Excitement filled the atmosphere as the Palm Beach Central High School football team took the field Monday, July 30 for the first day of fall practice. The Broncos began day one by just donning helmets and working on the basics.
The Broncos were last year’s District 9-8A champions and are determined to retain that title this season. Palm Beach Central looked poised to head deep in the post-season last year, but they were left scratching their heads after falling to Western High School 14-12 in the regional playoffs. Palm Beach Central led the game 12-0 entering the fourth quarter.
“We have to remain humble and stay hungry. We have to play cohesive on both sides of the ball,” head coach Tino Ierulli said. “If the kids stay humble and remain focused, I think we’re the only ones who beat us.”
The Broncos are stacked on both sides of the ball with several key players who will be Division I bound after the season. Among them are lineman Renato Brown, a Miami commit; receiver Bryan Robinson, also a recent Miami commit; and five-star safety Akeem Dent, an FSU commit. Transfers Janil Brown and Brandon Hudgins will also complement the defensive line, and both are over the six-foot mark and 300 pounds.
“Both had two sacks and two tackles for losses in the spring game,” Ierulli explained. “They’re dominating the defensive line. Those two just brought a tremendous amount of push to the front.”
Dent will anchor the defensive secondary with Jesus Santiago; both are quick and physical. American Heritage transfer Tyler Willis will add to the linebacker corps this year. St. Thomas Aquinas transfer Griffin Lampton will suit up at the defensive end spot. Lampton has height at 6-foot-3. He also has quickness for the outside and quick hands.
Offensively, Broncos Michael Moreland and Anarjahe Douriet will battle it out for the quarterback position. Both have the ability to be a dual threat in the backfield. C.J. Stewart will compete at the running back position. Robinson will anchor the receiving corps, and Gen’Taris Oliver is having a solid pre-season practice showing.
Ierulli will be the first to admit the one thing they needed to improve last year was the kicking game. The Broncos dropped two games by two points. If their kicking game was up to par, they could have won those contests. Tanner Naim comes to the Broncos as a five-star kicker and will fill that void.
Ierulli is confident that the Broncos have the same opportunity as last season and can make a deep run into the post-season.
“Building off last year, I think the players we lost were big-time players, but we made up for it with the kids we got,” he said. “Plus, the younger kids who played last year got another season under their belt, and in the spring game, they looked good. They were very confident in their playing ability.”
One mantra that the Bronco squad lives by via Ierulli is playing one game at a time.
“The only team we are focused on right now is Dwyer,” he explained, since the Broncos travel to William T. Dwyer High School to take on the Panthers in their pre-season kickoff classic. “It doesn’t count, but it’s a showing, and it’s a test for the boys. What better team to play than one of the top teams in the state.”
Palm Beach Central will be on the road at Dwyer on Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. for the first contest of the season.
