NEW TAMPA — The games won’t count in the standings, but the players for Freedom and Wharton still have a lot to play for Friday night.
Namely, jobs.
While some positions at each school are locked down, there are plenty that remain open. Minds can still be changed as well, according to Wharton coach Abner Smith III.
“We’re in a what have you done for me lately mode,” he said. “We are constantly evaluating.”
The Wildcats will host Morgan, a second-year program readying to play its first varsity season, while Freedom, led by new coach Chadd Wood, takes on Leto, which was 0-10 last year.
For Wharton, it’s a chance to get its linemen some work, and fit in new players on a changing defense. But it’s also the first opportunity to see potential standouts like quarterback Ty Nesmith and running back Berry Sanders to perform against live competition. Both have had exceptional offseasons.
“You know, we had a pretty heavy 7-on-7 circuit,” Smith said. “We went to Georgia, went to Kennesaw State, came back down here and did a bunch. So, it’ll be the first time seeing these guys run around (in pads) against an opponent.”
The Wildcats, 4-6 last season, are also installing in a new defense with co-coordinators Venturi Watkins and former King High coach David Sevier.
“I’m very, very excited about it,” Smith III said. “No one else around here is doing quite how we’re going to do it.”
At Freedom, Wood begins a rebuilding effort after turning Chamberlain around from 0-10 to consecutive 7-4 seasons. He’s looking to patch together a team that can compete, with quarterback Taaj Leathers at the helm.
It will be a good preseason game for a Leto team that it should be able to match-up with, as Wood continues to fill out his roster and formulate a starting lineup.
Both teams open up the 2026 season for real the following week: Wharton hosts Brandon, and Freedom travels to Sickles.
Both games kickoff at 7:30.