Anclote
Coach: Jason Schmachtenberger, third season
Last season: 1-9
District: 3A-11
Schedule: Aug. 21 vs. Tenoroc; Aug. 28 vs. Fort Myers Gateway Charter; Sept. 4 at Bishop McLaughlin; Sept. 11 vs. Seminole; Sept. 18 at Fort Myers Canterbury; Sept. 25 at Countryside; Oct. 9 vs. Gibbs; Oct. 16 at Dunedin; Oct. 23 at Tarpon Springs; Oct. 30 vs. Citrus.
Key players: LB/OL Declan Carol; WB/DE Amarikhi Horne; QB/RB/LB Devin Schafer; QB/MLB/ Jaxon Schmachtenberger
One win down, Anclote wants more
The drought ended last season. Anclote snapped a 21-game losing streak in the third week with a win over Tenoroc, and the Sharks are no longer measuring progress in single victories. The goal now is winning more than once in a season.
Getting there starts with scoring. Anclote was shut out six times last fall, and finding consistent offensive production is the program’s clearest need. The coaching staff believes the players to do it are already in the building.
The schedule should help, too. Schmachtenberger took control of it this season, giving Anclote a slate of matchups it has a chance to compete in.
Fivay
Coach: Tony Egan, second season
Last season: 4-6
District: 4A-8
Schedule: Aug. 21 vs. Weeki Wachee; Aug. 28 vs. Braden River; Sept. 4 at Mitchell; Sept. 11 vs. River Ridge; Sept. 18 vs. Pasco; Sept. 25 at Zephyrhills; Oct. 2 vs. Gulf; Oct. 9 at Springstead; Oct. 16 at Hudson; Oct. 30 vs. Lecanto
Key players: QB Dante Moretti, WR Josh Little, WR Tre Larry, DB Clarence Walker, RB Demarquez Holloman, LB Chaniz Thomas, DB Dain Stamper
Staying healthy key for Fivay
With the Falcons light on numbers and having potentially seven players going both ways, avoiding injuries is a priority. Fivay will be led by running back Demarquez Holloman, who’s committed to Northern Connecticut. Egan also likes his defense.
Gulf
Coach: Sean Eperjes, sixth season
Last season: 5-5
District: Class 4A-8
Schedule: Aug. 21 at Mitchell; Aug. 28 vs. Weeki Wachee; Sept. 4 at Cypress Creek; Sept. 11 at Pasco; Sept. 18 at Zephyrhills; Sept. 25 vs. Springstead; Oct. 2 at Fivay; Oct. 16 vs. River Ridge; Oct. 23 vs. Hudson; Oct. 30 at Tarpon Springs
Key players: QB Curtis Scriven, WR/DB Marcus Coleman, OL/DL Aidan Englebrecht, LB/TE Brody Hill, LT Marcus Williams, RB Jonathan Jackson, WR/RB/DB Isiah Sutherland, OT Caleb Alvarez, OT/DT DeAndre Coleman
Gulf building off quarterback
Buccaneers coach Sean Eperjes, who has worked with Curtis Scriven since sixth grade, said his senior can be the best quarterback in the county. He has a number of skilled players to work with, including Marcus Coleman, Jonathan Jackson and Isiah Sutherland. New defensive coordinator Jordan Banks, who comes from Clearwater, has revitalized the defense.
Hudson
Coach: Tim Hicks, 10th season
Last season: 5-7
District: 4A-8
Schedule: Aug. 21 at Bradenton Saint Stephen’s; Aug. 28 vs. Mitchell; Sept. 4 at Sarasota; Sept. 18 vs. River Ridge; Sept. 25 vs. Pasco; Oct. 2 at Springstead; Oct. 9 vs. Zephyrhills; Oct. 16 vs. Fivay; Oct. 23 at Gulf; Oct. 30 at The Villages Charter
Key players: ATH Chris Morillo, S Chandler Moore, CB Evan Vevcevich, RB/LB Anquan McFarlane, QB Mason Gorecki, OL/NG Ryan Corrigan, RB/LB Aidan Pulley, LB/RB Josniel Gonzalez
Talent abounds — but who will be QB?
Chris Morillo, who can play wide receiver as well as outside linebacker, is considered one of the top athletes in the country. He might even see time at quarterback in some wildcat packages. Chandler Moore, who is getting Division I looks, could also play quarterback, along with Mason Gorecki. Coach Tim Hicks jokes his team has a quadruple option. He also said his defense is loaded.
Mitchell
Coach: Andy Schmitz, 13th season
Last season: 10-3
District: 5A-8
Schedule: Aug. 21 vs. Gulf; Aug. 28 at Hudson; Sept. 4 vs. Fivay; Sept. 18 at Land O’ Lakes; Sept. 25 at East Lake; Oct. 2 vs. Crestview; Oct. 9 vs. Sickles; Oct. 16 vs. Largo; Oct. 23 at Gaither; Oct. 30 at River Ridge.
Key players: HB/ILB Cody Connor, FS RJ Dunning; QB Rex Driggers; DE/TE Dequrez Gulley; OT/DT Nolan Keirns
Keeping the streak alive
The Mustangs have made the playoffs for 12 straight seasons. To keep that streak alive, Mitchell will have to grow up quickly.
This is one of the youngest teams Schmitz has ever had. Still, he said if they can come through the first half of the season, they can gain some momentum heading into a challenging district schedule that includes East Lake, Gaither and Largo.
River Ridge
Coach: Fred Reid, fourth season
Last season: 7-3
District: Class 4A-8
Schedule: Aug. 21 at Northside Christian; Aug. 28 at Carrollwood Day; Sept. 4 at Sunlake; Sept. 11 at Fivay; Sept. 18 vs. Hudson; Oct. 2 vs. Zephyrhills; Oct. 9 at Pasco; Oct. 16 at Gulf; Oct. 23 vs. Springstead; Oct. 30 vs. Mitchell
Key players: QB Dylan Walstatter, WR Brendan Krupp, LB Dayton Ray, WR Christan Baum, RB Marielle Scott, DB Brett Biggs
River Ridge looks to take the next step
Despite senior losses, the Royal Knights’ offensive line will be bigger — and better. Because of that, River Ridge can lean on its running game, though quarterback Dylan Walstatter has potential. The Royal Knights also will have some incoming transfers who will help. After not making the postseason last year due to strength of schedule, River Ridge has added Carrollwood and Northside Christian to this year’s slate.