- September 18, 2024
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It may be hard to believe, but the high school football season is nearing the halfway point.
By now, area teams have played four games and are preparing for a fifth. At this point of the season, programs know who they are. They know their strengths and weaknesses, and the rest of the season will be about using that knowledge to secure a spot in the postseason.
Here's a look at all four area teams and how they stand:
In 2023, there were signs of improvement in the Mustangs under first-year Head Coach Scott Paravicini, despite the team finishing 4-7. The running game was better — particularly with then-sophomore Liam Fernandez, a speedster, at quarterback — and the defense was tougher and more aggressive.
Both of those things have continued to be strengths of the team in 2024, and they have now gone to another level, as expressed in the team's record.
The Mustangs have established a two-headed backfield of senior Cullen McRae and junior Colton Dempsey, a transfer from Bradenton Christian. Both backs are averaging great than 7.2 yards per carry, according to MaxPreps statistics. Against Southeast High on Sept. 14, it was Dempsey who carried the load after McRae left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, finishing with 111 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in the team's 28-22 road win. Fernandez has also proved his running ability under center; he had a 49-yard touchdown run against Southeast.
On defense, the Mustangs have allowed just 16 points per game. Against Southeast, Lakewood Ranch held Seminoles sophomore quarterback Louisen Desinor to just 10-of-24 passing.
The Mustangs' biggest question is one of competition. The team has improved, but by how much? Lakewood Ranch has proven it can beat lesser opponents, but it has yet to play a serious playoff contender. The Mustangs have a bye week Sept. 20, but upcoming games against Lennard High (4-0) on Sept. 27 at home, and against Palmetto High (4-0) on Oct. 11 on the road, will show just how far Lakewood Ranch has come, and how far they still have to go.
The Thunder simply do what they do.
The formula that Head Coach Rob Hollway has implemented since taking over the program before the 2022 season — be physical, be aggressive and have fun — still seems to be working as advertised in 2024. Despite returning only one starting offensive lineman from last year's team (senior Marvin Palominos), the Thunder have continued to maul opponents, letting star running back Allen Clark shine, sometimes to a record-setting degree. Clark set a single-game program mark with 263 rushing yards in a 52-7 win over Central Florida Christian Academy (0-2) on Aug. 30. According to MaxPreps statistics, Clark is averaging 173 yards per game.
The ODA defense also stayed true to its turnover-producing ways. Against rival Saint Stephen's Episcopal (0-4) on Sept. 6, senior defensive back Carson Fisher returned an interception for a touchdown to seal a 12-2 win.
A favorable schedule means the Thunder should be the favorite in all of its remaining regular-season games except, perhaps, a road contest against Seffner Christian (4-0) on Oct. 18, a game which could be telling for both teams. Regardless of that game's outcome, the Thunder is well-positioned to get back to the postseason and defend its 2023 Sunshine State Athletic Association Class 4A state title.
The Bulls dropped a hard-fought 21-14 home game against Palmetto High (4-0) on Sept. 13 after leading 14-7 at halftime.
That will not sit well with Head Coach Dylan Clark, an old-school leader who expects his team to always have its competitive juices at their maximum level and to finish games. In time, the game may serve as a lesson well-learned. The 2024 version of the Bulls, who in 2023 finished 7-4 and reached the postseason for the first time, has less varsity experience than last year's team, but has represented itself well in the early part of the schedule. If it can use the Palmetto loss as a chance to improve, the Bulls can stay on track for another postseason run.
The Lakewood Ranch-born Jackson Volz was under center for the Bulls last year, but has since graduated. Under center now is his brother Brycen Volz, a junior, who has completed 30 of 48 passes for 408 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Like Lakewood Ranch and ODA, Parrish prefers to get things done on the ground and with its defense. Junior running back Keyon Maxwell has five touchdowns while senior running back Jermaine Edwards has three.
On defense, seniors Ashton Springfield (9.0 tackles for loss) and Gage Cameron (8.5 tackles for loss) live in opposing backfields, often ending drives before they can get going. Senior defensive back Bryson Bender also has two punt return touchdowns and is a threat whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
Though Parrish will want a redo of the Palmetto game, holding the Tigers' high-flying offense to 21 points is a respectable feat and bodes well for the rest of the season as the Bulls continue to grow. Parrish will next play Braden River High (1-3) on the road at 7 p.m. Sept. 20.
The first win of the Jason Grain era at Braden River came Sept. 13 against Bayshore High (0-4).
After three weeks of disappointment, the Pirates put together a commanding effort on both sides of the ball, blanking the Bruins 35-0 at home. After being under constant pressure in the team's first three games, senior quarterback Lucas Despot was finally given time to work in the pocket and responded, throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to senior wideout Jaron Fields and running for scores of 33 yards and five yards. Junior running back Julian Brown also had two touchdown runs, of 12 yards and one yard. On defense, the Pirates never were threatened by the Bruins' offense.
The team celebrated by giving Grain the traditional Gatorade bath, then jumping in a group all around him. It has been a difficult start to the season for the Pirates, who on Sept. 6 saw its eight-game winning streak against rival Lakewood Ranch snapped in a 41-3 loss.
Grain has repeatedly said that the team's goal is to get better every day as inexperienced players learn how to handle varsity football. It appears as though the Pirates accomplished that goal in the lead-up to the Bayshore game. How much that continues will determine the direction of the rest of the Pirates' season.
Braden River hosting Parrish on Sept. 20 will be the next test.
