Middleton - Tampa Bay Times

MIDDLETON
T
A
family
portrait
here’s no way to hide from an 0-10 season; the only thing to do is move on. “Our mind-set is, last year
was last year, let’s build on what we have now,” coach Alonzo Ashwood said. For a team that jettisoned
13 to graduation, a weakness turns to an advantage for the second-year coach. “When I came here,
there was a group of seniors that were part of the old regime,” he said. “This is more our team.”
COACH: ALONZO
ASHWOOD (0-10,
SECOND SEASON)
CLASS: 5A, CLASS 8
COLORS: MAROON AND
GOLD
HOME COOKIN’
MIDDLETON’S MAIN DISHES
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Ashwood is high on the bookends of
his defensive line, seniors Cassell
Brown and Jeronte Norton. Brown
is one of four team captains and is
the speed rusher to Norton’s (6-4,
199) bull rush. “They’re going to
surprise some people this year,”
Ashwood said.
SKILL GUYS
What the Tigers lack in big guys up
front they counter with in speedy
athletes who are versatile.
BEST OF THE
BROTHERHOOD
WILLIE J. ALLEN JR. | Times
HOLDING A PLACE FOR THEIR STAR
A
dding some poignance to our preseason section is the Murdock family. Less
than a month after the death of former Tigers standout (and Tennessee Titans
receiver) O.J. Murdock, the player’s surviving immediate family members
agreed to represent Middleton High by sitting down for a portrait. Mother Jamesena
(holding O.J.’s jersey) is flanked by daughters Kerri, left, and Sherena. Standing are
O.J.’s dad, Kelvin, left, and brother Sherod, another ex-Tigers star.
2012 ROSTER
Jordan Algere
Carlos Anthony
Rashied Apata
Johnson Augustin
Cassell Brown
Christophe Brown
Kyler Brown
Amp Carswell
Josh Carter
Tavon Chavous
Micheal Clark
Tevaras Davis
John Diez
Simeon Grant
James Hambrick
Brandon Johnson
Jarmel Lemus
Jerald Lewis
Gabriel Luyanda
Roosevelt Michel
5-9
5-11
5-9
5-10
6-2
5-11
5-9
5-7
6-1
5-10
5-10
5-8
5-10
6-2
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-9
6-2
5-9
155
200
150
175
165
160
160
142
235
275
210
155
220
165
154
195
185
185
210
170
Jr.
So.
So.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
So.
So.
2012 SCHEDULE
WR
OG/DT
FB
WR/CB
DE/TE
SS/WR
CB
WR/CB
OT/DT
N/OG
FB/DT
RB
OG
WR
WR
LB
LB
FB/LB
WR
LB
Arnold Mungia
5-10
Tavaris Mutherson 6-0
Antonio Nelson
5-11
Javon Nelson
5-9
Deandre Norton 5-10
Jeronte Norton
6-4
Justo Polanco
6-2
Robert Sanders
6-0
Steve Scott
5-10
Derek Shoats
5-11
Raheem Stanley 5-7
JaJuan Steward
6-3
Brandon Tillman 5-11
Louidor Vellard
6-3
Antwaun Washington
5-11
Arthur Wiggins
6-1
Rufus Wiggins
5-10
Sergio Williams 5-10
PLAYOFF HISTORY: 2004, 2005
LAST APPEARANCE: Lost 44-7 to Armwood
165
187
180
160
185
199
295
168
164
160
145
285
198
200
Sr.
So.
So.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
Fr.
So.
So.
Sr.
K/P
LB/OG
QB
CB
LB
OL/DL
C/N
CB
LB
FS/RB
RB/CB
OL/DL
LB
OT/DE
175
217
165
201
Sr.
CB
So. LB/RB
So.
S
Jr. OG/LB
All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Sept. 1
Sept. 7
Sept. 14
Sept. 21
Sept. 28
Oct. 5
Oct. 18
Oct. 26
Nov. 2
Nov. 9
vs. Hillsborough
vs. Jesuit
vs. Lennard
vs. Spoto
at Lakewood
at Blake
vs. Gibbs
at Dunedin
at Robinson
vs. Steinbrenner
ATH AMP CARSWELL, SR.
Look for Carswell (22 catches, 290
yards in 2011) to get action all over
the field on offense, defense and
special teams. Ashwood said the
coaches have a wildcat formation
for him.
CB ROBERT SANDERS, JR.
A team captain and 6-foot talent
who Ashwood says can “write his
own ticket.”
Patriarch
Ashwood graduated from
and coached at Hillsborough
High until taking over as head
coach at Middleton in 2011. The
former Florida A&M running
back feels like he has some key
elements in place to start to
rebuild.
2011 RESULTS
(0-10)
vs. Hillsborough
at Jesuit
at Lennard
at Spoto
vs. Lakewood
vs. Blake
at Gibbs
vs. Dunedin
vs. Robinson
at Steinbrenner
0-30
6-25
0-27
6-20
12-15
19-41
17-20
20-29
0-44
0-43
FAMILY ADDITIONS
PLAYERS POISED
TO BREAK OUT
FB/LB ARTHUR WIGGINS, SO.
Wiggins will have lot on his plate
playing both ways, but Ashwood
claims he’s a hard worker (3.0
grade point average) and has
breakout potential.
C/DT JUSTO POLANCO, SO.
Another sophomore with a full
plate. Polanco, easily the biggest
body (6-2, 295) on the team, steps
into the role at center and interior
tackle. If both of these sophomores
can hold up in the slaughterhouse
district they play in, the Tigers could
get back in the win column in 2012.
Andy Warrener,
Times correspondent
STADIUM: Abraham R. Brown Stadium, 4801 N 22nd St., Tampa
HTP
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tampa Bay Times | Friday, August 31, 2012 |
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