Around the North Suncoast in 30 days
A daily spring preview of every football program in Hernando and Pasco counties:
Ridgewood
Coach: Kent Reed (first season)
Last season: 3-7
District: Class 4A, District 6
Key losses: DB Tommy Kinder, DL/OL Terrence Lindsay, DB/WR/QB Nick Martino, WR/OL/DL Cody Schroyer, LB/RB Robbie Usher
Who's back: LB/TE Zach Bradford, LB/RB Preston Dameron, LB Ralphy Dawkins, QB/DB Scott Kujak, TE/LB Steve Nichols, RB Cameron Rodriguez, OL/DL Chris Seltman, LB Chase Zwaschka
What's new: Reed replaces Chris Taylor, who left to take the coaching job at Fivay. Reed, the former junior varsity coach, will make changes in hopes of resurrecting the struggling Rams. Ambidextrous 6-foot-4 quarterback Kujak will be relied on more heavily in the new offensive system. Though the team returns tailback Rodriguez (1,240 yards, eight touchdowns), Reed believes the offense will need more balance to be successful. On defense, the presence of leading pass rusher Dawkins should be a boost. Dawkins had five sacks while playing both ways in 2009. "My goal is to keep Ralphy only on the defensive side this season," Reed said. "Teams are going to have a real tough time blocking him. He has worked really hard in the weight room."
Audible: "With all the returners that we have, we have to set a precedent. We have to get back on the winning side of things. We have to win some games and get kids wanting to play football for this team again. We were in a lot of close games last year. There's no reason why we can't win those games this season." — Reed
Did you know? Reed takes over a program that last made the state playoffs in 2007. Those Rams (9-2) lost 43-3 in the region quarterfinals to Seabreeze, but that team starred running backs Byronell Arline (2,188 yards, 35 touchdowns) and Adrian Golden (258 yards, three touchdowns). … Much of the rising senior class played for Reed as freshmen on junior varsity. That Ridgewood team went 8-0 against other county competition, giving Reed a lot of confidence heading into his new post. … Kris Kinzel returns as the defensive coordinator to run the 3-5 base scheme. The Rams lose only three starters on that side of the ball.
Spring game: at River Ridge, 7 p.m. May 27
2010 schedule
Aug. 26 at Sunlake (preseason)
Sept. 3 vs. Land O'Lakes
Sept. 10 at Mitchell
Sept. 17 vs. Gulf
Sept. 24 at Wiregrass Ranch
Oct. 1 vs. Springstead
Oct. 8 vs. Tarpon Springs
Oct. 15 at Central
Oct. 22 vs. Hudson
Nov. 5 at River Ridge
Nov. 12 at Zephyrhills
Derek J. LaRiviere, Times correspondent
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