Different paths to the top

Linked since childhood, it took Devin Clarke and Caleb Jones a few more years to get back on the same team.

Sebring's Clarke is the can't-miss prospect whose on-field endowments have scouts drooling and college coaches schmoozing.

Lake Placid's Jones is the injury-plagued tailback whose breakout senior season helped return a downtrodden Lake Placid program to respectability.

Now, the childhood buddies comprise the best dynamic backfield tandem in the Heartland, the 2009 Highlands Today All-Heartland Co-Offensive Football Players of the Year.

"I knew I'd have a good year," Jones said, "but didn't know it'd be that great of a year. I surprised myself how I performed on the field."

Clarke wasn't surprised.

He had every intention of breaking the receiving yardage mark he set last season (1,121). He amassed 1,132 receiving yards - and that was after missing a game (back injury) and being held to just 28 yards in a loss to Hardee.

"I could have done better," Clarke said. "Things just didn't go the way we planned sometimes."

When defenses faced Sebring, they had one goal: Shut down Clarke. Problem is, they had a difficult time locating him.

Sebring coach Jared Hamlin often moved the speedster around - putting him in the backfield, out wide, in the slot. Wherever he was lined up, he broke off some of the most explosive plays for the Blue Streaks.

He had 51 catches, averaging 22.2 yards per reception. He scored 20 touchdowns (14 receiving, six rushing) and even threw a TD pass.

"I knew that I had to step up and be a leader for the team this season," said Clarke, whose Blue Streaks went 7-3 this season, finishing the year on a five-game winning streak. "I know people were going to look up to me and if I'm playing lazy, they're going to play lazy, too. I just had to keep them hyped and keep my team going."

Scouts noticed.

Clarke, the leading receiver in the state in Class 3A, is being recruited by nearly every major football program, including the state's flagship school, the University of Florida.

On the sideline at The Swamp this fall, "the coaches come up to you and you don't think they really know you but they say, 'How you doing, Mr. Clarke? Good to see you, glad you're here.'"

Clarke attended the Friday Night Lights camp this past summer in Gainesville, where he went in the locker room with all the recruits after a workout. "Sitting there in the film room," Clarke said, "we just watched the video, and it gave you chill bumps every time you watched it. The feeling, it's crazy. I like it. It's exciting."

Despite various overtures, don't expect Clarke to divulge his college plans. At least not yet.

"I'm trying to keep it a little secret," he said. "Can't let anybody know right now. I think I know, but it always changes. They really tell you what you want to hear, when you're reading the letters. You've just got to have your mind set."

Three years ago, Jones thought he had done just that. He was going to quit football.

It was his sophomore year at Lake Placid, fifth game of the season. Jones was seeing his first action after missing the first four games when he tore his pectoral muscle during an offseason workout.

A few plays in, he severely sprained his knee. This, after tearing several knee ligaments in middle school.

"It made me doubt if I ever wanted to play football again," Jones said. "I just wanted one more chance to get back at it. But it scared me, because I thought, 'Is my high school career over?'"

Far from it.

Given one more chance to prolong his playing career, Jones exploded during his senior season. He rushed for 1,365 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading Lake Placid to its first winning season (6-4) since 1998.

It was a swift, one-year turnaround for the Green Dragons, who stumbled to a miserable 1-9 record in coach Jason Holden's first year at the helm.

So, what changed?

"I think all the negativity from the past years, it sort of left the team and this year it was all positive," Jones said. "Even the games we lost, we'd come back the next Monday and be ready to go. Never once when we messed up did we feel like we were done."

Now, Jones is weighing his college options.

He may wind up playing in Iowa, at Graceland University. Or he may go to Florida International, or Florida Atlantic.

He just wants to play, while never forgetting this magical football season.

"It's amazing," Jones said, "to see the whole community come back together. It's like having the whole family back."

THE TEAM

QB Matt Grubb, junior, Sebring

Grubb threw for 1,881 yards and 16 touchdowns in his second season behind center for the Blue Streaks. Fourteen of those TD passes went to Clarke, his most dangerous weapon and the receiver with whom he developed the best rapport. Grubb was also aided by a consistent rushing attack, and the offensive line protected better than it did in his sophomore season.

RB Teddy Allen, senior, Avon Park

The curious case of Allen, the Red Devils' most athletic player who switched from their predominant tailback to their only option at quarterback, when incumbent starter Tekovan Miller broke a few ribs midway through the season. Unfortunately, the switch coincided with the most difficult stretch in the schedule, as Avon Park played four top-10 teams in five weeks. Still, Allen rushed for 1,102 yards and 10 touchdowns.

RB Daniel Burnett, senior, Sebring

Despite being hobbled by a nagging high ankle sprain late in the season, Burnett was the most consistent backfield option for the Blue Streaks. He rushed for 828 yards and eight touchdowns, splitting time earlier in the season with Clarke and later with emerging sophomore Damion Thompson. In the South-Central All-Star Football Classic earlier this month, Burnett scored a 3-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.

FB Navahri Holden, senior, Lake Placid

The bruising running style of Holden was the perfect compliment to Jones' slashing. The duo propelled Lake Placid to unfamiliar heights - a winning season. The Green Dragons finished 6-4 and contended much of the season for a postseason berth, thanks in large part to Holden, who was a difference-maker on both offense and defense (he also played linebacker). He ran for 420 yards on 71 carries with four touchdowns.

WR Alonzo Robertson, junior, Avon Park

The lanky receiver was Avon Park's predominant downfield threat. He made 32 receptions for 952 yards and eight touchdowns, despite often receiving double- or triple-teams because of his size. His 27.4 yards-per-catch average was easily the best on the team. He developed quite a chemistry with tailback-turned-quarterback Teddy Allen, who would let it fly and watch Robertson come down with it.

OL Leo Adams, junior, Sebring

Sebring's offensive line, much-maligned a year ago, was a main reason for the Blue Streaks' six-game turnaround in 2009. Adams played a huge role in that, protecting quarterback Matt Grubb and paving huge holes for the Blue Streaks' trio of tailbacks to run through. This unit should again prove to be strong in 2010, with only one senior departing.

OL David Edmundson, senior,

Avon Park

There was constant shuffling in the backfield, but Edmundson consistently played well for the Red Devils this season. Tailback/QB Teddy Allen is an exceptional athlete, but much of his 1,102 yards came behind the lead blocking of Edmundson.

OL Alex Vega, senior, Lake Placid

The key to Lake Placid's resurgence this year: its potent rushing attack. Enter Vega, and the rest of the Green Dragons linemen who were responsible for getting Caleb Jones and Navahri Holden that extra push up front. Vega was rewarded for his efforts, being named to the Central squad for the prestigious South-Central All-Star Football Classic.

K/P Stephen Guelff, senior, Lake

Placid

This do-everything talent for Lake Placid caught passes and handled punting and kicking duties for the Green Dragons. He boomed 47 kickoffs for 2,617 yards with 17 touchbacks. He also made 27 point-after attempts and had three field goals.

HONORABLE MENTION

OL Tevin Toney, senior, Sebring

A tenacious defender who was also asked by coaches to play offensive line, Toney thrived in his first full season at left tackle. Of course, it's the most important position in terms of pass protection, and he enabled quarterback Matt Grubb to have plenty of time to throw the ball.

WR David Callahan, senior, Avon Park

He was the second-leading receiver for the Red Devils this season. With defenses often double-teaming Robertson, Callahan made several contributions and was named to the Central team for the South-Central All-Star Football Classic.

RB Damion Thompson, sophomore, Sebring

Look for this guy to put up big numbers for the Blue Streaks the next two years. With Daniel Burnett on the sideline with an ankle injury, Thompson was promoted from the JV team midway through the season. He ran for 290 yards and a touchdown, averaging 72.5 yards per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jason Holden's first year at Lake Placid was forgettable. He went 1-9. His team lacked tenacity. His message went unheard. Then, behind a strong core of senior leaders, Holden was back on the sidelines this year for the Green Dragons' first winning season since 1998. And suddenly, Holden has revitalized a program that struggled to win even a few games for the past decade.