Shorthanded Devils Ready For The Road Ahead

With two defensive standouts sidelined with injuries, the Avon Park football team will need a group effort tonight to hold back an offensive-minded Okeechobee squad in the Red Devils' first road test of the regular season.

Seniors James Bland and Dwayne Council Jr., have been scratched by AP coach Andy Bonjokian, meaning some defensive assignments will be shifted and few younger Devils will be leaned on for more snaps.

And while it certainly puts Avon Park at a disadvantage against a talented Brahman running attack, Bonjokian said his Devils will give their all against a Class 4A Okeechobee squad that moved the ball well despite a 40-18 loss to Jupiter.

"We had several injuries last week, so we're going with some people who don't have a lot of experience," Bonjokian said. "But practice has gone well, and I know guys are going to give it their best shot."

JV call-up Fernando Perez and junior Patrick Graham will see increased time on defense, while Stephan Hinson play more linebacker to fill in the gaps. The Devils, however, are getting back the services of starting center David Edmundson and receiver Alonzo Robertson, neither of whom played in the season-opening loss to Ridge Community.

Avierre Conner will again handle quarterback duties, while Albert Moses will return to see some time on the field, but likely not at quarterback.

Bonjokian said he wants to get Moses fully healthy before any possible move back to signal-caller would be made, but that the sophomore Conner is more than holding his own with the offense in his hands.

"Avierre's a tough, competitive kid and although he's young, he's established himself and the guys have confidence in him," Bonjokian said. "He's starting to pick up our concept, and he's a lot more fluid with his motions. And he's been a leader on the practice field, and that goes a long way."

Like Bland, who despite suffering a concussion is still trying to convince his coaches for some playing time - "He's not going to," Bonjokian says - Moses wants to get back on the field, but the first-year coach would rather have one of his most explosive players back at full strength, rather than risk an injury that could sideline him longer.

"Albert keeps telling me he's not hurting," Bonjokian said. "But I have to see a little more of him at practice. I want to have him for six or seven games, and not just one."

With a bye week on the horizon, the Devils are hoping to pull some positives from tonight's game, and help keep the all-time series (Avon Park leads 17-13 overall) in the red.

"We had some established drives and the defense only gave up seven points in the second half," Bonjokian said. "The damaging blows came within a five-minute span, and there was 20 points, bam.

"We're working on our composure and discipline as a team, and it's extremely important that we have success on both sides of the ball to build on what we have going."

See highlandstoday.com/sports after the game for scores and recaps. See Sunday's Highlands Today for complete coverage, photos and reaction.

Red Devils vs. Brahmans

At Okeechobee High School

TONIGHT at 7:30

COST $5