FOOTBALL 311019984
SPRING HILL –
The newly realigned Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) District 10 features a consolidation of schools from Pasco and Hernando counties. The old FACA District 8 was comprised of Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Lake County football programs.
Head football coaches from District 10’s 18 programs were invited Tuesday night to F.W. Springstead to select its annual District 10 Senior All-Star Team and All-District 10 Team.
The lone difference between the two teams is anyone selected to Senior All-Star can, in theory, be selected to play in FACA All-Star Football Game set Dec. 21 at Fireman’s Field in Sebring.
Typically the district’s Most Valuable Players or runners-up are usually the one’s snapped up first for the all-star event in Highlands County.
Unlike the Senior All-Star Team, the All-District Team is open to players of all classifications.
Only head coaches (who’ve paid their annual dues) from each of schools present in the meeting could vote.
On Monday, the turnout was thin as only seven coaches attended including: Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical and Springstead represented Hernando County while Zephyrhills, Hudson-Fivay, New Port Richey-Gulf and Land O’Lakes-Sunlake were on hand.
Eleven schools were not represented Monday night including: unbeaten Dade City-Pasco, Land O’Lakes, NPR-Mitchell, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Hudson, Holiday-Anclote, Shady Hills-Bishop McLaughlin Catholic, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass and Brooksville-Central.
Weeki Wachee was not invited because they played junior varsity level football while Academy at the Lakes and Brooksville-Hernando Christian Academy each play six-man football.
Roberts rules
The biggest individual winner Monday was Zephyrhills senior Jamal Roberts, who was voted District 10 MVP.
Roberts edged Gulf’s OL/DL Jeff Kruse, Sunlake LB Nick Morrison and NCT LB/PT Richard Hart for top honors.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pounds Roberts rushed 96 times for 1,167 yards while completing 30-of-53 passes for 453 yards and 6 TDs for the 5-3 Bulldogs under Head Coach Reggie Roberts (no relation).
“Jamal has worked hard over the summer and the spring,” said Coach Roberts. “He and the other seniors bought into the system and he decided to raise his game to the next level. He is a great kid and deserving of any accolades that may come his way.”
Leopards: 10 Selections
District champion Hernando High, 7-2 overall, 6-0 6A-6, enjoyed the best night overall with 10 all-star selections.
Seven Leopards were named to District 10 Senior Team including: RB Marqui Redding, TE Terrence Owens, OL Derek Moore, DL Malcolm Hudson, LB Zach Sullivan, SS Zach Pritz and Coach of the Year John Palmer.
Redding made the all-star squad by rushing 96 times for 613 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Owens has snared a team-high 12 passes for 246 yards for over 20-yard average and 4 touchdowns.
The 6-foot, 260-pound Moore was described by Palmer, “As solid as rock” for an O-line that leads Hernando County by averaging over 325 yards per game.
Hudson earned his way on with 44 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 caused fumbles.
Sullivan enters Friday’s game against Mitchell with 94 tackles, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed, 2 caused fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Pritz, who was hurt (knee) last Friday against NCT, has 70 tackles, 1 INT, 1 pass defensed and 1 caused fumble.
When the All-District Team was released, the other Leopard underclassmen were voted on including: RB Tyrail Hawkins, DL Darren Hambrick and UTL Robert Hill Bronson.
Hawkins made the all-star team behind his 100 carries for 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns.
So far, Hambrick has been a key defensive catalyst with 64 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 pass defensed and 1 fumble recovery.
Bronson earned his way on the all-star team 67 tackles, 21.5 TBL and 11.5 sacks.
Coach Palmer has overcome physical ailments this year to guide the Leopards to their first district championship in 14 seasons and back-to-back county crowns since ’99-00.
NCT: 4 selections
The 4-5 Nature Coast Technical Sharks were represented by four players including three seniors: DL Darius Stewart, LB/PT Richard Hart and SF Jeremy Williams.
Junior Matt Breida was named at running back on District 10 Team.
Breida compiled staggering statistics with 1,471 rushing yards on 194 attempts with 18 touchdowns. He’s amassed over 1,600 all-purpose yards.
“This was a big deal,” explained first-year Shark skipper Charles Liggett. “Making this team is a testament of these guy’s efforts. For Player of the Year, I really though Matt (Breida)’s overall numbers would sway the other coaches. I honestly thought he’d come out on top for everything he’s accomplished. … I think the other coaches were looking for a senior.”
Hart was the district’s finest punter averaging over 40 yards per kick without any blocks. On defense, Hart collected 73 tackles including 3 tackles for a loss.
“Richard definitely deserved to be up there,” said Coach Liggett. “He’s a guy who deserves a chance to play in that all-star game in Sebring. He’s a late bloomer, but he’s a great football player and a terrific kid.”
Stewart made the all-star team based on his 30 tackles, including 2 sacks.
“Kiwi (Stewart’s nickname) has played much better the past 3-4 games,” Liggett said. “You can’t move the kid; he weighs 340 pounds. He controls his own destiny whether he wants to play football at the next level. It’s really all about how much he wants to put into it.”
Williams, a transfer from Central, was in on 39 tackles including 2 TFL, 1 sack and had a key interception against Sunlake.
“Jeremy didn’t really have great numbers,” reflected Coach Liggett. “Because we moved him around wherever we needed him. The guy hits like a truck. He’s only been with us one year but he’s made a huge difference. He’s very unselfish. …What I like most is he can play this game.”
Eagles: One pick
Springstead’s lone pick was Austin Howell, who was chosen on the defensive line. Howell enters Friday’s game against NCT with 46 tackles including 11 TFL and 2 sacks.
Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) District 10
Football Meeting at Spring Hill-F.W. Springstead
FACA District 10 Senior All-Star Team
Offense:
POS NAME SCH HGT WGT
QB Cameron Stoltz Sunlake 5’11″ 190
RB Kyrie Rodriguez Fivay 5’10 170
RB Marqui Redding Hernando 5’10″ 195
WR Rashaud Daniels Sunlake 5’9″ 170
WR James Bullock Fivay 6’1″ 165
TE Terrence Owens Hernando 6’2″ 175
CT Nate McCoole Sunlake 6’0″ 315
OL Jeff Kruse Gulf 6’3″ 290
OL Anthony Perkins Fivay 6’3″ 270
OL Canon Clark Sunlake 6’0″ 260
OL Derek Moore Hernando 6’0″ 260
PK Kevin Thompson Gulf 6’4″ 240
UTL Jamal Roberts Zephyrhills 5’11″ 170
Defense:
POS NAME SCH HGT WGT
DL Jeff Kruse Gulf 6’3″ 290
DL Darius Stewart NCT 6’4″ 340
DL Malcolm Hudson Hernando 5’10″ 250
DL Austin Howell Springstead 6’0″ 180
LB Richard Hart NCT 5’11″ 190
LB Nick Morrison Sunlake 6’2″ 215
LB Zach Sullivan Hernando 5’9″ 175
CB Jamal Jones Sunlake 5’11″ 170
CB Adrian Sanchez Zephyrhills 5’11″ 175
SS Zach Pritz Hernando 5’10″ 175
SF Jeremy Williams NCT 6’0″ 200
PT Richard Hart NCT 5’11″ 190
UTL Jordan Wisner Fivay 6’0″ 195
District 10 MVP – Jamal Roberts (Zephyrhills).
District 10 MVP Runnerup – Jeff Kruse (Gulf).
District 10 MVP Third Place – Nick Morrison (Sunlake).
District 10 MVP Fourth Place – Richard Hart (NCT).
District 10 Coach Nominee for All-Star Game – Bill Browning (Sunlake).
District 10 All-Star Team (all classifications)
Offense:
POS NAME SCH HGT WGT
QB Cameron Stoltz Sunlake 5’11″ 190
RB Tyrail Hawkins Hernando 5’10″ 175
RB Matt Breida NCT 5’10″ 165
WR Rashaud Daniels Sunlake 5’9″ 170
WR James Bullock Fivay 6’1″ 165
TE Kevin Faulkner Fivay 6’4″ 220
CT Nate McCoole Sunlake 6’0″ 315
OL Jeff Kruse Gulf 6’3″ 290
OL Anthony Perkins Fivay 6’3″ 270
OL Canon Clark Sunlake 6’0″ 260
OL Derek Moore Hernando 6’0″ 260
PK Kevin Thompson Gulf 6’4″ 240
UTL Jamal Roberts Zephyrhills 5’11″ 170
Defense:
POS NAME SCH HGT WGT
DL Jeff Kruse Gulf 6’3″ 290
DL Darius Stewart NCT 6’4″ 340
DL Malcolm Hudson Hernando 5’10″ 250
DL Darren Hambrick Hernando 6’2″ 225
LB Richard Hart NCT 5’11″ 190
LB Nick Morrison Sunlake 6’2″ 215
LB Zach Sullivan Hernando 5’9″ 175
CB Jamal Jones Sunlake 5’11″ 170
CB Andrew Meyer Fivay 5’11″ 160
SS Zach Pritz Hernando 5’10″ 175
SF Jeremy Williams NCT 6’0″ 200
PT Richard Hart NCT 5’11″ 190
UTL Robert Hill Bronson Hernando 5’9″ 180
District 10 Players of the Year
5A – Jamal Roberts (Zephyrhills).
6A – Nick Morrison (Sunlake).
District 10 Coaches of the Year
5A – Chris Taylor (Fivay).
6A – John Palmer (Hernando).
