ANALYSIS: Pahokee has won five of the last six State Championships (and lost in the finals the other year), Jupiter Christian has won back to back, Glades Central is one of the most winningest programs in state history, American Heritage-Delray took home a title in 2007, and teams like Atlantic and Dwyer are consistent contenders. It would be hard to imagine that this county does not take home at least 1 title in 2009.
TOP 5 TEAMS
1. PAHOKEE: Coming off yet another State Title in a year where there were question marks, the Blue Devils are the odds on favorite again in 2009. Few teams can field the amount of speed and talent that Pahokee can. Their competitiveness and drive to succeed is unmatched in the state.
Offensively, four D-1 calibur WR's will be moved around to make plays. DeJoshua Johnson has as much wiggle and quickness as any player in the state. He can play QB or WR. Chris Dunkley, a Royal Palm Beach transfer, is one of the most coveted WR's in the entire country with offers from everyone, his pure speed separates him from the pack. Fred Pickett, a transfer from nearby Glades Central, is another fast, quick play-maker with moxie. Dennis Hall made a huge play to win the title last year and is very consistent. They will need to find a replacement for the departed Vincent Smith at RB. Pahokee is a smaller school, but they have four big, two way linemen: Antonio Ford, Richard Ash, Willie Bowles, and Doral Willis. All should see time on both sides of the ball. Ford and Ash have drawn a lot of college interest. TE Zachary Allen, another two way performer, is a tremendous athlete.
A stout secondary is headlined by Merril Noel. The feisty DB will knock you in the mouth and can run with anyone. New Miami commit Raheam Buxton is expected to take his game to the next level and make his presence felt in 2009. Jeffrey Daverne is rock solid and a player who can be moved around. A couple of LB's, Othniel Harvey and Corey Hill, can run and make plays sideline to sideline. The DL will be made up of the players listed above as OL and Allen(also an OLB). This defense will be fast, fast, fast.
As usual Pahokee will take on all comers in 2009, their schedule includes Atlantic, Dwyer, and Glades Central as non-District games. Nothing is easy in the playoffs in Florida and Monsignor Pace lurks out there, but Pahokee is expected to reach the State Championship game(again) and perhaps face Bolles(also defending champs).
2. GLADES CENTRAL: After an undefeated regular season which included a big win in the Muck Bowl, the Raiders were ousted by Monsignor Pace in the playoffs. This is a program that does not like to lose and they should be hungry in 2009. They have moved to 2A from 3A.
Experienced signal caller L.J. Thomas returns to loft the state's best deep ball. The 6'1 athlete looked very good in a Spring Game vs. Central. He went for over 2,000 yards as a junior. He will have plenty of targets including the 6'6 Kelvin Benjamin. The rising 2011 prospect uses his size as well as any player and has better speed than advertised. Demetrius Evans is another target who has all the tools to be one of the state's best. Two way standout Greg Dent is expected to make a bigger impact on the offensive side of the ball in 2009. Antwon Chisolm and Andre Edwards return to man the running attack. Chisolm is shifty, with speed and has soft hands. New TE Clive Walford flashed some potential in the Spring Game, the former basketball player can be a weapon in the passing game. The OL will need a few players to step up.
Travis Bell and Dent are long time contributors and should be the heart and soul of the defense. Bell has great athleticism with a big frame and is capable of playing CB or S. Dent is a play-maker and the team's top defender. He also can be moved around. LB's Hygens Success and Cody Jenkins will be the key to protecting an undersized DL. They need to fly around and makes plays.
It seems like a relatively easy road to Orlando for the Raiders. Former district opponent Cardinal Gibbons and Desoto County are two teams that could challenge in November. This team just has so much depth and speed that it will be difficult for a 2A team to hang with them for four quarters.
3. DWYER: Dwyer went to the state semi's in 2008 before losing to eventual state champ Tampa Plant. They did get a big win over Booker T. Washington and have a ton of talent returning.
New QB Jacoby Brissett is ready to take over and this youngster has the tools to be one of state's top QB's in 2011. He has a great arm, but will need a few games to get his feet wet. A trio of potential TE's should help him immensely. Gerald Christian, Nick O'Leary, and Kenny Shaw are plus sized targets. O'Leary is expected to be a big-time recruit in 2011 and should allow Christian to make more of an impact on the defensive side of the ball. Robert Clark is as fast as anyone and the versatile star will play WR, CB, and return kicks. Clark can be a game changer. Matt Elam has been a star since he stepped foot on the field as a freshmen. He is just such a tremendous athlete and should get the lion's share of the carries.
Christian, Curt Maggitt, and Michael Fluerizard should form a dominant defensive line. Christian and Maggitt should fly off the edge, while the space eating Fluerizard handles the interior. Layton Haynes, Elam, and Robert Clark are experienced performer's in the back 7 where again Elam is the headliner. The UF commit is expected to play S at the next level, but has the skill set to play anywhere the Panthers need him.
Dwyer is a 4A team that should have to deal with a rejuvenated Hollywood Hills program early in the playoffs. Next up could be a surprising South Fork team, and then the anticipated match-up with Armwood. This team is capable of beating everyone on their schedule, but will need Brissett to be as good as advertised.
4. ATLANTIC: After an undefeated regular season, the Eagles were upset in the second round by South Fork. This is a program that is consistently good and produces D-1 talent on a yearly basis. They have a lot pieces in place in 2009 to make a run in 6A and they are in the Northern half of the draw, thus avoiding the Dade teams until the finals.
A terrific QB-RB-WR combo highlights the offense. QB Mark Leal is committed to Virginia Tech and is a top all around athlete including being a top baseball prospect. He had flashes of brilliance as a junior and can make all the throws. RB Darnell Kirkwood is a horse who can pound the ball between the tackles or take it to the house outside. WR James Louis can do it all, he has size, speed, hands, and a knack for just getting open. If they can add another consistent weapon, this should be one of the best offenses in the state.
Atlantic has an excellent trio of LB's as well: Eluzies Vil, Obed Jean, and Vincent Vasquez. They are right up there with any set in the state. Vil has the most upside. Louis should play in the secondary with Cory Denson. The DL will be built around D.J. McCellon.
This is a very dangerous team because the offense can explode at any time. They are used to winning as a program. The schedule should test them in the regular season and if they avoid the injury bug, they will be in position to make some noise in the playoffs.
5. JUPITER CHRISTIAN: After a one loss State Title in 2007, they went undefeated in 2008 for their second in a row. Key players return from those teams and they will test themselves by playing 'up' vs. Glades Central, Jensen Beach, Lake Worth, South Fork, and a Jamboree vs. North Florida Christian. They handled Westwood in the Spring.
Marshyl Rothman has the opportunity to go down as one of the winningest QB's in state history. He does all the little things that make teams win games and has gotten significantly stronger this off-season. He wants another State Title. There was not another player in the state who put up better numbers than Will Powers at RB and LB. Powers has power, vision, hands, and speed and simply gashes the competition. He will get some help with the transfer of Prendergrass. Top WR Westin Pedersen also returns and all he does is catch everything that comes his way and make plays. Top lacrosse player and TE Danny Meyer is another weapon that Rothman will use to his advantage. Meyer can get down the seam and work the middle of the field.
Powers, Pedersen, and Rothman will all see time on the defensive side of the ball with Powers being perhaps the top defender in 1B. Wes Wallace, Ryan Powers, and Matt Tyson are three more players who will be a big part of the defense. The Eagle defense has manhandled the competition the last several years.
This season is about a three-peat first, but it is also about showing that they can play with the 'big boys'. Their non-district schedule will allow them to do that. While Fall jamboree's sometimes are not competitive, theirs will be with NFC as both programs want to show they are the best team in the 1's (1A/1B). It will probably take a win over Glades Central to get the statewide respect they already deserve. Warner Christian who they faced in the finals last year does return most of their players so they could present more of a challenge in 2009.
TEAMS TO WATCH: Seminole Ridge, Suncoast, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Central, Park Vista, American Hertiage-Delray, Inlet Grove, King's Academy
ALL AREA PRESEASON: QB Marshyl Rothman, RB Darnell Kirkwood, RB Will Powers, WR Chris Dunkley, WR DeJoshua Johnson, TE Nick O'Leary, OL Shane McDermott, OL Kevin Farrell, OL Tony Kibler, OL Willie Bowles, OL Doral Willis
DE Gerald Christian, DE Curt Maggitt, DT Antonio Ford, DT D.J. McCellion, LB Eluzies Vil, LB Matt Elam, LB Jamaal Wallace, CB Robert Clark, CB Greg Dent, S James Louis, S Woodley Cadet
GAME OF THE YEAR:
November 13. Pahokee at Glades Central