Lakeland HS Football Preview

[E.T.]

Published Thursday, August 26, 2004

Naughts Are Better With Age

By Roy Fuoco

The Ledger

roy.fuoco@theledger.com

LAKELAND

It was something of a new experience last year for Bill Castle at Lakeland. Used to having senior-dominated teams, his squad was perhaps the youngest he's had since becoming head coach.

It's still young. There are 18 sophomores on the squad compared to 15 seniors. The rest (22) are juniors, with the exception of one freshman.

New experiences will continue this year. Other Polk County coaches marveled at how Castle never had to use players on both offense and defense -- not any more. Perhaps as many as four players will play both offense and defense.

The good news about how young the Dreadnaughts were last year is that they bring a strong core of experienced players who understand the system and learned the lessons from last season.

A victory over district champion Durant, which went four rounds into the playoffs last year, showed the young players they have the capability to be among the best.

District losses to Bloomingdale and East Bay, on the other hand, showed that they couldn't take anything for granted.

The victory over Durant put the Dreadnaughts on the verge of a district title. The loss to Bloomingdale the following week dropped them to second place.

Castle expects another tough district battle this season.

"I think we've gotten a little better," he said. "Of course, the opposition got better too, so I don't know how much ground we gained."

Although Castle, like all coaches ever the worrier, is concerned about all facets of the game, the offensive line will be one of the big keys to the season. Only Tim Werner (6-0, 241) returns as a starter and he is moving to center. Dane Mooney will put the unit together. He replaces long-time coach Bill Galloway, who retired.

Senior Kendrick Stewart (6-2, 282) and sophomore Jordan Hammond (6-4, 219) are two of the four players doing double duty for the Dreadnaughts. They'll be playing on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Stewart is considered one of the county's top prospects.

The other two-way players are running backs Jamar Taylor and Steve Chancey, last season's starting backfield. They'll remain the starting backfield but will add duties at linebacker.

Taylor, however, has never played linebacker and Chancey was injured in the spring and didn't get the chance to play.

With the exception of Joe Rodman (now at Temple), all the top skill position players on offense return, led by quarterback Chris Griffin, who accounted for 1,506 yards of total offense.

He leads an offense that could be one of the best in the county.

DREADNAUGHTS

Coach: Bill Castle (29th year, 252-67)

2003 record: 6-4, district runner-up.

Last time in playoffs: 2003, lost to Hillsborough, 41-14, in regional quarterfinals.

School colors: Black and orange.

Class, District: Class 5A, District 7.

Homefield: Bryant Stadium.

Coaching staff: Clay Taylor (DB), Frank Webster (RB), Skip Richey (WR), Dane Mooney (OL), Tom Short (LB), Ron Talbot (DL), Jessica Dorn (AT).

Returning offensive starters: QB Chris Griffin (6-0, 170, Sr.), OL Tim Werner (6-0, 241, Sr.), RB Jamar Taylor (5-11, 204, So.), RB Steve Chancey (5-10, 237, Sr.), WR Eric Jean (6-0, 160, Sr.), WR Paul Wilson (6-1, 158, So.), RB Chris Rainey (5-8, 156, So.).

Returning defensive starters: DB Randy Dobie (5-10, 191, Sr.), LB George Allen (6-0, 215, Sr.), DL Irby Logan (6-3, 215, Sr.), DL Kendrick Stewart (6-2, 282, Sr.), LB Rashad Coleman (5-11, 200, Jr.), DL Eagar Lewis (5-11, 190, Jr.).

Remaining roster: WR Matt Grier (6-2, 175, Jr.), TE Issac Johnson (5-11, 200, Sr.), DB Andre Walker (5-9, 175, So.), WR Ledarius Dobie (5-5, 138, Jr.), QB Billy Lowe (6-2, 200, Jr.), DB Deonte Parker (5-10, 172, Jr.), DB Jesse Smart (6-0, 157, Jr.), K William Chappell (5-9, 160, Sr.), QB Blair Castle (6-3, 175, So.), DB Leon Covington (6-0, 170, Jr.), DB Steve Wilks (6-1, 165, So.), Cedric Edom (5-9, 195, Jr.), RB Preston Chatmon (5-9, 166, Jr.), DB Troy Johnson (6-2, 185, Jr.), DB Brandon Harrison (5-10, 153, Sr.), DL Augusta Moody (6-1, 173, Jr.), WR Jarek Clary (5-10, 130, Sr.), DB Aaron Walters (5-11, 177, Sr.), K Justin Burdette (5-8, 184, Jr.), RB Joshua Graham, LB Nic Moody (5-8, 173, So.), LB Collin Clyne (5-7, 160, So.), OL John Hardy (6-3, 255, So.), LB Morgan McGreevy, DL Alex Hamilton (6-0, 198, Sr.), DL Nicholas Herbert (6-2, 199, So.), Allen Frankenburger (5-9, 160, Jr), OL Chris Kenny (6-2, 236, So.), OL Conner Johnson (6-0, 205, Jr.), DL Daniel Rowe (6-1, 259, Jr.), OL James Pouncey (6-3, 236, So.), OL Lashawn Pouncey (6-3, 232, So.), OL Demetrius Wilson (6-0, 275, Jr.), OL Terrance Buford (6-2, 239, Sr.), OL/DL Jordan Hammond (6-4, 219, So.), OL Nick Parson (6-1, 232, So.), DL Garth Riley (6-1, 240, Sr.), DL Erik Sabol (6-2, 220, Jr.), WR David Liason (6-0, 164, Jr.), TE Ben Wilcox (5-9, 180, So.), WR, Carther McCall (5-9, 130, Jr.), WR Adam Williams, DL John Brown (6-0, 230, So.), DL Edgar Lewis (5-11, 206, Jr.).

Key game: Oct. 15. vs. Durant.

Forecast: 8-2

2003 Results (6-4)

W. Haven W, 14-7

Miami Sr. W, 27-6

East Bay L, 14-17

Brandon W, 35-21

G. Jenkins L, 12-17

Riverview W, 29-9

Durant W, 31-27

Bloomingdale L, 14-24

Plant City W, 31-10

*Hillsborough L, 14-41

*Playoffs