Offensive player of the year: ATH Janarion Grant, Sr., Pasco
Grant, a three-way standout, watched his Pirates dominate the first six games of the year as he sat out with a hand injury. “When I came back, that’s when all eyes were on me,” Grant said. “I had to put on a show.” And he did, putting up stats that ranked among the area’s best in half a season. Last year’s co-player of the year accounted for 20 touchdowns and scored five ways – by pass, rush, reception, interception and kickoff return – to help the Pirates return to the Class 5A region final.
Most impressive accomplishment: Grant starred in his first game after the injury. He scored five TDs against Fivay – and would have scored on the opening kickoff, had it not been called back due to penalty – in a big district win. “It was incredible,” Grant said, “because many people might not be able to do that, to have the chance to do that.” Grant’s 77 career touchdowns are believed to be the most in North Suncoast history, and he’s a four-time all-North Suncoast selection.
Future plans: Grant has about a dozen major college offers and has set up recruiting visits to Oklahoma State and Rutgers. He’s also looking at USF and West Virginia, and Kentucky has been recruiting him hard recently. He is considering a business major.
Did you know? Grant’s favorite TV show is SpongeBob SquarePants. “That’s always been me, since I was little,” Grant said. He’s also a fan of another Nickelodeon show, Fairly Odd Parents, and he spends some of his post-football time playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II on Xbox.
Defensive player of the year: DE Morgan Flournory, Sr., Pasco
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Flournory wasn’t much of a contributor in his first three years at Pasco. He made the most out of his one shot as a starter. He earned Sunshine Athletic Conference defensive player of the year honors after recording 22.5 sacks, believed to be a Pasco County record. “I didn’t think (I’d get) that much, ever,” Flournory said. He was fourth on the team with 73 tackles on a Pirate defense that had seven shutouts and ranked among the best in the state.
Most impressive accomplishment: Flournory was strong through Pasco’s first two playoff games. He tallied six sacks in two Pirate shutouts and helped shut down Gainesville Eastside’s standout quarterback, Sir Jackson, in a 52-0 region semifinal blowout. His 2.5 sacks that game solidified one of the best seasons by a pass rusher in county history. “After the Eastside game, that’s when it was like, oh, that’s kind of a lot (of sacks),” Flournory said. “Like, a lot, a lot.”
Future plans: Flournory plans to study business in college, but he’s not sure where his future will take him. He wants to take a marketing class during his freshman year to help figure out his career plans.
Did you know? Flournory wasn’t really considering college football during the season, but his recruitment has quickly picked up. He’s receiving interest from Jacksonville and Stetson, among others, and now hopes to continue his football career. He also plans to live up to a promise he made his parents – to get a job after the season.
First-team offense
QB Tyler Degen, Sr., Fivay: North Suncoast’s leading passer threw for 1,900 yards and 22 TDs for explosive Falcons offense
RB David Emmanuel, Sr., Pasco: Averaged almost 10 yards per carry while rushing for 1,300 yards and 17 TDs
RB Matt Breida, Sr., Nature Coast: Hernando County’s top rusher racked up 17 TDs and almost 1,400 yards
RB Davion Sutton, Jr., Fivay: Rushed for more than 1,100 yards in first year as starter
WR Andrew Meyer, Sr., Fivay: One of Tampa Bay’s leaders with 1,028 yards and 12 TDs
WR Tymere Carter, Jr., Anclote: Two-way standout caught six TDs, including the tiebreaker winner against Fivay
TE Kevin Faulkner, Sr., Fivay: Tallied 500 receiving yards and six TDs
OL Will Allen, Sr., Springstead: FACA all-star had 45 knockdowns/pancakes
OL Terry Linton, Sr., Anclote: Two-way standout paved Sharks’ playoff push
OL Ajee Carr, Jr., Pasco: Key blocker on another explosive Pirates offense
OL Aaron Protch, Sr., Sunlake: Opened holes for the Seahawks’ 2,400 rushing yards
OL Foster Artlip, Sr., Mitchell: All-conference blocker for improved Mustangs
ATH Tyrail Hawkins, Sr., Hernando: Accounted for 13 TDs on offense while breaking up 12 passes at defensive back
K Connor Gilboy, Sr., Sunlake: Soccer star hit seven field goals and had 26 touchbacks
Second-team offense
QB Tyler Mahla, Jr., Springstead
RB Daniel Wright, So., Springstead
RB Elton Grigley, Sr., Ridgewood
RB Dan Barber, Sr., Mitchell
WR Ryan Shea, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch
WR Devin Brockington, Jr., Zephyrhills
TE Jaylen Pickett, So., Zephyrhills
OL Steven Wetzel, Sr., Fivay
OL Jesse Gaudin, Jr., Hernando
OL Garrett Mitchell, Jr., Pasco
OL Zack Lockhart, Sr., Bishop McLaughlin
OL Hayden Krautner, Sr., River Ridge
ATH Marcus Allen, So., Weeki Wachee
K Andrew Dowler, Jr, Land O’Lakes
First-team defense
DL Joey Ivie, Sr., Pasco: Florida commit had 89 tackles and 12 sacks, including three against Citra North Marion in playoffs
DL Rohan Blackwood, Jr., Nature Coast: Two-sport, two-way star had 15 sacks at defensive end and caught two TDs
DL Robert Hill Bronson, Sr., Hernando: Led a tenacious defense with 90 tackles, 10 sacks and 25 QB hurries
LB Luke McLeod, Sr., Springstead: Eagles’ leader had 149 tackles to push a standout defense into the playoffs
LB Jeremiah Jackson, Jr., Hernando: Led Leopards with 132 tackles while rushing for two TDs and intercepting three passes
LB Sam Miller, Sr., Mitchell: Among North Suncoast’s leaders with 151 tackles
LB Josh Benyola, Sr., Nature Coast: Top tackler on a solid Sharks defense
DB Eddie Burgos, Sr., Sunlake: Conference offensive player of the year (1,000 rushing yards, 20 total TDs) picked off four passes, too
DB Pedro Estrada, Sr., Springstead: Jack-of-all-trades had three interceptions and two rushing TDs
DB Nick Bailey, Sr., Springstead: Among the state’s leaders with seven interceptions
DB Frank Sampson, Sr., Nature Coast: All-district talent finished with 103 tackles
UTIL Willie Barrett, Jr., Anclote: North Suncoast’s top rusher (1,405 yards) had 56 tackles at linebacker
P Brandon Ray, So., Pasco: Downed 10 punts inside the 20 while kicking 60 extra points and scoring TDs at receiver and safety
KR Malik Johns, Jr., Pasco: Returned a punt for a TD in each of the Pirates’ first four games
Second-team defense
DL Joe Petrella, Sr., Mitchell
DL Nick Hoffman, Sr., Sunlake
DL Darren Hambrick, Sr., Hernando
LB Ben Wood, Jr., Sunlake
LB Brandon Debyah, So., Pasco
LB Conor Ross, So., Springstead
LB Dimitri Grivas, Sr., Anclote
DB Josh Lamb, Jr., Mitchell
DB C.C. Schroder, Sr., Hudson
DB Nate Craig-Myers, Fr., Pasco
DB Troy Hambrick, Jr., Hernando
UTIL Quadavis Battle, Sr., Central
P Nathan Binder, Jr., Hudson
KR Willie Williams, Sr., Zephyrhills
Honorable mention
Anclote: Terrell Martin, Josh Parsons, Shymere Carter, John Forgione
Bishop McLaughlin: Austin Meyers, RJ Perciavalle, Sammy Sullivan
Central: Chris Hernandez
Fivay: Brice Sesler, Alec Molnar, Michael Faulkner, Christian Breviario, Willis Reeves
Gulf: Chris Klyap, Genaro Ramirez, Brennan Smiley
Hernando: Ra’shaad Hart, KD Hagood
Hudson: Steven Phillips, Owen Derksen, Alec Facendola, Noah Siegrist
Land O’Lakes: Justin Forchion, Shaheed Salmon, Darius Wells, Dino Tsilionis
Mitchell: Christian Trinidad
Nature Coast: Joey Berrios, Jonathan Thomas, Ryan Pelaez, Dominique Rawlins
Pasco: J.D. Edwards, Ben Chandler, Damien Wilson, R.J. Scaife
Ridgewood: Max Livingstone, Will Fulmer, Tyler Vito, Andrew Spirou
River Ridge: Josh Maisel, George Cordova, Damion Hicks
Springstead: Joe Predoehl
Sunlake: Josh Zifer, She’ron Wilkins, Will Alvarez, Trevor Highnote
Weeki Wachee: Jon King
Wesley Chapel: Daquan Caesar, Nalu Fraticelli, Josias Vizcano, Ty Tanner
Wiregrass Ranch: Christian Borak, John Coyne
Zephyrhills: Joel Morrison, Tylar Hochstetler, Devon Long, Joshua Shaffer, Jarret Kelly
Coach of the year
Bill Vonada, Springstead: The dean of North Suncoast coaches went out with a bang. In the last of his 15 years as the Eagles’ head coach, Vonada guided Springstead to a 9-2 record and the Class 6A, District 6 title – the school’s first since 1996.