Tom Beck, a former assistant coach for seven years at Seminole, has been named head baseball coach at Admiral Farragut. Beck, 52, takes over for Brian Cooke, who stepped down in July. Cooke was 5-52 in his three years at AFA.

“It’s going to be a challenge and that’s exactly why I took it,” Beck said. “I want to take a program like this and breathe some life into it.”

Beck was formerly a head baseball coach at New Providence High School in north New Jersey for 16 years. He also was an assistant coach at the school for nine seasons. Beck said he plans to start Sept. 1, and hopes to start middle school and varsity offseason training.

“I want to build this program organically, which means I want it to be home-grown athletes,” Beck said. “I want to find the kids who are maybe playing basketball or football right now and get them playing baseball.”

We’re rolling out daily district previews for all 78 varsity football teams in the area. Today we look at a competitive Pasco/Hernando County district.

Overview

The district had a fierce three-team battle last season, and don’t be surprised if it heads in that direction again as defending champion Springstead, runnerup Sunlake and Land O’Lakes all return key components. The Gators finished on the outside of the district battle despite an 8-2 record, and the trio had a combined 28-6 mark. Among Tampa Bay districts, only 6A-8’s top three teams — Armwood, Jefferson and Hillsborough — were better at 31-6.

The favorite

Sunlake loses nine of 11 starters on defense and Springstead has to replace Player of the Year Tyler Mahla in an offense heavily reliant on the quarterback, which leaves Land O’Lakes. The Gators return the best quarterback in the district in James Pensyl, almost all of his weapons on offense like leading rusher Larenz Scroggins and receivers Kamal Wells and Ethan Weilant. While they have to replace some people on defense, we think the Gators return more than enough to make them the preseason favorite — but only by a hair. Heck, we wouldn’t be surprised if this one requires a three-team Monday tiebreaker to settle.

Next in line

Pick one: Sunlake or Springstead. Between the two, you have both of the top running backs in the district (the Seahawks’ 1,500-yard bulldozer Nathan Johnson or Springstead’s 1,000-yard rusher Daniel Wright) and arguably the top linebackers (Sunlake’s Austin Yeloushan and Springstead’s Conor Ross, a pair of physical, hard-hitting tackling machines). Both teams have holes to fill on both sides, and their Week 4 game could offer up another exciting finish like last year’s Springstead victory on a touchdown with 48 seconds left.

Sleeper

Mitchell was 6-4 last year — but only 1-3 in the district — and lost a lot of talent. New coach Andy Schmitz, however, will be opening up the offense, and if senior quarterback Alec Lambert can take full command behind a strong offensive line, don’t count out the Mustangs. 

Important numbers

4 Straight 6-4 seasons for Mitchell, but no playoffs

5 Games in which Land O’Lakes’ James Pensyl threw for more than 250 yards

7 Straight seasons Mitchell has been .500 or better, tops in the district

36-7 Sunlake’s record the past four seasons

201 Yards receiving for Fivay’s Trenton Soto in last season’s final game

439 More rushing yards Sunlake’s Nathan Johnson had than the entire Land O’Lakes team

Players to watch

QB James Pensyl, Sr., Land O’Lakes: The Oregon State commitment, now 6 feet 7 and a solid 220 pounds, is easily the best quarterback in the district. And in the Gators’ fast, pass-happy attack, he could better last year’s 2,300 yards passing and 22 touchdowns.

LB Conor Ross, Sr., Springstead: Ross, who had a team-high 114 tackles and six sacks, tore his ACL before the Eagles’ playoff run but is healthy once again.

WR Trenton Soto, Sr., Fivay: Soto had 627 yards receiving and seven touchdowns last season to lead the Falcons. He’ll be the main target and could even get carries as a back.

G/LB Devontay Taylor, Jr., Mitchell: Coach Andy Schmitz calls him the “real deal,” and with an athletic, imposing 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame, Taylor is one of the few offensive linemen who also plays basketball.

LB Austin Yeloushan, Sr., Sunlake: The Seahawk defender is one of Tampa Bay’s best and should make a huge impact this season. Last year, he had 83 tackles, including 23 for a loss, seven sacks and an interception.

Mark your calendar

Sunlake at Land O’Lakes, Oct. 17: Last year, Land O’Lakes lost the only two games it could not afford to lose, to district leaders Sunlake and Springstead. Despite going 8-2, the Gators were home for the playoffs, and to ensure that doesn’t happen again the Gators will have to at least split those games this year. They host the Seahawks first in what should be one of Pasco County’s most intense and raucous affairs this season.

Returning district leaders 

Rushing yards: Sunlake’s Nathan Johnson, 1,504

Rushing TDs: Johnson, 16

Passing yards: Land O’Lakes’ James Pensyl, 2,345

Passing TDs: Pensyl, 22

Receiving yards: Fivay’s Trenton Soto, 627

Receiving TDs: Soto, 7 

Tackles: Mitchell’s Larry Couch, 136

Sacks: Sunlake’s Austin Yeloushan, 7

Interceptions: Multiple players returning with 1

Predicted order of finish

From an anonymous coach in the district 

1. Sunlake

2. Land O’Lakes

3. Springstead

4. Mitchell

5. Fivay

Final word

“We have to worry about trying to get better each week. Our district is so tough that we have to take it week by week. I think four of the toughest teams in the whole area are in our district.” — Fivay coach Chris Taylor 

Staff writer Rodney Page and correspondents Derek J. LaRiviere and Darek Sharp contributed to this report.

We’re rolling out daily district previews for all 78 varsity football teams in the area. Today we look at a four-team Pinellas/Manatee County league:

Overview

For nearly a decade, Largo has been dominant in games that matter, winning a Pinellas County-record nine straight district titles. The Packers lost some playmakers, which could put their streak in jeopardy. But the offense still is in good shape with quarterback Donavan Hale and receivers Reggie Campbell, Jonathan Crawford and Brandon Drayton all returning. Venice, last year’s runnerup, has the talent to be at the top and nearly beat Largo last year. Dixie Hollins, led by quarterback Tyrie Adams and receiver Davontae Harrington, should put up numbers on offense but will have to show a lot of improvement to compete for a playoff berth. Osceola is rebuilding after losing its top two running backs and most of its offensive line. But there is enough talent with players like running back Wilan Harvey and linebacker Jamieson Craske to pull off an upset or two.

The favorite

Largo is in a transitional period with former standout Marcus Paschal taking over the program from Rick Rodriguez, who retired from coaching after a successful 15-year run. Despite the changes, expect the Packers to remain atop the district. Sure, there are holes to fill, especially with the team’s top rusher, receiver and tackler all graduating. But Largo still has a lot of talent on offense with Hale poised for a breakout year provided he remains healthy. The regular-season schedule is tough with five games against teams that made the playoffs last year. But the district schedule is manageable considering every other team has major holes to fill.  

Next in line

Venice has been a consistent winner, averaging nine wins each of the past seven years. That type of success could be difficult to sustain with the Indians graduating 21 of the 45 players on last season’s roster, including running back Terry Polk, who had a team-high 1,846 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. Still, Venice has enough on defense and the offensive line to contend for another postseason appearance.  

Sleepers

Dixie Hollins and Osceola bring up the bottom half of the district. Both teams can move the ball, but each has to find a way to come up on defense against the contenders. Each gave up more than 35 points in games against Largo and Venice last year. 

Important numbers

6  Games in which Largo scored 30 or more points last season

8 Playoff appearances in the past 11 seasons for Venice

8 Seasons since Dixie Hollins’ last playoff appearance

25 Seasons George Palmer has been coaching at Osceola, currently the longest tenure of any coach in Pinellas County.

Players to watch

QB Tyrie Adams, Sr., Dixie Hollins: It’s no secret that the Rebels will live and die by the play of Adams. Aided by the weapons of Jacquez Hill and Davontae Harrington last year, Adams completed more than 57 percent of his passes for 2,477 yards and 25 touchdowns. Ball control was an issue for Adams, however. The 14 interceptions and five fumbles handicapped the Rebels’ offense at times. 

WR/LB Jonathan Crawford, Sr., Largo: Already known as a hard hitter on defense, Crawford could have as big of an impact on offense, especially after catching seven passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns against Palm Harbor University in the spring.

RB/WR/DB Wilan Harvey, Sr., Osceola: Harvey will be one of the players expected to fill the void left by Jamil Morris (1,100 yards, 16 touchdowns). Wilan ran for 421 yards and averaged more than 10 yards per carry last season. He also proved valuable in the secondary, pulling in all five of the team’s interceptions. 

WR/DB Langston Provitt, Jr., Venice: The Indians’ top returning player led the team in receiving yards with 328 last season.

Mark your calendar

Venice at Largo, Oct. 17: This is a rematch of one of the more entertaining games of 2013. Largo trailed 21-7 with 3:58 remaining before rallying with two scores, the last coming on a 36-yard Hail Mary pass from Donavan Hale to Reggie Campbell as time expired. Jarvis Stewart ran in the conversion for a wild 22-21 win. Both teams are projected to be at the top of standings, and the Indians again pose the biggest threat to Largo’s attempt to win 10 straight district titles. 

Returning district leaders

Rushing yards: Osceola’s Wilan Harvey, 421

Rushing TDs: Harvey, Dixie Hollins’ Tyrie Adams, Largo’s Jonathan Crawford, 3

Passing yards: Adams, 2,477

Passing TDs: Adams, 25

Receiving yards: Dixie Hollins’ Davontae Harrington, 823

Receiving TDs: Harrington, 9

Tackles: Osceola’s Jamieson Craske, 87

Sacks: Craske, 3.5

Interceptions: Harvey, 5

Predicted order of finish

From an anonymous coach in the district 

1. Largo

2. Venice 

3. Osceola

4. Dixie Hollins

Final word

“I’m trying to put my stamp on a few things with some new ideas, but this is still the same ol’ Largo Packers and our goal is to keep that tradition of winning district titles alive.” — Largo coach Marcus Paschal

Staff writer Jacob Lynn contributed to this report.

Dixie Hollins 

Coach: Shannon Brooks (third season, 2-18)

Last season: 2-8

Class/district:6A-7

Colors: Royal blue and white

Stadium: Rebel Stadium, 4940 62nd St. N., St. Petersburg

Playoff history: 1967, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2005

Last appearance: Beat Countryside 21-7; lost 27-7 to Bradenton Manatee

Season schedule 

Aug. 29at Dunedin, 7:30

Sept. 5vs. Northeast, 7:30

Sept. 12at Seminole, 7:30

Sept. 26vs. Pinellas Park, 7:30

Oct. 2vs. Venice, 7:30

Oct. 10at Gibbs, 7:30

Oct. 17at Osceola, 7:30

Oct. 24at St. Petersburg, 7:30

Oct. 31 vs. Largo, 7:30

Nov. 7vs. Tarpon Springs, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Dixie Hollins at Osceola, Oct 17: With giants Venice and Largo in the district, this could be both teams’ chance to pick up a district win. That could be a tall order for the Rebels, as they come into this Week 8 matchup after difficult games vs. Venice and on the road at Gibbs. A win against Osceola, however, would show that the Rebels are back on the rise. 

Huddle highlights

RB wanted: After losing Kabriel Jackson to graduation, the Rebels will need to find a new force out of the backfield. Last season, Jackson led the team in rushing attempts (94), yards (545), and touchdowns (four). If the Rebels have any chance of contending, they’ll need to find someone to replace Jackson’s offensive output. 

Clear reception: If Jackson was the Rebels’ most potent offensive threat, Jacquez Hill was a close second. The senior was quarterback Tyrie Adams’ favorite target in 2013. Hill reeled in 51 catches for 882 yards, giving him an average of more than 17 yards per reception. He also led the team with 10 touchdown catches. Losing Hill won’t have as big of an impact on the Rebels as the loss of Jackson, however. No. 2 receiver Davontae Harrington put together an impressive junior season and should be ready to take over in his place. 

Tough district: The first area the Rebels will look to improve on is their play within the district. They lost all three games to Largo, Venice and Osceola by a combined 76 points, and frontrunners Largo and Venice aren’t looking any less daunting this season.

Getting defensive: A poor defense doomed any chance of a successful season last year. After allowing just under 20 points per game in the Rebels’ 2-1 start, the defense fell apart, allowing an average of 50 points in the seven-game skid to end the season. Coach Shannon Brooks thinks that a change in mindset, instead of a scheme adjustment, will do the trick for the Rebels. 

Known quantities

QB Tyrie Adams, Sr.: It’s no secret that the Rebels will live and die by the play of Adams. Aided by the weapons of Hill and Harrington, Adams completed more than 57 percent of his passes for 2477 yards and 25 touchdowns. Ball control was an issue for Adams, however. The 14 interceptions and five fumbles handicapped the Rebels’ offense at times. 

WR Davontae Harrington, Sr.: Harrington managed to shine in his junior season, despite playing behind Hill. Forty-six catches for 823 yards and nine touchdowns helped Harrington make a name for himself. With no one in front of him on the depth chart, Harrington could be set to put up monster numbers in 2014. 

DE Ali Chamander, Sr.: Returning for his senior season with the Rebels, Chamander will have the most experience on the defensive line. His 38 tackles last season ranked him fifth on the team. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, he has the agility to rush the quarterback and the size to help stop the run. 

Up-and-comers

WR/QB Dekovin Cann, So: Last season, Cann appeared in three games at quarterback as a backup to Adams. While he attempted only two passes, his only completion went for a 70-yard touchdown. This season, Cann will be expected to line up opposite of Harrington and start at wide receiver. His size and speed give the Rebels a unique threat out wide, while still giving the team assurance at quarterback. 

LB Emilio Martinez, Jr.: From his middle linebacker position, Martinez will be at the forefront of Brooks’ defensive mindset change. Expect to see him take on a leadership role for a defense that needs to improve. At 200 pounds, Martinez will be important in limiting the success of opposing running backs.

Coach’s corner

“With the kids we have here, I think we can play with anyone on our schedule. I think we can score points with anybody, but our goal is to just get a few extra stops on defense.” — Brooks

Osceola

Coach: George Palmer (25th season, 116-133)

Last season: 6-4

Class/district: 6A-7

Colors: Orange and royal blue 

Stadium: Warrior Stadium, 9750 98th St. N., Seminole

Playoff history: 1990, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2006, 2012

Last appearance: Lost 42-7 to Osceola. 

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs Seminole, 7:30

Sept. 5at Tarpon Springs, 7:30

Sept. 12at Pinellas Park, 7:30

Sept. 19vs. Boca Ciega, 7:30

Sept. 26at Dunedin, 7:30

Oct. 2vs. Largo, 7:30

Oct. 10at Northeast, 7:30

Oct. 17vs. Dixie Hollins, 7:30

Oct. 24vs. Palm Harbor University, 7:30

Oct. 31at Venice, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Seminole at Osceola Aug. 29: Seminole leads this neighborhood rivalry, winning 39 of 45 matchups — though  recent history favors Osceola. The Warriors have taken four of the last five meetings and each of the previous three. With this matchup coming in Week 1, expect both teams to have some added energy. 

Huddle highlights

Graduated ground game: The Warriors will be without arguably their most potent offensive force from a year ago. On a team that struggled at times through the air, Jamil Morris carried the offense on the ground, rushing for more than 1,100 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns. The Warriors will go to a backfield by committee to replace Morris’ offensive presence. 

Senior leadership: Including Morris, the Warriors graduated 20 players from 2013’s team. But Palmer has 16 senior this year, and expect to see at least five of them starting on both sides of the ball.

A good test: The Warriors’ 54-14 loss to East Lake in the spring game wasn’t without its positives for Palmer. The defense allowed only two touchdowns; the offense didn’t turn the ball over and committed only a few penalties. For Palmer, even though his team isn’t ready to compete with teams of East Lake’s caliber, the practice against them is important.

Light line: Size on the offensive line will be an issue. Steven Thompson (215 pounds)  is really the only beef up front. Keeping quarterback Ryan Allan on his feet and creating running lanes for a group of new running backs could be a challenge.

Known quantities

TE/LB Jamieson Craske, Sr.: Craske will likely captain the Warrior defense from his linebacker position. A year ago, his 87 tackles and three and a half sacks led the team. At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Craske has the size to rush the quarterback and the agility to drop back into coverage and make plays.

RB/WR/DB Wilan Harvey, Sr.: Harvey will be one of the players expected to fill the void left by Jamil Morris. Wilan ran for 421 yards and averaged more than 10 yards per carry last season. He also proved valuable in the secondary, pulling in all five of the team’s interceptions. 

DE Darian Hooker, Sr.: The 6-5, 200-pounder will be a presence on the edge this season. On an undersized team, the senior will need to rush the passer as well as help clog up running lanes. 

RB/LB Bronson Lynch, Sr.: Lynch played well in the spring, rushing for a team-high 65 yards against East Lake. He will also be a valuable run stuffer on defense.

RB/DB Nick Shytle, Jr.: He likely will carry the bulk of the rushing load with Harvey. In the spring, he scored once on a 2-yard run against East Lake. 

Up-and-comer

QB Ryan Allan, Jr.: In his second season with the varsity squad, Allan isn’t a newcomer, but on a team with 16 seniors, he will be one of the younger starters. And the Warriors need him to improve on his 15 completions for 266 yards and three touchdowns from a year ago. 

Coach’s corner 

“The teams we beat last year, all six of them, we believe are better than they were last year, so that’ll be a challenge for us. And then keeping the game in doubt against somebody like Largo or Venice will be hard, but if we can do that and somehow get into the fourth quarter, we’ll play hard and see what happens.” — Palmer

Largo

Coach: Marcus Paschal (first season)

Last season: 8-3

Class/district:6A-7

Colors: Light gold and royal blue 

Stadium: Packer Stadium, 410 Missouri Ave., Largo

Playoff history: 1974, 1975, 1977, 1985, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Last appearance: Lost 25-17 to Jefferson.

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Northeast, 7:30

Sept. 5at East Lake, 7:30

Sept. 12at Gibbs, 7:30

Sept. 19vs. Jesuit, 7:30

Sept. 26vs. Lakewood, 7:30

Oct. 2at Osceola, 7:30

Oct. 17vs. Venice, 7:30

Oct. 24 vs. Lake Gibson, 7:30

Oct. 31at Dixie Hollins, 7:30

Nov. 7vs. Countryside, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Venice at Largo, Oct. 17: This is a rematch of one of the most entertaining games of 2013. Largo trailed 21-7 with 3:58 remaining before rallying with two scores, the last coming on a 36-yard Hail Mary pass from Donavan Hale to Reggie Campbell as time expired. Jarvis Stewart ran in the conversion for a wild 22-21 win. Both teams are projected to be at the top of standings, and the Indians again pose the biggest threat to Largo’s attempt to win 10 straight district titles. 

Huddle highlights

New era: Marcus Paschal, a former standout at the school, was hired in February to replace Rick Rodriguez, who retired after a successful 15-year run. Paschal has tried to put his own stamp on the program with a new coaching staff, and new helmets and uniforms. What he is trying to maintain is the same winning tradition. Largo has won a Pinellas County-record nine straight district titles. The talent is there, especially at the skill positions on offense. The defense looks stacked, too. 

Airing it out: Largo has traditionally been more ground-oriented on offense. That has to do with the quality of backs that have come through the school, from Dexter McCluster to Brynn Harvey to Stewart. Now, the Packers are more equipped in the passing game. Paschal and his staff have gone to more of a spread offense with Hale throwing to perhaps the deepest receiving corps in the county, led by Campbell, Jonathan Crawford and Brandon Drayton. The new offense worked in the spring as Hale threw for three touchdowns. The only concern is Hale’s health. He was hobbled by injuries last year, and the line will have to do a better job protecting him now that he’s taking deeper drops on longer pass routes.

Filling big shoes: The biggest hole on offense was at running back. Stewart, who rushed for 1,146 yards and 15 touchdowns, is gone. But Largo appears to be well-stocked with John Clark and D’Terio Petitie. Clark, who will be the starter, played well down the stretch last season and finished with 303 yards. Petite, the backup, ran for 99 yards in the spring against Palm Harbor University. 

Getting a leg up: Largo was hurting in the kicking after last year’s starter, Ben Hammelmann, returned home to Germany. Last week, the Packers found a replacement in Taj Taylor, who showed he can nail field goals of up to 35 yards.

Tough schedule: Much like last season, Largo will be tested. The Packers face five teams who made the playoffs in 2013, including a pair of state semifinalists in East Lake and Lakewood. Also on the schedule are games against Gibbs and Countryside, both of which should contend for playoff berths. 

Known quantities

WR/DB Reggie Campbell, Sr.: After missing the spring and part of fall practice because of academic issues, Campbell is back and will be counted on as a deep threat. He also can make plays in the return game. 

WR/LB Jonathan Crawford, Sr.: Already known as a hard hitter on defense, Crawford could have as big of an impact on offense, especially after catching seven passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns against Palm Harbor University in the spring.

WR/DB Brandon Drayton, Jr.: Though he didn’t post big numbers last year, Drayton’s potential is endless and he’ll get significant playing time on both sides of the ball.

OL/DL Brandon Dull, Sr.: The returning starter anchors an offensive line that will have to mobile in a new spread offense. 

QB Donavan Hale, Sr.: The basketball star showed what he could do in the spring, throwing for 291 yards and three touchdowns against Palm Harbor University. 

OL/DL Javaris Sanders, Jr.: The top returner on the defensive line finished last season with 18 tackles and two sacks. 

Up-and-comers

RB John Clark, Sr.: After backing up Stewart, Clark gets to take the lead role in the backfield and should put up big numbers. 

RB/LB D’Terio Petiite, Sr.: He showed he can rush the ball the ball in the spring, but his primary position will be at linebacker. In the spring, he had a devastating sack that forced PHU’s backup quarterback out of the game. 

WR/DB Taj Taylor, Jr.: Taylor steps into a more prominent role on defense after shining in the offseason with several spectacular in 7-on-7 tournaments.

Coach’s corner

“I’m trying to put my stamp on a few things with some new ideas, but this is still the same ol’ Largo Packers, and our goal is to keep that tradition of winning district titles alive.” — Paschal

Fivay

Coach: Chris Taylor (fifth season, 18-18; 10th overall, 42-45) 

Last season: 4-6

Class/district: 6A-6

Colors: Red, blue and white

Stadium: Unnamed. 12115 Chicago Ave., Hudson, FL 34669

Playoff history: 2011

Last appearance: Lost 28-0 to Citra North Marion. 

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Ridgewood, 7:30

Sept. 5vs. Pasco, 7:30

Sept. 19at Lecanto, 7:30

Sept. 26vs. Anclote, 7:30

Oct. 3at Springstead, 7:30

Oct. 10at Gulf, 7:30

Oct. 17vs. Mitchell, 7:30

Oct. 24vs. Land O’Lakes, 7:30

Oct. 31at Sunlake, 7:30

Nov. 7at Hudson, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Fivay at Springstead, Oct. 3: The first district game comes a month into the season. This will be a tough test against the defending district champs, and the Falcons will find out just how competitive they will be in the district. After this game, three of the next four games are against league opponents.

Huddle highlights

Good news: Fivay has an experienced offensive line that includes seniors  Mark Maynes, Cody Reeves, Cole Weinhauer, Mark Duncan and Josh Root. With an offense that has a new starting quarterback and new runnings backs, the line will be key. “It all starts with those guys. As they go, we go,” coach Chris Taylor said.

Graduated ground game: Returning running backs gained 96 of the Falcons’ 1,560 yards last season. That’s only 16 percent of the total rushing yards. The early part of the season will be an open tryout to find a starting running back. Until then, it will be running back by committee.  

Uphill battle: Fivay was the only team in 6A-6 with a losing record last season. Since moving to 6A, the Falcons are still looking for their first district win. That could be difficult again, as Springstead, Sunlake, Land O’Lakes and Mitchell remain competitive.

Going both ways: The Falcons have 32 players on the varsity roster, so many will play both ways. Taylor said there are 50 players on the junior varsity squad, so the future seems bright. But this season, Fivay must stay healthy in order to survive until the end. 

Known quantities

WR Trenton Soto, Sr.: Soto had 627 yards receiving and seven touchdowns last season to lead the Falcons. He’ll be the main target and could even get carries as a back.

WR/RB Christian Coleman, Sr.: Coleman was second behind Soto in receiving yards with 491. He gives the Falcons a good one-two punch at receiver.

FB/LB Nick Manglaris, Jr.: Taylor believes Manglaris is the toughest player on the team. He became the starting fullback midway through last season. He’ll also lead the defense.

OL/DL Mark Maynes, Sr.: At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Maynes is one of the Falcons’ biggest linemen. The line will be key this season and Maynes could be the leader.

Up-and-comers

QB Cyler Doran, So.: Doran takes over as the starter and Taylor said he will ease him into the position. “We won’t ask him to win games for us,” Taylor said.

RB Josh Jones, Jr.: With no true starting running back returning, Jones is in the mix to get the most carries. He only carried six times last season, so he’ll get thrown into the fire.

CB Mario Leverette, Sr.: A baseball player, Leverette is back playing football. He is a good athlete who could have a big senior year.

WR/DB Zachary Burgarella, Sr.: In his first year as a full-time starter, Burgarella will see action on both sides of the ball.

Coach’s corner

“We have to worry about trying to get better each week. Our district is so tough that we have to take it week by week. I think four of the toughest teams in the whole area are in our district.” — Taylor

Mitchell

Coach: Andy Schmitz (first season)

Last season: 6-4

Class/district: 6A-6

Colors: Black and gold

Stadium: Mustang Stadium, 2323 Little Road, New Port Richey

Playoff history: 2002, 2003, 2004

Last appearance: Lost 31-13 to Auburndale

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Anclote, 7:30 

Sept. 5at Ridgewood, 7:30 

Sept. 12vs. Zephyrhills, 7:30 

Sept. 19at Land O’Lakes, 7:30 

Sept. 26vs. River Ridge, 7:30 

Oct. 3vs. Sunlake, 7:30 

Oct. 10at Lecanto, 7:30 

Oct. 17at Fivay, 7:30 

Oct. 24vs. Springstead, 7:30 

Nov. 7at Gulf, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Sunlake at Mitchell, Oct. 3: Last year the Mustangs pegged their game with Sunlake as a test of their physicality, and got bumped off in a frustrating 20-3 final. It’s a similar situation almost a year to the date. And just like in 2013, this contest will likely tell if Mitchell can realistically expect the playoffs.

Huddle highlights

Same last name, different coach: Longtime Mustangs leader Scott Schmitz retired (for a second time) after a dozen years, and now his son, Andy, takes over. Andy Schmitz was formerly Mitchell’s defensive ends coach.

No longer winging it: Although his father started to ditch the wing-T as Mitchell’s primary offense, it is now gone altogether. Andy Schmitz is employing a pro-style combined with some spread.

Less of a committee: There will probably not be four players running the ball at least 32 times like last year. Ryan Marsh (207 yards, four TDs) is expected to be the primary tailback.

Off the blocks, in the zone: Schmitz said they will lean on the offensive line, which was young last year but now looks like a team strength with three returners. Mitchell will employe a zone-blocking scheme.

Known quantities

LB Larry Couch, Sr.: Despite being dinged up and playing through injuries later in the year, he had the second-most tackles in school history (136). He is the unquestioned leader on that side.

G/LB Devontay Taylor, Jr.: Schmitz calls him the “real deal” and with an athletic, imposing 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame, Taylor is one of the few offensive linemen who also plays basketball. He will be doing more man-up blocking after doing a lot more pulling and is a possible Division I prospect.

RB Ryan Marsh, Sr.: Marsh has gotten stronger and more explosive through offseason work and is ready to go from a six-carry type to someone who gets the ball another 20 times per game.

QB Alec Lambert, Sr.: Lambert split time with Taylor Schneider as Mitchell never had one get settled in; they combined for 14 interceptions vs. just three touchdowns. But Lambert had a banged-up shoulder, and though he is still rail thin has improved his weightroom results. He appears ready to take full command of the position.

Up-and-comers

DE Levi Oliveto, Sr.: Home-schooled, Oliveto worked himself into a starting spot last year, then separated his shoulder in the season opener. Schmitz raves that the now completely healthy Oliveto has looked “dominating” in Mitchell’s early practices.

DT Tony Napoli, Sr.: Schmitz says a “fire has been lit” under Napoli, who very seldom got on the field despite looking the part of a starter at more than 300 pounds due to what Schmitz characterized as a poor work ethic. But that has changed and Napoli, who has all sorts of ability, is ready to become a force.

WR J.J. Lewis, Jr.: Lewis might be the biggest beneficiary of Mitchell’s new offensive scheme. A legit playmaker with great hands, and now a much better understanding of route running.

Coach’s corner

“As far as what offense we’ll be running, I’m keeping the options as open as possible right now. We’re very young and inexperienced, so I’ve been trying to be as diverse as possible to see what we do well.” — Schmitz

Land O’Lakes

Coach: Brian Wachtel (fourth season, 12-18)

Last season: 8-2

Class/district: 6A-6

Colors: Blue and gold

Stadium: John Benedetto Stadium, 20325 Gator Lane, Land O’Lakes

Playoff history: 1978, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Last appearance: Lost 54-19 to Jefferson.

Season schedule

Aug. 29at River Ridge, 7:30 

Sept. 5vs. Anclote, 7:30

Sept. 12at Ridgewood, 7:30

Sept. 19vs. Mitchell, 7:30

Sept. 26vs. Gulf, 7:30 

Oct. 10at Hudson, 7:30 

Oct. 17vs. Sunlake, 7:30

Oct. 24at Fivay, 7:30 

Oct. 31at Springstead, 7:30

Nov. 7vs. Lecanto High, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Sunlake at Land O’Lakes, Oct. 17: Last year, Land O’Lakes lost the only two games it could not afford to lose, to district leaders Sunlake and Springstead. Despite going 8-2, the Gators were home for the playoffs, and to ensure that doesn’t happen again the Gators will have to at least split those games this year. They host the Seahawks first in what should be one of Pasco County’s most intense and raucous affairs this season.

No. 1 Pensyl: The 6-foot-7, 220-pound lefty is coming off a breakout season (2,345 yards, 22 touchdowns) and has bulked up in the offseason. His ability to thrive in the Gators’ new offense last year has raised expectations for this fall. Pensyl threw for more than 200 yards seven times, but more importantly only threw three interceptions in 292 attempts. Now that he’s gotten his college choice (Oregon State) out of the way, he can focus on rewriting the school record book. 

Passing the Rock: The Gators were one of the few teams around last year that passed for twice as many yards as they rushed for. The rushing attack netted only 1,065 yards on 4 yards a carry. The ground game, with the return of leading rusher Larenz Scroggins (588 yards), has to be better, especially in big games. In those critical losses to Sunlake and Springstead, running backs managed 15 yards on 21 carries.

Simple: Coach Brian Wachtel doesn’t have any magical changes in store for the upcoming season. He says for the Gators to succeed and get to the playoffs, it’s really quite simple: be disciplined and be consistent. “Those two things sum it up,” he said.

Experience: The Gators’ offensive attack was prolific last season, and eight starters return on that side of the ball. The offensive line returns Jordan Ferrante (6-1, 220), Josh Gaulden (6-2, 285) and Nick Bartel (6-0, 270), and others like Kendall Graff and Brennan Bauer got some playing time last year. With a year of playing in the Gators’ uptempo offense, Wachtel says the group should be more comfortable this season.

Swimming upstream: The departure of guys like Shaheed Salmon and Colin Irwin (233 combined tackles, almost 40 for losses) and Deointe Strozier (five interceptions) leaves the Gators having to retool the defensive side of the ball. Salmon also had 8.5 sacks and three interceptions, so his shoes may be the biggest to fill and Wachtel has turned that task over to linebacker Tommy Farmer. Wachtel said players like Connor Heaney, Darryus Lowe, Anthony Hendrix and Austin McGuire will shore up a defense that gave up 16.3 points a game last fall.

Known quantities

QB James Pensyl, Sr.: Bigger and better, look for another banner season from the quarterback, especially if he picks up where he left off. In his final three games last season, Pensyl’s average line was 17-for-29 for 276 yards and three touchdowns.

ATH Ethan Weilant, Sr.: Weilant can do it all, but he’ll do it mostly at wide receiver, where last year he caught 38 passes for 457 yards. He’s also the backup quarterback.

RB Larenz Scroggins, Sr.: The Gators’ leading rusher with 588 yards will be counted on to keep defenses honest against the spread attack. 

DB Anthony Hendrix, Sr.:  Count Wachtel as a fan: “He’s a baller, man,” the coach said. “He’s just a very, very smart football player, plays with a passion and brings it every single play.”

OL Jordan Ferrante, Sr.: A first-team All-Sunshine Athletic Conference choice last season, Wachtel says he is a technician on the offensive line.

Up-and-comers

WR Kamal Wells, Sr.: After a hot start last season (13 catches, 53 yards a game the first four weeks), Wells cooled off (51 total yards the rest of the way). If Wells returns to his early-season production it should help ease the loss of leading receiver Liam Heaney.

OL Brennan Bauer, Jr.: Bauer will step in and start at guard, and Wachtel says he has made great strides and shown up bigger and stronger than he was last year.

ATH Ben Moultrie, Sr.: A baseball player, Moultrie returns after a year away and strengthens the Gators. He loves to hit and can run, giving Wachtel some options. 

LB Tommy Farmer, Jr.: Farmer moves up to varsity, and with his speed and willingness to hit, will be called on to be disruptive on defense and fill the role of pass rusher/backfield bouncer.

Coach’s corner

“I think the kids understand it (not losing the two big games again). It’s like being in the last 20 meters of a race and not being able to kick it into high gear to get across the line. They’re working hard at getting to the playoffs.” — Wachtel

Springstead

Coach: Mike Garofano (second season, 11-2)

Last season: 11-2

Class/district: 6A-6

Colors: Blue, red and white

Stadium: Booster Stadium, 3300 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill

Playoff history: 1993, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2013

Last appearance: Beat Citrus 21-6; beat Gainesville 27-7; lost 41-0 to Armwood.

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Citrus, 7:30

Sept. 5vs. Weeki Wachee, 7:30 

Sept. 12vs. Nature Coast, 7:30 

Sept. 19at Sunlake, 7:30 

Sept. 26at Berkeley Prep, 7:30 

Oct. 3vs. Fivay, 7:30 

Oct. 10at Central, 7:30 

Oct. 24at Mitchell, 7:30 

Oct. 31vs. Land O’Lakes, 7:30 

Nov. 7at Hernando, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Springstead at Hernando, Nov. 7: Say what you will about district games, but the longest rivalry in Hernando County history got an extra boost when Springstead alum and longtime Eagles coach Bill Vonada took the Hernando head coaching position after last season. With Mike Garofano, Vonada’s longtime defensive coordinator, coming off the best season in school history with Springstead, it will be student vs. mentor for the first time when the programs square off at Tom Fisher Stadium in the last week of the regular season.

Huddle highlights

Big shoes to fill: Springstead enters this season with the task of replacing Tyler Mahla, who started each of the past three seasons at quarterback. Mahla set a school record for career touchdowns (32) and another one for a single season with 18 last year. He was also fourth on the North Suncoast with 1,176 yards rushing and 776 yards passing along with six touchdowns through the air. First-year varsity starter Victor Koerick will have his hands full living up to his predecessor.

Steady as it goes: The most consistent part of the Springstead team over the past decade has been its defense. Led by Garofano, the unit defends run and pass equally well, as playoff opponents Citrus and Gainesville found out last fall. Four players (Conor Ross, Juan Espinosa, Robert Holdway and Jesse Cowan) reached the 100-tackle plateau. Only Cowan graduated from that group, but Espinosa has not rebounded from injury and is unlikely to suit up this season.

Opening it up: Offensive coordinator Dustin Kupcik, who was rumored for a few head coaching positions this offseason, added some dimensions to the play-calling last season that Springstead fans weren’t used to. Throwing the ball a little more and taking more risks than the team had done under Vonada, Springstead kept opposing defenses on their toes. With another full season to expound upon his scheme, expect some new wrinkles.

Tough encore: So many milestones were reached by Springstead last season that it will be difficult to reach or surpass expectations in 2014. Two of the four postseason wins in the school’s 38-year history came in 2013, including both of its home playoff victories. The Eagles set school records for wins (11) on the way to their first back-to-back district titles.

Known quantities

FB Daniel Wright, Sr.: Coming in at No. 89 on the HomeTeam 100 this summer, Wright has scored 21 touchdowns over the past two seasons while rushing for 1,140 yards. He set the school record with 230 yards against Weeki Wachee early in the season, and dealing with injuries throughout the postseason, still rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Known for his bruising style, the senior put on more muscle this offseason and could be in line for a career year.

LB Conor Ross, Sr.: A four-year defensive starter, Ross put up 114 tackles and six sacks, both team highs, despite tearing his ACL right before the playoffs. With 268 tackles and 13 sacks in his career, another superb campaign could cement the senior’s legacy as one of the best defensive players in school history.

LB/RB Robert Holdway, Sr.: Another linebacker who accrued 100 tackles in 2013, Holdway is one of the more vocal leaders on the Springstead roster. His football IQ allows him to be in position to make plays that others can’t, and helps make the linebacking corps one of the best on the North Suncoast.

OL Hunter Hramika, Jr.: With the graduation of tight end Tyler Anderson and linemen Mike Miara and Jameson Peppe, Hramika steps to the forefront of what has been Springstead’s offensive strength for years. Starting at left tackle, Hramika returns to anchor a new line with center Austin Hampton and left guard James Kern also is back. Joining him will be Dominic Lamagno and Donovan Giles to fill out the group.

Up-and-comers

QB Victor Koerick, Jr.: The left-handed signal caller showed coaches a great deal during spring practice, then during the spring game against Anclote. Butterflies had to be present when he had three early turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) in the 31-7 win, but he rebounded to lead the offense to 31 unanswered points.

RB Dominique Walker, So.: A transfer from Nature Coast, Walker played junior varsity last season. Springstead coaches are impressed by his speed and acceleration. “Once he gets his shoulders turned, he is really moving,” Garofano said. His work ethic is also amazing, and he’s penciled in as the starter at tailback behind Wright.

LB Jake Lewandowski, Jr.: Although he was on the varsity roster for much of last season, Lewandowski saw almost no time on defense, playing primarily special teams. He will now be the fourth linebacker in Springstead’s 3-4 scheme next to McLeod, Holdway and Ross. The junior’s playmaking ability has already shined in practice.

RB Randy Morgan, Fr.:  Springstead isn’t known for explosive athletes, but this newcomer from Explorer K-8 School in Spring Hill is the exception. It looks like Morgan will begin the season on varsity immediately and should see time in the backfield backing up Walker. He has game-breaking type speed, according to coaches.

Coach’s corner

“We have a nice little mix of youth infused with our veterans. The freshman class from last year, who are now sophomores, is the best we’ve had in a long time. We have them for three more years. We have 95 kids in our program altogether now. I never remember this many kids. The program is flourishing to the point where I want us to be a perennial powerhouse. Every year we’re written off because of the guys we lost, but we think we are turning the corner to the point where there are no more rebuilding years for this program. It’s all about the next man up.” — Garofano

Sunlake

Coach: Bill Browning (eighth season, 40-33; 25th overall, 132-118)

Last season: 9-2

Class/district:6A-6

Colors: Black, gold and teal

Stadium: Sunlake Stadium, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’Lakes

Playoff history: 2011, 2013

Last appearance: Lost 17-14 to Gainesville.

Season schedule

Aug. 29at Pasco, 7:30 

Sept. 5vs. River Ridge, 7:30 

Sept. 12at Anclote, 7:30 

Sept. 19vs. Springstead, 7:30 

Sept. 26vs. Ridgewood, 7:30 

Oct. 3at Mitchell, 7:30 

Oct. 10at Wesley Chapel, 7:30 

Oct. 17at Land O’Lakes, 7:30 

Oct. 31vs. Fivay, 7:30 

Nov. 7vs. Zephyrhills, 7:30 

Mark your calendar

Sunlake at Pasco, Aug. 29: Sure, we know the district games with Land O’Lakes and Springstead will be more important in the long run, but the Seahawks are making a run at being the top program in Pasco County. And to be the man, well, you have to keep beating Pasco, which the Seahawks knocked off 17-6 last fall. The Pirates will be improved and as the only  team to hold running back Nathan Johnson under 100 yards last year, an excellent test for an offense that will have a lot of new starters up front. “It’s a good challenge to start the season,” coach Bill Browning said.

Huddle highlights

Start fast:  Season-opening wins seem to set the tone at Sunlake. In the past four seasons, Sunlake has posted a 36-7 record, and the common denominator in each season has been a victory to start it. Sunlake is perfect in the last four season openers, outscoring opponents 152-18.

Finish stronger: The Seahawks’ only two losses last season were heartbreakers. Springstead scored with 48 seconds left to win the district title, and Gainesville kicked a field goal with 8.8 seconds left to end Sunlake’s season in the first round of the playoffs.

Filling holes: Sunlake returns the county rushing champion in Nathan Johnson, but only returns one of the blockers that helped pave the way to 1,504 yards — center James Reynolds. One other returner has switched to the defensive line, and another hurt his knee in the spring. Still, Browning says “we’ve got some horses to work with,” and he’s confident suitable blockers will be in place.

Brawny: Browning said the Seahawks, who have gained a reputation as being one of the most physical teams in the county, will again try and bully opponents with a grind-it-out style on offense and hard hitting on defense. “If we’re not a physical football team, I’ll be disappointed,” he said.

Bricks in the wall: Not only does Sunlake have to replenish its offensive line, but defensively the team loses nine starters from a unit that was the county’s best. The Seahawks only let one team break 14 points all season (Land O’Lakes scored 21, but still lost) and allowed just 7.1 points a game. Linebackers Logan Wolfe and Austin Yeloushan are the only players back who had more than 10 tackles last season.

Known quantities

RB Nathan Johnson, Sr.: Johnson (5-9, 205) ran for 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and after being held to 63 in the season opener by Pasco, reeled off 10 straight 100-yard games to end the season. He’ll run behind new blockers, but will be counted on to carry the offense again. “He might not have all the so-called measurables that these college recruiters are looking for, but the best compliment I can give him is he is a football player,” said Browning. 

LB Austin Yeloushan, Sr.: The 6-2, 220-pounder should be the heart of the defense and is coming off a season in which he had 83 tackles, more than 20 for a loss, and seven sacks. 

OL James Reynolds, Sr.: The only returning starter on the offensive line will be the glue as Browning and Co. looking for the right pieces.

WR/DB Nick Valdes, Jr.: Valdes is the team’s top returning receiver (212 yards, 23.5 yards a catch) and had a very good offseason. He has great hands and Browning will try to get him the ball more.

DT Dylan Franklin, Sr.: A starter on the offensive line last year, Franklin is being moved to shore up a defensive line that lost every returning player and will start at nose tackle. 

Up-and-comers

QB Dayton Feidan, Sr.: The 6-1, 170-pounder threw 46 passes in six games last year, so he’s not completely green as he takes over the starting reins. A dual threat, Feidan also ran the ball 36 times last year, tied for third on the team despite missing the last four games after tearing his ACL.

FB/LB Logan Wolfe, Sr.: The fullback last year (181 yards), Wolfe will start at outside linebacker this season as well. 

OL Logan Berryman, Jr.: The 6-2, 290-pound guard started a few games last year, and his development will be key to how quickly the offensive line comes along. Browning said he is very good and has been playing well this fall.

WR/DB Mosi Davis, Sr.: Davis is one of the team’s best athletes who spent time on varsity last season; he only played eight games, mostly on defense. With the team’s top two receivers graduated, he’ll have a bigger role in 2014.

WR/DB Naejaun Jackson, Sr.: He played in all 11 games last year and caught eight passes, but will be a bigger help this fall one both sides of the ball.

Coach’s corner

“The expectations are still high. We’re certainly not lowering them; if anything they are higher now. It’s just a matter of getting some of these puzzle pieces put in the correct places. We don’t anticipate a big dropoff.” —  Browning

We’re rolling out daily district previews for all 78 varsity football teams in the area. Today we look at a monster nine-team Hillsborough County league, affectionately tabbed the district of death.

Overview

This district is one of the toughest around, and the way the schedule shakes out, it’s also a district that can be decided — like it was last year — by midseason. There’s no room for a slow start. Robinson plays Armwood and Jefferson in the first four weeks, Armwood and Jefferson play in Week 5 following games against Hillsborough and Robinson, and the Terriers play Jefferson and Armwood in Weeks 2 and 3. Last year, Hillsborough lost both of those games and had to spend the final eight weeks hoping for an unlikely upset to prolong its season, and it never came. There’s no question everyone is chasing the Hawks again, who were a perfect 8-0 in the league and allowed only 3.7 points a game. The race for second, though, should be more competitive. One coach referred to the league as Mario Kart, and Armwood has more red shells than everyone else.

The favorite

Armwood returns just about everyone from last year’s team and has high-quality experience at almost every position — even at kicker, where Syracuse commitment Sterling Hofrichter makes the Hawks a threat to score when they get stopped. But that won’t be often. The Hawks’ average score in the district last year was 39-4, and the closest anyone came to beating them was Jefferson, which lost by 19. Those scores may be closer in 2014, but they won’t be nearly close enough. 

Next in line

You can flip a coin between Hillsborough and Jefferson for the runnerup spot. Last year Jefferson was the more experienced team, but this year Hillsborough returns starting quarterback Dwayne Lawson and six receivers, including Anthony King and Xavier Byrd, who had more than 200 yards receiving. It could be Lawson’s presence — he also ran for more than 1,000 yards — that gives the Terriers the nod over Jefferson. But the Dragons, despite breaking in a new starter at quarterback in Cade Weldon, counter with a fantastic group of defensive backs and a potential 1,000-yard rusher in Mondreas Lofton. But don’t fret the runnerup spot too much — we’ll find out Sept. 5 who the frontrunner for that spot is.

Sleepers

After the Armwood-Jefferson-Hillsborough dog fight last year, the next three teams — Robinson, Chamberlain and King — all finished 4-4. It will take some good fortune for one of those teams to break from the second tier. Robinson doesn’t have much depth, and return just one starter on the offensive line, but they do have talent at virtually every position. The Knights will have to survive their first four games — Sickles, Plant, Jefferson on the road and Armwood at home — injury free to have shot at upsetting the league’s top dogs. And Blake and King may not be ready to start talking postseason yet, but don’t be surprised if either plays a role in who goes with a possible upset of the favorites this season. Blake is as talented as it has been in years and has weapons all over the field, and Chamberlain is improved. 

Important numbers

1 Returning 1,000-yard rushers (Dwayne Lawson) and 2,000-yard passers (Lawson) from last season

3 Quarterbacks in the district who led their team in rushing and passing last season (Lawson, Armwood’s Noah Johnson, Jefferson’s Deiondre Porter)

30 Points allowed by Armwood in eight district games last year

313 Points scored by Armwood in eight district games last year

31 Combined sacks by Blake’s Shavar Manuel (19) and Julian Jackson (12) last year

Players to watch

LB Azeez Al-Shaair, Jr., Hillsborough: Referred to as the quarterback of the defense by coach Earl Garcia, Al-Shaair recorded a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 110 tackles as a sophomore, 26 more than the next best Terrier. He’ll lead the way for a linebacker corp that should be even better than it was last year.

RB Corey Bennett, Sr., Blake: Bennett was the everything guy last season, compiling 1,113 total yards while leading the team in rushing. It’s his third year on the team and according to coach Darryl Gordon, he’s able to hit the holes well and should make some noise.

WR Jahrvis Davenport, Sr., Robinson: The Maryland commitment and No. 20-ranked player in the HomeTeam 100 might be the best wide receiver in Tampa Bay. A virtual unknown when last season began, Davenport filled his highlight video with sensational plays on the way to 667 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. 

LB Jordan Griffin, Sr., Armwood: Griffin led the Hawks with 150 tackles last season and is one of the best linebackers in Tampa Bay. Expect similar numbers this fall, and maybe even a few additional splash plays.

CB/WR Corey Hicks, Sr., Lennard: A shutdown corner, Hicks will line up against the oppositions best. “There was a stretch last year against Hillsborough, Robinson, Jefferson and Armwood where we put him on their No. 1 receiver and they caught zero balls,” coach Keith Chattin said.

RB Mondreas Lofton, Jr., Jefferson: The only offensive returning starter not on the line, Lofton will be tapped to carry the load on the ground in Deiondre Porter’s absence. Last season, he rushed for 791 yards and eight touchdowns. Now that he’s not sharing the work with Porter, we expect he can do a whole lot more for the Dragons.

OG/NG Robert Mosley, Sr., Chamberlain: The sturdy interior lineman will see plenty of action, if not be on the field for every play. He has a mean streak in him, and coach Cam Jones thinks Mosley will be a “steal” for whatever college picks him.

OG/DT Jamauri Tramel, Sr., Leto: A three-year starter on the offensive line, coach Matt Kitchie has dubbed Tramel “Mr. Dependable.” He was injured in Week 5 against Robinson last year, which “threw a monkey wrench into our plans,” Kitchie said.

RB Otis Williams, Jr., King: The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder finished with 742 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns last season. If Williams, who averaged 11.52 yards-per-carry, can repeat his performance, the Lions might sneak into the playoff conversation once again.

Mark our calendar

Jefferson at Hillsborough, Sept. 5: Well, it doesn’t take long to get to the big one in this district, now does it? Jefferson opens up with Alonso, while Hillsborough has the old first-week bye to get ready for the Dragons. Extra week to prepare, or a game to tune up? Hmmmm. This won’t officially settle anything in the district, but if it plays out that everyone is playing for second behind Armwood, this winner gets a one-game lead and a huge tiebreaker advantage if it comes down to that. Jefferson won last year’s tilt 28-23, but this hotly contested series can always go either way.

Returning district leaders

Rushing yards: Hillsborough’s Dwayne Lawson, 1,068

Rushing TDs: Armwood’s Noah Johnson, 14

Passing yards: Lawson, 2,120

Passing TDs: Lawson, 22

Receiving yards: Robinson’s Jahrvis Davenport, 667 

Receiving TDs: Davenport, 8

Tackles: Armwood’s Jordan Griffin, 150

Sacks: Blake’s Shavar Manuel, 19

Interceptions: Blake’s Juwan Burgess, 5

Predicted order of finish

From an anonymous coach in the district 

1. Armwood

2. Hillsborough

3. Jefferson

4. Robinson

5. King

6. Blake

7. Chamberlain

8. Lennard

9. Leto

Final word

“I love it more than anything. I want to be the main event. I want Chamberlain to be the team that people want to see on their Friday nights.”  — Chamberlain coach Cam Jones on playing in this powerhouse district 

Correspondents Jeff Odom, Darek Sharp, Andy Warrener and Brandon Wright contributed to this report.

Armwood

Coach: Sean Callahan (25th season, 195-101)

Last season: 14-1

Class/district:6A-8

Colors: Royal blue, white and maroon 

Stadium: Lyle Flagg Stadium, 12000 U.S. Highway 92, Seffner

Playoff history: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Last appearance: Beat Venice 31-19; beat Jefferson 52-48; beat Springstead 41-0; beat Bartram Trail 35-28; lost 52-7 to Miami Central.

State titles: 2003, 2004

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Durant, 7:30

Sept. 5at Blake, 7:30 

Sept. 12vs. Hillsborough, 7:30 

Sept. 19at Robinson, 7:30 

Sept. 26vs. Jefferson, 7:30 

Oct. 10at Leto, 7:30 

Oct. 17vs. Lennard, 7:30 

Oct. 24at King, 7:30 

Oct. 31vs. Chamberlain, 7:30 

Nov. 7at Strawberry Crest, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Class 6A state championship game, opponent TBD, Dec. 13: Let’s face it: it’s always state title or bust at Armwood, but especially after you reach the state title game (like the Hawks did in 2013) and return everyone the following year (like they do in 2014). The Hawks’ schedule will have a few challenges, like Jefferson and Hillsborough, but their closest game against the same schedule last year was 19 points, and not a single opponent scored in double figures. State championship or bust, indeed.

Huddle highlights

Another milestone? Sean Callahan won his 200th game Sept. 28, 2012, against Leto before a number of his victories were stripped by the Florida High School Athletic Association. But he’s right back at “officially” winning No. 200 again. With 195 victories, Callahan could win his 200th game (again) when the Hawks play Jefferson on Sept. 26.   

Weak spots addressed: “We couldn’t block anyone last year,” says Callahan, but this year he is happy with how the offensive line has improved. Returners like Kevin Richardson (6-2, 315), Evan Montreuil (6-1, 250) and Willie Edom (6-1, 265) are bolstered by the addition of Tampa Bay Tech junior transfer Mike Brown, who at 6-foot-3, 340 pounds will start at center.

Rock solid: Callahan thinks the strongest unit on his team is the running backs. Caylon Holloway will start, but he is backed up by a strong group of runners, including a freshman, Brian Snead. Countryside transfer Mekhi Reynolds was expected to be on the cusp of a breakout season, and we’ll see if that translates in Seffner. Callahan said Armwood will spread the ball around as usual.

Ware and tear: The defensive line lost Hyriam Frederick, who was second in sacks, but there won’t be much dropoff this season. Jeremy Ware (five sacks) and Byron Cowart (13 sacks) are back, and Quinton Singletary (five sacks) has been converted from linebacker to defensive tackle.

Putting in work: Callahan isn’t sure that this is his most talented team ever, but he says it is definitely his hardest-working squad. He said 21 players have made the 1,000-pound club (weights), and the team put in extra effort this offseason to prepare to get back to the state final. 

Known quantities

DE Byron Cowart, Sr.: Callahan said his star end is improved, and if he plays hard on every down there will be no stopping what he can do this season The top-rated player in the country according to Rivals, Cowart heads up a defense that should be one of the best in school history.

LB Jordan Griffin, Sr.: Griffin led the Hawks with 150 tackles last season and is one of the best linebackers in Tampa Bay. Expect similar numbers this fall, and maybe even a few additional splash plays from the Hawks backer.

CB Aaron Covington, Sr.: Arguably the top lockdown corner around, Covington had 35 tackles, four interceptions and 10 passes defended last year. He’s not a guy many teams will try and throw on.

QB Noah Johnson, Sr.: He burst onto the scene last year and finished as the team’s top passer (1,980 yards) and rusher (809 yards) while producing 32 touchdowns. Johnson continues to improve each season.

WR Trevor Laurent, Sr.: Laurent was Johnson’s favorite target in 2013, and we’re not sure that changes this fall. Laurent led the Hawks with 580 yards receiving and is the only returning pass catcher that put up numbers.

RB Caylon Holloway, Sr.: Is a 1,000-yard season in store for Holloway? We won’t be surprised. Holloway (420 yards, eight touchdowns) can run, catch and block, and is the Hawks’ most complete back. 

LB Justin Manning,Jr.: On any other team, Manning (92 tackles) might be the star. But on a loaded defense like Armwood’s, he is an underrated gem.

Up-and-comers

RB Brian Snead, Fr.: Snead has a chance to be special, Callahan says. “We’re really excited about him.” At 5-10 and a solid 185 pounds, Snead will fit right in the Hawk backfield.

WR Darrian McNeil, So.: Probably the Hawks quarterback of the future, McNeil is a budding star. He saw action in seven games as a freshman, but this year will be the one casual fans learn about him.

LB Kyheem Campbell, Jr.: Campbell transferred to Armwood early last spring, hit the weight room immediately and has impressed the coaches; he could be starting at outside linebacker.

DB Kaylaun Edwards, Sr.: Edwards missed last season and the spring after tearing his ACL, but he is back and will be starting at cornerback.

SS Dedarallo Blue, Jr.: Blue played in every game last season, had an excellent offseason and should be much more visible in 2014.

Coach’s corner

“Really, our staff did a great job working with what we had last year in winning 14 games. We got beat by a really great team at state (52-7) and that’s going to happen here in Florida. …We have a really mature team coming back and they talk about it all the time. It will be used as motivation. It fueled this group in the offseason.” — Callahan

Blake

Coach: Darryl Gordon (third season, 5-15)

Last season: 2-8

Class/district:6A-8

Colors: Black and gold 

Stadium: James “Big Jim” Williams Stadium, 1701 N. Blvd., Tampa

Playoff history: 1969, 2000

Last appearance: Lost 31-0 to Crystal River

State titles: 1969

Season schedule

Aug. 29at Brandon, 7:30 

Sept. 5vs. Armwood, 7:30 

Sept. 12at Leto, 7;30

Sept. 19vs. Lennard, 7:30 

Sept. 26at King, 7:30 

Oct. 2vs. Chamberlain, 7

Oct. 10vs. Middleton, 7:30 

Oct. 17at Hillsborough, 7:30 

Oct. 24vs. Robinson, 7:30 

Oct. 31at Jefferson, 7:30 

Mark your calendar

Armwood at Blake, Sept. 5: The Hawks will be heavily favored to win, but how Blake plays in this game will tell us right away if the offseason enthusiasm around this team is legit. We think it is. The Yellow Jackets played Armwood tougher than anyone but Jefferson in the regular season last year, trailing only 16-6 at halftime and getting seven combined sacks from 2014 returners Shavar Manuel and Julian Jackson. Is it unrealistic to predict postseason for Blake? Probably. But it’s not unrealistic to suggest a good showing here, win or lose, becomes a precursor to a breakout season.

Huddle highlights

The Manuel effect: Junior defensive lineman Shavar Manuel is one of the most hotly recruited players to come out of Blake High. “(Manuel’s) brought attention not just to the team but to the school,” coach Darryl Gordon said. “As far as football goes, it’s all the other players’ opportunity to show what they can do.”

New signal caller: Junior Sam Oxendine takes over at quarterback, and the team’s success rides heavily on how well he is able guide the offense. Gordon was happy with what he saw from Oxendine in the spring jamboree and in 7-on-7 action at Skyway Park. Blake placed fourth at the Disney Classic 7-on-7 tournament and were runners-up in a tournament at Ocala.

Depending on the D: The Yellow Jackets have typically been able to hang their hat on their defense and will likely need to lean on that unit again this season. The group is coming together with veteran leadership and Gordon calls it the backbone of the team.

Known quantities

DE Shavar Manuel, Jr.: Manuel, who had 19 sacks in 2013, is the fulcrum of the defensive line. He will flip around and put in minutes on the offensive line, too. Gordon likes to move him around and says “(Manuel) will really work at what you’re trying to teach him.” 

LB Julian Jackson, Sr.: Jackson led the team in tackles (47) last season and amassed 12 sacks. He will be Blake’s mic linebacker, and Gordon is getting to where he trusts him to make reads and says he’s consistent at making the play. 

CB Donte’ Glover, Jr.: Gordon says Glover is one of those players who always wants to know what to do to improve his game. Gordon also thinks he could develop into a lockdown corner. Glover’s three picks and 10 defended passes from last season might be indicators.

RB Corey Bennett, Sr.: Bennett was the everything guy last season, compiling 1,113 total yards while leading the team in rushing. It’s his third year on the team and according to Gordon, he’s able to hit the holes well and should make some noise.

OL/DL Jamel Bememon, Sr.: Bememon goes 6-3, 260 and is the next best force in the trenches behind Manuel. Gordon fashions Bememon as someone who likes being told what he’s doing wrong and is able to teach him some of the finer details of the game

Up-and-comers

WR/FS Juwan Burgess, So.: Burgess had a phenomenal freshman year, compiling 712 all-purpose yards, notching 40 tackles and leading the team — and district —  with five interceptions.

OL/DL Marvens Mellons, Jr.: One of the strongest players on the team, Mellons is a workaholic both in the weight room and on the field. Gordon says he’s willing to put the time in to do what he needs to do. “The offensive and defensive line coaches just love him,” he said.

WR Isaiah Rodgers, Jr.: Rodgers caught 11 balls as a sophomore and should step into a much larger role this season. Gordon says he’s got hands, speed and can read defenses. Rogers scored on a long touchdown reception against Middleton in the spring.

Coach’s corner

“Blake has been a doormat for a long time; this year is our chance to be really good if we can get it together.” — Defensive coordinator Anthony Davis

Chamberlain 

Coach: Richard “Cam” Jones (second season)

Last season: 4-6

Class/district:6A-8

Colors: Green and gold

Stadium: John Adcock Stadium, 9401 N. Blvd., Tampa

Playoff history: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Last appearance: Beat Gaither 54-6; beat Wharton 42-21; lost 40-20 to Lakeland

Season schedule

Aug. 29at Gaither, 7:30 

Sept. 5vs. Leto, 7:30 

Sept. 12at Lennard, 7:30 

Sept. 19vs. King, 7:30 

Sept. 26vs. Brandon, 7:30 

Oct. 2at Blake, 7

Oct. 10vs. Hillsborough, 7:30 

Oct. 17at Robinson, 7:30 

Oct. 24vs. Jefferson, 7:30 

Oct. 31at Armwood, 7:30 

Mark your calendar

Chamberlain at Armwood, Oct. 31: With no hesitation, Chamberlain coach Cam Jones jumped on the regular-season closer as the game that stands out to him. Clearly the Chiefs’ leader isn’t intimidated by the head honchos of the monster that is Class 6A, District 8.

Huddle highlights

Not far from the lead pack: To crack into upper-level status with Armwood, Jefferson and Hillsborough, most would think the Chiefs have a monumental task. But the margin is slimmer than that: last year Chamberlain nearly pulled it off, losing to the Terriers, Dragons and Robinson by six total points in a three-week span.

Confidence boosted:“Last year we didn’t know if we could compete with those guys, but when you look up and you’re leading in the third quarter... now, these guys believe,” Jones said.

In passing, a lofty projection: Even though the Chiefs have yet to decide on a starting quarterback — with senior Seth Jordan and sophomore Reggie Wester the candidates —  and Chamberlain only  attempted a handful of passes per game and had just two touchdowns in 2013, Jones promises a “super aggressive” up-tempo attack.

Not a big hit: Because Chamberlain’s roster is in the low 50s, Jones says there hasn’t been a “whole lot of contact” in practice to this point. “We want to be playing in November, so I’ve been concentrating on staying healthy,” he said.

Known quantities

LB Danzell Rolle, Sr.: Rolle is a leader, one who “exemplifies what we’re trying to do,” according to Jones. He adds that Rolle makes the players around him “exponentially” better.

OG/NG Robert Mosley, Sr.: The sturdy interior lineman will see plenty of action, if not be on the field for every play. He has a mean streak in him, and Jones thinks Mosley will be a “steal” for whatever college picks him.

LT Zach Bendure, Jr.: The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is the leader, not just in performance but vocally, of the offensive line.

DB Lee Martin. Sr.: Martin is in charge of taking over the secondary and has the ability to be the team’s lockdown corner. He’s a three-year starter who can also play slot receiver.

Up-and-comers

FS/WR DJ Daniel, Jr.: Also a great student, Daniel should be the top target for whomever wins the starting quarterback job.

MLB Deran Baker, Sr.: This is the guy who will have to step in for Anthony Davis, now at Toledo. Baker (6-2, 225) passes the eye test. “I’m not a small guy by any means but... he’s got some guns on him,” Jones said.

OLB/RB Tahwan Keels, Sr.: Keels is another player who will be relied on to step up his production at the linebacker spot. He can also rush off the edge and run the ball on offense, and is a sprinter in track.

Coach’s corner

“I love it, more than anything. I want to be the main event. I want Chamberlain to be the team that people want to see on their Friday nights.”  — Jones on playing in the powerhouse nine-team district

Hillsborough

Coach: Earl Garcia (21st season, 183-48; 28th overall, 216-86)

Last season: 9-2

Class/district: 6A-8

Colors: Red, black and white 

Stadium: Marcelino “Chelo” Huerta Field, 5000 Central Ave., Tampa

Playoff history: 1968, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Last appearance: Lost 9-7 to Armwood.

Season schedule 

Sept. 5vs. Jefferson, 7:30 

Sept. 12at Armwood, 7:30 

Sept. 19vs. Leto, 7:30

Sept. 26at Lennard, 7:30 

Oct. 2vs. King, 7

Oct. 10at Chamberlain, 7:30 

Oct. 17vs. Blake, 7:30 

Oct. 24at Durant, 7:30 

Oct. 31at Robinson, 7:30 

Nov. 7vs. Tampa Bay Tech, 7:30 

Mark your calendar

Hillsborough at Armwood, Sept. 12: Depending on how the Terriers’ game against Jefferson goes the week before, their matchup with last year’s 6A state runnerup could be make-or-break. Last year Hillsborough lost to both Jefferson and Armwood — the teams from the district that eventually advanced to the postseason. If Hillsborough beats Jefferson and can then top the Hawks, they’d essentially be district champs. If they lose to the Dragons, though, the Hawks could decide their postseason fate. 

Huddle highlights

0-2: For just the second time in coach Earl Garcia’s career, his team began the 2013 season 0-2, spending the rest of the fall digging its way out of a hole. Though it’s extremely possible with back-to-back games against Jefferson and Armwood to open the season, Garcia is determined not to let it happen again. 

Lawson’s domain: Lawson, a Miami commit, threw for 2,120 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, adding 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. His return for the third straight year as the Terriers’ starting quarterback is huge for Hillsborough’s offensive success.

Familiar targets: In addition to its Division I-bound quarterback, Hillsborough returns most of its skill players on offense, including six receivers who totaled at least 200 yards last season. And with an experienced quarterback throwing to them, the learning curve should be nonexistent. 

Postseason tradition: For decades, Hillsborough has been a consistently solid football program in Tampa Bay. In fact, last season was just the second time in 21 years the Terriers missed the playoffs, making the experience one Garcia doesn’t plan to relive. “That was an unhappy feeling; an uncomfortable feeling,” he said.

Known quantities

QB Dwayne Lawson, Sr.: Lawson’s 3,188 yards and 31 touchdowns also come with a huge amount of athleticism. The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder also excels in track and field, winning the 3A state title in the triple jump with a leap of more than 47 feet. As the leading passer and tackler in the district, Lawson should have no trouble helping Hillsborough hit the ground running.

LB Azeez Al-Shaair, Jr.: Referred to as the quarterback of the defense by Garcia, Al-Shaair recorded a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 110 tackles as a sophomore last season, 26 more than the next best Terrier. He’ll lead the way for a linebacker corp that should be even better than it was last year. 

RB Rudy Dawson, Jr.: As a sophomore, Dawson rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns while finishing with 455 yards receiving and two more touchdowns through the air.  

DB/WR Xavier Byrd, Sr.: Byrd led Hillsborough in receiving last season, totaling 576 yards, and six touchdowns. The 5-foot-8, 154-pound athlete also added 20 tackles on the other side of the ball. 

DB/WR Jon Hughes, Jr.: Hughes is another big part of Hillsborough’s experienced group of receivers, ending last season with had 20 receptions for 473 yards and six touchdowns. Like Byrd, he also dabbled a bit on defense, coming up with eight tackles and three passes defended. 

Up-and-comers

ATH Lawrence Dawsey, Jr.: Son of Florida State wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey, the 5-foot-8, 150-pound Terrier might be small, but he has the potential to pack a lot of punch. Last year, Dawsey completed three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown while punting and kicking. This year, Lawson’s backup could also see some time at receiver while continuing to excel on special teams. 

OL Michael Hilliard, Jr.: Garcia was enthused about Hilliard’s progress during the spring, calling him the best and most consistent lineman on the squad. At 6-foot-3, 327, Hilliard’s sheer size should help Lawson do what he does best. 

DE Willie Lanier, Sr.: Lanier had 22 tackles last season, and after a good spring, Garcia expects even more out of his 6-foot-2, 208-pound defensive end in 2014. 

RB Michael Duclos, Sr.: The Terriers are in need of a go-to running back, and Duclos has the potential to be that guy. A recent transfer from Robinson, Duclos rushed for nearly 250 yards last season on a mediocre Knights squad. Surrounded by an offense chock full of talent at Hillsborough, Duclos could shine.

Coach’s corner

“We open up with Jefferson, Armwood, back-to-back. It’s basically a double-elimination tournament the first two games of the season. We need to win one out of the two. That’s basically the way it works out.” — Garcia

Jefferson

Coach: Jeremy Earle (fourth season, 23-9)

Last season: 10-2

Class/district: 6A-8

Colors: Blue and gold 

Stadium: Dr. Sam Horton Stadium, 4401 W. Cypress St., Tampa

Playoff history: 1975, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013

Last appearance: Beat Largo 25-17; lost 52-48 to Armwood.

State titles: 2010

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Alonso, 7:30 

Sept. 5at Hillsborough, 7:30 

Sept. 12vs. Robinson, 7:30 

Sept. 26at Armwood, 7:30 

Oct. 2vs. Leto, 7 

Oct. 10at Lennard, 7:30 

Oct. 17vs. King, 7:30

Oct. 24at Chamberlain, 7:30 

Oct. 31vs. Blake, 7:30 

Nov. 7at Steinbrenner, 7:30 

Mark your calendar

Jefferson at Hillsborough, Sept. 5: With last year’s state runnerup Armwood as the favorite for the top spot in the district once again, the race for No. 2 — and the playoff berth that goes along with it — could begin when Hillsborough hosts the Dragons. Last season, the Terriers led at halftime, but Jefferson scored four touchdowns in the second half to secure a 28-23 win against the district rival, and ultimately take the playoff spot from Hillsborough. Against a Hillsborough team determined not to miss the postseason again, Jefferson could have its hands full. 

Huddle highlights

Life after Deiondre: As last year’s starting quarterback, Deiondre Porter had a state-high 4,698 total yards (3,199 passing, 1,499 rushing) and 53 touchdowns. Since the Florida signee and Tampa Bay Times’ All-Tampa Bay Offensive Player of the Year scored 82 percent of his team’s touchdowns and rushed for 708 yards more than the next best Dragon last season, restructuring an offense in his absence could be the biggest mountain Jefferson has to climb. 

Front loaded: The Dragons open their season against what could be a tough Alonso team before meeting district rivals Hillsborough and Armwood within the next three weeks. If Jefferson plans to make a statement, it needs to do it early. 

Fresh faces: The Dragons return just three starters on offense and four on defense. Replacing Porter and last season’s top three leading tacklers with young, inexperienced players is certainly a challenge, coach Jeremy Earle admits, but it’s one he and the rest of the coaching staff have embraced. 

Rookie QB: Jefferson plans to start sophomore quarterback Cade Weldon, a recent transfer from Berkeley Prep. Weldon, son of former Florida State and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Casey Weldon, has zero starts under his belt, but Earle said he’s confident in his QB’s athletic abilities. “He loves studying the game,” Earle said. “He’s a gym rat.”

Known quantities

DB Quentin Rogers, Sr.: One of four returning starters on defense, Rogers, who had 25 tackles last season, will be part of a secondary of which Earle seems to be the most proud. 

DB Ernest Mills, Sr.: Mills, also a returning starter on defense, will join Rogers in the secondary, trying to add to his 41 tackles, one for loss, and one interception in 2013.  

RB Mondreas Lofton, Jr.: The only offensive returning starter not on the line, Lofton will be tapped to carry the load on the ground in Porter’s absence. Last season, he rushed for 791 yards and eight touchdowns. Now that he’s not sharing the work with Porter, we expect he can do a whole lot more for the Dragons.

LB Ceddrick Knight, Jr.: Since Jefferson graduated its top three leading tacklers from last season, Knight — whose 56 tackles, six for loss, was fourth best on the squad — should lead the way on defense. Knight, 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, also had a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery for the Dragons last year. 

ATH Jeremiah Baltrip, Sr.: At No. 81 in the HomeTeam 100, Baltrip excels just about anywhere on the football field. Last season he starred on special teams while adding four tackles and rushing for 40 yards. His size and potential lead us to believe he could have a much bigger role in 2014.  

Up-and-comers

QB Cade Weldon, So.: Weldon has never started a varsity game, but Earle said the former Berkeley Prep backup has all the tools to be successful — even against the tough competition Jefferson will see in the first few weeks of the season. He might not be experienced under center, but his 127 yards receiving and two touchdowns in Berkeley Prep’s spring game prove his athletic ability. 

LB Ashante Dennard, Sr.: Dennard started just the last four games last season at middle linebacker, but his impact was still grand — accruing 29 tackles, seven for loss, two sacks and an interception. Now that he’ll be a more permanent fixture, he should be an even bigger  threat to opposing offenses. 

WR Taj Jenkins, Sr.: Randy Bradford threw for 264 yards in Jefferson’s spring game, and Jenkins was one of his many targets who made a name for himself that night — with an 80-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the game. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound receiver was on the varsity roster last season but didn’t make a huge impact. This time around, Earle expects that to change. 

RB Cory Walker, Sr.: In addition to Lofton, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Walker should be a big part of the Dragons’ run game. As a junior, Walker rushed 148 yards on 15 carries. In a spring game win against Robinson, he led the way with 41 yards on the ground and a touchdown. 

Coach’s corner

“In high school football every year, every team makes its own identity. So that’s kind of the fun part about it. It’s something we’re forming now as we speak.” — Earle

King 

Coach: Trey Thomas (first season)

Last season: 6-4

Class/district: 6A-8

Colors: Columbia blue and scarlet 

Stadium: Bill Stewart Stadium, 6815 N. 56th St., Tampa

Playoff history: 1972, 1976, 1978, 1981, 2000, 2001

Last appearance: Beat East Bay 17-14; lost 24-23 (OT) to Kissimmee Osceola.

Season schedule

Aug. 29vs. Freedom, 7:30 

Sept. 5vs. Lennard, 7:30 

Sept. 12at Middleton, 7:30 

Sept. 19at Chamberlain, 7:30 

Sept. 26vs. Blake, 7:30 

Oct. 2at Hillsborough, 7 

Oct. 10vs. Robinson, 7:30 

Oct. 17at Jefferson, 7:30 

Oct. 24vs. Armwood, 7:30 

Oct. 31at King, 7:30 

Mark your calendar 

King at Hillsborough, Oct. 2: In the words of new coach Trey Thomas, King’s one-point loss to district rival Hillsborough last season was simply “a heartbreaker.” With less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter, the Lions were poised to take the lead with the ball at Hillsborough’s 10-yard line. But instead of attempting a short field goal, King opted to try and run time off the clock with one more play. It was a decision that proved disastrous. King botched the ensuing snap, the Terriers recovered,  ran out the clock and ended the Lions’ hopes to earn their first postseason bid in 12 years. Thomas, who was King’s offensive coordinator for six seasons before being promoted in February, believes last year’s score alone (28-27) is enough motivation for his players to want to beat Hillsborough this time around.

Huddle highlights

Offseason confusion: After longtime coach Alvin Davis retired in January, King thought it had landed its next coach in McKinley Rolle. But shortly after Rolle accepted the position, administrators were informed that he was under investigation by the Florida Department of Education for an incident at Lecanto, where he was the head coach for three seasons. After weeks of waiting for the DOE’s official ruling, King decided to instead offer the position to Thomas, who was the second finalist.

Sticking together: During the month-long stretch that King did not have a coach, Thomas said senior cornerback Demetrius Mann took charge and led the team’s offseason workouts. Thomas, who also coaches track, said he would see Mann running drills at the team’s practice field, which made him proud. “He’s just a great guy and a great kid and an awesome player. That kid is going to go far,” Thomas said.

Stressing the basics: Thomas said he is in the process of instilling more discipline in the program and, for him, it starts with personal responsibility. He wants to get players into the habit of being on time to classes and practice. “Our kids, they need that. They need the man in their life,” he said. “For unfortunate reasons, a lot of them don’t have that. So they need that structure in their life and they’re begging for that structure. They’re responding well to us and that’s the thing that I like about it.”

Tough slate? No problem: There’s little doubt that 6A-8 is one of the toughest districts in the area with Armwood, Jefferson and Hillsborough leading the charge. Thomas knows it will be a challenge to repeat the success of last season, but said his team will be prepared for everything.

Known quantities

RB Otis Williams, Jr.: The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder finished with 742 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns last season. If Williams, who averaged 11.52 yards per carry, can repeat his performance, the Lions might sneak into the playoff conversation once again.

CB Demetrius Mann, Sr.: Mann had 24 tackles and one fumble recovery last year and will be counted on as a leader in the secondary. Thomas touted the senior  as someone “every coach would want in a player” on and off the field.

LB Andrew Fakolade, Sr.: Fakolade returns as the most experienced linebacker. In six games last season, he totaled 31 tackles with one interception.

Up-and-comers

QB Paul Arfaras, Sr.: Though Arfaras hasn’t played at the varsity level since appearing in five games as a sophomore (4-for-14, 51 yards, one TD, one interception), he is King’s only option with experience under center.

DB/RB DeMario Brisbon, Jr.: Thomas said Brisbon has grown from an inexperienced player into someone others on the team look up to.

DE Samuel Guinyard, Fr.: Guinyard is the lone freshman on the roster. But at 6-foot-6, he is already the tallest player and should see playing time this season.

Coach’s corner

“My expectation is to lay the foundation to build a program. I’m not more concerned with wins or losses. Right now, I’m more concerned with building and raising men. I think the rest of that will come along with it.” — Thomas

Leto

Coach: Matt Kitchie (fourth season, 1-29; sixth overall, 10-42)

Last season: 0-10

Class/district:6A-8

Colors: Gold, red and white 

Stadium: Falcon Stadium, 4409 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa

Playoff history: 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999

Last appearance: Beat Lake Region 41-8; lost 28-0 to Auburndale

Season schedule

Sept. 5at Chamberlain, 7:30

Sept. 12vs. Blake, 7:30

Sept. 19at Hillsborough, 7:30

Sept. 26vs. Robinson, 7:30

Oct. 2at Jefferson, 7

Oct. 10vs. Armwood, 7:30

Oct. 17at Middleton, 7:30

Oct. 24at Lennard, 7:30

Oct. 31vs. King, 7:30

Nov. 7vs. Spoto, 7:30

Mark your calendar

Having not won a game on the field in three years, coupled with being relegated to arguably the toughest district in the state, the Falcons look at their schedule in terms of winnable games and not necessarily district showdowns or rivalries. Coach Matt Kitchie is eyeing a few games where he thinks the Falcons can break the skid — Oct. 17 at Middleton and Oct. 24 at Lennard. Middleton thumped the Falcons 42-7 last season, but a coaching change and player exodus at Middleton might prove a balancing factor. The Longhorns throttled the Falcons 68-0 last season, but were also one of the district’s bottom teams. 

Huddle highlights

Flying Falcons: The Falcons have two, good-sized, bookend receivers, and according to Kitchie, five or six who can play wide receiver. Three of the group are at least 6-foot-4 and Kitchie is excited about the prospect of getting the ball in their hands. “We want to get these guys in space and let them score points,” he said.

Seeing off seniors: This is the first time in Kitchie’s coaching career where he’s had the opportunity to see a freshman class ascend to becoming seniors. “They know what’s expected and we’re not coaching those details anymore; we’re able to start coaching football,” Kitchie said. 

Administrative support: Kitchie has nothing but positives regarding the new athletic administration under Marikos Asgedom. “He’s a Leto grad and wants to win,” Kitchie said. “They’ve given us everything we need to be successful.”

Known quantities

OG/DT Jamauri Tramel, Sr.: A three-year starter on the offensive line, Kitchie has dubbed Tramel “Mr. Dependable.” He was injured in Week 5 against Robinson last year, which “threw a monkey wrench into our plans,” Kitchie said.

T/DE Austin Grivna, Sr.: Another three-year starter, Grivna “does everything you could ask of a high school player,” Kitchie said. He also noted that Grivna had two sacks against Plant in the spring game.

RB/LB Marcus Palma, Sr.: A two-year starter for the Falcons, Palma led the team in total yards last season with 603, more than 100 of which were on kick returns. “We hit him on some big plays last season,” Kitchie said.

Up-and-comers

WR/DE Micah Davis, Sr.: Davis comes over from the Leto basketball team, and according to Kitchie has Division-I talent. 

WR/DB Jephon Chambers, Jr.: All Kitchie had to say about Chambers was “speed, speed, speed, speed.”

WR/DB Dallas Johnson, Sr.: Academically ineligible as a freshman, Johnson has worked his way back onto the field and ran with the track team in the spring. Kitchie says Johnson has speed, toughness and grit.

Lennard

Coach: Keith Chattin (third season, 1-19)

Last season: 1-9

Class/district:6A-8

Colors: Burnt orange and white 

Stadium: Unnamed, 2002 E. Shell Point Road, Ruskin

Playoff history: None

Season schedule

Aug. 29at East Bay, 7:30

Sept. 5at King, 7:30 

Sept. 12vs. Chamberlain, 7:30

Sept. 19at Blake, 7:30 

Sept. 26vs. Hillsborough, 7:30 

Oct. 2at Robinson, 7 

Oct. 10vs. Jefferson, 7:30 

Oct. 17at Armwood, 7:30 

Oct. 24vs. Leto, 7:30 

Oct. 31vs. Spoto, 7:30 

Mark your calendar 

St. Petersburg Catholic at Lennard, Aug. 22: The first two years have been rough for coach Keith Chattin, so this is easy: the preseason game. “The first game of the season is our main focus,” he said. “We don’t get caught up in who we play; we just want to start the season off in a positive manner and play well and be extremely physical.”

Huddle highlights

Who will play quarterback? Chattin has a couple options in Diontae Johnson and Devin Black. Johnson took the bulk of the snaps last season but Black, a freshman, “has looked outstanding.” Chattin said he will make a decision Monday.

Instilling confidence: Chattin’s biggest challenge will be getting the Longhorns to believe they can win. Lennard, coming off a 1-9 season, is 1-19 during Chattin’s two years and 3-27 dating to 2011. After a few dry seasons, Chattin believes he has the personnel in place this year. “We’ve got some players this year,” he said. “Honestly, that’s the biggest difference.”

Offseason of positives: Lennard beat East Bay 20-6 in its spring game and had a good summer in 7-on-7. Combine that with a ramped-up offseason conditioning program and Chattin said he thinks a .500 season is well within reach. “I think we can win six, seven, eight games this year and if I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t say it in the paper,” he said. “We want to win every game but I’m also realistic about our goals. But I think we can get to those numbers for sure.”

Known quantities

QB/WR/CB Diontae Johnson, Sr.: Johnson is the Longhorns playmaker but it remains to be seen where he lines up. If he’s not under center Johnson, who Chattin calls “one of the best athletes in the County”, will split time between receiver and corner.

OT/DT Rowdy Driggers, Jr.: At 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, Driggers is the anchor along both lines for the Longhorns.

RB/LB Jahryn Bailey, So.: Bailey has a nonstop motor and Chattin said “he’s the best tenth-grader I have ever had.”

LB/SS Brian Nelson, Sr.: Nelson will be in charge of lining up the defense and counted on again to fill gaps. The 6-foot, 160-pounder led Lennard with 85 tackles last year.

Up-and-comers

LB/TE Josh Anderson, Jr.: Anderson didn’t play football his first two years at Lennard but Chattin is hoping he can make a big impact. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Anderson is a physical presence and Chattin thinks “he can be one of the best linebackers in the county.”

RB Josh Shelman, Sr.: Shelman transferred in from Palmetto during the second semester last year and is expected to play a big role for out of the backfield.

QB Devin Black, Fr.: Black is likely the most intriguing name on this list. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder carries himself with maturity and could free up Johnson to make plays out wide if he wins the starting job.

OG/DT Kadeem Roman, Jr.: Roman played sparingly last season but thanks to a solid spring and summer, the 6-foot, 280-pounder has taken over at left guard.

Coach’s corner

“When you get used to winning, you win; and when you get used to losing, that’s the only feeling you know. It just keeps snowballing. You have to get (the team) out of that mindset. I believe we can run off three or four wins to start the year for the first time in school history.” — Chattin