High school football teams get ready to go

Mariner, Oasis looking to improve in 2022

It’s that time of year once again where shoulder pads are being strapped, chin straps are being tightened and high school football programs start chomping at the bit to get back onto the field.

Friday nights are about to get turned up across Southwest Florida as countless talented teams call the region home.

The Breeze will highlight West Zone and other local teams leading into the regular season to give fans an early look at their favorite team. We sat down with each head coach and select players a series of questions on what they expect from their program.

Look for continued coverage of local high school programs in The Breeze in upcoming editions as we continue the journey to Friday nights where the lights shine the brightest.

Mariner High School

Competes in 3S District 14

First regular season game: Aug. 26

vs. East Lee County at home. 7:30 p.m.

Nicholson, now in his third year at the helm, is hoping his young playmakers and natural athletes come to play this year for a Mariner team looking to improve in a big way. The squad boasts multiple explosive wide receivers and a quarterback coming into his own. Nicholson needs his defensive unit and linemen to step up to the plate to create pressure and protect.

How do you feel as a program heading into the season?

“We’re fired up! We’re excited! It’s year three! The guys know the expectations from us as coaches and how to hold each other accountable. The biggest challenge in the first two years was building a winning culture, we are finally starting to see that come to fruition off the field and I look forward to seeing how it translates to the games on Friday nights. We’re definitely excited for this season and the future of the program.”

Expectations from the team on and off the field?

“We’re always going to hang our hat on our defense. That’s old-school Mariner football – tough, physical, assignment-based defense where guys understand their role and know how to execute. If you have a good solid defense, it’ll keep you in the game and it’s up to the offense to do the rest. We hope to take a big step forward offensively; we have explosive athletes on the field that will be tough to stop once we find our rhythm. We have focused more time and energy on special teams this year; we feel that if we can execute on special teams, it will put us in a better position to win games.”

How do you plan to build off of last season?

“We have a core group that was with us last season and they learned a lot about how to compete and what it takes to prepare to win a football game.”

How would you describe your coaching style/team identity?

“We’re a young staff, our average age is right around 35. But we’re a group of local guys, guys that have come up through this area. Lee County guys that live here and love Lee County football. With that, we love the players. We care about them and genuinely want to see them develop into good fathers, good husbands and good citizens. Our identity is always going to be toughness and a relentless tenacity. This year we will also look to make explosive plays in all three phases of the game.”

What do you hope to take as a whole from this upcoming season?

“As much as we want to go out on Friday nights and light up the scoreboard and win all of our games. I didn’t really get into coaching football to win football games, I got into coaching football to help develop future leaders with strong character, that are able to overcome adversity. My hope is that when our guys graduate from our program that they’re going to be accountable, on time, able to execute their job, and give their best effort every day.”

Expected challenges?

“We are still young and inexperienced, so there will likely be a learning curve early in the season. However, these guys are hungry and work hard to improve each day. As long as we can pull together when things get tough and persevere, I expect us to be able to compete on Friday nights.”

Players to watch this year?

• Cam Bennett – Athlete (senior)

• Justin Lewis – Athlete (junior)

• Marcus Kelley Jr. – Wide receiver/strong safety (junior)

• Kelvin Jimenez – Tight end/defensive end (junior)

• Nolan Tantay – Linebacker (junior)

• Clark Daley – Linebacker/running back (sophomore)

• Kaelan Davidson – Wide receiver/cornerback (sophomore)

Oasis High School

Athletic Conference

First regular season game: Aug. 26

vs. Gateway Charter at home. 7 p.m.

Grain is heading into his second year with a program that struggled to put points on the board last season. While fine-tuning the offense is certainly at the top of the list, the team is hoping to find some promise and protection in freshman lineman that can give their playmakers more time. With more time spent in the weight room, Grain hopes his squad can make a competitive splash this campaign.

How do you feel as a program heading into the season?

“I like the fact that we had a full offseason to properly develop our student athletes.”

Expectations from the team on and off the field?

“Be gentleman off the field, at home and in the classroom, compete like heck on the field.”

How do you plan to build off of last season?

“Prior to the end of last football season, myself, our Offensive Coordinator Ryan Williams and our Defensive Coordinator Lenarick Thomas, devised a plan of development for our kids that I believe will bear fruit. We saw to it that we would match our kids’ hard work and efforts with the detailed teaching needed.”

How would you describe your coaching style/team identity?

“I try to be as detail oriented and innovative as possible with the program’s approach and development. On our team, I believe we are coached expertly by our assistant coaches and our kids who have a level of dedication and work ethic that is uncommon and feed off of our coaches.”

What do you hope to take as a whole from this upcoming season?

“Respect on our name! We have a nucleus of student athletes that have come up through the Oasis system and are hungry to prove that you can be here and be a successful athlete.”

Expected challenges?

“Our biggest challenge is between our ears. Our kids have to believe that they have paid the price and gone through the fire and it is their time to shine.”

Players to watch this year?

• Jaxon McArdle Sykes – Defensive back/wide receiver/tailback (senior)

• Isaiah Lozada – Defensive back/wide receiver (senior)

• Carson Monville – Offensive tackle/defensive tackle (junior)

• Stefon Ludwig – Linebacker (senior)

• Parker Smith – Quarterback (sophomore)

— Connect with Associate Sports Editor CJ Haddad on Twitter: @haddad_cj