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HomeTeam Huddle: Berkeley Prep doesn't lack senior leaders

 
TAMPA -- The leadership for Berkeley Prep starts with senior quarterback Davis Koetter, son of Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter, who last year completed 70 of 125 passes for 1,077 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. Taken 5-12-16 by Scott Purks
TAMPA -- The leadership for Berkeley Prep starts with senior quarterback Davis Koetter, son of Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter, who last year completed 70 of 125 passes for 1,077 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. Taken 5-12-16 by Scott Purks
Published May 13, 2016

TAMPA — It may only be May, but it's already plain to see the challenge Berkeley Prep faces in the fall.

It's called Class 3A-4, a tiny district of three tough teams: the Bucs, Lakeland Christian and Tampa Catholic.

Simply translated it means that if you go 2-0 or 1-1 in this district you make the playoffs. But if you lose those two like the Bucs did last year — 34-13 to TC and 27-26 to Lakeland Christian in overtime — then there is no postseason, no matter what you might have done in other games (Berkeley finished 2015 with a 6-4 record).

"Now it looks like another tough district battle for us," coach Dominick Ciao said. "But we have strong senior leadership and great kids who are focused. I think we will be competitive."

The leadership starts with senior quarterback Davis Koetter, son of Tampa Bay Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, who last year completed 70-of-125 passes for 1,077 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions.

"(Koetter) is poised and confident and all the kids look up to him," Ciao said. "We feel very good with him out there."

Also returning is rising senior running back Gordon Stetson, who last year rushed 147 times for 776 yards and eight touchdowns, numbers that could increase because the Bucs also return a solid core of offensive lineman, including Dylan Brown (6-foot-3, 305 pounds), Greg Moore (6-1, 252) and Nick Petit-frere (6-6, 250).

Defensively, senior defensive lineman Sandro Maxwell (6-4, 210) leads the way after averaging five tackles a game and collecting eight total sacks in 2015. Maxwell is complemented by senior linebacker Zack Mayes (brother of former record-setting Berkeley Prep quarterback Brad Mayes), senior cornerback Ryan Montgomery and rising junior defensive lineman Mayan Ahanotu (son of former Tampa Bay Buc Chidi Ahanotu).

On special teams the Bucs couldn't be in much better shape with senior Jeff Guttentag, who last year was perfect on field goals (5-of-5) and extra points (45-of-45) while also averaging 40 yards a punt.