By Brian McLaughlin (follow on Twitter @BrianMacWriter)
Palm Harbor Sports
Palm Harbor’s defensive Hurricanes gave up only 19 points a game last year, and if you eliminate the two blowout losses that came to district foes and powerful rivals East Lake and Steinbrenner, that’s not too shabby. And that includes an impressive showing against a very strong St. Petersburg team that is well-coached on offense and went on to big things in 2022.
PALM HARBOR SEASON PREVIEW: The story
OFFENSE: Palm Harbor’s offensive preview for 2023
They are wise, and willing to learn.
“Everybody asks me all the time, what do I run on defense, what’s your scheme?” defensive coordinator Matt LePain told PalmHarborSports.com. “We can do multiple things with this group that fit a concept.
“The biggest thing I and my coaching staff can do is teach. It doesn’t matter what I know, it’s what you can teach to them and they can do. I’ve had years where I can’t do that. You have to look at what you have. These kids this year can handle it.”
More than 90 percent of that defense is back. Leading tackler Alex Malyszko is only a sophomore and he’s back and being asked to do similar things to what his brother, current USF walk-on Erik Malyszko), did a few years back – to serve as a Swiss Army knife on both sides of the ball. And he has stepped up to do exactly that.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Senior co-captain Walker Danneman – a rare two-way starter on this team in 2023 – is back at defensive end, as is talented senior co-captain Zavion Roberts. Junior Zachary Horner is new to starting at DT, but he’s not new to starting as a lineman — on offense. And junior nose guard Brady Messick – who exploded the second half of last season – is back. This defensive unit will be a massive strength in 2023.
Hayden Turley, Malyszko, and even typical linebacker Gunner Fodor may mix it up on the D-line as part of the potential rotation.
“Everyone on the D-line is super experienced, and we need to make sure people can’t climb back to our linebackers,” team captain Danneman told PalmHarborSports.com.
LINEBACKERS
When it comes to the linebackers, once again, this program is in good shape.
Don’t get caught up with the alignment, because that is going to shift as much as the sands of time – and that’s part of the plan, according to LePain. These young men are willing to be sponges and learn multiple formations to make the team successful – and they’re intelligent enough to execute it, something head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Mullaney also said about his offense.
Senior middle linebacker Gunner Fodor is the best player on the team and nobody on the roster or staff will question that. The co-captain started for and was a cornerstone on his team as a freshman in CoVid 2020 and now he’s a senior. He’s the anchor of what usually will be a three-man LB unit.
“Our linebackers this year are very good,” Fodor told PalmHarborSports.com. “We have depth and experience along with speed and intelligence which makes everything much easier on the defensive side of the ball.”
Seniors Logan Givens and Patrick Iaconis will also be a major part of that but don’t forget that last year’s leading tackler Malyszko will also be a part of it at LB or DL, when he’s not asked to do 10 other things for the team. Junior Cortland Stricker and sophomore Ryan Fuelling will be key reserves, according to Mullaney and LePain.
SECONDARY
When it comes to the secondary, there are veterans. Senior co-captain Alex Schmid is back at safety, senior Matt Gunn is too, and seniors Austin Vo and Jason Ice – who both have PHU experience – will man the cornerback positions.
And don’t forget that if things are tough, starting QB Will Seibert, who started at DB as a freshman in 2021, can step up, and junior Jaxon Wilson and sophomore Jake Rennart can step in.
“I trust the guys next to me as much as they trust me, and you can’t play man the whole game,” Schmid told PalmHarborSports.com. “We will miss tackles, but it’s how we respond to that that matters.”
Punting will be handled once again by Schmid.
PALM HARBOR FOOTBALL HISTORY: A year-by-year breakdown of the program’s history
