Tampa, August 1, 2018 – Keeping the Ball rolling, here we have three programs to dually note and respectively circle on your calendar to prepare for as teams adjust their final improvements for the glimmering Friday Night Lights and showcase newly-conformed squads.
Hernando High- Last year, Clay High was the 5A foe that got the best of Hernando in the 1st round of the playoffs, but this year is a whole new ball-game as senior leaders work hand-in-hand with young knowledgeable potential, striving towards overall team development as a whole; and it’s at an all-time high. Stocky 5’9” 170 pound plus senior vet RB and LB David Bronson plays a big part in the Leopards’s schemes as their security blanket and role model using his belt of versatility to be a reliable asset this upcoming 2018 season. In their 2017 campaign, they finished at 7-3 and 5-1 in District 7, posting them at 15th of 85 teams in their 5A standings, maintaining 1st of 5 in the District 7 standings. With all that being said, Hernando will endure successful progression as they tie everything in a structured knot, seeking a deeper playoff picture in 2018.
Tampa Catholic- “We’re grinding the same, I want to pick up the tempo and pace so we’re prepared and in shape ready to throw on the pads week one.” The Crusaders in the Green and White have a new-found spark of energy and motivation coming off an optimistic 7-4 year as WR Coach and Ex-Pro football player Jeris Mclntyre climbs to the top of the ladder to fill the Head Coach position as a loyal and long-time preacher for TC. With a combination of healthy veteran play-makers and mildly experienced young talent, their playoff hopes have risen above rival expectations and are grinding to put all the pieces to the puzzle together as one collective unit.
Jesuit- Despite closing out the 2017 season with a near neutral record of 6-5 and 3-1in their District 10 division, the Tigers landed the 25th spot on Maxpreps’ class 5A playoff prediction Top 25 list. There’s still one pending question in the organization, as they are on a quest to fill their starting leader role at Quarterback. The battle in the offseason continues between 6’3” 190-pound 2020 stud Enzo Tedesco and Tampa Catholic transfer 2021 6’1” 155-pound Kiael Kelly as the Fall regular season creeps’ closer and Coach Matt Thompson and staff make their executive decision for the team.
Vaughan Sixbury, BCP Contributor