Spoto
Coach: Dale Caparaso (seventh season, 30-33; 28th overall, 150-134)
Last season: 3-8
Class/district: 5A-9
Colors: Purple, silver and black
Stadium: Spartan Stadium, 8538 Eagle Palm Driver, Riverview
Playoff history: 2008, 2013
Last appearance: Lost 28-0 to Lake Wales.
Season schedule
Aug. 29vs. Wharton, 7:30
Sept. 5vs. Strawberry, 7:30
Sept. 12at Steinbrenner, 7:30
Sept. 19vs. East Bay, 7:30
Sept. 26vs. Alonso, 7:30
Oct. 3at Jesuit, 7:30
Oct. 17at Plant City, 7:30
Oct. 24vs. Middleton, 7:30
Oct. 31at Lennard, 7:30
Nov. 7at Leto, 7:30
Mark your calendar
Spoto at Jesuit, Oct. 3: While the Spartans’ biggest game may ultimately be the game two weeks later against Middleton that will decide the playoff teams for this three-team district, let’s shoot higher and look toward the game the will almost certainly decide the district champion. The Spartans have enough athletes to make this a game after losing 49-16, 45-0 and 38-22 the past three seasons. And it’s Jesuit’s Homecoming, if the Spartans need any additional motivation.
Huddle highlights
Best ever? This might be Spoto’s best team ever. Coach Dale Caparaso says Terence Williams is already the best quarterback he’s had, the team might be the fastest he’s had, the offensive line is the biggest by far, the offensive and defensive backfields are as stocked as they’ve been, and there’s a little more depth. He compares the team to the 2008-10 group that went 20-11 and featured the likes of Nick Addison, Danny Taylor, Donald Smith and Rodney Williams. “What has yet to be proven is does this group have the edge that the Nick Addison era had,’’ Caparaso said. “They had a switch they could turn on. They were tough, physical kids. We haven’t shown yet that we can flip that switch.”
Boys to men? Tavaris Johnson (52 tackles and 6.5 sacks), Jesse Holmes (37 tackles and three interceptions), Ashton Puesey (431 rushing yards), Kevin Hobley (206 yards passing) and Marc McCoy (227 yards receiving) were all major contributors their sophomore seasons in 2012. Now, it’s their senior season.
Numbers game: While some teams may have 50-60 kids on their rosters, Caparaso surmises only about 25 are actually ever “players.” He has just more than 30 on his roster this season, but says he has the same amount of players as everyone else. The Spartans are very versatile, with almost a dozen fast and interchangeable players that can fill in at quarterback, running back, receiver, defensive back and linebacker.
Big boyz: Spoto has its biggest offensive line ever — “It’s not even close,’’ Caparaso said — with a little depth to boot. The starting group averages about 285 pounds, including 300-plus pounders in Kevin Lewis, Mike Densen and Jounelle “J.J.” DeRidder. Spoto hopes to unveil a power rushing game, to go with the gamebreakers it has on the outside.
Tough sched: Say what you will about Spoto’s three-team district, but the Spartans’ schedule is no joke. It ends with games against Middleton, Lennard and Leto, but the first seven weeks include six teams that made the playoffs last year (or a playoff for the playoffs): Wharton, Strawberry Crest, East Bay, Alonso, Jesuit and Plant City. “I don’t think our schedule is any different than the last four years or so,” Caparaso said. “It’s tough. We embrace it.”
Known quantities
WR Marc McCoy, Sr.: McCoy quietly put together one of the best seasons for a wide receiver in Tampa Bay last season. It caught our eye — we ranked him No. 72 in the HomeTeam 100 — and we think he’ll reach even better numbers this season. McCoy has good speed and hands, and he can top last year’s 40 catches and 578 yards. For sure, he’ll score more than three touchdowns for what could be an explosive offense, with a quarterback who likes to throw deep.
ATH Kevin Hobley, Sr.: Hobley played 10 games at quarterback last season, throwing for 1,327 yards and 16 touchdowns. But he may end up being a starter at cornerback. Though a little undersized compared to some of the other Spartan defensive backs, Hobley was a revelation this offseason at the new position and has shown great tackling and smart play. He’ll also see some time at running back, wide receiver and his older position.
DB Todd Simms, Sr.: One of those versatile all-over-the-field athletes Spoto has been known to produce, Simms will help out everywhere. He had 402 yards receiving last year with more than 21 yards a catch, threw for 329 and had 20 tackles and three sacks.
ATH Jesse Holmes, Sr.: The speedy Spartan can play just about anywhere, but he’ll help out most in the defensive backfield, where along with a combination of Simms, Hobley and others, Spoto will be tough to throw on.
DE/WR Justice Hunt, Jr.: The 6-0, 195-pounder was second on the team with 6.5 sacks last season, and also led the team with two interceptions.
WR/LB Patrick James, Sr.: He only caught 10 passes last year, but four were for touchdowns. At 6-3, 215 pounds, he makes for an attractive target around the goal line and also excels at linebacker.
ATH Tavaris Johnson, Sr.: Another one of those guys who does a little bit of everything, Johnson is another big target for Williams to throw to, plays defensive back and had 29 tackles and two interceptions last year.
LB Ishmael Knight, Sr.: A 250-pound middle linebacker — who can also play on the offensive line — will be the heart of the defense. Knight had 45 tackles and three sacks last season.
Up-and-comers
QB Terence Williams, So.: The Jefferson transfer already has offers from North Carolina and North Carolina State as a wide receiver, but he’ll start under center for the Spartans in the spread and play running back in other sets. Caparaso says he is the best quarterback the program has ever had, and he had a nice offseason. He’ll have plenty of deep threats to throw to, and he throws a very nice deep ball. It will be how well he can hit his intermediate targets that will determine if the Spartans can knock off the better teams.
WR/KR Demarco Archie, Jr.: Caparaso uses one word to describe one of last year’s junior varsity standouts: Fast!!!! (We’re unclear if Caparaso said it with four or five exclamation marks).
LB Daniel Morales, So: The brother of all-conference performer and 2013’s leading tackler Rafael, Daniel is a bigger, and maybe better, version of big bro at 5-11, 218 pounds.
OLB Eugene Baisden, Jr.: A JV safety last season, Baisden has bulked up and grown into his new position at outside linebacker. “I think he will surprise some people this year,’’ Caparaso said.
RB Ashton Puesey, Sr.: The fastest kid on the team, Puesey had a great sophomore season with 431 yards rushing and more than 8 yards a carry before injuries sidelined him his junior season. He’s healthy and looking to pick up where he left off.
Coach’s corner
“Two years ago we started eight or nine sophomores. We literally had a JV team playing varsity football. But that was the commitment we made. This year, we are very experienced.” — Caparaso