I D « S C R I P P S T R E A S U R E C O A S T N E W S PA P E R S
FRIDAY NIGHT MOMENT
1987
« Thursday, September 1, 2011 « 3A
MARTIN COUNTY TIGERS PLAYOFF BREAKTHROUGH What happened: Martin County defeated Winter Park 13-9 for the program’s first playoff win. Why it mattered: Martin County had been embarrassed 42-0 by Melbourne in its only previous playoff appearance in 1985.
Key players: Tailback Terrell Jackson scored on a 7-yard counter in the fourth quarter to erase a 9-7 deficit. Martin County’s other touchdown came on quarterback David Giunta’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Davis 38 seconds before halftime.
He said it: “All guts and effort and determination,” Martin County coach Bill Cubit said. “Everything we’ve preached for two years here. We come here and we have no right to win that game when you match up. But then you see how hard our kids fight.”
SCHEDULE
STRENGTHS
Martin County is loaded at the skill positions, just like last year. And, for the most part, it’s the same set of players — just a little older, a little more experienced and a little more accomplished after a summer of camps and 7-on-7 competitions. That group of Justin Simmons, Treyvon Johnson, Kyle Baker and Reshawd Fyne will be bolstered by newcomers Nolan Mullen, Hershel Hester, Fito Andre and Mitchell Patterson. The offensive line has some experience and will be anchored by big tackles JaQuan Davis and Brandon Simpson. The front five averages 257 pounds. Defensively, the Tigers return experience at linebacker and defensive back. They also have one of the best placekickers in the area in Eduardo Sandoval. Coach Chuck Kenyon also likes the overall size of the team.
September 2 at South Fork 7 9 at Vero Beach 7 16 Eau Gallie 7 23 at American Heritage 7:30 30 Okeechobee 7 October 6 PSL 7 14 at Fort Pierce Westwood-x 7 21 Fort Pierce Central 7 29 Bye November 4 at Viera 7 11 Jensen Beach 7 x-Played at Lawnwood Stadium
DEPTH CHART OFFENSE Pos. Name TE Kyle Baker T JaQuan Davis G Scott Husnander C Anthony Fortier G Stephen Paladino T Brandon Simpson WR Fito Andre WB Justin Simmons FB Herschel Hester WB Reshawd Fyne QB Nolan Mullen P Eduardo Sandoval
No. 12 75 52 63 64 73 17 8 4 5 6 18
Cl. Ht. Wt. Sr. 6-2 215 Jr. 6-4 305 So. 5-10 245 Sr. 6-0 251 Sr. 5-10 220 Jr. 6-3 266 Jr. 6-3 185 Sr. 6-3 185 Jr. 5-8 170 Sr. 5-10 165 Jr. 6-1 165 Sr. 6-1 175
DEFENSE Pos. Name No. NT Jamie Paulding 10 DE Blake Swaney 85 Or Clifton Holden 54 DE D. Beathia-Edwards 60 OLB Paul Jones 55 LB Andrew Bartuska 44 LB Austin Mobley 51 OLB Joe Pessolano 11 FS Justin Simmons 8 CB Vio Pierre 3 CB Nate Simmons 14 SS Treyvon Johnson 2 K Eduardo Sandoval 18
WEAKNESSES
Cl. Ht. Wt. Sr. 6-1 225 Sr. 6-3 185 Jr. 6-3 230 Jr. 6-4 194 So. 6-0 190 Jr. 5-11 177 Sr. 5-10 220 Sr. 5-8 157 Sr 6-3 185 Sr. 6-0 145 So. 5-9 155 Sr. 6-0 197 Sr. 6-1 175
RESERVES Darryl Miller (7, So., RB/DB); Mitchell Patterson (9, Jr., WR/DB); Nick Borowick (13, So., QB); Easton Haslam (16, Jr., RB); Oshane Bromfield (21, Jr. RB); Jeremey Patterson (22, Sr., WR); Javon Graves (24, Sr., RB/DB); John Stull (25, Jr., RB/DL); Richard Bush (30, Jr., TE/LB); Jacob Gray (33, Jr., RB/LB); Brandon Battle (40, Sr., DL); Nate White (46, Jr., TE/LB); Dario Arana (53, Sr., LB); Chris Taylor (57, So., DL); Daniel Cox (58, Jr., OL/DL); Luke Karner-Brown (62, Sr. DL); Brian Spute (66, Jr., DL); Jamie Kennedy (71, Sr., OL); Nick Gordon (76, Jr., DL); Chukie Ekufu (81, Sr., WR); Trevor Dick (84, Sr., WR/DB); Blake Swaney (85, Sr. OL/TE); Jay Hoover (88, Jr., WR); Ryan McLean (90, So., DL).
COACHING STAFF Coach: Chuck Kenyon (6th year) Record: 26-26 with Martin County; 26-26 (overall) 2009: 8-3, 2-1 District 14-4A Assistant coaches: Doug Kerr (offensive coordinator), Jerome Stone (offense), Tom Overton (offense), Gary Blackney (defense), Antwan Blatch (defense).
STADIUM BOB COLLINS STADIUM (3,500)
Playing surface: Grass Address: 2801 South Kanner Highway, Stuart Directions: From U.S. 1, go west at State Road 76 (Kanner Highway). The school is on the left, one block past the Monterey Road intersection. Main office: 772-219-1800 On the web: www.mchs.sbmc.org
RIVALS
■■ South Fork ■■ Jensen Beach ■■ Fort Pierce Central
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
ALEX BOERNER/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Martin County High School’s Treyvon Johnson runs the ball during practice at the school in Stuart.
Expect big things Experience, skill and size will be keys to Martin County’s success By Aimee Ford Foster Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers
STUART — The anticipation for this football season at Martin County High School has been building not just for a few weeks or months, but for years. The current crop of seniors has had a strong varsity presence for three seasons, but even before that there were expectations for this fall. “Our freshman year, when we were on JV, I knew we’d be good in 2011,” said senior safety Treyvon Johnson. “This is our year.” With experience at the skill positions, size up front on offense and a variety of veterans stocking much of the defense, the Tigers appear ready to go. “I can’t wait to put the product on the field,” coach Chuck Kenyon said. “I can’t wait to get into the middle of the season and get the ball rolling.” The biggest change on offense is the emergence of junior Nolan Mullen at quarterback. Mullen spent last season with the junior varsity, but got the nod
this year when Dan Hudzina left the team to focus on baseball. Mullen can run and throw, and according to Kenyon, has shown an ability to make the kind of quick decisions needed to execute the offense — one that makes heavy use of players in motion and misdirection. Keeping the offense rolling, no matter what, is important for Martin County. “We lost our grip (in 2010) against Merritt Island,” Kenyon said. “They shut down a few things we were doing and South Fork did a great job last year against us. “In the offseason, we tweaked a few things we do to counteract that.” Leading rusher Dan Hubbard graduated, but Treyvon Johnson (92 carries, 420 yards) and Reshawd Fyne (78, 491) both return. Johnson will play defense first and sub on offense. Newcomer Herschel Walker steps in at tailback while sophomore Darryl Miller, who played in the Port Salerno youth football league last fall instead of for Martin County, could factor in. Fito Andre, a basketball
EDUARDO SANDOVAL
Senior placekicker 2010 stats: 59 points on 29 of 29 PATs and 10 of 17 field goals; longest 43 yards. Coach Chuck Kenyon: “Any time we go past the 50, we’re in his range. That’s no lie. I’ll put him out there and he’ll kick it in the end zone off the tee.”
player, is out for football for the first time and has shown promise at receiver, as has junior Mitchell Patterson. Another key player will be double-barreled threat Justin Simmons, who will start at receiver and safety. The 6-foot-3 target, who has committed to Boston College, led the Tigers with 390 yards receiving and six touchdowns last year and led the area with seven interceptions. Last season was his first full year at receiver. “Playing both ways just makes me want to push myself and the rest of the team,” Simmons said. Senior linebacker Joe Pessolano will be another defensive leader. “He’s been making plays since he was a freshman,” Kenyon said. “Joey puts us in the right position and he recognizes the offense.” Martin County will employ a more traditional 3-4 defense, with four defensive backs, after using eight men up front last year. Expect some f lexibility from the players on the edge, however, as Martin County tries to get pressure in the offensive backfield.
JUSTIN SIMMONS
Senior safety, slot 2010 stats: 42 tackles, seven interceptions; 15 catches for 390 yards and six TDs, plus 19 carries for 140 yards. Coach Chuck Kenyon: “I’ve seen the kid make plays that I haven’t seen anyone else make.”
The defensive front will be all new this year. Nose tackle Jamie Paulding has experience and played some offense two years ago as a sophomore, but sat out last year to focus on baseball. Baker, the tight end who has bulked up since last year, will likely spend some time on the defensive front. The Tigers do return a number of top defensive players, but replacing their top tacklers — defensive end Matt Diekman and linebacker Ryan Gilbert — is a formidable task. Both had over 100 tackles last year. Diekman had 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
KEY GAME
OCT. 21: FORT PIERCE CENTRAL
This game should decide the district champ in the revamped District 12-7A, considering the other teams in the district combined for five total wins last season. Central handed the Tigers their only district loss last year, a 21-17 setback in which the Cobras limited Martin County to six, second-half points. The teams play at Martin County this year.
PREDICTION 8-2, 2-1 DISTRICT 12-7A
Martin County was good last year and could be even better this year as a promising senior class comes of age. Look for an epic showdown on Oct. 21 against Fort Pierce Central for the District 12-7A title. It’s possible the Tigers could arrive at that game unbeaten, or perhaps with one loss.
SEASON OF MEMORIES 1959 (9-2)
Why it was special: The Tigers won the Suncoast Conference North Division title and produced the program’s first nine-win season since 1937.
NOLAN MULLEN
Junior quarterback 2010 stats: 8 of 13 passing for 170 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the spring game; also rushed for 56 yards on 12 carries. Coach Chuck Kenyon: “He is so calm, cool and collected in the pocket. He reminds me a lot of (former Tiger quarterback) Dan LaFleur. He does his job and does it well.”
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