Excitement builds for high school football season

It’s hard to believe we’re only two weeks away from the kick-off of the 2024 high school football season.

But it really is that close, and Lee County schools are putting in work at fall camp to book a trip to Tallahassee.

Bonita Springs enters the Kyle Shafer era with one goal: to be the first Bull Shark team to earn a winning record.

Five straight years of losing is all the motivation these seniors need.

“I always like to keep in mind, when we’re lifting or we’re running, just keep that in the back of my mind. That’s what I want to achieve, and I want to feel the opposite of how I felt then,” said Daniel Buenrostro, Bonita Springs senior offensive lineman.

East Lee County is in a similar boat. The Jags broke even last year but haven’t had a winning record in more than a decade.

So, third-year head coach Herbans Paul is working this team hard in the heat.

“Our guys are getting focused and they’re starting to lock in. They’re going through a lot of adversity, which is exactly what we wanted. We want them to experience adversity and then learn how to overcome it,” said Paul.

Powerhouse Dunbar has its sights set on December and finally getting past the state semifinals after coming up short two years in a row.

“We realized as players, we got to do things differently,” said Austin Price, Dunbar senior quarterback. “We got to be on top of that with our seniors and our juniors and then make sure the younger classmen aren’t playing around at practice. We got to do everything different from the classroom to the football field. Everything has to be different so we can get to that next step.”

Gateway High School has a new head coach in Charlie Powell. His task this offseason has been transforming the culture for the Eagles.

“Showing these guys if you want to make it to the next level or you want to win, you have to work for it,” Powell said. “You have to earn it. Nothings going to be given to you. So every day I require them to give me their maximum effort.”

It’s also the first season for new Riverdale High School head coach Kendoll Gibson. While there’s a change in leadership, this team returns a lot of experience on both sides of the ball.

“Our running game that’s our bread and butter,” Gibson explained. “That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to establish the running game and lean on those guys. I return two running backs three of the five offensive linemen. Defense I’m returning nine starters. So they played together they have the chemistry.”

Antwan Dixon is going into his second season leading the Lehigh Senior High Lightning. Dixon took over the team with three weeks until the start of the season last year. So this summer, team bonding was critical.

“We’re having a lock in tomorrow,” Dixon explained. “So hopefully we’ll have more team bonding. We’re going to have a theme lift. Everybody’s going to dress up in costumes. We’re going to have strobe lights going on in the weight room. I’m going to lift with them. And we’re just going to have fun.”

The Cypress Lake Panthers hop their strong spring translates to wins come

“We added some new plays and stuff like,” wide receiver and defensive back Devin Cintron said. “Added some new added a couple new formations and stuff. Just trying to build and build on top of our playbook and try to get better.”