STADIUM: Cowboy Stadium, 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-5

COACH: Mark Kantor (38-37, eighth season)

ON OFFENSE: With running back Jarvis Giles off to the University of South Carolina, the Cowboys are searching for an identity on offense. Sophomore running back Chadd Pierson is expected to be used primarily in a two-back system. Kantor jokingly calls Pierson "Waterbug" because he moves around the field so quickly. The offense will operate out the gun a bit more this season in a two-back spread scheme.

ON DEFENSE: Kantor implemented a new 3-3 stack system this season and this should be the unit that keeps Gaither competitive this year. The bulk of the team's talent is on the defensive side of the ball. A three tiered threat that begins up front with linemen Demetrius Best and Derrick Bavol and is manned in the middle by linebacker Josh Scarberry and ends in the last line of defense by safety Jamal Allen. The secondary will be tested this season with its new district rivals Alonso and Plant, two teams that air it out a lot.

PLANT PANTHERS

STADIUM: Dad's Stadium, 2415 S. Himes Ave., Tampa

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-5

COACH: Robert Weiner (52-13, sixth season)

ON OFFENSE: After taking over at quarterback for seven games last season, Phillip Ely assumes the role of full-time starter. Ely proved he's capable of winning the big games, but to better himself, he hit the weight room often in the offseason to bulk up and become stronger. He'll have a lot of speed to work with, including wide receiver Allen Sampson and running back T.J. Glover. James Wilder Jr. will also takes some snaps on the offensive side of the ball. While the Panthers will continue to air it out for the most part, a beefy, physical offensive line could lead to more of a ground game.

ON DEFENSE: Plant lost the entire starting defensive line from its 2008 state championship team. Wilder will start at defensive end. Middle linebacker Mike Mirabella, one of the team's leading tacklers the past two seasons, is back. So are defensive back Eric Dungy and Javonte Martin. This unit got some extensive work over the summer in 7-on-7 tournaments that will hopefully pay off in the regular season.

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