SPRINGSTEAD EAGLES (2-1) AT SUNLAKE SEAHAWKS (4-1)
When: Friday, September 30, 2016, 7:30 P.M.
Where: Sunlake Stadium, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O Lakes, FL 34638
TV: BHSN (Ch. 47 and HD 1147)
Coaches: SPRINGSTEAD - Mike Garofano (4th season, 23-12); SUNLAKE - Bill Browning (10th season, 62-39)
How they match up:
The Eagles offense is centered around the veer triple-option that requires opposing defenses to play disciplined football for four quarters. Springstead senior quarterback, Jordan Wright, has been running this offense for 3 seasons. Coach Garofano says Wright has mastered this triple-option and makes this offense soar. There is no true star running back in this system, but the players who touch the ball all have capabilities to break out on any given play. Junior running back Randy Morgan is averaging over eight yards per carry and has 3 rushing touchdowns this season. Sophomore back Nate Sims is averaging over seven yards per carry and is one of the most electric players when the ball is in his hands. As the JV quarterback a season ago, Sims averaged five touchdowns per game and the JV team went 6-0. Senior Demetrius Barry is a two-way starter who leads the team with 311 rushing yards (also has 3 touchdowns) and tackles (42) but really enjoys playing on the defensive side of the ball as a linebacker. Second to Barry in team tackles is freshman linebacker Adrian Cabrera. He is one of the few freshmen to ever start for Springstead. On that short list is junior linebacker Kevin Rivera who has been a three-year starter and has 20 tackles and two sacks so far in 2016. The defense is rounded out with junior cornerback Isaiah Delgado, senior cornerback Jon Chase, and senior free safety Carlos Calderon. These three young men are fearless on the field. They have combined for 56 tackles and will be a tough secondary for the Seahawks offense to throw against on Friday night.
The Seahawks offense starts with two-year starting quarterback, senior Justin Hall. He has close to 800 passing yards this season and a total of 7 touchdowns. Hall is also the school’s all-time leading passer. He may be more of a pro-style quarterback but his footwork in the pocket helps him to extend plays. That has been key this season, especially with the team losing all five starting offensive lineman in 2015 to graduation. Due to some injuries in the backfield, junior wide receiver Cris Galdos will step in alongside senior Justin Metzger to provide a strong one-two punch for the Eagles defense to handle. Galdos leads the team in receptions (16) and receiving yards (277) to go along with one touchdown. Metzger leads the team in rushing yards and is tied on the team with senior fullback Michael Reyes with three touchdowns so far this season. One big threat in the passing game will be senior wide receiver Tyler Peretti, who leads the team with two receiving touchdowns. On defense the linebackers run the show, including junior Adam Jarvis, who leads the Seahawks with 47 tackles, and Israel Aquino who leads the team with 14 tackles for loss. In front of the linebackers is a feisty 5’7” nose guard, senior Connor Davey, who stays low to the ground and puts a lot of pressure on the offensive line. Cris Galdos also starts on defense and has two sacks on the season. Senior cornerback Ryan Clark is a three-year starter who is lockdown defender and helps take away his side of the field when it comes to the passing game. In this game on Friday, Galdos and fellow senior cornerback Eddel Eduard will get the chance to show their aggressiveness and might on the Eagles offense.
Three and Out:
1. Coaching Everywhere: Springstead head coach Mike Garofano wears several hats throughout the season. He is the defensive coordinator, the offensive coordinator, the special teams coordinator, the equipment manager, and even the trainer. Before games, Garofano can be seen taping players’ ankles. Garofano says game day is stressful just from waiting for the game to start, so the busy time ahead of the game is actually helping him stay calm and at ease.
2. Coach vs. Player: Sunlake head coach Bill Browning has created an impressive coaching tree (including Wiregrass Ranch coach Mark Kantor and current Sunlake defensive coordinator Matt Smith) that extends to Springstead where Mike Garofano played for Browning in the early 1990s. Garofano played outside linebacker and tight end for Browning. The two show tremendous respect for each other and know that both teams will play with heart and play the right way on Friday night.
3. Control of the District: Both Springstead and Sunlake are 1-0 in 6A-District 6. The winner of this game will be put into the driver’s seat for the district. Mike Garofano and Bill Browning have acknowledged that while a win on Friday gives the victorious team control of its own destiny toward the playoffs in November, there are good enough teams in the district to keep things interesting through the end of October.