Head coach Ron Hawn wants to make one thing clear: everyone who walks out of Strawberry Crest’s tunnel this season will do so because they’re committed.
Hawn, hired earlier this year, entered a program that could be pictured in a dictionary with the word “rebuild.” Crest is coming off of a winless 2015, in which the program replaced coaches John Kelly with Jim Peaden and suffered offseason losses to graduation and transfers. In short, Hawn has a lot of work to do.
“I think our (participation) numbers are a badge of honor,” Hawn says. “Our numbers are not tremendous, and that’s really because we’ve held our feet to the fire with what we’re trying to accomplish. The guys who miss practice, the guys who don’t work the way we need them to work, we just cut them loose and get them out of here.”
LAST YEAR'S MODEL
After starting the season with a five-game losing streak, in which the Chargers gave up 176 points and scored 35, the school decided to remove Kelly from the head coaching position and go with Peaden. Things hardly got better for the Chargers, although they did come close to a win in Peaden’s first game: a 28-21 loss at Lennard.
The offense did improve in Peaden’s first three games, jumping from seven points per game to 18, but could only come up with a safety in a 38-2 loss to Bloomingdale. It was shut out by Gaither, 9-0, to end the season.
Quarterback Tate Whatley, who has since transferred to Lakeland Christian, threw for 1,399 yards with five touchdowns and nine interceptions. Two of his leading targets — Tyler Hood and Austin Eldridge — are now at Plant City, and both combined for 781 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Bryce Blackmon became the bell cow in his senior season, gaining 763 yards on 199 touches and scoring five touchdowns. The rest of the team’s rushers combined for 86 yards.
Linebacker Jordan Zilbar led the defense in his senior season, picking up 90 total tackles (27 solo, 63 assisted). It was also a good year for returning linebacker Michael Acosta, who finished second on the team with 72 total tackles (18 solo, 54 assisted). Then-senior Omar Williams led the team with five sacks.
After the season ended, Crest opted to keep Peaden on the staff as an assistant but sought a change at head coach.
THIS YEAR'S MODEL
In Hawn’s opinion, Crest’s two major strengths will be its ground game and its defense.
“We’re going to run the ball, so we’re going to find a way to run the ball if that means we’re going to use six running backs to do it,” he says. “It’s going to be like ‘Moneyball.’ We don’t need a 2,000 yard rusher but, if we can get four 500-yard rushers, that’s a good season.”
He plans to use a two-back, pro-style offense and utilize fullback Mason Nikel. The Chargers will be a run-first team while sophomore starting quarterback Braxton Plunk develops.
“Braxton’s smart,” Hawn says. “He’s got a good, strong arm, and he’s smart. We will build towards that.”
Hawn is excited about the defense and has high hopes in his 4-2-5 system. He singled out Acosta, who will play some strong safety, defensive linemen Connor Smith and Noah Hand, and defensive backs Devontae Lowe, Theo Williams and Brandon Stewart-Frazier as key pieces to his puzzle.
“I hope we make (teams) pass,” Hawn says. “That’s the goal.”
Hawn expects the team to improve this season and, most importantly, to enter the “wins” column for the first time since 2014. While he acknowledges that a complete turnaround likely isn’t in the cards this season, he believes the team has what it takes to build the foundation.
“We’re going to be competitive in every game we play,” Hawn says.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.