Hernando

By DAVE MURPHY
Published August 31, 2007

Big Games

Aug. 31 at Central

A season-opening road game against the defending county champion. How's that for a measuring stick? Hernando drubbed Central 25-3 in last season's opener, but won just one more game the rest of the year.

Oct. 26 vs. Nature Coast

It's Week 9 and both of these county rivals could be undefeated in district play. You can bet Hernando has this one circled.

Nov. 2 at Citrus

The week after Nature Coast comes a Citrus team led by senior running back Antoin Scriven. Last season, the Hurricanes stole a rain-soaked win from the Leopards. What's in store this year?

Burning Question

Can Rodney Byrd turn Hernando around?

Hernando hired the Brooksville native over several candidates with head coaching experience, including John Palmer, who won a state title at Port Saint Joe, and Bill Browning, who coached the Leopards eight seasons and is the first-year coach at Sunlake. Byrd's No. 1 goal is to restore a sense of tradition at Hernando, which once was the county's dominant football program.

The former Leopards' star, who played at Eastern Kentucky, has shown an ability to attract players: Heading into the first week of full-contact practice, his roster had 35 names (last year, Hernando maxed out at 26). Can he get his team to buy into his scheme and produce the first winning season since 2002?

Position by Position

Quarterback: Senior Jason Davies likely will enter his second season as the starter. With Byrd's new spread offense, he'll be called on to throw more and run more.

Running back: Speedy senior George Fribley, who scored five TDs in a season-ending loss to Pasco, burst on the scene last season as one of the top big-play threats in the county. Seniors Nick Sizemore and Nick Pauliot are downhill runners who can play yin to Fribley's yang.

Wide receiver: The Leopards have a smorgasbord of potential pass catchers. Senior Lamon Neal will see time, as will sophomore Jamel Byrd; Fribley could be used in the slot.

Offensive line: Perhaps the biggest question mark, the Leopards return just two starters. The unit was solid in the spring game, paving the way for more than 200 yards rushing.

Defensive line: Fernando Gomez, Kyle Bechtelheimer and Brent Bell will be responsible for keeping opposing offensive linemen off Hernando's vaunted linebacking corps.

Linebacker: The obvious strength of the team. Taylor Rotunda was named the biggest hitter at Bethune-Cookman's summer team camp, while Pauliot has one of the best noses for the ball in the county (Justin Braswell and Bradley Hill aren't too shabby either).

Secondary: There is still some competition at free safety, but Neal and Jamel Byrd likely will enter the season as the starters at cornerback.

David Murphy, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 13:26:53]