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Red Devils Look For Repeat Performance

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Cleveland Nobles and the rest of the Red Devils will need to be at their best tonight against district power Hardee.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: September 26, 2008

AVON PARK - It's unlikely that many Avon Park football fans will forget last season's greatest - and only - victory over Hardee.

Likewise, Red Devil head coach Andy Bonjokian knows that the Wildcats haven't forgotten it either.

"I know for a fact the Wildcats have got us in their sights," Bonjokian said. "Avon Park shocked a lot of people by beating Hardee and it was great to see them play a complete football game.

"But that was last year, and we have to get ourselves ready to go into enemy territory."

The 10-7 win over the Wildcats was the highlight of last season and brought Avon Park together as a community, if only for a moment.

But that was then, and this is now.

Avon Park travels to Wildcat Stadium today for the long-awaited rematch that - as it did last season - looks to be a one-sided affair with the Red Devils looking at a formidable foe they have few answers for.

That was just how many view Avon Park this season, especially after giving up 71 points in the first two games and scoring just one touchdown. It sounds eerily similar to the stage that was set last season, when the Red Devils lost their first two games by a combined score of 89-0.

But Avon Park showed signs of life and seemed to turn a corner against Okeechobee, which could give them the confidence needed to slay the Wildcats once again.

Tailback Teddy Allen rushed for 120 yards against a stout Okeechobee defense and the Red Devils were still in the game late in the third quarter, putting together their best drive in arguably two years when Allen marched AP down the field 68 yards before busting through for a one-yard touchdown.

"Teddy played an amazing game for us against Okeechobee," Bonjokian said. "He's obviously a focal point for us on offense and we'll need him to continue getting those tough yards for us to keep drives alive against Hardee."

Hardee has struggled early in the season, as the Wildcats have lost to North Fort Myers 35-14 and Fort Meade 22-7 in its first two games before earning their first victory last week, a 13-9 win over Riverdale.

Against North Fort Myers, Hardee uncharacteristically fumbled the ball six times and lost four of them, two of which were taken in for touchdowns. They also gave up four sacks and an interception.

What was strange about the first half of that game was that Hardee racked up more yards in penalties (76) than in total offense (60) against the Knights.

Bonjokian has seen the film of the Wildcats this season and has seen the holes in the Hardee's game, but he knows that seeing a team's deficiencies and exploiting them are two different things.

"Hardee is a fast, hard-nosed team all around," Bonjokian said. "They run the option offense very well and it's hard to simulate that in practice. You have to be able to make adjustments defensively and hopefully take advantage of any mistakes.

"On offense, we just need to try and establish the run to control the clock and keep their offense off the field."

Starting at quarterback for the first time this season for the Red Devils will be senior quarterback Albert Moses, who's been sidelined with a wrist injury sustained in the pre-season. By all accounts in practice, Moses has looked solid with his throws and his mobility, but the question of making a first start against rival Hardee weighs on Bonjokian's mind.

"This is a tough game for anyone to play, but to make your first start just adds to the pressure," said the AP skipper. "This says nothing bad about the job that Avierre Conner did for us this season. Avierre has done a solid job for us, but it was a question of Albert putting the time in this program and deserving of his chance to start.

"I hated to watch him on the sidelines and not being able to compete. You could tell it was killing him, but he's about to get his chance."

Also returning on the defensive side of the ball are Dwayne Council Jr. and linebacker James Bland, who missed the Okeechobee game with a shoulder injury and slight concussion, respectively.

Council and Bland could play a huge part in pressuring the Wildcat offense into fumbles or other costly mistakes.

"James is my coach on the field and I'm glad he's back," Bonjokian said. "He's very aggressive by nature and we need that type of pressure to help stop Hardee's offense. We need to be in the right places when they make a mistake and this time put it in the end zone."

For Bonjokian, Hardee also represents matching up against old friend and Wildcat head coach Tim Price, which adds another dimension to the drama yet to unfold on Friday.

"I think it's more intense coaching against friends than it is against someone you really didn't like," Bonjokian laughed. "I'm really family with most of Tim's staff and it's going to be a tough game and Wildcat stadium will undoubtedly be loud.

"This is the biggest game of the season for these kids and they know it. We're ready to play."

Red Devils vs. Wildcats

at Hardee High School

TONIGHT at 7:30

COST $5

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

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