I think it's time to give these guys some kudos. A few years ago this program was a joke and was often associated with the headline of the "How does a 1-9 team make the playoffs?". Coach Jason Milgrom, a former Offensive Coordinator at STA has really turned this program around.
The team is already loaded with major D-1 talent. RB Shaun Shivers, DE Keyondre White and Chris Whittaker, WR Xavier Willams and Joshua Ali, LB LJ Willams, linemen Steve Jean-Baptiste and recent transfers 4A player of the year Henri Columbi and star WR Daewood Davis. In total, I'm counting 12 guys on the roster that hold at least 1 offer to play college somewhere with a bulk of their athletes being underclassmen.
Realizing that as talented as his team is the Lions path to a 3A state title is going to be a proverbial hellish gauntlet of small-school powerhouses.
(Estimated Projection of playoff schedule)
Round 1: H vs American Heritage Delray
Round 2: H vs Oxbridge Academy
Round 3: A Clearwater Central Catholic
Championship: Jacksonville Trinity Christian
Coach Milgrom gave his schedule a major shot in the arm. They're opening the season with American Heritage Plantation, they are closing the season @ Manatee and they somehow got IMG to take the trip to Hollywood! Word is, he's trying to get STA on the schedule in week 7 or week 8. Not lost is that Chaminade still has district foe and always-tough Westminster Christian on the schedule.
I'm not sure how their season is going to turn out- I know there's some high expectations and when you schedule the caliber of teams the Lions have, it's going to turn some eyes; however, at least for a moment, I wanted to give the Lions some credit for building their program up and being forward thinking with their schedule instead of scheduling 10 wins.
The team is already loaded with major D-1 talent. RB Shaun Shivers, DE Keyondre White and Chris Whittaker, WR Xavier Willams and Joshua Ali, LB LJ Willams, linemen Steve Jean-Baptiste and recent transfers 4A player of the year Henri Columbi and star WR Daewood Davis. In total, I'm counting 12 guys on the roster that hold at least 1 offer to play college somewhere with a bulk of their athletes being underclassmen.
Realizing that as talented as his team is the Lions path to a 3A state title is going to be a proverbial hellish gauntlet of small-school powerhouses.
(Estimated Projection of playoff schedule)
Round 1: H vs American Heritage Delray
Round 2: H vs Oxbridge Academy
Round 3: A Clearwater Central Catholic
Championship: Jacksonville Trinity Christian
Coach Milgrom gave his schedule a major shot in the arm. They're opening the season with American Heritage Plantation, they are closing the season @ Manatee and they somehow got IMG to take the trip to Hollywood! Word is, he's trying to get STA on the schedule in week 7 or week 8. Not lost is that Chaminade still has district foe and always-tough Westminster Christian on the schedule.
I'm not sure how their season is going to turn out- I know there's some high expectations and when you schedule the caliber of teams the Lions have, it's going to turn some eyes; however, at least for a moment, I wanted to give the Lions some credit for building their program up and being forward thinking with their schedule instead of scheduling 10 wins.