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Football previews: Class 5A-District 6

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Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2009

BLOOMINGDALE BULLS

STADIUM: Charley Harris Stadium

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-District 6

COACH: John Booth (First season)

ON OFFENSE: After reaching the playoffs for the first time in school history in 2008, new Bulls coach John Booth said he isn't looking to "re-invent the wheel," and is hoping to build on the success that Bloomingdale had last season.

The Bulls are going to use the spread offense and will be more focused on running. At running back, the Bulls will have a couple of different options including the team's everywhere player Eugene Perry. Perry had 71 rushes last season and will see time split out at wide receiver and quarterback, but will be in heavy rotation in the back field. Sophomore Chris Herald has been impressing coaches in preseason workouts as well with a steady mix of speed and strength.

In the passing game, the Bulls will be mixing up the quarterback play of Joe Campoamor and Perry. Booth said he is working on a number of formations and hopes to keep opposing defenses off-balance with a lot of different looks. Campoamor will be the Bulls pocket passer, while the more mobile Perry will be used to disrupt opposing defenses with his feet. Perry, however, will also be seeing significant time out of the back field and split out at wide receiver. The spread offense is set up for passing and the Bulls have some targets picked out. Senior Sean Tate will be someone Booth hopes will be able to use his size at 6-2, 185 pounds to help on short yardage plays either as a sure-handed receiver or blocker. Sophomore Sean Minnifield will be a nice counter to Tate's size and power with good speed and an ability to stretch the field. The Bulls will also look to see production in both its passing and rushing game from junior TE Logan Norris. Norris is 6-3, 250 pounds with quick footwork and a lot of athleticism.

ON DEFENSE: The Bulls are planning on running a pressure filled 4-3, looking to play aggressively and capitalize on turnovers. The Bulls lost a lot of players to graduation from last season and will have to have a number of players step into big roles. The top five defensive leaders in tackles all graduated taking a lot of experience and leadership with them .However, Booth said he hopes to get a lot of on-filed leadership from senior defensive end Chris Diemer, who averaged a little over 3 ½ tackles per game last season and had two sacks, as well as last season's fullback and now middle linebacker, senior Anthony Amos.

DURANT COUGARS

STADIUM: Ron Frost Athletic Complex, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-6

COACH: Mike Gottman (37-28, seventh season)

ON OFFENSE: New Cougars offensive coordinator Mike Bradley will have plenty of weapons at his disposal with returning starters like quarterback Je'Twan Smith, running back/receiver John Hicks and receiver David Claypool.

That trio was among the team's top offensive performers in 2008. Smith, a junior who is a threat with his feet and his arm, accounted for 900 total yards of offense last season, but he has the potential to easily double that total this year.

Hicks had 594 total yards of offense last season along with seven touchdowns, which tied for the team lead, and Gottman has vowed to get the ball in the senior's hands as much as possible. And Claypool also had a good 2008 (14 receptions for 229 yards) and made big strides during the summer.

The problem the Cougars have is the lack of size and experience along the offensive line. If that group can get things going, Durant could have one of the most explosive offenses in the county.

ON DEFENSE: The Cougars defense definitely has some holes to fill.

The bulk of their key contributors on the defensive line in 2008 were lost to graduation, as were two of their top tacklers in linebackers Billy Whitcomb and Marshon Shoemake.

Perhaps the best news is the return of senior linebacker Ruben Garcia, an all-conference performer who had his 2008 season cut short after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee.

TJ Davis returns in the secondary, where Hicks will double as a two-way starter as well, and Gottman is counting on undersized linebacker Sean Kolanowski to play a big role this season.

NEWSOME WOLVES

STADIUM: Newsome Stadium, 16550 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-6

COACH: Kenneth Hiscock (20-11, fourth season)

ON OFFENSE: The Wolves love to keep the ball on the ground, and the best news for their vaunted rushing attack is the return of fullback Conner Powers. Powers, a junior, has rushed for more than 2,000 total yards in his first two prep seasons and is coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign (1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2008).

Powers' younger brother Keller also is back, and Hiscock has praised the efforts of senior Darnell Tucker, a speedster capable of going the distance every time he touches the ball.

The questions marks for the Wolves are on the offensive line and under center, where untested senior Matt Klenke takes over as the team's starting quarterback.

ON DEFENSE: Newsome's defense ranked as one of the best in Hillsborough County in 2008, and while the Wolves have a few holes to fill with the loss of linemen Conor O'Neal and Frank Marin and linebacker Trent Cornwell to graduation, the talent that returns shouldn't be cause for too much of a drop off.

Hiscock believes defensive end Shawn Boone (41 tackles, seven sacks in 2008) is in for a breakout season, and linebacker Joe Worth (71 tackles, six sacks) also returns to provide stability in the middle. Add in the return of versatile defender Niko Anthony, a three-year starter, and the pieces are in place for another solid season.

PLANT CITY RAIDERS

STADIUM: Raider Stadium, One Raider Place, Plant City

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-6

COACH: Jason Strunk (3-7, second season)

ON OFFENSE: The Raiders have the benefit of returning most of their skill position players, which should help the team do much better than in 2008, when the unit averaged just 11 points per game.

Running back Dasmond Patterson, who started last year as a freshman, will pace the ground attack and could be in for a breakout season. Recevier Mike Harris and tight end Jordan Prestwood both are big targets with good hands. And versatile athlete Cortez Hargrett, who will be used in several different positions, is a big-time playmaker.

Sophomore Bennie Coney steps in as the new starting quarterback, and coaches love his arm strength. The key will be the play of the offensive line, which struggled mightily last year.

ON DEFENSE: The Raiders lost a pair of Division I recruits in Denzel Drone and Duran Lowe and a couple other solid players on this side of the ball, but Strunk believes this unit should be improved from 2008.

The defensive line should be the strength as the entire group is back, led by stocky nose guard Durrell Lowe. Linebacker Art Knight should provide some stability in the middle. The secondary will be a bit shorthanded at the start, as Raheem Billington will miss the first few weeks after suffering a broken ankle.

RIVERVIEW SHARKS

STADIUM: J. Vince Thompson Stadium, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview

CLASS-DISTRICT: 5A-6

COACH: Bruce Gifford (2-8, second season)

ON OFFENSE: Riverview has the pieces in place to have a great ground attack, led by the return of running back Ronnie Johnson (854 rushing yards in 2008), and an experienced offensive line, led by three-year starter Bryan Giordano.

Terrance Carter (447 rushing yards last season) also will see some carries, and James Saunders has played his way into the rotation as well with strong efforts during the spring and summer.

Jarid Heffers will the unquestioned starting quarterback this year. Heffers split time under center last season.

ON DEFENSE: The Sharks have some holes to fill, notably at linebacker – where they lost their top two tackles, Devin Ray and Shannon Burch to graduation – and in the secondary – where they lost Willie Timmons to graduation and Corey Fisher to transfer.

Davale Royal, a backup linebacker last season, is penciled in as one replacement in the middle and coaches believe he's ready to step up, and Jacob Farmer, who had nine sacks last season, returns to lead a defensive line that should be the strength of the team.

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