THE BOX

5 storylines for the 2017 season

New Manatee head football coach Yusuf Shakir
New Manatee head football coach Yusuf Shakir

Manatee…what should we expect? After a 7-4 2016 campaign, allowing a average of 27 points per game to opponents (78 points to Hewitt-Trussville, Trussville, AL) John Booth stepped down as the head coach but carried the team through spring football until Yusuf Shakir was hired as the new head coach. News out of the Manatee camp has been quiet since. Lots of new starters as graduation promoted some productive players to the next phase of their lives. Is Manatee still the top team in Manatee County?

Will Pasco High School Football become relevant again? Since 2011 the Pirates win total has decrease annually under the direction of Tom McHugh:
2011 13-1 District Champions and Regional Champions
2012 12-1 District Champions
2013 7-4 District Runner-Up
2014 6-4
2015 4-6
2016 1-9
Once a program that won 57 games from 2008-2012, The Pirates have missed the playoffs the last three seasons and sunk to the bottom of the Pasco County Football rankings. The resurrection of the Pirates must come in 2017.

Is it realistic to think Alonso could win 6 or more games this season after winning zero on the field in 2016? New coach, new players, new schedule and new attitude…Could possibly point to an upward trending team for the Ravens. Very winnable schedule. 9 wins for Sarasota Riverview in 2016, 7 wins for Manatee last season, then what? King, Middleton, Leto, Steinbrenner, Newsome, Riverview, Sickles all with 6 or less wins last season. Hmmmm

Is Boca Ciega the dark horse in Pinellas County? Since Max Smith took over in 2014 the Pirates attitude has shifted and the wins have increased. 4 wins combined in 2014 and 2015 and then 5 wins and a playoff appearance last season. Clearwater, Largo, Northeast, Osceola and Dixie Hollins all would beg to differ. Clearwater is the front runner in the district, Largo could shake things up. Is Dixie a real threat? Osceola can’t be counted out can they? Can you see Bogie earning 7 or more wins this season?

Tommy Lewis, basically fired at Victory Christian after this resume’:
2013 10-4 District Champions,Regional Champions,State Runner-Up
2014 13-1 District Champions,Regional Champions,State Champions
2015 7-6 District runner-Up,Regional Champions
2016 10-2 District Champions,Regional Champions
Enter Kendrick Stewart as new head coach of the varsity football team. The Storm have been one of the most consistent programs in on Polk County the last four seasons. But with the new leadership, will the winning ways continue?