Polk County football scouting report: What to expect from Winter Haven, Ridge, Haines City
It's hard to believe that the FHSAA football season is here. But Winter Haven, Ridge Community, and Haines City have all been preparing for the season since spring football.
Winter Haven last year went 8-4 but that had much to do with "The Juice," Joseph Tarver, an all-county quarterback who went on to play NAIA football at Campbellsville University. Ridge was also a good program, going 5-4 thanks to starting quarterback John Kostuch and head coach Carl White, who ironically went to Winter Haven. Former Bartow coach Richard Tate took a job at Ridge Community ― his third stint at the program.
And Haines City produced its second straight .500 season or better in 2022.
Below are the scouting reports for each Polk County team.
Winter Haven
Head Coach: Carl White (12th season, 15-25)
Coaching Staff: Defensive Line, Shawn Patton; Associate Head Coach, Davis Stephens; Running Backs, Yusef Ledbetter; Offensive Coordinator, Geoff Bangley; Defensive Line, Keyandre Smith; Defensive Backs, Mathew Timmons; JV Coach, D’Anthony Adamson; Offensive Line, Jon Wilburn; JV Coach, Edward Smith and Wide Receivers, Renard Ellis
2022 Record: 8-4
Key (Player) Losses: Joseph Tarver QB, Terrell Redding DB
Top Returning Players
Alfred Smother RB 5-9, 205 pounds 12th
Tyrone Footman DL 6-feet, 240 12th
Ora Farlow WR 5-7, 150 12th
Guiseann Mirtil TE 6-2, 225 12th
Allan Cadet-Ford DB 6-feet, 180 12th
Newcomers to Watch:
John Kostuch QB 6-feet, 180 11th
Josh Petion WR 5-9, 175 12th
Quantavious Callaway RB 5-9, 205 12th
Outlook:
Winter Haven is the new Ridge Community. Kostuch, Polk's leading 2022 passer and former Ridge player, will make his debut with the Blue Devils, who lost Tarver. Kostuch and Tarver are two different kinds of quarterbacks: Tarver was more of an athletic quarterback that uses all of his skill set, while Kostuch is a guy who likes to stay in the pocket and make throws. It will be interesting to see how the offense is able to move the ball.
More: Winter Haven's Joe Tarver uses mother, brother to propel into premier football player
More: What quarterback John Kostuch believes he can bring to Winter Haven football in 2023
Ridge Community
Richard Tate (24th year as a head coach and 34th year coaching in Polk County)
Coaching staff: Robert Tate, Ali Cannon, Odell Gorden, John Davis, Larry Ferguson, Michael Chandler
Newcomers to watch:
Klein Gilles
Rocky Pierche
Marc Michel
Lavonsky Tubbs
Schnieder Celestine
Micah McDonald
Matt Garmen
Shane Peterson
Offensive Outlook:
Ridge is young but talented. Tate said he is looking forward to watching his team grow and mature. The team is good at the quarterback spot, while the receivers are solid, and the offensive line is big enough to block for some of Ridge's solid running backs. Tate said as the season goes on, his new old squad should grow into a solid unit.
As for the defense, it is going to be tough and physical. But the team just needs some experience to get rolling.
Haines City
Head Coach Pat Herrington (3rd season, 12-6)
Coaching Staff: Raleigh Jackson, Cleveland Morrow, Eddie Motley, Wayne Harris, Terry Hill, Geoff Hilson
2022 Record: 4-4
Key (Player) Losses: Jadon Freeman, Chris Benton, Orrin Simmons, Gaga Pautz, Sherone Bowman .
Top Returning Players:
Samauri Wilson QB 6-2, 215 11th
Kamau Francis LB 5-11, 190 12th
Ke’Shon Tyler RB 5-11, 175 12th
Chris Charlot DB 5-10, 170 12th
Jeff Cook DE 6-3 190, 12th
Jamarius Knight WR 5-8, 170 12th
Newcomers to Watch:
Luis Chacon OT 6-4, 260 12th
Yajece Cobb OG 6-3, 230
James Lewis OG 6-3, 225
Outlook: Haines City in 2022 was in a tough Class 4S, District 8 with fellow Polk County teams Winter Haven, Bartow, Ridge Community — teams that were ranked 1-3 respectively based on record. The Hornets will be playing teams that interchanged players and coaches, which could mean Haines City could surprise the Polk County contingent.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Winter Haven, Ridge, Haines City prepare for football
