Lake Wales HS Football Preview

[E.T.]

Published Thursday, August 26, 2004

Highlanders on Pace To Rejoin Polk's Elite

By Roy Fuoco

The Ledger

[email protected]

LAKE WALES

The success of the program in the 1990s under former coach Rod Shafer created high expectations for Lake Wales fans. Nobody realizes this more than head coach Chad Barnhardt, who is beginning his third year since taking over the program.

Barnhardt was part of the Highlanders' growth as a player in the early days under Shafer as Lake Wales became an elite program. Barnhardt led the Highlanders to the state championship game 10 years ago, and he's looking to do that as the head coach.

Despite a 9-12 record in his two seasons as coach, Barnhardt has the program heading in the right direction. Lake Wales went 4-6 his first year and improved to 5-5 in the regular season as district runner-up to Kathleen.

While they weren't a state championship contender last year, the Highlanders were perhaps better than their record showed. They had a schedule filled with bigger schools. Part of the reason for the tough schedule was necessity.

"No one wanted to play us," Barnhardt said. "But it helped us in the end. We'll always play against tough teams."

Lake Wales returns just seven starters (five on offense and two on defense), but Barnhardt doesn't think that will slow down the team's growth.

One of the returning starters is running back Harry Agee, who is more like half of a returning starter. He became a starter near the end of the season after an injury to Allen Singletary, who has since moved to Clermont.

Agee had a breakthrough game when he rushed for 203 yards against Bartow that put Lake Wales in the playoffs. Barnhardt is looking for Agee to pick up where he left off.

The Lake Wales coach also is looking for big things from senior quarterback Nick Polston, who started most of last season.

The team's top prospect is lineman David Matlock, who has been a starter since his freshman season. Matlock and linebacker Kery Devero are the only returning starters on defense.

HIGHLANDERS

Coach: Chad Barnhardt (3rd year, 9-12)

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

Last time in playoffs: 2003, lost to Cocoa, 14-10, in regional quarterfinals.

School colors: Black and orange.

Class, District: Class 3A, District 14.

Homefield: Legion Field.

Coaching staff: Jason Butler (DC), Jasone DeWitt (DB), Marvin Pavy (DB), Chauncey Mitchell (DL), Johnny Kirkland (DL), Sam Billante (OL), Greg Lewis (RB), Hildrick Garrison (OL), Steven Whitaker (LB/Head JV).

Returning offensive starters: QB Nick Polston (210, 6-1 Sr.), RB Harry Agee, (180, 5-10, Sr.), TE Jerrell Wilson, (200, 6-2, Jr.), OL David Matlock (230, 6-2, Sr.), K Trey Mathewson (165, 5-11, Sr.), OL Randall Shannon (225, 6-2, Jr.) .

Returning defensive starters: LB Kery Devero (185, 6-0, Sr.), DL Matlock (230, 6-2, Sr.).

Remaining roster: OL Kyle Albritton (225, 5-10, Sr.), TE/DE Harrison Magwood (180, 6-0, Sr.), FB/DL Matt Smith (175, 5-9, Sr.), OL/DL Dustin Edwards (225, 5-11, Sr.), OL/DL James Dodd (250, 6-2, So.), OL/DL Scott Irwin (230, 6-2, So.), OL/LB Keith Jones (215, 5-10, Sr.), RB/DB Josh Stoudemire (170, 5-7, Fr.), RB/LB Stacy Johnson (175, 5-10, Jr.), WR/FS James Smith (165, 5-10, Sr.), WR/DE Ryan Alexander (170, 5-10, Jr.), RB/DB Jeff Powell (165, 5-8, Jr.), OL/DL Brione Campbell (235, 6-0, Jr.), OL/DL Javion Jones (300, 6-2, Sr.), WR/DB Lavonski Tucker (160, 5-8, Jr.), QB/FS Arthur Barnes (185, 6-3, So.), WR/DB Solomon Rodriguez (165, 5-7, Jr.), WR/FS Clay Knuth (170, 5-10, Jr.), RB/LB Jimmy Palmatier (180, 5-9 Jr.), RB/DB Marte Wilson (170, 5-9, Sr.), WR/FS Melvin McBurrows (180, 6-2, Jr.), TE/LB Keiton Jones (5-11, 210, Sr.), WR/DB T.J. Hawthorne (165, 5-8, Jr.), K Cole Webb (195, 5-10, Jr.), FB/LB Welton Lee (185, 6-0, Jr.), WR/DE Michael Cochran (175, 5-11, Jr.).

Key game: Oct. 29 vs. Bartow.

Forecast: 6-4.

2003 Results (5-6)

Auburndale L, 17-19

Lake Gibson L, 14-41

Winter Haven W, 42-29

Vero Beach L, 0-27

Celebration W, 59-0

Osceola W, 21-7

Kathleen L, 14-42

Charlotte L, 7-14

Bartow W, 17-0

Haines City W, 21-7

*Cocoa L, 10-14

*Playoffs

[smazza]

go barnhardt

[E.T.]

Practice To Resume At Lake Wales

By CHRIS CARLSON [email protected]  

Published: Aug 17, 2004

 

TAMPA - Lake Wales' football team doesn't need game plans or conditioning or reps. They just need a warm meal.  

Since Hurricane Charley hammered the town Friday, Lake Wales football coach Chad Barnhardt has survived on a diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  

With Lake Wales potentially without power for another week, Barnhardt figures a few of his players' families were less prepared than he was.  

``We don't even know if all of [our players] have been able to eat,'' Barnhardt said.  

Lake Wales will hold its first practice since the storm this morning. Afterward, the coach will provide what might be the first warm meal some of his players have eaten in days.  

A parent will bring a grill. Another will bring hot dogs.  

``We think practice will be good for them,'' said Barnhardt, a former quarterback at USF. ``There's nothing dangerous at the school. You don't need power to practice. There's no reason why the kids can't practice for a couple hours, then head home and take care of what they need to do.''  

Charley wreaked havoc on Polk County. Bob Williams, Auburndale's coach, said Fort Meade's press box was destroyed and light poles snapped at its stadium.  

The only damage done in Hillsborough County was to preseason plans.  

Among the teams most affected by the storm was Plant.  

Coming off a 1-9 season and adjusting to a new coach, the Panthers missed three practices while the rest of Hillsborough County's schools missed two.  

Coach Robert Weiner gave his players Thursday off, allowing them time to board up windows and prepare for the storm.  

``This wasn't good for us at all,'' Weiner said. ``I was upset missing two practices when it was nice. When you have a new offense, defense and special teams, you need all the work you can get.''  

Friday's practices would have been only the second day players were allowed to wear pads.  

``The young kids need to get used to hitting,'' Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia said. ``This kind of starts that over again. They get hit for the first time and they're in pain. It's two weeks before you feel like a human being again.''  

Even with a few minor complaints, local coaches aren't overly concerned about the hurricane's effects on their preparations for the season. Although the storm put teams behind, the coaches believe their players can catch up.  

Garcia plans on making up for lost time by holding two practice sessions instead of one on Saturday. Weiner said he hopes players will volunteer to stay after practice.  

But most important, every area coach knows he could have been Barnhardt - worrying about his players' safety instead of his team's safeties.  

``We met with the kids Thursday and told them that they needed to be with their families,'' Weiner said. ``Obviously safety is the most important thing.''  

Weiner spent Friday night calling players to let them know there would be no Saturday practice. Barnhardt spent Saturday calling players to make sure they'd survived.  

Some answered. He drove around searching for the ones who didn't.  

``We may or may not have everyone there [today],'' Barnhardt said. ``I think everyone's OK, but I haven't been in touch with everyone. I went around street to street. I looked at the houses. It doesn't look like anyone would have died.''

[E.T.]

Hopefully Chad can help recruit some of these kids ... any names look familiar ?