'The upward trend': South Walton football returns QB Carson Hawk, veteran defense

To most, South Walton's winning 2022 campaign came as a shock. Phil Tisa, though, thought the Seahawks "underachieved a bit."

But this is Phil. He knows his program is growing — soon to join the class ranks of Choctaw and FWB, who the Seahawks have scheduled already. He knows the standard has been set by years past by record-win seasons, region finals trips and stars like USF's Cade Roberts, Florida's most prolific HS wide receiver, Army's Kemper Hodges, he of 60 touchdowns as a senior, and Georgia tight end Pearce Spurlin.

So, when last year's young crew beat FWB on the road, shut out 1A powerhouse Baker, started 3-0 and and finished 6-5 after a 63-44 loss to juggernaut Florida High, on the surface it was a huge step in the right direction. But Tisa, entering his 10th year as head coach and 18th with the program, has different standards.

"I felt like we could've been 8-2. I thought we had two tight games against Bay and Port St. Joe that we could've won," Tisa said. "Then we wouldn't have had to open the playoffs against Florida High."

More: SoWal stuns FWB on the road Week 2 Scoreboard: SoWal beats FWB, Niceville downs No. 4 Vanguard, Choctaw/Crestview lose

More: SoWal's season ends in first round HS Football playoff roundup: Crestview stuns Niceville; Baker again advances to Sweet 16

This year, with a stable of its skill positions returning, South Walton looks to continue the momentum. Here are the top three story lines surrounding the Seahawks.

South Walton football's switch to 3-4 defense

In its wins last year, South Walton allowed 7.4 points per game. In its losses, 42.8 points.

"At times our defense was really good, at times it was like, where'd we go?" Tisa said. "But it was different in the offense didn't always have to carry us like in the past."

Adam Robertson, a former defensive coordinator at Crestview, aims to build on last year's successes after former Seahawks' DC Corelle Banjoman took a job with the Walton County Sheriff's department. Robertson brings with him a 3-4 defensive package featuring multiple fronts.

"They've done a good job so far with the switch," Tisa said. "I hope we continue the upward trend. We improved so much defensively last year and we bring back a lot of talent."

That talent is built around a linebacking crew drawing rave reviews from Tisa, whose roots are at the position.

That talent includes senior Garrett Fancher, a four-year starter, Gavin Trainor and Gavin Garrity, the latter two plucked from the baseball team last year.

"I'm really excited about our linebacker core," Tisa said. "That's three starters from last year, so their play is going to be really exciting."

Hawk in the Hawk's Nest

South Walton's success largely rests on the shoulder of Carson Hawk , who to his credit has attacked the offseason by traveling to camps across the United States.

After throwing for 1,623 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions and flashing his wheels with 414 rushing yards and nine scores, the 6-foot-4 senior has visited Colorado, Oklahoma, Duke, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.

Meanwhile he's been the right arm behind SoWal's myriad 7-on-7 summer competitions.

"He's been staying busy and hopefully it pays off," said Tisa, who was asked if Hawk looks the part. "I'll never give him a big head. My job is to push him and make him work harder."

Unlike last year, when South Walton incorporated backup QB Wells Bettenhausen into the offense, this is Hawk's offense — Bettenhausen transferred to Walton in the offseason. And Hawk, who's now backed up by freshman phenom JD Brown, has weapons — specifically senior Jaden Robinson (26 catches for 454 yards and five touchdowns) and a backfield featuring junior Grant Joyner, senior Ethan Horton and junior Austin McDowell.

Schedule reflecting the future

There isn't too many area schools in Class 2S South Walton can schedule. That's why the Seahawks have gotten creative by putting 3S FWB, Choctaw and Arnold and 1R Baker, Port St. Joe and North Bay Haven on the slate.

But, based on the trend upward, SoWal's current population of 1,154 is vaulting closer and closer to the 3S cutoff that begins with 1,446 3S students.

"We figure we're continuing to grow so it's just a matter of time," Tisa said of the leap. "At the same time there's so many 2S schools in the area."

Considering the improvements of FWB based on the Vikings' recent transfers and Choctaw coming off a region finals trip, the Seahawks aren't running from anyone.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: South Walton football hires new DC, schedules aggressively