Another outstanding athletic year comes to a close with the conclusion of spring football practice with spring games.
That action starts Wednesday night at 6 p.m. when Tohopekaliga hosts Poinciana.
“It’s important time for coaches, as it gives the coaches an opportunity to move some players around to fill holes and it certainly gives you a chance to evaluate both the new players and those that are moving up from junior varsity,” Osceola Coach Eric Pinellas said. “Spring football can give you some early answers to questions before fall camp starts.”
Those issues are critical, especially to senior-laden teams looking to reload after graduation. Osceola (12- 4), who ran a hot streak in the postseason all the way to Class 6A state championship, has a ton of questions to answer as many top seniors depart from that team—including Division I signees Taveion Swint (UCF) and Elijah Melendez (Auburn). The Kowboys had 17 seniors that were either starters or key contributors to that run. As they replace that talent Coach Eric Pinellas says he has been pleased with what he has seen this spring.
“You simply don’t replace truly unique and special talents like Elijah and Taevion. But I feel pretty good about what we have seen on both sides of the ball this spring,” Pinellas said. “I honestly believe our offense is ahead of where we were a year ago in terms of getting our players to understand our system. Although he lost a lot of talented players on the other side of the ball, my defensive coordinator Brad Lennox is telling me that our combination of veteran players coming back and influx of younger players coming into the system has put that unit ahead of where he expected them to be.
Key players returning include Cam West (QB), Marcus Ferrer (OL), Jeff Sinophat (RB), Amier Clarke (DT), Nathan Barnett (LB) and defensive backs Ja’mario Bradford and Larenz Walker.
St. Cloud Coach Mike Short says rebuilding the Bulldogs offense was his main priority this spring after the graduation of record-setting quarterback Logan King, star wide receiver Alex Springs and electric running back TJ Griffin.
Short may have found Logan’s replacement in strong-armed 6-3 Jeremiah Lattier who played at Lake Minneola last season.
“He’s only going to be a sophomore but has a lot of potential,” Short said. “He’s tall, athletic and can make all the throws.”
Rising junior Michael Cuyler has been explosive this spring and could fill the role left vacant by Griffin and Owen Sullivan—a two-year starter at tight end— will most likely be St. Cloud’s top receiver this fall.
Defensively, the backfield will be the strength of the Bulldog defense this year as Stacy Taylor and Bryce Williams return. “Not saying we addressed all of our concerns but we’ve had a couple of solid weeks of spring practice,” Short said. “The attitude and effort has been outstanding and that should carry into fall camp.”
After spending two seasons as athletics director at Tohopekaliga, Don Simon returns to Harmony’s sideline, where he was from 2017 to the spring of 2023. Nick Lippert will remain on the staff as defensive coordinator. The Longhorns come off a couple of tough seasons but Simon says the team has adapted well this spring.
“We have been working them hard and fast and they have responded to that. We have some talent returning and some young players coming up.”
The strength of the defense will be the line, where four-year starter Mekhi Ealy and Gerald Pifer return. Linebacker Jackson Munns returns to lead that unit. Quarterback Landon Hayes returns with Wyatt Loeding solidifying the offensive line.
“Landon started as a sophomore and has adjusted well to the system I want to run,” Simon noted. “We seem to be on the same page and we’re looking for big things from him.”
Poinciana coach Taron Mallard guided the Eagles to just its second winning season in the school’s 33-year history (8-3) and is now faced with the challenge of building on that momentum. He will have a lot holes to fill, as many of talented players like Cam Brown (QB), Will Nezius (RB/ DB) and Ernest Nunn (WR/DB) graduated. Despite the history and the departures, Mallard says it’s a new era for Eagles football.
“We have expectations and want to continue on the path to building a winning program,” the second-year coach says. “We may be small in numbers and will have to play a lot of guys both ways, but we have talent and are looking forward to the spring game and next fall.”
Returning standouts include Chance Frazier (WR), Jakobe Hines (LB) and Deantae Burbank (OL/DL); while Kamari Lewis is expected to step in behind center.
Gateway narrowly missed a .500 season last year, led on offense last year by freshmen Ari Span (QB), Nydrell Thigpen (RB) and Johnny Reyes (WR); while its defense was led by Nathan Cadogan and Isaiah Noel. All five players return this season and Roberts hopes they will keep the Panthers headed in the right direction.
“We’re young and we have some talent but numbers will be the key again,” he says. “We have to stay healthy to be successful."
Tohopekaliga has gone 19-14 in the last three years, including a playoff appearance last season. Record-setting quarterback Sabby Meassick returns for his senior campaign. Counting one season as an eighth grader eligible at a private school, Meassick has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 101 touchdowns in his career. He will have two talented receivers in senior Cecil Punter and sophomore Tony Brown to throw to.
Celebration coach Chris Blanton returns after guiding the Storm to a 3-7 mark that included three one-score losses after a winless season. Look for Sean Nuzzi (WR), Jayden Rodriguez (RB), Justin Berry (DL) return to provide leadership.
After stepping in as Liberty head coach on an interim basis when Dee Hart resigned late in the season, former defensive coordinator Jonko Beras has had the “interim” title removed.
