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Highlands Today

Red Devil Seniors Ready For One Last Chance At Streaks

Brian Gjurgevich, Highlands Today

Avon Park quarterback Albert Moses 17 will lead the Red Devils into Joe Franza Stadium tonight against the arch-rival Blue Streaks.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: November 7, 2008

AVON PARK - Forget the playoffs.

Forget wins and losses.

Forget the hype.

Avon Park vs. Sebring is all about pride.

"This is our playoff game right here," said Avon Park senior running back Virgil Cooper. "We've heard all the trash talk and bragging from the Sebring players for a year.

"It's our time to brag."

Tonight marks the 87th meeting between the Avon Park Red Devils and the Sebring Blue Streaks in a Class 3A-District 12 matchup - making it one of the oldest rivalries in Florida - and the subplots are filled to the brim even without any playoff talk.

For Avon Park, it's a chance for this batch of seniors to go out winners against their archrivals, where Sebring holds the series lead 45-40-1 and the Blue Streaks pummeled the Red Devils 36-14 last season at Firemen's Field.

"That game really bothered me for a lot of reasons, but the main one is that I felt we had a chance to win and we let it slip away," Cooper said. "But this season is totally different for Avon Park. This is by far the best team we've had to go up against Sebring and we're not going to settle for anything less than a victory."

Trash-talking is a way of life between the boys in red and blue, but this season has seen its fair share of bragging by Sebring, which has included a barrage of text messages and voice mails that only add fuel to the fire.

"Talking trash is part of the game," Cooper said. "This game has been a year in the making and it would make me super happy if we could beat them on our home field."

Avon Park defensive lineman Marvin Williams has stayed silent this week, as he refuses to get caught up in the smack-talking game - at least until after the final whistle is blown.

"I've nearly turned my phone off to keep my mind in the game," Williams said. "Sebring players bring up last year when they see you out around town.

"That's why this game is so personal to both sides."

The last time this rivalry took place at Joe Franza Stadium, the Red Devils were thumped 37-7 and Avon Park was ousted from playoff contention in a tiebreaker by the same Blue Streaks.

Tonight's game marks the first rivalry meeting between Sebring and Avon Park with head coach Andy Bonjokian at the helm, who has suited up for this game and knows the importance of the rivalry.

"I remember getting ready to play Sebring was a week full of anticipation and energy that was bottled up until Friday night when both teams would explode on one another," Bonjokian said. "Being a head coach, I have the typical jitters, but I'm really excited and proud to lead this group of guys and coaches on that field tonight.

"I'm just really hoping for a win for our seniors, so they can say they beat the Blue Streaks just once."

The atmosphere around Avon Park High School is nearing that of homecoming, with student and faculty events, including the annual Red Devil Pitchfork Games, which get the whole school involved in obstacle events that are brought about to bring unity.

"This is all about tradition," Bonjokian said. "The students and the community rally around this game. This is not just another game on the schedule for us or our fans, but one that young kids look forward to playing in when they're older and for me one that I'm proud to just be a part of."

Sebring comes in on a seven game losing streak after losing to Braden River 28-11, while Avon Park will try to brush aside the memories of last week's 41-0 shutout to district-leading DeSoto.

Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention and come into this game hoping to set the tone for 2009 at the other's expense.

For Avon Park, it's about erasing two years of bad memories that have yielded just three wins, but Williams believes he's has seen a change in attitude in the Red Devils, whose confidence is at an all-time high.

"The difference in this year's team is that we have a much better understanding for the game," Williams said. "There is a better team concept in place and we're a lot more talented across the board than in year's past.

"Sebring took care of business last year, but it's time for us to take our home field back."

Bonjokian has his team running plays over and over in practice until it becomes second nature and the culmination of all the effort, that has seen the Red Devil squad practice even under the cover of darkness, could yield a surprising result tonight against the Blue Streaks.

"Sebring is way better than their record shows," Bonjokian said. "But the same can be said about us. We didn't show our best last week against DeSoto and we can't turnover the ball like we did and expect to beat anyone. But all I ask of these kids tonight when they walk off that field after the game is that they can look themselves in the mirror and know they gave me everything they had."

The running game is surely to be a staple in Bonjokian's playbook, as both Red Devil wins this season have come when running backs Teddy Allen and Cooper have been able to set the tone on the ground.

Both backs should have their share of opportunities for big plays against Sebring's run defense, which has allowed opposing feature backs to rush for more than 100 yards in all but one game this season and 200-plus yards in three straight games.

But Bonjokian understands that he can't be complacent about his offense and will ask his defense for more than they've given all year against the Blue Streaks.

"We have to be able to aggressively disrupt their offensive rhythm," said the AP skipper. "And we have to be able to take chances on both sides of the ball and keep Sebring wondering about where the threat is coming from.

"You have to pull out all the stops."

With the annual pep rally set for this afternoon at 2:30 p.m., the small town of Avon Park will descend on Joe Franza Stadium in the hopes that they'll be able to see history in the making, as another graduating class clashes for one final time.

"This is the game I've waited for all season," Cooper said. "I'm not saying I've overlooked any of our opponents, but you play nine games during the season and then you play Sebring.

"It doesn't get any better than that."

Bonjokian has asked the community to flood his team with the same excitement and support that the teams he played on were shown when the rivalry was in its heyday.

"I still get excited when I think about playing against Sebring and no matter if we won or lost the week before, this was the game that meant the most and we brought everything we had," Bonjokian said. "For our fans, I want to look out at a packed stadium and gaze upon a sea of red."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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