There’s something different about Central’s football team heading into this new season. In fact, there’s a lot of things different.
On paper, there’s a different talent level, and a much different roster size. There’s a different mentality, and yes even different expectations. The only thing left is to produce a different outcome.
It has been roughly a decade since the Bears were realistically considered a threat on the North Suncoast, but now local coaches are quietly dubbing them a team on the rise.
However, Central is hardly getting carried away and buying into the hype. Not after all that the Bears went through in 2015.
“We expect to win a lot of football games and we expect a lot out of our kids,” third-year Central head coach Chris Sands said. “It’s definitely different, but it’s a good different. We’ve been working really hard and the kids have worked really hard from the beginning to get where we we’re at.
“We hope to live up to the expectations and play good football every week, and have fun out there. With the tragedy that happened, we have a different outlook on things. We want to go out, have fun and put one foot in front of the other.”
These days, according to Sands, the Bears can’t take anything for granted. Nothing is guaranteed, a difficult lesson they learned 11 months ago, when 16-year-old quarterback Sebastian Rivera succumbed to injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident several days earlier.
Central was 2-2 at the time, beginning to show significant signs of progress in part thanks to a productive passing game led by the junior Rivera. Following his devastating loss, the Bears finished up 1-5 and 3-7 overall, their eighth straight losing season.
“We’ve been through more than anybody has had to climb over,” running back De’Vonta Smith said. “Even though we lost a player, he’s still with us. We go out there and play for him. We do what he wants us to do.
“We all had the goal last year to go to the playoffs and we were about to make a run for it, but the tragedy ended all that.”
There are still reminders of Rivera, signs around the field in his memory. There’s also his brother, middle linebacker Josh Rivera, one of the team’s top leaders and perhaps its finest defensive player who dons Sebastian’s number 3.
But then there’s the change in approach, as Sands reiterated that his squad is trying to take things one day at a time.
Yet there are plenty of reasons for the Bears to legitimately hope for success this year, and it starts with Smith in the backfield. As a junior he produced one of the most sensational statistical seasons in county history, rushing for 2,193 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Additionally, there’s three returnees on the offensive line, guards Donovan Diaz, a senior, and Josh Turner, a junior, as well as 6-foot-7, 335-pound junior right tackle Lyndell Hudson. Junior tight end Jonathan Allion is also back.
The quarterback position is at the moment a two-man battle between senior Sam Garner and junior Izzy Zena. At this point, Sands said, the plan is to play them both under center.
“With having one of the best players in the state on our side, it’ll always be a strength for us,” Sands said. “But we feel pretty good everywhere. We have more depth than we’ve ever had. We think we can be good and hopefully we show that every Friday night.”
Sands believes the Bears’ strength is their depth, a startling change of pace for a program that has struggled to find even 30 varsity players. This year there are 50 on the varsity squad, and 35 more on junior varsity.
Some of that depth comes via transfers. Senior Dominique Walker led Springstead in rushing last year with 670 yards and also scored six touchdowns, but at Central he’ll vastly improve the defensive backfield. So will another former Eagle, junior Justin Fribbley, along with cornerback R.J. Thomas and strong safety Jakari Jones, both seniors.
Senior Andre Timmons anchors the defensive line, having recorded 57 tackles and three sacks last year. Then there’s Josh Rivera, who paced the Bears with 107 tackles in nine games.
“Josh is a captain for us. He just has natural leadership ability,” Sands said. “We’re happy to have his leadership, because we need it. We’re growing as a program and he’s just one of those cornerstones that can get us where we want to be.
“It’s amazing how he has taken this situation. He could have crumbled like most people would have, but he has taken it as motivation. To see him, how he performs, it’s just amazing.”
While the Bears might be considered a dark horse in Class 5A, District 7, Sands looks at defending champ Nature Coast as the favorite.
“Everyone else is even with each other,” Sands said. “I don’t think anybody else stands out, including us. We have the talent to do it. We expect to do it. We expect to win the district. The sky’s the limit this year.
“Just get better each and every week. We don’t want to take a step back. We want to keep going forward and if we keep going forward I think we’ll have a successful season.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.