FRIDAY NIGHT MEMORIES
1997
SOUTH FORK BULLDOGS 9-3
Why it was special: South Fork won a school-record nine games — including seven in a row — to clinch the program’s first playoff berth and postseason victory. By the numbers: The Bulldogs scored at least 20 points in every game during
the winning streak and finished with a five-win improvement over 1996 (4-6). Playmakers: Quarterback Shea Fritz passed for 1,207 yards and nine touchdowns, and had a school-record streak of 101 passes without an interception. Matt Bowman caught 24 passes for 401 yards. Mike Bartley
averaged 9.4 tackles per game on defense. Etc.: South Fork allowed only seven punt returns for 11 yards in the first 11 games. Bet you didn’t know: South Fork became only the third area team to win a playoff debut. (Treasure Coast became No. 4 in 2009).
SCHEDULE
August 31 at Martin County September 7 Port St. Lucie 21 Forest Hill 28 Jensen Beach October 5 at Palm Beach Lakes 12 SLW Centennial 19 at Okeechobee 26 at Olympic Heights November 2 at Sebastian River 9 at Glades Day
STRENGTHS OFFENSIVE LINE
7
The offense, which might be even more potent than last year, is at the top of the list. South Fork is anchored by a big, experienced line. It averages 257.4 pounds from tackle to tackle and features three returning starters in Dillon Jefferies, Davis LaCombe and Jason Stottlemyer. Two other projected starters moved away, but Dustin Mailman (6-foot-5, 310 pounds) stepped into one vacancy and converted defensive lineman Mohammad Halum steps in at guard, while LaCombe moves to center. Lavelle said Halum’s conversion “could be a huge move for us.”
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
DEPTH CHART OFFENSE Pos Name TE Aaron Longchamps RT Dillon Jefferies RG Mohammad Halum C Davis LaCombe LG Jason Stottlemyer LT Dustin Mailman WR Estrale Joseph FB Kody Stripling HB Vinnie Norelli HB Lorenz Velasco QB Cody Labanowitz
No 81 74 90 77 72 79 4 44 23 11 5
Cl Ht Wt Sr. 6-3 190 Sr. 6-1 280 Sr. 5-9 212 Sr. 6-0 225 Sr. 6-2 260 Sr. 6-5 310 So. 6-1 170 Jr. 5-11 190 Sr. 5-7 160 Sr. 5-9 180 Sr. 6-1 195
WEAKNESSES DEFENSIVE LINE/ SECONDARY
DEFENSE Pos Name NT Travis Eve DT Josh Zill DT C.J. Williams LB Blake Lucky LB Tim Whitehead OL Barrington Bishop LB Dustin Krock OR Jacob Chartley CB Tommy Galucci CB Kyle Blair S Uzziah Davis S Mike Harris
No 39 51 57 15 8 14 34 55 10 27 33 24
Cl Ht Wt So 6-1 200 Sr. 6-0 230 Sr. 6-3 220 So. 6-2 195 Sr. 5-10 185 Sr. 5-11 190 Jr. 5-7 155 Sr. 6-2 170 Jr. 5-8 160 Sr. 5-8 150 Jr. 5-9 165 Sr. 5-10 195
SPECIAL TEAMS Pos Name K Taylor Ross P Mike Harris
No Cl Ht Wt 1 Sr. 5-9 155 24 Sr. 5-10 195
RESERVES Chris Fallon (2, Jr., DB), Marcus McClain (3, Sr., RB), Bo Bondeson (6, Sr., WR), Daniel AlejandreGuerro (7, So., K), J.J. Manley (9, So., RB), Danny Brackett (12, Jr., DB), Zak Nyberg (17, Sr., TE), Donnell Brower (20, Jr., DB), Phillip Waters (21, Sr., RB), Dean Mazariegos (22, Jr., DB), Kris Reeser (29, Sr., WR), Dillon Snyder (30, Sr., DB), Mike Fastiggi (32, Jr., DB), Sean Lautenklos (38, Jr., LB), Sam Burg (40, Jr., RB), Tyler Just (45, Sr., DB), Ty Briggs (50, Sr., LB), Zak Hernandez (52, Jr., LB), Trae Brown (56, Jr., DL), Colton Simpson (60, Jr., LB), Paul Harper (65, Sr., DL), Austin Higgins (66, Jr., OL), Zak Rouhi (67, Jr., OL), Cooper Evans (68, Sr., OL), Jose Ramirez (70, Sr., OL), Tyler Wyble (80, Jr., WR), Misael Chavez (82, Jr., DB), Brooks Gobler (83, Jr., TE), Cody Dempsey (85, Sr., LB), Bradley Storck (86, Sr., WR), Marlin Kates (91, Jr., DL), Josh Luna (99, Jr., DL).
COACHING STAFF
Coach: Dennis Lavelle (14th year) Record: 67-68 with South Fork; 162-132 (overall) 2011: 6-5, 5-0 District 14-6A Assistant coaches: Ed Metallo (running backs and quarterbacks), Mike Lavelle (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator), Aaron Kimball (offensive line), Jared Rose (strength and conditioning), Don McKindles (linebackers), Dallas Burckhalder (defensive line), James Downey (secondary), Richard Destefanis (head junior varsity), Octavious Thompson (junior varsity defensive line), Joe Lang (junior varsity offensive line), Hansen Woodruff (junior varsity secondary), Robb Hogg (junior varsity linebackers)
STADIUM
JOEBUD STAGGS/BULLDOG STADIUM (5,000) Playing surface: Grass Address: 10205 SW Pratt Whitney Rd., Tropical Farms Directions: Take Colorado Avenue west until it becomes State Road 76 (Kanner Highway). Turn left at SW Pratt Whitney/SW 96th Street/County Road 11. Take left onto school property. Main office: 772-219-1840 On the Web://sfhs. martinschools.org/
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Quarterback Cody Labanowitz is the triggerman for what should be a potent South Fork offense, which returns a big, experienced offensive line, plus experienced running backs and receivers.
The offense looks great. Our O-line is huge. We have three returning starters, and I’m close friends with all of them. I trust them.” Cody Labanowitz, South Fork’s starting quarterback
Bulldogs split 50-50 Experienced offense could be formidable, while questions remain about the defense
By Aimee Ford Foster Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers
TROPICAL FARMS — Using an effective mix of the pass and run, South Fork High School had few problems when it came to scoring points in 2011. South Fork will rely more on the pass this year, and a solid group of skill players who will be protected by a big, experienced line should keep the offense going. The defense, however, is another story. Last year, South Fork gave up 22.82 points per game — a number that jumped to 35.6 in its five losses, including a first-round playoff game to Melbourne. The first step to improve was to switch to a 3-4 set, which South Fork did in the spring. The second was to find the right playmakers to make it work. That has yet to happen on a wide scale. “No one has surfaced yet,” coach Dennis Lavelle said. “We’re just OK (on defense).” Senior safety Mike Harris and linebackers Blake Lucky and Kody Stripling are three who will make plays. Harris has been a mainstay in the lineup since his sophomore
CODY LABANOWITZ
season. Lucky is a sophomore. “Lucky is the real deal,” Lavelle said. “He’s been the surprise on defense. “Mostly, the defense lags on heart. That’s why Stripling will play some for us.” Stripling, a junior, is the starting fullback, but is being prepped to play both ways. Harris also will play some fullback. Stripling led the team with 121 tackles last year. He did not run the ball until stepping in at fullback this spring. “I think I’m better at linebacker,” Stripling said. “But, I just have to play my hardest on both sides. When we do team stuff, I just go ahead and get as many reps as I possibly can to see what it will be like in the game and to see where I need more practice.” All of South Fork’s other top returning tacklers from last year were defensive backs. “We’re working hard on defense,” Stripling said. “We are getting stronger.” The Bulldogs will be tested when they open the season at rival Martin County, which runs a jet sweep offense and uses misdirection to stymie defenses. The South Fork offense, however, entered fall needing much less work.
Senior quarterback 2011 stats: 92-of-158 for 1,127 yards, 12 TDs and two INTs; 84 rushes for 484 yards and eight TDs. Coach Lavelle: “He’s very self-confident and, obviously, a tremendous athlete.”
Linemen Dillon Jefferies, Davis LaCombe and Jason Stottlemyer return this season. Running backs Lorenz Velasco and Vinnie Norelli return, while Stripling and sophomore receiver Estrale Joseph add to the firepower. The offense will be directed by quarterback Cody Labanowitz, who is coming off a strong year at the helm. “The offense looks great,” Labanowitz said. “Our O-line is huge. We have three returning starters, and I’m close friends with all of them. I trust them. Lorenz is back and Kody is pretty good, and Estrale Joseph, I have a lot of confidence in him, too.” Labanowitz will play with a knee brace after tearing an ACL this spring. He said his knee felt fine during preseason drills. “It all hinges on Cody,” Lavelle said. “If he goes down, we’ll have to get a lot better, defensively.” The Bulldogs are the defending District 14-6A champs and are looking for a return trip to the playoffs, where they lost big in a first-round game last year to Melbourne. “That makes us strive to do better,” Stripling said. “We practice harder and we just want to get better. … I think we are a lot more confident in ourselves this year.”
BLAKE LUCKY
Sophomore linebacker 2011 stats: No varsity stats Coach Lavelle: “He’s a critical guy. If could be huge if he’s as good as we think he is, because defense is going to be huge for us.”
The defensive line and secondary are thin, inexperienced and so far lack a dominant player, other than safety Mike Harris. He is the lone returner in the secondary. C.J. Williams is back up front. Mostly, though, Lavelle is looking for playmakers to step up on defense. One that has is sophomore linebacker Blake Lucky. Expect to see offensive guys, like Kody Stripling and Travis Eve, playing at least some defense.
KEY GAME AUG. 31: AT MARTIN COUNTY
The Bulldogs have lost two in a row to their in-county rivals for the first time in many years. Although South Fork has another two weeks after that before it begins district play — against a Forest Hill team that was weak last year — the outcome at Martin County could have a big effect on what follows. Will the offense continue rolling up points and yards? Can Cody Labanowitz be effective at the quarterback position on a torn ACL? Will the defense be better? South Fork will find out a lot of those answers against Martin County, in what always is a hard-hitting, emotional game.
PREDICTION 7-3, 5-0 DISTRICT 14-6A
South Fork dominated this weak district last year. While there are three new coaches in the district that Lavelle thinks will make it better, those other teams are going to have to prove it. South Fork gave up only 48 points in its five district games last year — and 21 of those were to Sebastian River. Forest Hill, Palm Beach Lakes, Okeechobee and Olympic Heights scored a combined 27.
RIVALS
■■ Martin County ■■ Sebastian River ■■ Jensen Beach
KODY STRIPLING
Junior running back/linebacker 2011 stats: Led team with 121 tackles; did not carry the ball. Coach Lavelle: “He’s from 1966. He is old-school football. He’s got some ability, but he’s really got a big, old heart.”