Football Class 7A-12 preview: South Fort Myers reloading, but Wolfpack aren't sweating it

Gone are all three South Fort Myers High School quarterbacks and six of its top seven receivers, including do-everything Jeshaun Jones, who is now at Maryland.

South Fort Myers will be replacing 15 starters.

But all is hardly lost for the Wolfpack following last season's 5-5 run that ended with a first-round Class 7A playoff loss to Braden River.

"A lot of new faces, but last year was a lot of new faces as well," said second-year South Fort Myers coach Brian Conn, who has been stoked by his players' work and attitudes. "It just happened to be older guys playing for the first time. At one point we stopped and had a team meeting and I think there were only six kids who played last year that had seen significant time for the varsity team the year they went 9-1 (2016).

"We're kind of in a similar situation. Our kids are younger -- our sophomore class is going to play a big role with this team as well as the junior class. Then our senior class isn't real deep, but we do have some of our key components on both sides of the ball in that class."

Last year's starting quarterback, Tyler Lackey, wasn't very mobile, so Jones often played behind center in the wildcat. But this season's top two quarterbacks -- sophomores Damian Bloomer and Ra'heem Gibson -- can both run and throw "really well," Conn said.

Lackey threw an average of 18.4 times last season, completing just under half of that with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Conn said the Wolfpack will be more balanced this season that opens at Cape Coral on Aug. 24.

Although receiving experience is minimal, Conn likes the talent. Senior Julian Durham is the only receiver with real varsity game experience, and he was the fourth option last season. Look for juniors Adams Jocelyn, who had a huge spring and summer, Quincy Milhomme and sophomore Malik Curtis to stretch opposing defenses.

Senior Freddie Ward is back to carry the load after racking up 844 yards and six rushing touchdowns last season. He averaged just 4.4 yards per carry, though, because it took the offensive line about a month to pick up what Conn wanted.

This season the offensive line should be much better, much faster. Plus, most of the linemen will not have to also play defense like they did last year.

Football: South handles Barron in spring game

Conn said the offensive linemen have "been clicking," and Ward -- who busted three 20-plus-yard runs in the spring game win against Barron Collier -- gushed about them saying, "Man, the line is looking great."

Despite all the annual offensive talent, it is defense on which South Fort Myers has long hung its helmet. That got away from the Wolfpack a bit late last season when they gave up an average of 48 points in their last two games, albeit against powers Immokalee and Braden River.

Conn loves his defensive linemen -- again, there will be very little both-way action -- especially James Jennings, the lone returner, Michael Garcia (6-5, 250), junior Tzion Hamilton and junior Nate Badeau.

The linebackers should be solid, but the secondary will be a bit of a work in progress.

Ward (6-0, 185), who is being recruited by the likes of Central Michigan, Georgia Southern and Kent State, will play some linebacker and strong safety. Like Conn, he's not fazed by the large amount of Wolfpack cubs.

Prep football: Baker's Conn named head coach at South

"Everything's good," Ward said. "You know, Coach Conn came in and I didn't really know what he was going to do with the team. But what he did with it was pretty good. He showed us more about football. He's teaching players at a younger age the game, so when they get to the level where they really need the knowledge they will already know what's going on."

"You just learn it and learn it and down-pat it. You've got to learn it till you can't get it wrong."

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District 7A-12 Preview Capsules

GULF COAST
Coach: Tom Scalise (First season)
Last year: 4-3
Schedule: Friday -- Lely, 7 p.m.; Aug. 31 -- Hialeah, 7 p.m.; Sept. 7 -- Miami-Monsignor Pace, 7 p.m.; Sept. 14 -- Naples; Sept. 21 -- at Estero, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 28 -- at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 5 -- at Barron Collier, 7 p.m.;  Oct. 19 -- Palmetto Ridge, 7 p.m.; Oct. 26 -- South Fort Myers, 7 p.m.; Nov. 2 -- at Golden Gate, 7 p.m.
Key losses: QB Kaden Frost, RB Richie Dimarzio, LB Colton Cormier, RB Justin Hampton, WR Brandon Hampton, TE George Takacs, WR Maddux Kintz, LB Ryan Rogers, DB Giovanni Torres
Returners: Offense – WR Luke Baker; Defense -- S Adam Masterson, CB Omar Sesay, DE Zach Stenberg, DL Kenneth Martin
Outlook: The Sharks are making a transition from Pete Fominaya, who's coaching in Georgia, to former assistant Tom Scalise, who coached wide receivers and worked a lot with the offense and will now run the defense. They also are transitioning to life after quarterback Kaden Frost, a big, four-year starting drop-back passer. Junior Justin Mattia led the junior varsity last season and is the likely new starter, although senior Bryce St. Amand, who moved over from receiver, also has been impressive. Both give the Sharks a running threat behind center that they haven't had in years. Scalise is really high on his defense, particularly because of fast ends and a secondary anchored by five seniors. Scalise loves the work ethic and attitude of this bunch and it's possible the Sharks could bite Riverdale and/or South Fort Myers in three-team Class 7A-District 12 to earn a playoff berth.

RIVERDALE
Coach: James Delgado (Second season)
Last year: 4-5
Schedule: Friday -- North Fort Myers, 7:30 p.m.; aug. 31 -- at Palmetto Ridge, 7 p.m.; Sept. 7 -- Dunbar, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 14 -- East Lee County, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 21 -- at Ida Baker, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 28 -- Gulf Coast, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 5 -- at Island Coast, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 12 -- at South Fort Myers, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 19 -- Golden Gate, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 2 -- at Lehigh, 7:30 p.m.
Key losses: K Robens Beauplan, OL Jaquory Dickerson, QB/CB Connor Johnston, LB Zach Sanders, LB Giancarlo Velez
Returners: Offense – RB Da’Reous Bell, RB Quantavius Brown, OL Colton Campbell, ATH Raekwon Clark, OL Trevon Dickerson, ATH Conner O’Brien. Defense – DL TJ Barfield, DB Jaylin Cochran, DL Clay Cook, DB Zak Luna, LB Adarian Robinson
Outlook: After a slow start last season, the Raiders came alive in the middle of the season and then finished strong with a win over rival Lehigh. Delgado will again run the single-wing offense which is hard to game plan for. With a collection of solid running backs, Riverdale should be able to slow the game down and win time of possession. The Raiders host district foe Gulf Coast and travel to district favorite South Fort Myers. Expect the Raiders to challenge for a district title and make a push toward a playoff berth.

SOUTH FORT MYERS
Coach: Brian Conn (Second season)
Last year: 5-5
Schedule: Friday -- at Cape Coral, 7 p.m.; Aug. 31 -- at Port Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 7 -- Lehigh, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 14 -- Fort Myers, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 21 -- Palmetto Ridge, 7 p.m.; Oct. 5 -- at East Lee County, 7 p.m.; Oct. 12 -- Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 19 -- at Naples, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 26 -- at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.; Nov. 2 -- North Fort Myers, 7:30 p.m.
Key losses: WR/QB/S Jeshaun Jones, QB Tyler Lackey, RB/CB Eddie Teague, WR Shyheem Taylor, FS Trent Rogers, LB/S Kelly Grant, K/P Tattum Logsdon
Returners: Offense -- RB Fred Ward, G Josh Decarlo, WR Julian Durham; Defense -- T James Jennings, LB/DE Demarion Johnson, CB Ronnie Cody, CB Julian Johnson
Outlook: The Wolfpack lost a lot from last year's playoffs team for coach Brian Conn, but reloading is not unusual for South Fort Myers. As is frequently the case, the South Fort Myers defense should be a big strength and the offensive line shouldn't be a glaring weakness like it was a year ago when it took weeks to get cranking. Things are going much more smoothly for the Wolfpack now that Conn is back for a second season after a revolving door of head coaches. As always, there is lots of athleticism and talent here and the Wolfpack should chomp their way to another playoff run especially since they play in just a three-team district.