Lake Region HS Football Preview

[E.T.]

Published Thursday, August 26, 2004

Thunder Start Fresh

By DURWARD BUCK

Ledger Correspondent

EAGLE LAKE

Greg Meyers doesn't talk about wins and losses.

"We're going to be competitive, and that's what our players need to be thinking about," said Meyers, who replaces Randy Howze as Lake Region's head coach. "I tell them we want to play our best football. If we do that, I can sit down and sort things out and see where we are."

Meyers, who coached at Lake Wales last season, has been coaching football for 32 years, most of it in Indiana. This is his first season as a head coach in Florida.

He inherits a seasoned squad that was 4-6 in 2003. But he doesn't know exactly what to expect.

"It's hard for me to judge," he said.

The Thunder will use a new offense under a new coaching staff, a wing-T that is set up for a running attack.

"We'll have a man in motion about 85 percent of the time," he said.

Meyers also likes the run-and-shoot, a spread attack that features a lot of passing.

Returning quarterback Derrick Cassidy was a little worried when he first encountered the wing-T, Meyers said.

"It's a tight set, and he thought we wouldn't be passing any," the coach said. "But we can throw from it, and we can go to two wide receivers; we won't be using two tight ends on every play."

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Cassidy has the size to operate the new formation.

"He throws very well on the run," Meyers said.

Joining Cassidy in the backfield will be Quentin Smith, a power runner, at fullback. Meyers is looking at Andre Patterson and Michael Carter at the wingback positions, along with versatile Larry Zeally.

The fortunes of the football team this fall will key partly on the Thunder basketball squad. Five members of the basketball team -- Cassidy, Patterson, Boomer Henderson, Dennis Bender and Avery Mackey -- are playing football.

Tight end is one of the team's strong points, with Demetrius Frazier, Josh Rosser and Bender rotating in the lineup.

The rest of the offensive line should include Lucas Volpe, Randolph Jenkins, Daniel Clayton, and Geoffrey Roe, a 260-pounder who is one of the school's most gifted students.

Defensively, the Thunder will line up in a 4-3. Meyers will have a number of players going both ways, at least at the start of the season.

Powerful John Smurr, a state weightlifting qualifier, Nic Miller and Matt Harrison are expected to start as defensive linemen with Smith and Zeally at linebacker. Willie Estinfil and Patterson have the nod at corners. Don't be surprised to see Cassidy in the secondary at free safety.

The Lake Region schedule puts the Thunder on the road for four consecutive games against Lake Wales in the Kickoff Classic then at Avon Park, Plant City and Poinciana.

"We'll be a long time getting home," Meyers said.

THUNDER

Coach: Greg Meyers (1st year)

2003 record: 4-6.

Last time in playoffs: 2002, lost to Lakewood, 21-17, in quarterfinals.

School colors: Black, Columbia blue and silver.

Class, District: Class 4A, District 8

Homefield: Field of Thunder.

Coaching staff: John Mitchell (OC), Steve Taboada (RB), Gave Meyers (QB/Rec), Billy Hardee (DC/LB), Aaron Meyers (DB), Ryan Ritter (DL), Larry Bolden (OL).

Returning offensive starters: QB Derek Cassidy (Sr.), OL Ken Ellis (Sr.), OL Geoffrey Roe (Sr.), OL Michael Carter (Sr.), OL Randolph Jenkins (Sr.).

Returning defensive starters: DL Roe, DL Ellis, DB Carter.

Retmaining roster: RB/DB Craig Hill (Jr.), RB/DB Markus Hill (So.), RB Quentin Smith (Sr.), RB/DB Willie Estinfil (Sr.), K Mario Martinez (So.), RB/DB Cory Williamson (So.), QB/DB Jason Smith (So.), RB/DB Jason Crawley (Jr.), RB/DB Ray Johnson (Jr.), RB/DB Andre Patterson (Sr.), RB/LB Jean Chery (So.), RB/DB Jamaro Powell (So.), RB/LB Josh McCormick (So.), RB/DB Larry Zeally (Jr), QB/DB Josh Hamilton (So), RB/LB Thomas Hall (So.), RB/DB Richard Lowrey (So.), RB/DB Daniel Sherman (So.), TE/DL Michael Miller (Sr.), TE/DL Baron Simmons (Sr.), TE/DL Brandon Bird (So.), RB/DB Lawrence Butler (Jr.), TE/DL Justin Hill (So.), OL/DL Daniel Clayton (So.), OL/LB Reggie Moore (So.), OL/LB Kevin Giron (Jr.), OL/DL Derrick Henderson (So.), OL/LB Jeff Richter (Sr.), OL/DL Nick Rhinehart (Sr.), OL/DL Bill Beaver (So.), OL/DL Lucas Volpe (Jr.), OL/DL Kyle Sheehan (So.), OL/DL Curtis Beggett (So.), OL/DL Matt Harrison (Jr.), OL/DL Justin Burke (Jr.), OL/DL Jeremy Levins (So.), OL/DL Nic Miller (So.), OL/DL John Smurr (Sr.), OL/DL Adam Sullivan (So.), OL/DL Ronald Stewart (So.), TE/DL Dennis Bender (Sr.), TE/DL Demetrius Frazier (Sr.), TE/DL William Short (Sr.), TE/DL Josh Rosser (Jr.), TE/DL Michael Sanchez (So.), TE/LB John Ritch (So.), RB/DB Kyle Shelton (So.), RB Avery Mackey (Sr.), RB Ian Bunn (So.), RB Myrone Embry (Sr.), C Andre Mitchell (So.).

Key game: Oct. 3 vs. Winter Haven.

Forecast: 4-6.

2003 Results (4-6)

Avon Park L, 14-35

Plant City W, 28-21

Poinciana W, 42-7

Lake Gibson L, 17-35

Winter Haven L, 24-31

Kathleen L, 14-21

G. Jenkins L, 21-24

Auburndale L, 7-41

Haines City W, 27-21

Bartow W, 21-16