Around the county in 30 days A daily spring preview of every football program in the county
Lakewood
Coach: Cory Moore (second season, 7-4)
Last season: 7-4 (lost 67-7 to Plant in first round of Class 4A playoffs)
District: Class 3A-8 (Blake, Dixie Hollins, Jefferson, Osceola, Spoto)
Key losses: LB Marcus Edwards, WR Marcus Jackson, QB/DB JaQuez Jenkins, WR/DB Victor Perkins
Who's back: TE/LB Bar'ee Boyd, S Xavius Boyd, WR Sermetrius Dennis, RB/DB Burness Griffin, RB/DB Bernard Reedy, OL/DL Aram Wynn
What's new: The Spartans were an offensive juggernaut, averaging more than 30 points a game in the regular season, but the team's strength this year could be its defense. The defensive line is deeper and stronger than usual. The linebackers, led by Bar'ee Boyd, are explosive and the secondary is athletic and physical. The coaching staff expects a big season at safety from 6-foot-2, 220-pound Xavius Boyd. He holds offers from FIU, Georgia Southern and South Alabama. … Replacing Jenkins, the Times' offensive player of the year, at quarterback will be rising junior Alphonzo Evans. He threw for more than 1,100 yards and helped the Spartans' JV squad to a 7-1 record. He also started Lakewood's playoff loss to Plant after Jenkins tore his MCL in the regular-season finale against St. Petersburg. … The Spartans will try to get the ball in Reedy's hands as much as possible. Moore compares the versatile playmaker to Reggie Bush.
Audible: "The guys come in now and expect to win. I probably leave here at 9 p.m. because I've got guys that want to watch film, guys that are in the office drawing up plays. … Usually, I'm leaving when the janitors leave." — Moore
Did you know? Thirteen players ran an electronically timed 4.4 or faster in the 40-yard dash at a Nike regional combine in Orlando this month.
Spring game: at Dunedin, 7:30 p.m. today
2009 season
Sept. 4 at Gibbs
Sept. 11 vs. St. Petersburg
Sept. 17 vs. Boca Ciega
Sept. 25 at Dixie Hollins
Oct. 2 vs. Countryside
Oct. 9 vs. Jefferson
Oct. 23 vs. Osceola
Oct. 30 at Blake
Nov. 6 at Spoto
Nov. 13 at Northeast
Bryan Burns, Times staff writer
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