WESLEY CHAPEL — All three Wesley Chapel football teams will prep for the Aug. 23 season opener with preseason classic games Friday night.
Wiregrass Ranch and Cypress Creek had banner seasons in 2023, while Wesley Chapel is hoping this year they can join the crowd.
Here’s what to look out for:
Wiregrass Ranch
Last year: The Bulls are coming off a 9-3 season, which included a district title and a regional playoff victory.
This year: Despite losing a few significant players like record-setting quarterback Luke Knight, they were the beneficiary of a handful of key transfers, including defensive back Graceson Littleton, a Wharton transfer and Clemson commitment, and quarterback Dillon Rose Bailey, a Bloomingdale transfer who has big shoes to fill.
On Friday: The Bulls host Dunnellon at 7:30 p.m., and the Tigers are one of Class 3A’s top programs. Coach Mark Kantor knows he might have something special again at Wiregrass Ranch, and wants his team tested and to know how tough they are.
“Dunnellon will give us a great test,” he said. “They’re going to test our manhood, which I like. They’re going to punch you in the mouth, which I love, because we need it, and we have to be able to punch back.”
Keep an eye on: The Bulls defense, which gave up a lot of points last year. Kantor is eager to see how the unit handles bruising Dunnellon running back Dylan Donahoe, who barreled his way to 200 yards and five touchdowns against Zephyrhills last year. Also, Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver Alex Condon and running back Ian Wilson, two of Kantor’s hardest workers in the offseason, are on the verge of breaking out and Friday could be a precursor.
Wesley Chapel
Last year: The Wildcats had a tumultuous season in which they finished 1-9 and changed coaches again.
This year: It’s largely a new team this season, as new coach Bruce Patterson came over from Cypress Creek and is working on a major rebuild. But he has a promising young quarterback in Landen Holley to build around, as well as a host of athletes that should find more success in 2024.
On Friday: The Wildcats host Weeki Wachee at 7:30 p.m. They beat the Hornets last year but then had to forfeit the win afterwards for using an ineligible player. Hey, we said it was a tumultuous season.
Keep an eye on: Patterson, who has a big task to accomplish at Wesley Chapel. But he appears to be up to the job, and has recruited players from the hallways at school and put together a program that now has 90 players. You could notice a difference right away Friday, and the Wildcats plan to come out roaring.
“We are going to go at that game just like we go at every practice, just like we’re go at every other game,” Patterson said. “When you touch that field, it’s 100% go time. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. It doesn’t matter if it’s kickoff, classic, if it’s a scrimmage, I don’t care. We’re here to show what we’ve been working on, and that’s what we’re going to.”
Holley is a rising recruit, with offers from Florida, USF and UCF, and could be fun to watch. And Patterson is expecting his defense to open it up, and he’s excited to see what that brings.
Cypress Creek
Last year: The best season in school history ended with a 9-2 record and a playoff loss to Zephyrhills, the only team the Coyotes couldn’t beat on their schedule.
This year: No coach likes to use the word “rebuilding”, but the Coyotes are, well, rebuilding. The team lost 28 players to graduation, and including its record-setting quarterback, running back and 10 of 11 starters on defense. But Coach Mike Johnson won’t let that be an excuse.
“We should be right back where we were,” he says.
On Friday: It’s almost like squeezing in one last vacation before school starts, as the Coyotes will travel to take on Key West. The Conchs were 3-7 last year, but four of those losses were to teams that had nine wins or more.
Keep an eye on: Everything. It’s all pretty much new. Quarterback Trip Jackson takes over the offense, and top returning receiver Shaan Patel and Georgia transfer Nizhan Feagin, a Western Michigan commitment, should help ease that transition. Defensively, Johnson is high on his linebackers and defensive backs and is eager to see what they can do Friday night, as both units could be central to the Coyotes’ success this season.
WESLEY CHAPEL — All three Wesley Chapel football teams will prep for the Aug. 23 season opener with preseason classic games Friday night.
Wiregrass Ranch and Cypress Creek had banner seasons in 2023, while Wesley Chapel is hoping this year they can join the crowd.
Here’s what to look out for:
Wiregrass Ranch
Last year: The Bulls are coming off a 9-3 season, which included a district title and a regional playoff victory.
This year: Despite losing a few significant players like record-setting quarterback Luke Knight, they were the beneficiary of a handful of key transfers, including defensive back Graceson Littleton, a Wharton transfer and Clemson commitment, and quarterback Dillon Rose Bailey, a Bloomingdale transfer who has big shoes to fill.
On Friday: The Bulls host Dunnellon at 7:30 p.m., and the Tigers are one of Class 3A’s top programs. Coach Mark Kantor knows he might have something special again at Wiregrass Ranch, and wants his team tested and to know how tough they are.
“Dunnellon will give us a great test,” he said. “They’re going to test our manhood, which I like. They’re going to punch you in the mouth, which I love, because we need it, and we have to be able to punch back.”
Keep an eye on: The Bulls defense, which gave up a lot of points last year. Kantor is eager to see how the unit handles bruising Dunnellon running back Dylan Donahoe, who barreled his way to 200 yards and five touchdowns against Zephyrhills last year. Also, Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver Alex Condon and running back Ian Wilson, two of Kantor’s hardest workers in the offseason, are on the verge of breaking out and Friday could be a precursor.
Wesley Chapel
Last year: The Wildcats had a tumultuous season in which they finished 1-9 and changed coaches again.
This year: It’s largely a new team this season, as new coach Bruce Patterson came over from Cypress Creek and is working on a major rebuild. But he has a promising young quarterback in Landen Holley to build around, as well as a host of athletes that should find more success in 2024.
On Friday: The Wildcats host Weeki Wachee at 7:30 p.m. They beat the Hornets last year but then had to forfeit the win afterwards for using an ineligible player. Hey, we said it was a tumultuous season.
Keep an eye on: Patterson, who has a big task to accomplish at Wesley Chapel. But he appears to be up to the job, and has recruited players from the hallways at school and put together a program that now has 90 players. You could notice a difference right away Friday, and the Wildcats plan to come out roaring.
“We are going to go at that game just like we go at every practice, just like we’re go at every other game,” Patterson said. “When you touch that field, it’s 100% go time. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. It doesn’t matter if it’s kickoff, classic, if it’s a scrimmage, I don’t care. We’re here to show what we’ve been working on, and that’s what we’re going to.”
Holley is a rising recruit, with offers from Florida, USF and UCF, and could be fun to watch. And Patterson is expecting his defense to open it up, and he’s excited to see what that brings.
Cypress Creek
Last year: The best season in school history ended with a 9-2 record and a playoff loss to Zephyrhills, the only team the Coyotes couldn’t beat on their schedule.
This year: No coach likes to use the word “rebuilding”, but the Coyotes are, well, rebuilding. The team lost 28 players to graduation, and including its record-setting quarterback, running back and 10 of 11 starters on defense. But Coach Mike Johnson won’t let that be an excuse.
“We should be right back where we were,” he says.
On Friday: It’s almost like squeezing in one last vacation before school starts, as the Coyotes will travel to take on Key West. The Conchs were 3-7 last year, but four of those losses were to teams that had nine wins or more.
Keep an eye on: Everything. It’s all pretty much new. Quarterback Trip Jackson takes over the offense, and top returning receiver Shaan Patel and Georgia transfer Nizhan Feagin, a Western Michigan commitment, should help ease that transition. Defensively, Johnson is high on his linebackers and defensive backs and is eager to see what they can do Friday night, as both units could be central to the Coyotes’ success this season.
