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FRIDAY NIGHT MOMENT
2007
« Thursday, September 1, 2011 « 7A
TREASURE COAST TITANS THE FIRST WIN
What happened: Treasure Coast rallied from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to defeat Port St. Lucie 30-22 for the program’s first win. Why it mattered: The Titans had lost their first 11 games. The win jump-started the program’s growth, which led to a first winning season in 2008 and backto-back district titles in 2009 and 2010.
Key players: Travis Jones rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns, the last on a fourth-and-4 run with 43 seconds to go to break a 22-all tie. Julian Valentin added 125 yards and the defense limited Port St. Lucie to 196 total yards.
SCHEDULE
STRENGTHS
Travares Copeland is considered one of the top athletes in the state (ranked No. 4 by Rivals.com) and gives the Titans an experienced quarterback. The offense does have playmakers in Shadrach Alexander and running back James Milien. The defense has a handful of standouts, including defensive end Calvin Bowens, linebackers Patrick Jean and Atrayo Woodside and defensive back Steve Marriott.
September 2 Village Academy 7 9 Fort Pierce Westwood 7 16 Mainland 7 30 at Camden County (Ga.) 7:30 October 7 at SLW Centennial 7 14 at Monsignor Pace 7:30 21 Jupiter Christian 7 November 4 Vero Beach 7 10 at Palm Bay 7:30
DEPTH CHART OFFENSE Pos Name No QB Travares Copeland 1 RB Shadrach Alexander 28 OL Dennis Nortelus 60 OL Branford Morris 59 OL John Williams III 50 OL Robin Atsarmanesh 66 OL Michael Argott 75 TE Frank Bragg 80 WR Kyle Morris 10 WR Kevin Orozco 8 WR James Milien 25
Cl Ht Wt Sr. 6-1 180 Sr. 5-10 180 Jr. 6-0 195 Jr. 6-2 265 Jr. 5-10 180 Sr. 6-2 320 Sr. 6-2 250 Sr. 6-4 215 Sr. 5-8 165 Sr. 5-11 190 Sr. 5-8 190
WEAKNESSES
The offensive line was missing starters in the spring game, and struggled against Seminole Ridge. Even with the starters, the Titans’ line is inexperienced and will have teams blitzing early and often until it proves it can handle it. Defensively, the Titans need to replace a pair of backs who now are at Florida State. The secondary is talented, but also had its struggles against Seminole Ridge.
DEFENSE Pos Name DE Calvin Bowens DT Kavis Moxam DE Malik Davis LB Matthew Coore LB Patrick Jean LB Atrayo Woodside LB Anel Casseus CB Wolf Shaw S Andre Stores S Justin Williams CB Steve Marriott
No 32 55 37 33 42 48 22 3 6 21 7
Cl Ht Wt So. 6-2 215 Jr. 6-0 220 So. 6-4 215 Sr. 6-0 230 Sr. 6-3 210 Sr. 6-0 230 Sr. 5-11 215 Sr. 5-11 190 Sr. 6-0 180 Jr. 6-1 185 Sr 5-10 175
KEY GAME
SPECIAL TEAMS Pos Name P/K Justin Walker
No Cl Ht Wt 41 Jr. 5-10 160
RESERVES Willie Micco (4, So., QB), Kurt Kimes (5, Jr., WR), Devin Ferguson (9, Jr., WR), Codi Vick (11, Sr., DB), Ascarra Morris (12, So., DB), Terry Holloway (15, Sr., WR), Bradley Hoffman (17, Jr., WR), Diqwoun Harris (20, So., RB), Walt Kuczynski (29, Sr., LB), Chris Aponte (38, Jr., LB), Juan Penaran (39, Jr., K), Mike Wichem (43, Sr., LB), Eugene Willis (44, Sr., RB), Chad Rebrovich (45, Jr., LB), Mike Brown (46, Sr., LB), Justin Markwood (47, Sr.), Shaddrian Garcia (49, Jr., DL), Deryck NG (53. So., OL), Eddie Russell (54, Sr., DL), Demetrius Buford (56, Jr., OL), Eric Campos (61, Sr., DL), Herbert Dalusma (62, Jr., OL), Bryan Laurent (63, Sr., OL), Emilio Figueroa (64, Sr., OL), Drew Hoppas (70, Jr., LB). Brandon Paino (83, Jr., WR), Zach Caisse (88, Jr., TE), Romelo Alvarado (92, So., DL), Isaac Providence (93, Jr., DL), Torrian Ferguson (95, Sr.) Jonathan Clarke (97, Jr.)
COACHING STAFF
Coach: Irvin Jones (second year) Record: 5-5 2010: 5-5 (4-0 District 6-6A) Assistants: Aaron Sheppard (offensive coordinator/offensive line), Anthony Prince (wide receivers), Michael Jackson (running backs), Terrance Davis (tight ends), Marvin Braddy (defensive backs), Levar Sims (defensive line), John Williams (outside linebackers), Adolfo Dian (special teams), Mike Farley (inside linebackers), Bill Kelley (quarterbacks)
STADIUM SOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL STADIUM (5,000) Playing Surface: Grass Address: Northwest Stadium Drive, Port St. Lucie Directions: From Interstate 95: Take Exit 121 and go east on St. Lucie West Boulevard. Turn left on N.W. Peacock Boulevard and go approximately ¼ of a mile and turn right on N.W. Stadium Drive. Stadium is on the right. Main Office: 772-807-4300 On the web: www.stlucie.k.12. fl.us/tch
RIVALS
■■ Vero Beach ■■ St. Lucie West Centennial ■■ Fort Pierce Westwood
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
He said it: “From Day 1, we’ve been preaching two things to these kids — discipline and conditioning,” Treasure Coast coach Bill Kelley said. “And tonight, I thought we were in superior shape in the fourth quarter.”
JUAN DALE BROWN/SCRIPPS TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Quarterback Travares Copeland is a dynamic playmaker who transferred from Fort Pierce Westwood, allowing the Titans to use more three-wide-receiver sets this season.
I think we’ll put up points on offense. If we can put some points on the board, we’ll be fine.” Irvin Jones, head coach
On the offensive Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers
PORT ST. LUCIE – When Irvin Jones took over as Treasure Coast’s coach last year, he was tired of seeing his defense on the field too much. So he installed an offense that would control the clock. But with the combination of struggling to move the ball in 2010 (12.3 points and 171.7 yards per game) and the arrival of allarea quarterback Travares Copeland, things should be different this year. “I think we’ll put points up on offense,” Jones said. “If we can put some points on the board, we’ll be fine. It’s always tough. When it comes down to it, if you can’t put points on the board and the offense stalls out, it’s pretty tough. “I don’t think we’ll have those problems this year.” Copeland threw for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns in little more than eight games for Fort Pierce Westwood last season. The senior is being looked at as a defensive
TRAVARES COPELAND
back or receiver by many Division I schools, but he’ll play quarterback for the Titans. His arm and ability to scramble make him arguably the most talented quarterback in the school’s short history. “He has the strongest arm we’ve ever had at Treasure Coast,” Jones said. “I think Copeland’s going to be Copeland and just pick people apart. He can do the little stuff when it comes to making the right reads and things like that.” The Titans primarily will use three-receiver sets and will try to utilize senior Shadrach Alexander primarily as a slot receiver. The coaching staff wants to try to get the shifty Alexander, who played running back last year, in space and allow him to use his natural abilities. Defensively, the Titans have had some of the state’s best players the past few years, and last year was no different. Treasure Coast relied on defensive backs Lamarcus Brutus and Keelin Smith, but both players have moved on to
Senior quarterback 2010 Stats: 1,045 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, 214 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns Coach Irvin Jones: “Copeland’s real good. He’s actually really smart – a student of the game. He’s a great kid, he fits right in. It’s like he’s been here four years now. His arm is so alive. He makes some throws in practice … it’s amazingly strong.”
PATRICK JEAN
5-4, 1-1 DISTRICT 8-8A
Florida State. “Of course, any time you lose guys that big, it’s tough,” Jones said. “It’s their leadership more than anything. But we will just continue to do what we’re doing. “I think, stat-wise, the defense was actually better last year than it was (in 2009). We’ll continue to keep it rolling.” Treasure Coast’s strength is its linebackers, led by seniors Patrick Jean, Atrayo Woodside and Matt Coore. Jean had 73 tackles as an outside linebacker, while Woodside averaged more 9.6 tackles per game in 2010. The defensive line is inexperienced but talented. The coaching staff has raved about sophomore end Calvin Bowens, who had three sacks a year ago. “Bowens put on 15 pounds since the spring,” Jones said. “He’s looked really good. We’re pretty young on the defensive line, but we’re really athletic. They’re athletic enough to make plays. It’s just a question of who gets there first.”
Senior linebacker 2010 Stats: 73 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries Coach Irvin Jones: “He’s looking the most comfortable I’ve seen. He’s a physical presence. He’s very football smart, as well. He’s a kid who goes through a 2½-hour practice and you look and he’s in the sandpit by himself. You have to drag him off field.”
There are bigger games with postseason implications, but this one is special as Treasure Coast travels out of state for a game that will be televised on ESPN. Camden County went 10-2 last season and won state championships in 2008 and 2009. The Wildcats have one of the top underclassmen quarterbacks in the nation in Brice Ramsey, who has already committed to Georgia.
PREDICTION
Coach Irvin Jones is relying on an all-area quarterback to lead Treasure Coast By Jon Santucci
SEPT. 30: AT CAMDEN COUNTY (GA.)
The Titans haven’t made things easy on themselves this season, scheduling Daytona Beach-Mainland, Miami-Monsignor Pace, Palm Bay and Camden County. That doesn’t include a pair of tough District 8-8A games against Vero Beach and St. Lucie West Centennial. Treasure Coast is talented, but this will be a very, very difficult schedule to navigate.
SEASON OF MEMORIES 2009 (8-4)
Why it was special: Three years after an 0-10 debut, Treasure Coast won a schoolrecord eight games, clinched its first district championship and won two playoff games before losing 7-0 to Apopka in the regional final. By the numbers: After a 1-2 start, Treasure Coast won five consecutive games, including a 20-3 win at Vero Beach for the District 7-6A title. The Titans had a pair of second-half comebacks in the playoffs, ousting Seminole Ridge and Boca Raton behind big plays on defense or special teams.
KYLE MORRIS
Senior wide receiver 2010 Stats: 140 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, 1 touchdown Coach Irvin Jones: “He’s not a real big kid, but he can run routes and can catch a ball. People don’t pay attention to him because he’s so small, but I think he’s going to fly under the radar.”
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