- May 11, 2024
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Week one of the high school football season is in the books.
You know what that means: It's time to overreact.
Kidding, of course. One game only means so much. But there are things fans can learn from their teams' performances in week one. Here's a breakdown of how each area team did and where they project to go from here.
There were question marks surrounding the Riverview High quarterback position entering the season, because the Rams had three players fighting for the starting gig: senior Braxton Thomas, senior Jeremiah Dawson and sophomore Anthony Miller. Normally, when a team doesn't have a clear-cut starter close to the season's beginning, it's a sign that things may go poorly. But as the Rams showed in their opener against Southeast High, that's not always the case.
All three quarterbacks threw touchdowns against Southeast — in the first half. Thomas ended up leading the group, going four of seven for 122 yards and three passing touchdowns, but Miller also made a sizable impact, not just at quarterback but at wide receiver, where he racked up more than 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns in new offensive coordinator Brody Wiseman's creative offense. It all led to a 54-0 Riverview win.
The defense had something to do with the score as well, of course, forcing three Southeast interceptions, including one by sophomore Andon Clough that was returned for a touchdown. But the offense is on the map now. They'll play much tougher teams than Southeast, including Buchholz High on Sept. 1 (storm permitting). That will be an even bigger test of the offense. But if nothing else, Riverview showed that it is capable of pouring on the points if given the chance. Anyone who had written off the Rams as a playoff contender before the season should probably be reevaluating things now.
Booker High football Head Coach Scottie Littles' preseason press conference, held Aug. 12 at The Mall at University Town Center as part of Suncoast Media Day, had one consistent message: the Tornadoes need to finish.
In 2022, Littles' first season as head coach, Booker was much improved from its winless 2021 season and finished 6-5, including a 43-31 loss to Frostproof High in the first round of the postseason. But it could have been so much more. The Tornadoes held early leads in several of its losses, including a 15-7 loss to DeSoto County High and a 42-28 loss to Braden River High. Littles' focus this offseason was cleaning up the mistakes made in those games that led to losses instead of wins.
In week one of 2023, the Tornadoes showed they have a ways to go in learning how to win. Against Immokalee High at home, Booker held a 35-21 halftime lead before letting the Indians back into the game. The contest would go to overtime, where Immokalee won 47-41.
The loss stings for a program that is looking to build off the foundation it set in 2022, but there were positives to be found, too. Senior running back Ahmad Hunter was his usual steady presence, turning 21 carries into 109 yards, and sophomore Takurian Smith provided a spark whenever he went into the game, turning four carries into 41 yards and a touchdown. At quarterback, junior Alexander Diaz completed just 10 of his 23 passes, but he made the most of them, racking up 269 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Senior wideout Josiah Booker accounted for 134 of those yards and one of the touchdowns, again proving his prowess as a deep threat.
But the defense gave up 343 rushing yards (6.5 yards per carry) to the Indians, and while Immokalee quarterback Trannon Villareal only threw for 177 yards, he was efficient, completing 13 of 20 passes. If Booker wants to contend for the postseason, the Tornadoes will need its defense to lock down the opposing offense before the hope of a comeback becomes real. Otherwise, more games may end like this one did.
Head Coach Josh Phillips' era of Sarasota High football began with a loss.
The Sailors fell 28-14 to Fort Meade High at home. Not much went right for Sarasota early, and the team trailed 28-7 in the fourth quarter before a late touchdown closed the gap. The Sailors defense allowed 400 yards to the Miners, 260 of those yards on the ground.
Teams often take time to gel after head coaching transitions, so this result isn't a huge surprise, nor should it be viewed as a sign that the team's season will be unsuccessful. It simply highlights what needs to improve, as well as what is already going right, like senior linebacker Hayden McSwane, who had 11 tackles against the Miners. Senior wide receiver Chris Rudolph also made a nifty toe-tapping touchdown catch on a pass from senior Michael Bendever; the Sailors will need more athletic plays like that this season.
A week two matchup against Manatee High (1-0) means the road won't get any easier for Sarasota, but it is another chance to grow as a team.
In 2022, Cardinal Mooney began the season slow, squeaking by Booker 10-9 before losing six-straight games. The Cougars simply weren't in sync despite all their talent, especially on offense.
That doesn't appear to be a problem in 2023.
The Cougars defeated Avon Park High 54-0 in week one. Forget resting the starters in the second half; the game was such a beatdown that Mooney pulled senior starting quarterback Michael Valentino after one quarter. Before then, he made several nice plays, including a dart to senior receiver Zy'marion Lang for a 20-yard touchdown. Lang also took a swing pass 58 yards for a score.
But Mooney scored in less traditional ways, too — like off a 44-yard punt return by sophomore receiver Bo O'Daniel. The defense did its part, too, forcing three Avon Park fumbles. The first one directly led to a touchdown from senior running back Carson Beach.
Like Riverview, Cardinal Mooney will face much tougher threats than Avon Park. But when you compare last season's opening game to 2023, the difference is clear. The Cougars are not here to mess around. They're here to give every game their best shot. Good teams dominate mediocre teams, and that's exactly what Mooney showed it can do.
