Frostproof HS Football Preview

[E.T.]

Published Thursday, August 26, 2004

Bulldogs' Defense Will Be Big & Fast

By DURWARD BUCK

Ledger Correspondent

FROSTPROOF

Frostproof High School's 2004 football opponents may be stunned by the following statistic -- the Bulldogs' defensive line averages 301.6 pounds.

That might be a bit misleading. Second-year head coach Ben Maddox uses a 3-5 defensive alignment, so the average refers to just three down linemen here.

"We are actually not very big," Maddox said. "But we are extremely fast. And I found out in the spring our seniors are very feisty."

The defensive linemen are Lee Strickland at 270, Clint Underwood and first-year player Jerrell Stoudemire, a promising sophomore, who is 6-feet-5 and 270 pounds. Stoudemire could get bigger.

His brother Amare is 6-9 and plays in the NBA. Underwood has an ideal summer job for one who weighs 375 pounds; he works at a fast-food restaurant.

The strength of Frostproof should be its defense and its skill position players on offense.

The Bulldogs lost 22 seniors from their 2003 team, which went 5-6 and made the playoffs as the runner-up in their district.

But it still was a very young team.

Quarterback Cedric Cox started last year as a freshman. Running back Carlton Thomas, who is already being compared to some of the shining stars of Frostproof football like Travis Henry and C.J. Hudson, started in the defensive backfield last year as an eighth grader.

Cox will run a flexbone offense with triple options and misdirection plays.

"We aren't going to be able to line up against people and knock them off the line of scrimmage," Maddox said. "So we have to be creative."

With Thomas and 205-pound senior John Gaines, who runs a 4.5 in the 40, playing behind Cox, the emphasis may be on the running game, but Maddox won't be hesitant to throw.

"Cox has a strong arm," Maddox said. "He needs to work on his mechanics."

Frostproof has a strong kicking specialist in Jesse Land.

There is a challenging schedule, however, with seven home games.

Frostproof's Class 2B, District 5 consists of only three schools -Melbourne Central Catholic and Fort Pierce John Carroll.

The latter of which was ranked No. 1 during part of the 2003 season.

The defensive line is in front of a highly impressive set of linebackers in Tron Cobb, Thomas, Blake Fann, Gaines and Joe Reese.

The one thing that worries Maddox the most is turnovers.

"We fumbled six times in our spring game," he said. "We've got to do better.

"It's a game of holding the football; if you don't have it, you are going to lose."

BULLDOGS

Coach: Ben Maddox (5-6)

2003 record: 5-6, district runner-up.

Last time in playoffs: 2003, lost to Clearwater Central Catholic, 41-6, in regional semifinals.

School colors: Red and blue.

Class, District: Class 2B, District 5.

Homefield: Faris Brannen Stadium.

Coaching staff: Clay Brantley (AHC, DC) David McCullers (OL), Brian Griffin (WR), Yancey Plair (DL), Lee Elder (LB), Jason Drum (JV), Gilbert Castillo (JV), Perry Brown (JV).

Returning offensive starters: QB Cedric Cox (6-0, 150, So.), RB John Gaines (5-8, 205, Sr.), WR Jimmy Forbes (6-3, 180, Sr.), OL Jarret Shank (6-0, 180, Sr.), C Jesse Land (6-0, 200, Jr.), OL John Otto (5-11, 195, Jr.).

Returning defensive starters: LB Gaines, S Carlton Thomas (5-7, 160, Fr.), SS Tron Cobb (6-0, 170, Sr.), MLB Blake Fann (5-10, 180, Sr.), DB Mike Hatfield (5-10, 155, Sr.).

Remaining roster: DB Andres Rodriguez (5-7, 150, Sr.), DB Antonio Cobb (5-9, 130, Sr.), WR Charles Jackson (5-10, 150, WR), RB/LB Joseph Reese (5-10, 160, Jr.), LB Ricky Schultz (5-9, 140, Fr.), DB Jonathan Saunders (5-10, 170, Jr.), WR Inokel Jean (6-2, 160, Jr.), WR/LB Clifton Crawford (6-1, 175, Jr.), DL Jorge Valdez (5-10, 215, So.), OL Cody Harden (6-1, 230, Jr.), OL Davis Ellis (5-10, 200, Jr.), Jerrold Kuchinskas (6-1, 245, Fr.), DL Lee Strickland (6-0, 230, Jr.), Micheal Mejia (6-0, 190, So.), DL Chris Monk (6-2, 240, So.), OL Brad Jones (6-1, 319, Sr.), NG Clinton Underwood (5-11, 330, Sr.), DL Josh Tate (6-5, 300, So.), Jerrel Stoudemire (6-5, 255, Jr.).

Key game: Oct. 1 vs. Melbourne Central Catholic.

Forecast: 6-4.

2003 Results

Cardinal Mooney L, 12-20

Sebring L, 7-12

Lake Placid W, 28-6

St. Pete Cath. W, 51-0

Melbourne Central W, 24-14

Mulberry W, 43-12

John Carroll L, 12-49

Avon Park L, 26-59

Lake Placid W, 39-0

Fort Meade L, 6-42

*Clearwater Central L, 6-41

*Playoffs

[smazza]

wonderful

[Ricky the Bull]

I'm reminded of a dog I had when I was a kid...  wonderful dog, a black Lab named 'Skipper.'  He'd chase sticks, catch balls and bring them back, never tore up mom's good pillows or bit anyone... really a great dog.

One thing though, whenever I took him  for a walk.. .that darn dog would stop and lift his leg on every tree, bush, fire hydrant, signpost, and telephone pole we happened to walk by.

I really don't know how he did it...  just a little trickle each time.  I figured that, added up, he must have passed about a gallon, just a dribble at a time.

It took almost forever to make it around the block.  

I hated that.

[smazza]

sounds like a great dog

[Ricky the Bull]

Except for all the time wasted on the walks, he was a very good dog.

[Guest Bullitt]

Sounds as if he was oblivious to the inconvenience.

[Ricky the Bull]

I suppose you're right.  Dogs don't know any better.

[Guest Bullitt]

I used to have a dog that liked to chase his tail for hours on end for his amusement and the amusement of others.