Kickoff Classics begin on Aug. 25

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

So far, so good.

That is the word from most of the high school football camps after the first week and a half of workouts.

Practice began for all Florida High School Athletic Association member programs Aug. 8. Teams began full contact drills Thursday.

“From what I’ve seen so far, it feels like the kids are practicing with more confidence. They are working really hard,” first-year Harmony Coach Jerrad Butler said. “We’re young, but we feel like we have a nucleus of kids who are going to grow up with us.”

The Horns will have an evening scrimmage to prepare for the Kickoff Classic Aug. 26 at First Academy.

“I’ve told them that we have a situation where we don’t have any superstars. If we put 40 kids on the bus, we’ll need to get a contribution from all of them,” Butler said.

Poinciana’s Cory Fleming, who took the football job just a month ago, is running practice and at the same time trying to fill his coaching staff.

“The kids are working hard, which is a great sign. We didn’t have as many players at this time last year,” he said. “(Quarterback) Michael Cirino is playing up to his potential right now. Theron Ellis has shown to be a hard hitter. Darius Bladek is showing great leadership. Everyone is trying to step it up a notch.”

The Eagles will scrimmage Saturday morning, Fleming said. The team will host a jamboree Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Liberty Coach David Benson said practice is going smoothly in preparation for the Kickoff Classic Aug. 26 at Satellite. The team will hold its green and gold game Friday at 7 p.m.

Osceola will scrimmage Saturday morning, Coach Doug Nichols said. The team hosts Freedom Aug. 26 for the Kickoff Classic.

St. Cloud Coach Mike Short was enthusiastic after the Bulldogs first week of practice.

“Off the charts good,” is how Short described it. “Couldn’t have asked for a better first week. Everyone is already sharp and focused.”

The Bulldogs go to West Orange Aug. 26 for the Kickoff Classic.

Gateway Coach Marlin Roberts will led the Panthers through a scrimmage Friday afternoon. He said the first days of practice in pads have been encouraging, but nothing surprising.

“It’s been better than it’s been in the past, more of our guys are on the same page,” Roberts said. “We’ve got some new coaches that are really helping out. The kids grasping and running with what we’ve been telling them for a year.

Junior quarterback Anthony Rodrigues, slated to become the starter after understudy work last year, has been picking up the offense really well.

“He really knows what's going on,” Roberts said. “(Quarterbacks coach) Cliff Branch can’t get away from him, the kid won’t leave him alone.”

The Panthers host Port Orange Atlantic in their Kickoff Classic on Aug. 26.

Celebration, with many new faces this season under coach Ben Aarestadt, will get started a day earlier. The Storm kicks off against Monarch, Colo., at ESPN Wide World of Sports Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m.