PREVIEWING PALM BEACH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL (SMALL SCHOOLS)
The 2018 high school football regular season kicks off this week. We get you ready with our team-by-team breakdowns of Palm Beach County’s small-school (Class 4A-1A/Independent) squads.
REGION 4-4A
Glades Central Coach: Jessie Hester, second season (second stint)
2017 record: 6-4, lost in regional
semifinals
Starters returning: 6 on offense,
5 on defense
Big man on campus: Senior defensive back E.J. Jackson enters his second season with the Raiders as one of the top players in Palm Beach County. The Super 11 selection and three-star prospect had six interceptions last year and holds offers from FAU, Louisville, USF and more.
Outlook: The Raiders’ first season in Hester’s second stint with the team ended with disappointment. Glades Central dropped a heartbreaking Muck Bowl to rival Pahokee before suffering a 23-point blowout against Fort Lauderdale-University in the first round of the playoffs. But there is still plenty of talent in
Belle Glade. Jackson is one of the county’s top players, as is senior wide receiver Jymetre Hester, who had 797 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Senior quarterback Davius Richards will be throwing to him. The junior won the job midway through the season in 2017 and threw for 1,228 yards and 14 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
The Raiders return several other key players, including tight end Frankivious Rolle, offensive linemen Latiel Allen and defensive lineman Kourtney Ware.
REGION 2-3A
Cardinal Newman Coach: Joe Molina, first season
2017 record: 5-4 Starters returning: 3 on offense,
4 on defense
Big man on campus: The Crusaders have two, one on each side of the ball. First is senior quarterback Ethan DiBeradino. He’s an intelligent player, who has grasped the playbook very well. The four-year player is a student of the game with a canon for an arm. The other is senior DE/LB Jayson Martin. He is faster than most coming off the ball and according to coach Molina is “strong as an ox, just an all-around player.”
Outlook: The Crusaders will compete in a Class 3A region with expectations of becoming a serious playoff contender. Newman has a wide variety of running backs who are expected to produce, including Chris D’Or, Jaydon Hood and Jason Martin. They will be the key to the team’s offensive success, while creating the balance needed to keep opponents guessing. A seniorheavy roster has the leadership to be a playoff contender. Newman will run a spread offense and a basic 3-4 defense. Coach Molina begins his first year at Newman after five years on the staff at Dwyer. King’s Academy Coach: Keith Allen, fourth season
2017 record: 7-2, lost in the Class 3A regional semifinals
Starters returning: 7 on offense,
7 on defense
Big man on campus: Quarterback Justin Wake has been the Lions’ starter since halfway through his freshman season, and has lost only four games since taking over the job. Overlooked by colleges because of his size, Wake has a big, accurate arm which makes him a dangerous weapon.
Outlook: King’s Academy has put together two straight winning seasons, including an undefeated campaign in 2016. The Lions find themselves in unfamiliar territory entering the year, having lost their last two contests, but should continue their recent success behind an offense filled with seniors. Senior wide receivers Jeremiah Scroggins and Cory Croteau should prove reliable targets. The Lions seem poised for another playoff appearance.
REGION 4-3A
American Heritage Coach: Keith Hindsley, fourth season 2017 record: 5-5 Starters returning: 7 on offense,
6 on defense
Big man on campus: Senior tight end/defensive end Mike Morris (6-5, 255) currently ranks No. 4 on the Post’s Big Board and is committed to Florida State. Morris made it clear he’s“tired of losing” and is ready to restore a winning culture to one of the area’s top programs.
Outlook: There’s a case to be made this year’s Stallions team is the most talented since current FAU All-American running back Devin Singletary was dismantling opposing defenses as a senior in 2015. Morris is arguably Palm Beach County’s best defensive lineman and his size will create mismatches in the passing game, offering junior Zachary Bohannon — a transfer from Saint John
Paul II — a reliable target. Wide receiver Connor Hindsley (No. 19 on the Big Board) and linebacker Marc Dagobert (No. 25) each have solidified themselves as elite players, while three-star running back Dallis Small has been offered by FAU and could wind up replacing Singletary one day.
Benjamin Coach: Eric Kresser, first season
2017 record: 8-3, lost in the Class 3A regional finals
Starters returning: 5 on offense,
5 on defense
Big man on campus: Kaiir Elam is a standout four-star cornerback with offers from 39 schools including UF, FSU, Georgia, Ohio State, Auburn and Clemson. The Super 11 selection is the son of former NFL safety Abe Elam and nephew of former Florida Gator star Matt Elam.
Outlook: An influx of transfers, from Oxbridge Academy and elsewhere, will bolster both the quality and quantity of Benjamin’s roster. The Buccaneers will look to build upon their 8-3 record and regional final appearance behind a trio of sophomore quarterbacks in Santino Marucci, Michael Edwards and Carson Wiener. Elam, who said the team’s expectations are set on an undefeated regular season and a state championship, will lead the way on defense from his cornerback position. “The young guys have been committed all summer, and they’ve stepped it up in the weight room and in conditioning, and I think we are setting ourselves up for a good year,” said Kresser.
St. Andrew’s Coach: Jimmy Robertson, third season 2017 record: 7-2 Starters returning: 7 on offense,
5 on defense
Big man on campus: Junior tight end/linebacker Matt Goodman is quietly emerging as one of the more intriguing class of 2020 players in Palm Beach County. With freshman Jeremiah Young expected to start at quarterback, expect Goodman to hear his number called on offense when he’s not making plays on defense.
Outlook: After struggling two years ago with injuries decimating a young roster, the Scots rebounded to post a winning record under Robertson last season. Though St. Andrew’s still fields a young roster, Robertson remains optimistic the team can build off last year’s 7-2 campaign. “A lot of them understand my goals, our goals for this program,” Robertson said.
St. John Paul II Coach: Larry Brannon, first season
2017 record: 2-7
Starters returning: Not available Big man on campus: Zachary Hammann led the Eagles with
662 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 22 receptions. Hammann averaged over 30 yards per catch and his yardage total at wide receiver nearly doubled that of his next closest teammate. Last season, he posted 100-yard receiving games against Bishop Verot and Marathon, and turned in a 289-yard, three touchdown performance against Pompano Beach.
Outlook: The Eagles look to rebuild under a first-year coach.
REGION 4-2A Glades Day Coach: Eric Pitts, sixth season
2017 record: 5-4, lost in regional
semifinals
Starters returning: 6 on offense,
7 on defense
Big man on campus: Junior Lorenzo Powe, who has been a starter for the Gators since he was in eighth grade, returns after racking up 637 yards and 10 TDs at running back while notching 55 tackles — seven for loss — and three sacks as a linebacker last year.
Outlook: The Gators bounced back strong after losing their first three games last year. They ended the year only one score short of advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Glades Day will have to replace several key players who graduated, including quarterback Alex Mineo, tight end/defensive end Jorge Acosta and offensive lineman J.J. Hernandez. Returning players like Powe, junior defensive back Anthony McPhee (23 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups), senior linebacker Rett Lohman (62 tackles, three for loss) and sophomore defensive back Jacob Camacho (16 tackles, five interceptions, two breakups) will likely play major roles.
Village Academy Coach: Dameon Hughes, first season 2017 record: 0-9 Starters returning: 6 on offense,
6 on defense
Big man on campus: Darrise Bridgett is a promising, young running back for a Tigers team looking for building blocks.
Despite being one of the team’s youngest players, a member of the class of 2022, Bridgett has assumed a leadership role at Village Academy. “We just want to practice, put in hard work and make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing on the field,” he said.“It’s important to make sure everyone is coming to practice, and it’s important that [my teammates] have good grades so that they can play, and we can make this season a successful season.”
Outlook: First-year head coach Dameon Hughes hopes to lead the Tigers turnaround by changing the culture around the program. “We’ve got to work hard, and kids have got to stay the course and stay together as one unit, and I think if we do that, we can be successful,” Hughes said. “I can’t predict any wins, but I can promise it will be a different team at Village Academy.”
REGION 4-1A
Pahokee Coach: Orson Walkes, third season
2017 record: 10-3-1, lost in the Class 1A state semifinals
Starters returning: 7 on offense,
8 on defense
Big man on campus: Ja’tarie Washington is a dynamic running back with the vision and balance to find the end zone consistently, something he was able to do 20 times last season. Washington, who may be best known around Pahokee for his game-winning touchdown in last year’s Muck Bowl, has college offers from Nebraska, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, among others. Outlook: The Blue Devils come in with their eyes set on competing for a state championship in Class 1A, and they have the talent to make a run. Defensive end and Louisville commit Latarie Kinsler will anchor the Blue Devils’ defense, and Washington will look to generate offense from the backfield. Pahokee has notable games against Atlantic and Palm Beach Gardens before closing their season with the Muck Bowl.
INDEPENDENTS
Berean Christian
Coach: Mario Jackson, second season
2017 record: 3-7
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 6 on defense
Big man on campus: Bulldogs coach Mario Jackson figures two of his starters will be catalyst for improvement. Senior DE/OG Zach Davis (6-21, 250) is considered a playmaker with a great motor and strength at the point of attack. He’s joined by junior RB/ OLB David Rimes (5-10, 190), who rushed for 832 yards and five touchdowns, is a hard worker with a nose for the football.
Outlook: Like most small schools, the Bulldogs lack depth. About 70 percent of the starters will play both ways. The team will compete as an independent in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference. While sticking with division games against Inlet Grove, Jupiter Christian and Gateway Charter, they’ve added Glades Day to the schedule. The Bulldogs will mainly run a spread offense and a 3-3-5 stack on defense. Big bonus this season is they have three kickers on the roster, which is three more than last season. Boca Raton Christian
Coach: Clay Shiver, eighth season 2017 record: 5-4
Starters returning: 7 on offense, 7 on defense
Big man on campus: This small school has a player almost as big as the campus. Senior offensive tackle Kevin Cline stands at 6-foot-7, 335 pounds. He is getting many looks by Division I programs and is expecting an offer from Texas A&M. Watch for quarterback Giacomo Fabiani, who passed for a school record of nearly 1,500 yards to have another solid season
Outlook: Despite only two seniors and 11 incoming freshman, coach Shiver isn’t considering this a rebuilding year. Team will be competing in the North Division of the Florida Independent Conference. Boca Christian does have more experience than the numbers show. That includes junior DB/WR Jake Shive, who is expected to play a key role this season. On offense, they will run I-Back and multiple spread formations. Defensively, they will play a 3-5-3 set. Shiver feels they have a shot at winning the Northern Division, but that depends on leadership. The only downside is six athletes will likely play both ways.
Inlet Grove
Coach: Robert McKay, first season
2017 record: 1-8
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 3 on defense
Big man on campus: Much will be expected from junior cornerback Alonzo McClain (5-10, 160).
The Palm Beach Central transfer is feisty, comes to work every practice and likes to talk a lot. Coach McKay said McClain is a difference maker and will be a spark on defense,
Outlook: McKay was hired in
April and says the team has made significant progress since spring ball. He said the confidence in the players is clear. They will play in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference. Offensively, they will play primarily up-tempo from the shotgun formation. The improvement in the offensive line has been the most notable difference from last season.
Last year the line had trouble protecting the quarterback. Defensively, the Hurricanes need to do a better job seeing the ball. Inexperience in live game situations could be the most telling stat this season.
Jupiter Christian
Coach: Jim Davis, fourth season 2017 record: 8-3, lost in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference semifinals
Starters returning:
Big man on campus: Quarterback Robert Smithwick was under center last season, helping lead the Eagles to an eight-win year. Smithwick, at 6-4 and 210 pounds, is one of the bigger signal callers in the county. He has displayed good accuracy and the arm strength to beat defenders on short crossing routes over the middle of the field, as well as quick out routes. As a senior, Smithwick will assume a leadership role for a team that will look to make a deep playoff run. Outlook: Jupiter Christian will rely on senior leadership to help the program build off a strong
8-3 campaign last season. The Eagles reached the Sunshine
State Conference semifinal before falling to Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (Bradenton) 44-7. Improvements to Jupiter Christian’s offensive line should help maintain last year’s success . “We had a good senior group last season that helped us get to the state semifinals, so we have a lot of guys to replace, but we’ve got a good nucleus coming back with about 11 seniors,” said head coach Jim Davis.
Somerset Canyons
Coach: Tom Halikman, first season
2017 record: 3-6
Starters returning: 6 offense, 6 defense
Big man on campus: One of the program’s original players is senior nose tackle Vanes Valiere (5-9, 220). He works hard in the weight room, is an excellent student and, according to Halikman, destroys everyone he plays against. He is clearly the leader in every aspect of the team.
Outlook: The Cougars will compete in the Florida Independent Football Conference. It’s a smart and healthy approach for the third-year varsity program. School is making baby steps building the football program. Halikman is encouraged that nearly 60 athletes have come out for football. Plan is to run the Wing-T offense to establish a solid run game. Keep an eye on senior QB/FB Bradley Lonergan and junior offensive lineman John Oldano (6-3, 245) to pace the offense. Defensively the Cougars will switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 lineup, led by junior defensive end Sebastien Venerin (6-1, 265). If there is a weakness the Cougars are not a tremendously big team, but the growth of the program is positive.