Sports Writer

They begin finishing this week.

Liberty will be the first county school to suit up for its spring football game when the Chargers host Cypress Creek at 7 p.m. Friday.

Coach Dave Benson, whose team was 5-5 last season, said playing this week rather than next has turned out to be a great choice.

“We’ve had a great spring, but I can tell if we went another week we’d start to lose focus,” he said. “Now we can give them a chance to play somebody else, then evaluate the film on Monday, spend the next couple of days fixing the mistakes on the field, then start getting ready for Satellite (Liberty’s Kickoff Classic opponent Aug. 26).”

Offensively, Friday’s game will be about getting new quarterback Terrell Bonds snaps behind center in a game environment. Bonds, a sophomore, replaces former starter Greg Hankerson, who moved to South Florida with his family since the end of the season in November.

“We’re trying to keep it simple for him, but he’s caught up and really working with the offense,” Benson said. “Greg was a sophomore last year, so it’ll be easier on both of us trying to work a sophomore quarterback into varsity shape.”

With Hankerson gone and J.J. Elisis and Evan Durand graduating, the leading returning rusher is sophomore Jalen Benn (61 carries, 388 yards, 6 TDs).

“He could have started last year if not for our backfield depth,” Benson said. “He’s part of a group that’ll probably be the fastest I’ve ever had here.”

Benson said the defense will be very young on Friday.

“Last year our strength was up front, now it’ll be in the secondary,” he said. “Last year’s ninth-graders are going to have to step up and contribute this coming year.”

On May 26, Osceola hosts Lake Gibson at 7 p.m. and Orange City University comes to Poinciana, while Celebration travels to Auburndale.

On May 27, Gateway hosts Lake Nona, Harmony travels to Mount Dora and St. Cloud welcomes Evans and Olympia in a jamboree.

Harmony and St. Cloud,  have new coaches this season. Jerrad Butler takes over for Dayne Brown at Harmony, which was 4-6 a year ago. Butler said he has 120 players out between the varsity and JV.

“Our numbers are great, Coach Brown didn’t leave the program in disarray,” he said. “Guys who will be seniors next year are showing the leadership we need.”

At Gateway, Coach Marlin Roberts said he’s getting that leadership from his junior class.

“We’re still young, but a lot of our young guys got a lot of experience last year,” he said.

Zack Smith, who will play running back, slot receiver and cornerback, is part of a freshman class that’s entering its third varsity season.

“Zack has started to distance himself from the pack. I talk about him hoping the rest of the group will work to join him,” Roberts said.

Safeties Isiah Wharton and Jacquez Dolphus and defensive lineman Jesus Olmo are also part of that class.

Osceola Coach Doug Nichols watched his team at the Blue and Gold scrimmage Saturday.

“The defense looked good,” he said. “The standouts on that side of the ball were Akeem Daniels at linebacker and ninth-grader Mikeice Adams at linebacker.”

Nichols also liked what he saw from safety C.C. Nicholson.

He wasn’t so happy with the offense.

“We didn’t look very good, too many turnovers and not staying focused on what we have to do,” Nichols said.

Poinciana Coach Michael Timpson said things are going well.

“We’re making progress daily and will be better than we were last year,” Timpson said.