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Seahawks ready to take off

By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 27, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - With a 1-19 record in two seasons, you might think it would be hard for Sunlake coach Bill Browning to attract players for his team.

But when spring practice ends Friday with a spring game at 6:30 p.m., there will have been 70 players go through the four-week session.

When the season begins in September, the Seahawks will no longer be the new kid on the block. That distinction will move to Anclote, who will play in the same district as Sunlake. The Seahawks went 0-10 their first season and 1-9 last year.

Some of the Class 3A-District 7 coaches think Sunlake can be a player in this year's district race.

"It's a big district," Browning said. "There should be a lot of local interest, because it's all Pasco County. We're looking to compete strong in it."

Joining Sunlake in District 7 will be Anclote, Gulf, Land O' Lakes, Mitchell, Pasco, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

With more years comes more experience, and Browning is counting on that experience to help the team improve.

"We're going to be wide open on offense," Browning said. "We're at the point now that we have a few more skill players so I can do a few more things to open the offense up without just opening it up to turnovers. "

On offense, Tommy Valez will be the Seahawks' starting quarterback. He shared the duties with Ryan Horan early in the season and won the job as the season progressed. The senior was 63-of-154 for 727 yards passing and eight TD passes.

Browning said Alex Rodriguez and Rashad Daniels, who both played JV last year, will be in the starting backfield with Valez.

Leeroy Thompson returns at middle linebacker, and Browning expects him to be one of the leaders. Also, Joe Connolly returns at defensive back and Kyle Anderson is back and will play some defensive line and some linebacker. All three of them have been on the team since the inception of the program.

The Seahawks only lost seven seniors from last year's team, including fullback Mike Shaver and wide receiver/punter Chris Harrington. But Browning has a successful JV team moving to varsity.

"We're real pleased with the attitude," Browning said. "Our offseason weight program went extremely well. We had a very good junior varsity squad. It's going to be very important for some of those upcoming 10th-graders to be able to mix it up with the varsity competition right away. By all indication, we have a couple upcoming 10th-graders that are going to be able to help."

SCHEDULE

Aug. 28 at Ridgewood (Classic), 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 Wiregrass Ranch

Sept. 11 OPEN

Sept. 18 Hudson

Sept. 25 at Gulf*

Oct. 2 Anclote*

Oct. 9 Wesley Chapel*

Oct. 15 at Zephyrhills*

Oct. 23 Mitchell*

Oct. 30 at Land O' Lakes*

Nov. 6 at Pasco*