2023 SSAC high school football team previews
It was another banner year for the Saint Stephen's Episcopal football team in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
The Falcons won their third SSAC title and first since 2017 by going on a tear at the end of the season.
Out-of-Door Academy opened the season with nine straight victories before running into Saint Stephen's a second time in the second round of the 5A playoffs.
Bradenton Christian won two of its first five games before ending with a four-game losing streak. Former Out-of-Door quarterback Nate Strawderman, an assistant with the Panthers, takes over as head coach after Scott Paravicini moved from Bradenton Christian to his alma mater Lakewood Ranch High.
SUNSHINE STATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
BRADENTON CHRISTIAN PANTHERS
COACH: Nate Strawderman, first season
LAST YEAR: 2-7
CLASS: Sunshine State Athletic Association 11-man South
HOME FIELD: Dan van der Kooy Field at McClude Stadium, 3304 43rd St. W, Bradenton
RETURNING PLAYERS
OFFENSE: Pro-style and I (Coordinator: Nate Strawderman)
Carson Fisher, WR, junior
Ben Bradshaw, WR, senior
Jesus Lopez, OL, senior
Cooper Stark, WR, senior
DEFENSE: 4-3 (Coordinator: Zach Hammond)
Fischer Schmidt, LB, senior
Jonah Schmidt, LB, sophomore
Josh Langborough, DT, senior
Jackson Mccbride, LB, junior
NEWCOMERS
N/A
SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 Santa Fe Catholic
Aug. 25 Keswick Christian
Sept. 1 at Bell Creek Academy
Sept. 8 Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale)
Sept. 15 off
Sept. 22 Saint Stephen's
Sept. 28 Oasis
Oct. 6 at Marco Island Academy
Oct. 13 Bishop McLaughlin Catholic
Oct. 20 at Out-of-Door Academy
Oct. 27 SSAC playoffs
Nov. 3 SSAC playoffs
COACH STRAWDERMAN’S OUTLOOK: “We have doubled in numbers from this past season to now. I believe we will have a chance to go out and compete and prove a few things this season. I believe the key to success is discipline and accountability. We have to look out for one another out of love and with a competitive drive. Greatness is coming this season.”
MAFFEZZOLI'S ANALYSIS: The Panthers are on their third coach in the past two seasons. Scott Paravicini, who guided Bradenton Christian for one season, moved to Lakewood Ranch. John Warren was hired but did not coach a practice or game. Offensive coordinator Nate Strawderman took over after the spring classic and should add stability to the program. The added bodies will help, especially since depth has been an issue the past few seasons. Playing in the Sunshine State Athletic Association also will help. The Panthers should have a .500 or better season for the first time since 2020.
OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY THUNDER
COACH: Rob Hollway (2nd season)
LAST YEAR: 9-1 (lost in the second round of the Sunshine State Athletic Association 5A playoffs)
CLASS: Sunshine State Athletic Association 11-man South
HOME FIELD: Thunder Stadium, 5950 Deer Drive, Sarasota
RETURNING PLAYERS
OFFENSE: Single wing (Coordinator: Jim Bougor)
Jack Meyers, RB/QB/WR, senior
Allen Clark, RB/FB, sophomore
Charlie Tack, TE/Hback/RB, senior
Chase Polivchak, C, junior
Marvin Palominos, G, junior
Blaine Bentley, LT, senior
Bennett Crisci, FB, senior
Winston Crisci, TE, sophomore
Max Polivchak, G, sophomore
Dylan Walker, WR/RB, junior
DEFENSE: 4-3 (Coordinator: Robert Hollway)
Jack Meyers, FS, senior
Allen Clark, OLB, sophomore
Charlie Tack, MLB, senior
Bennett Crisci, senior
Winston Crisci, sophomore
Brandon Beasley, ILB, senior
Thomas Perez, DE, junior
Frankie Clark, DB, junior
Joe Clarke, DB, senior
Dylan Walker, DB, junior
TOP NEWCOMERS
Jackson Roth, QB, junior (from Iroquois Ridge High School in Ontario, Canada)
SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 Keswick Christian
Aug. 25 Berean Christian
Sept. 1 at Oasis Charter
Sept. 8 Saint Stephen’s
Sept. 15 off
Sept. 22 at Faith Christian
Sept. 29 Santa Fe Catholic
Oct. 6 Bell Creek
Oct. 13 at Cocoa Beach
Oct. 20 Bradenton Christian
Oct. 27 SSAC playoffs
Nov. 3 SSAC playoffs
COACH HOLLWAY’S OUTLOOK: “We are big and experienced upfront. In 2022, we rushed for 2,960 yards on the ground and 44 TDs. Keys to success will be running the football, staying healthy and preventing big plays on defense.
MAFFEZZOLI'S ANALYSIS: After a winless season in 2021, Hollway came on and guided the Thunder to a 9-1 season. The sour note was Out-of-Door lost 21-0 in the second round of the SSAC playoffs to area rival Saint Stephen’s, a team it defeated 26-22 during the regular season. Like last year, the Thunder should unleash a relenting ground attack with its array of backs and a seasoned offensive line. If Out-of-Door can keep its opponents to an average of 14 points, like it did a year ago, it will be another successful season and could result in a long playoff run.
SAINT STEPHEN’S FALCONS
COACH: A.J. Brown, 4th season (12-10)
LAST YEAR: 6-5, won the SSAC 5A championship
CLASS: Sunshine State Athletic Association 11-man South
HOME FIELD: Moore Athletic Complex, 315 41st. W., Bradenton
RETURNING PLAYERS
OFFENSE: Spread (Coordinator: Andrew Brown)
Ivan Tulupov, G, senior
Evan Brown, QB, senior
Jeremy Stroh, G, junior
Will Schindler, C, senior
Caleb Bosek, WR/Slot, senior
DEFENSE: 4-2 (Coordinator: Jim Phelan)
Jeremy Stroh, DT, junior
Ivan Tulupov, LB, senior
Caleb Bosek, CB, senior
Evan Brown, CB, senior
Jacob Clulow, DE, senior
Will Schindler, DE, senior
Austin Varga, DE, junior
Cam Brewer, SS, junior
NEWCOMERS
Joe MacArther, RB/LB, sophomore
Tommy MacArthur, LB, junior
SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 at Southwest Florida Christian
Aug. 25 Jordan Christian Prep
Sept. 1 at Northside Christian
Sept. 8 at Out-of-Door Academy
Sept. 15 Aubrey Rogers
Sept. 22 at Bradenton Christian
Sept. 29 Fort Myers Canterbury
Oct. 6 at St. Petersburg Catholic
Oct. 13 off
Oct. 20 at Oasis Charter
Oct. 28 SSAC playoffs
Nov. 4 SSAC playoffs
COACH BROWN’S OUTLOOK: “I think we can be a good football team this year. We do have a mixture of good talent, size, and speed. A successful season for us is to win the division and have a chance to play for a conference championship. In order for us to make it to that point, we cannot have selfish players. We must build good team chemistry, and come together as one unit if we want to be successful.
MAFFEZZOLI'S ANALYSIS: The Falcons proved last year it is not how you start, but how you finish. Losing the first four games of the season and five of its first six, Saint Stephen’s turned it on at the end of the season to capture the Sunshine State Athletic Association 5A Championship with an impressive 47-7 win over Legacy Charter of Ocoee. The win helped the Falcons end the season on a five-game winning streak, including avenging an earlier loss to Out-of-Door Academy with a victory in the SSAC playoffs. The championship pedigree should help moving forward, as Saint Stephen’s must retool on offense. One change will be Evan Brown taking snaps at quarterback this season, as he becomes a dual threat after rushing for 1,316 yards (eight 100-plus yard games) and 13 touchdowns a year ago. With eight returning starters, the defense should be solid until the tutelage of veteran coach Jim Phelan.
− Dennis Maffezzoli
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: High school football team previews for sunshine state athletic conference
