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Highlands Today

Green Dragons All Charged Up For Opener

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By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: August 29, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Enthusiasm is rampant in Lake Placid as the Green Dragons open the football season tonight under the leadership of first-year coach Jason Holden.

The Green Dragons travel to Poinciana to take on Liberty High in the "Kickoff Classic," and Holden thinks his squad is ready for action under the lights.

"The players and coaches are all champing at the bit about playing Liberty," said Holden. "We've had a good week of practice and the kids are starting to understand what we want them do on each side of the ball.

"We're probably farther along on the defensive side of the ball, but things are starting to come together on offense and our backs are doing a better job of hitting the holes quicker."

Liberty, which is a second-year school, went 3-8 last season, including a 21-0 loss to Lake Placid, but the Chargers showed steady improvement as the season progressed.

"I don't know much about Liberty because the only film I've seen was the game against Lake Placid and that was the first game of the season," the Green Dragon coach said. "They ran a double-wing and spread offense and moved the ball pretty well, but we're preparing for a lot of different things.

"Liberty improved a lot over the course of last season and lost a lot of close games, so we have to be ready to play well."

Holden, who took the Lake Placid job in late July, had only three weeks of practice to install a new offense and defense.

"We didn't throw a lot of different schemes at the kids," Holden said. "We just focused on doing a few things the right way on a consistent basis."

Senior Zach Campbell will start at quarterback, senior speedster Chevontray Wilson will see time at tailback and at wide receiver, and Daniel Brinkey and Alex Gort will be at flanker.

"We want to have a balanced offense and for the first time in a long time we have some depth on both sides of the ball," said Holden. "The drop-off from the first to the second group is not that great and that should help us to rotate players in and out and help keep guys fresh.

"We've got 28 players on varsity and they are all expected to contribute."

Lake Placid will run a 4-3 on defense and junior tackle Zach Reynolds has looked good in practice.

"We've got a physical group of kids that get to the ball in a hurry,' said Holden. "We want to force turnovers and Zack is a leader because he always gives one hundred percent and is always hustling to the ball."

Starting off the season on the right note is important to Holden.

"We've got to play hard and with good effort," the Green Dragon coach said. "Don't be afraid to make a mistake and expect to face adversity.

"I only expect their best, but I expect their best all the time."

Green Dragons vs. Chargers

At Liberty High School

TONIGHT

at 7:30

COST $5

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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