Seminoles aim to reload
SANFORD — The weather is brutally hot and there are 17 starters missing from last year’s Class 8A state semifinal team, but there is no talk of rebuilding at Seminole High football practices.
Instead, the Seminoles are talking about reloading after enjoying a breakout 12-1 season in 2016.
Seminole coach Don Stark said only five seniors will start, alongside of 17 underclassmen.
“They have something to prove,” Stark said.
The young Seminoles certainly are motivated to excel after a Payton Rivers field goal attempt in double-overtime bounced off the left upright last December, allowing Dr. Phillips to escape with a 37-34 state semifinal victory in Sanford.
“When two great teams get together, it seems to come down to one little play,” said Stark with a sense of disappointment. “But, it was really like 50 little plays. We should have never been in that situation.”
Rivers is one of graduates who moved on to college or other things this year. In addition to being the team’s kicker, Rivers was a starting cornerback who played with a dislocated shoulder during the final few games.
Athletes playing or at least practicing through pain already has become a reality this season as Kobe Lewis, one of the team’s projected leaders, fractured a rib in summer 7-on-7 passing league play. Despite the injury, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound a senior outside linebacker recently executed a 300-pound squat in the weight room.
Lewis is expected to take the field for an Aug. 25 season opener at Lake Howell.
“He’s a tough kid,” Stark said. “He’s worked hard in the offseason. He rotated in at linebacker with a couple of other guys last year. He’s the one known commodity (at linebacker).”
Lewis leads a defense that has great team speed and is part of a team that Stark says is stronger in the weight room this season.
Having drawn interest from Warner and Eastern Kentucky, among others, Lewis said he needs to get better at tackling, but is not overly concerned with individual goals this season. In his mind, the playoffs are the goal.
“I don’t care what I do,” Lewis said. “I just want to have a good season. We’re just trying to win a district championship.”
Seminole’s players on the offensive side of the ball share the same attitude. One such player is senior running back Vernon Mamwell (5-8, 175), who figures to get a lot of touches with the graduation of star D.J. Hampton, who now plays for Southern Illinois.
“I think we can continue winning,” Mamwell said. “We have a lot more talent.”
Mamwell showed his readiness during the spring game in May when he rushed seven times for 111 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown in a 48-14 rout of Winter Springs.
The speedy back will run behind Kenneth Horsey, a mammoth 6-4, 335-pound lineman who has offers from Mississippi State, USF and UCF, to name a few.
“We’re not as big on the O-line and not as fast as a team, but strength-wise, we’re better,” Stark said.
Keeping everyone healthy also will be key.
The ‘Noles will be without star wide receiver Juri Sabb until midseason. Sabb suffered a knee injury in the summer.
Stark’s smile hints at hidden talents that the ‘Noles have yet to reveal.
“We’re going to compete,” Stark said. “Our goal is to compete for a district championship.”