Head coach Bill Motta cautioned against complacency when St. Ed’s drew Jupiter Christian in the opening round of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference Coastal Division playoffs last Friday night. Two weeks earlier the Pirates swamped the same team by 50 points.
The players obviously heeded the advice and went one better. This time they won by 51 points. The 57-6 rout stretched the 5-3 Pirates’ win streak to four. The scoring differential in the last three games is a whopping 175-6.
This week the opposition could be tougher when No. 3 seed St. Ed’s takes on the No. 2 seed Orlando Christian Prep. The Pirates would have to win that one and two more to claim the SSAC championship.
That seemed beyond reach to some observers early in the season when injuries threatened to disrupt an already thin roster. In one game only 13 players were available. Sixteen suited up last week and Motta said that was an “abundance for us.” The coach was not shocked by the midseason turnaround.
“We are healthy and we have played ourselves into condition,” Motta explained. “We had some competition at the beginning of the year that was a little bit stiffer. We had lost some guys to injury but then we got everybody back. Our offense and defense are gelling. That’s about it. We are just evolving as a team.
“This is not a surprise to me. We knew going in that we had 11 seniors, and experience is huge, especially in the sport of football. I anticipated a successful year. We took a hit with the numbers. I expected to have bigger numbers than we have. But we signed up to play football and that is what we are doing.
“The experience has allowed us to adapt when an injury takes place. The next man goes in. … They are really playing together and they are playing for each other. There is great chemistry. Those are the makings of a successful team.”
Offensively the Pirates are doing it primarily on the ground. You need a calculator to keep up. Going into the game last week three running backs – Brian Minella, Danny Walsh and Nicholas Pennell – were all averaging over 10 yards per carry. Quarterback CJ Hadnot was managing the game with play-action passes. The defense pitched consecutive shutouts before allowing a measly six last Friday. The line of scrimmage has been under control.
“We are fortunate to have coach (Jim) Keenan for our offensive and defensive lines,” Motta said. “He has great demeanor with the boys. They work hard in practice and play hard in games. Those are not glamorous positions to play. Your hands are in the dirt all the time. We drill the boys hard. Our entire coaching staff believes you win and lose games by blocking and tackling up front.”
Linemen Payton Cleveland and Jackson Rooney are two of those guys working both ways up front. Brian Minella realizes who butters his bread at running back and safety.
“That’s an easy one, it all starts with the linemen,” Minella said. “They block the first level and then Danny and I are sometimes able to take it into the secondary. That is what allows us to break for some big gains.
“On defense I’ve also got to credit the coaches. As long as we stick to the formations and schemes everything works out. Our defensive line is holding everything and that is the key to our success. It all starts with the linemen.”
The appreciation cuts both ways, especially when the offense is clicking. Cleveland said, “Everybody always asks me if it’s tough seeing others get all of the recognition, but it’s fun watching them run into the end zone and celebrating with them afterwards. I love seeing their names in the papers with their three or four touchdowns. It’s extremely satisfying.”
Rooney told us, “Sometimes it feels like I’m not getting enough acknowledgement, but in the end I think to myself that they are scoring because of us. They know that and it makes me feel good.”
What would make everyone feel good is the SSAC championship.
“Fortunately (with a win this Friday) we actually have a chance to play at home for the Coastal championship,” Motta said. “Windermere Prep is the No. 1 seed in our bracket and we might wind up facing them again (St Ed’s lost 32-26 in September).
“If we win that one we would go to Orlando for the SSAC championship. We want to be playing for the championship on Saturday night, Nov. 19.”
