Freshman sensation Luis Delgado is certain Nature Coast will surprise many in its first varsity season.
By FRANK PASTOR
Published September 10, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - Think Nature Coast Tech is excited about tonight's matchup against Shorecrest Prep, the first regular-season varsity game in Sharks' history?
Imagine how Luis Delgado must feel.
The freshman didn't even think he'd be playing varsity before the season, let alone starting at inside linebacker.
"I thought I was going to be JV for sure," Delgado said.
Now, he can't wait to get started.
Nature Coast was scheduled to open the season last week at Umatilla, but the game was not played because of concerns about Hurricane Frances.
"I was pretty mad when the game was canceled," Delgado said, "so I'm just ready to play, ready to get out there and kick some yellow tail."
Don't mistake Delgado's excitement for nervousness.
Given an opportunity to start after junior Mike Allen injured his knee, the 5-foot-8, 198-pound Delgado made nine tackles in three quarters of play during Nature Coast's 23-8 preseason loss at Gulf two weeks ago.
Delgado's knack for finding the ballcarrier and quickly bringing him down caught the eye of Nature Coast coach Jamie Joyner during the game, as it did throughout fall practice.
"We're always looking for a kid on Friday night to step up," Joyner said. "Some play better, some play worse. He's definitely a kid who stepped it up and performed very well."
Delgado played well enough, not even Allen's return will supplant him as the starter.
Allen had surgery on the knee a couple of weeks ago and was cleared to play tonight. But he will be limited to offensive and longsnapping duties until he returns fully to playing condition.
Though the two compete at the same spot on defense, Delgado said Allen has become something of a mentor to him.
"On the field, he's like a role model to me," Delgado said. "I look up to him. Every time I'm on the sidelines, I watch him play and I learn from him."
In Nature Coast's 4-3 defense, the outside linebackers push the play inside, where Delgado, as the "Sam" linebacker, is expected to make tackles. If he doesn't, only the safety remains between the ballcarrier and the goal line.
Joyner doesn't worry about entrusting so much responsibility to a freshman.
"He's playing varsity competition, and he didn't back down at all," Joyner said. "The same way he is in practice is the way he is on Friday night, so that was impressive to see."
Delgado wishes more people at Nature Coast shared Joyner's confidence. He said many students have little or no expectations for the second-year program, which went 3-6 during a start-up JV season a year ago.
"Everybody at school thinks we're a piece of crap because of the season we had last year," Delgado said. "But this year, we're going to do pretty good."
