The Seminole Ridge High School football team has kicked off fall practice, like many other squads across Palm Beach County. Productivity is what has been expected since Rick Casko has taken over the program.
Casko is now entering his second season with the Hawks as head coach. “Practice has been very productive,” he explained. “Our kids and coaches have worked hard all summer, which has made our first two weeks of practice run smoothly.”
The Hawks had a solid spring showing, defeating Archbishop McCarthy and narrowly falling to Cardinal Newman by one point on the final play of the game, but optimism still runs high within the Seminole Ridge circle.
“We have a good group of kids and a great staff,” Casko said. “After our first season, our kids have bought into the program of discipline and team first. We have an entire new staff with the support of our administration. We are very excited where we are headed, and you can tell the kids are, too.”
Although the Seminole Ridge mantra is “eleven and a kicker,” a number of players have continued to impress the staff, according to Casko. “The best players who work the hardest will play,” he said. “We have continually shared this with the team. Our team knows it is possible to start on offense, defense and special teams. We all have to work hard to push each other to help our chances to win.”
It is too early to tell who will likely stand above the rest, but the staff does expect big things from everyone wearing the Hawk uniform. It is reinforced that no one is more important than any other player, but the Hawks do have several returning key players on both sides of the ball. On offense, Shane Goolsby will likely direct the offense at the quarterback position. Goolsby is poised to take on that role after shadowing Kaimyn Castilla last season.
Goolsby will look to Brandon Schabert through the air at the receiver spot. Schabert is a sizable target, has breakaway speed and several Division I offers on the table. Logan Feuerbach and Ethan Forman will be the ground-force at the running back position. The Hawks have always been known to grind the ball out on the ground, so look for the duo to continue that tradition when the Hawks elect to bulldoze their opponents up the middle.
On defense, the Hawks return Ryan Blake, Reyan Blake, Andre Fuller and Alex Cohen. These names will be the core of the defensive unit and will rely on an aggressive scheme during the season.
“We will be a balanced team but will lean on whatever works to win,” Casko said. “Defensively, we will be very aggressive, assignment strong, run to the ball and tackle-well team.
Three Hawks are currently competing for the kicker position. Spencer Sullivan, Jayden Gray and Joseph Montante are all battling, but according to Casko, it is possible that two will suit up on varsity and one will likely play junior varsity. All three have been working extremely hard, Casko noted.
Seminole Ridge takes the field for a kickoff classic against Park Vista High School on Friday, Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
