Unity has helped Parrish Community football team earn a playoff berth

PARRISH — Dylan Clark came to the Parrish Community High football program preaching togetherness, playing for each other and loving each other.

“Play for the name on the front of our jersey, not the back,” said Clark, a former Southeast High assistant who came to the Bulls via Alonso High in Tampa. “There are going to be individual efforts, but to be successful we have to buy into each other.”

The second football coach in program history, Clark inherited a program that showed signs of turning the corner last season, its third as a varsity team.

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Last year, Parrish Community won its first four games before losing its final five including all three in Class 3 Suburban-District 13 play.

The Bulls had a similar start to this season, winning six of their first seven games, including its first two in 3S-13.

The togetherness theme seemed to be working.

“Coach Post and Coach Clark have done a great job with the culture and getting the best 11 who want to play their hearts out on the field,” junior linebacker Gage Cameron said of defensive coordinator Frank Post and his head coach. “The passion we play with is great.”

Even after Parrish Community lost out on its first chance to capture a district title, bowing 49-10 at Port Charlotte High, togetherness ruled.

“We can’t be individuals. We can’t be selfish. We have to embrace the process and the grind,” Clark said. “On Fridays we talk about being your brother’s keeper and playing together and celebrating together.”

Clark emphasizes the Friday results are due to the effort put forth Monday through Thursday. And it is not just on the practice field.

“We understand in order to win the game on Friday, we have to come in Monday through Thursday, and that’s meetings and film and out here on the practice field,” senior quarterback Jackson Volz said. “Everybody knows they have to do their part for us to be successful on Friday.”

In his fourth year behind center of the Bulls’ varsity, Volz has embraced the unity.

“I love these boys,” Volz said. “We come into work every single day.”

“Our guys play for each other,” Clark said. “Play for the name on the front of our jersey, not the back. There are going to be individual efforts, but to be successful we have to buy into each other and play for each other and love each other.”

Clark knew his message was not for everyone. He knew the buy-in would take time. He knew it would be a work in progress.

But he has not deviated.

“Absolutely, it’s a process. It takes time,” Clark said. “There’s definitely some bumps and bruises. Slowly but surely it’s getting better. It’s not perfect. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, a lot of details we have not hit on yet. We’re going to continue to work to fix the problems and grow as a program.”

When he took the position in late January, he knew it was important to get the message out as soon as possible and reinforce it during every step.

“For Parrish to be successful, we’ve got to play together and be a team-oriented or team-first type of program,” Clark said.

A reward for togetherness

Parrish Community bounced back from a two-game losing streak to win its final game of the regular season, a 43-6 decision over George Jenkins of Lakeland.

Once as high as fourth in 3A-Region 4, the Bulls (7-3) garnered enough quality wins and power points along the way to receive an at-large bid.

Seventh in 3A-4, Parrish Community will play in its first playoff game 7:30 p.m., Friday at Staver Field against a Naples High team that has won two state championships.

“It’s a first this year this program hasn’t experienced,” said Clark, whose three losses to Lemon Bay High, Port Charlotte High and Cypress Creek High are a combined 26-4 and playoff bound. “Every day we are trying to be better than the day before. We want to focus on us and not the opponent.”

As proud as he is of the players, Clark also appreciates the effort of his coaching staff. Holdovers like Post and Ed Volz, the former Sarasota High coach and father of Jackson and Brycen Volz, Scott Trucano, Chris Clarkin, Nicholas Lee along with Brad Johnson, Kody McNear, Matt Myers, Michael Bailey and Oz Stelter.

“Proud of our coaches, proud of our players,” Clark said. “They’ve worked extremely hard to get us to this point.”

Parrish Community opted into the playoffs during the COVID-19 season of 2020, but forfeited in the first round game against Oasis.

So when the Bulls take the artificial turf Friday evening at Staver Field, history will be made at the school.

“It’s awesome,” Jackson Volz said. “Being the first team to make the playoffs for our school is awesome. Getting an extra game for the seniors is awesome. I get to play with these guys for another week, practice with them, team meal, bus ride, it’s just awesome.”

The seven wins this season match the total of the previous three years combined.

“We’ve achieved those goals. We’re trying to go out every week and be 1-0. We want to be the best version of ourselves and grow as a team. And continue to grow and not become complacent,” Clark said. “We still have a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of things that need work. I’m proud of our team and proud of our accomplishments.”

Unique test awaits Bulls’ defense

Parrish Community, particularly its defense, will face a unique test Friday against Naples.

The Golden Eagles run the triple option or veer offense. Whatever they call it, expect a steady diet of running plays from their backs and quarterback.

“Just physical discipline, just do our jobs,” Cameron said. “We can’t have any individuals. Our whole mentality is physical, discipline and do your job. We’re all family out there. We want to see each other succeed. We’re all brothers.’

The Bulls’ defense has evolved during the years with Post as coordinator. Cameron said there are about 140 play combinations of stunts and formations.

“It’s a bit more complex than the past,” said Cameron, the team’s leading tackler. “Last year was pretty simple, simpled-down a little bit. Now we have a lot more stunts, a lot more line movement.”

The quarterback of the defense, Cameron receives the defensive play call from Post on the sideline and relays it to his teammates.

The fact Parrish Community will enter the game as a decided underdog is an advantage, according to Cameron.

“We’ve got to go out there with nothing to lose,” he said. “No one is really believing in us. We’re the underdogs. It’s us against the world. We’re excited to play with that free will. We’re just gonna play our game, gonna be physical and be dominant.”

Clark cannot remember playing a team this season with a similar offense.

But the fundamentals remain the same.

“It’s going to come down to tackling and turnovers,” Clark said. “There’s going to be four or five plays that are going to dictate the outcome of the game, and we’ve got to try to win every single aspect: special teams, turnover margin and penalties.”

The Bulls’ offense must do its part

On his fifth offensive playbook in four years, Jackson Volz has run everything from the single wing to run-pass options (RPOs).

Along the way he has developed into one of the most accurate passers around, hitting on nearly 65% of his passes.

“Last year and this year are similar: a lot of RPOs, run the ball down the field,” Volz said.

“The last two years have been more schematic than the other years.”

He has a number of weapons on the outside: Kymistrii Young, Lane Tomlinson, Rymen Mosley, Michael Bell, Brandon Trucano.

Volz also has no problem handing the ball to backs Jermaine Edwards, Jerone Turner or tucking it away and keeping it himself.

“Key to the offense is line up in the box head on head and smash the ball right down their throats,” Volz said. “Wins come from physical running. When it does open up, we need to get our fast players in space.”

“Naples is a good ballclub. It’s going to be a tough environment,” Clark said. “We’re predicting this week on doing our job. We’re 11 individuals playing as one unit. If everybody does their job, there’s always a chance.

“We’re going to have to do a lot of things right for us to be successful, but I’m optimistic.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: United Parrish Community High football team in playoffs for first time