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Unsung heroes on the remaining playoff teams

 
Coach Bob Dare takes care of the X's and O's for Cambridge Christian's football team. Wife Beth handles everything else. (Courtesy of the Dares)
Coach Bob Dare takes care of the X's and O's for Cambridge Christian's football team. Wife Beth handles everything else. (Courtesy of the Dares)
Published Nov. 22, 2017|Updated Nov. 22, 2017

In the spirit of the holiday, we asked our six remaining high school football playoff teams who they're most thankful for this postseason.

Beth Dare, Cambridge Christian

There is no bigger cheerleader for Cambridge Christian football than Beth, wife of head coach Bob Dare for the past 37 ½ years.

"She takes hundreds of pictures each game and then stays up most of Friday night editing them and posting them for the boys," the coach said.

She makes sure the team is taken care of after games. "She makes seven or eight batches of homemade chocolate chip cookies, and I take them to school with me on Mondays. They are a huge hit," Bob said.

Good game or bad, she is there to encourage the players. She has been involved in all of Bob's teams dating to Northside Christian 37 years ago. And she has been there when her husband took the job at Cambridge Christian, even though they still live in St. Petersburg. Beth makes sure the players have everything they need.

"Beth loves football and is a great encouragement to me through each football season" Bob said. "We make a great team and I am so thankful for her and for our four kids who also help coach, and are at all of the games with their families. We are so blessed and wouldn't want to do anything else but coach and mentor these boys."

Jalen Jones, Clearwater Central Catholic

The roster lists Jones as a 5-foot-8, 135 pound slotback/cornerback. Everything is right except for the height.

"I'm really about 5-6," the senior said.

Short and skinny are not the prototypical traits of a shutdown defensive back. On game days, opposing receivers point in his direction, their eyes getting bigger as they salivate over what is supposed to be mismatch.

"It's always been that way, even in youth leagues," Jones said. "Opponents will look at me and tap their head as a way to say I'm short. By the time game ends, they know who I am."

No defensive back has had a bigger impact for the state semifinalist Marauders than Jones. He has not allowed a touchdown pass this season, all while usually facing the top receiver from each team. Last week, he had a touchdown reception and interception in a region final win against Calvary Christian.

"There might not be a tougher player on this team than Jalen," CCC coach Chris Harvey said. "We're very thankful for him."

Keith Newman, Armwood

The Hawks are more than football players. They are physical specimens, more prone to dispense poundings than to absorb them.

This comes from hours in the weight room.

Keith Newman supervises this transformation. He is Armwood's strength and conditioning coordinator and running backs coach. The dual jobs are on a volunteer basis. And that is fine with Newman.

"I just want to give back," he said.

Newman played at Jefferson High and North Carolina. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 1999 draft and spent eight seasons in the NFL with four different teams.

After Newman's career ended, he decided to get into high school coaching. He has helped with various area teams, including the past three years with the Hawks. Newman's NFL ties also played a role in Armwood landing a grant this year.

"Keith has played a big role for this team and in guiding me through my first year as a head coach this season," coach Evan Davis said.

Misty Winter, Plant

Seven years ago, Winter left her job as a youth minister to become the director of operations for Plant's football program.

It is a full-time job. Winter takes care of all the paperwork for players and coaches. She is in charge of the fundraising. She coordinates meals, bus trips and any other function that comes to mind.

"I pretty much do everything except call the plays," she said. "I handle the day-to-day stuff so (Robert) Weiner and the rest of the staff can just worry about coaching."

Winter's son, Cameron, was a safety and wide receiver for the Panthers from 2011-14. Winter's husband, Lee, also is involved. He films the games each week.

"The program has really been a big part of our lives, and we wanted to help out in any way that we can," she said.

Weiner is amazed by Winter's ability to handle so many tasks. A few weeks ago, she coordinated a breakfast for the school's dance team and cheerleaders. She put together another event later in the day and a team dinner that night.

"We went from like 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day," Weiner said. "I sent her a text later that night telling her I don't know how she did it. It really frees me up to be the best coach that I can be because all the logistics are taken care of.

"She is the best director of football operations in the country."

K.J. Moore, Lakewood

Yes, K.J. is coach Cory Moore's son. The younger Moore has been around the program since before he entered high school. Now a senior, K.J. is a starter at linebacker and a key part of the defense with 32 tackles and five sacks in 10 games.

A soft-spoken player, K.J. has been with the varsity since his sophomore year. He follows in his father's footsteps. Cory played from 1991-94 at Lakewood as a running back and linebacker, though K.J. only plays defense.
K.J. is an A student who is hoping to attend an Ivy League college. He also is a big fan of the movie Rudy, which he has seen more than a hundred times.

"He's seen the good, the bad and the ugly around here," his dad said. "But he's never missed a practice, he's always worked hard and I think he's set a good example for his teammates. And it's been great being able to coach him."

Coaching staff, Tampa Bay Tech

Titans coach Jayson Roberts has a big support staff on the sideline. A really big one. There are 17 assistant coaches who help out in practice and during games. TBT is 11-1 and in the Class 7A region final, so the staff seems to be working.

Mike Penix Sr. is the defensive coordinator. Aaron Midthus, a former TBT quarterback, is the offensive coordinator. The rest of the staff: Anthony Palmer, Carlos Blake, Fred Hicks, Hayward Bryant, Amanzo Evans, Eric King, Vernon Pearson, Joe Miller, Ernest Hayes, Bobby Stephens, Mike Gilbert, Darryl Gordon, Demetrius Bass, Kelwin Gainey and Caleb Tucker.

"I wouldn't be able to do my job without those guys," Roberts said. "There are a lot of things that a head coach has to deal with and I am 100 percent confident that things will get done the right way if I have to step away to do something else."