It was nearly seven months ago, but for Deerfield Beach football coach Art Taylor and his team, the heart-breaking loss to Northwestern in the Orange Bowl is something that they think about as they prepare for this Friday's spring game at 5A Palm Bay.
Being less than two minutes from its second 6A state finals appearance in three years, the Bucks saw the dream fall apart as the Bulls went 99 yards and left the team with an empty feeling.
As the attention shifts to 2008, Taylor's talented team returns 15 players from a group that handed St. Thomas Aquinas its only loss during an 11-3 season.
Coming back for another shot is senior quarterback Denard Robinson (5-11, 180), who is as gifted a player as you get at this level. This speedy (4.38) athlete went over 2,000 total yards and has schools from UCF to West Virginia and Purdue watching his progress.
The Class of 2009 also includes safety Adrian Witty (5-11, 185), who also put up some fast (4.4) numbers at combines in the off season. There are also receiver Travis McDonald (6-2, 185), defensive tackle Johnny Seays (6-0, 220), offensive/defensive lineman Raymond Newton (6-1, 215) and cornerback Elliott Atkins (5-9, 165), who is considered one of the emerging cover-corners.
Class of 2010 running back Cassius McDowell surprised everyone last year by running for 966 yards and 13 touchdowns. Another rising junior to keep an eye on is defensive back/quarterback Donte Dotson, a 5-9, 165-pounder.
One of the players to watch for in the Class of 2011 is free safety Khambral Garland (5-10, 175), who is quick and athletic. He had four interceptions a year ago.
LARRY BLUSTEIN
FloridaKids1@hotmail.com
we felt the same when we loss at traz powell two years ago.
Posted by: linda smith | May 19, 2008 at 09:23 AM
the bottom line is thank god the better team won. a good team lost but a great team won.
Posted by: RICK TRUTH SPEAKER | May 19, 2008 at 03:30 PM
A now they see how we felt the year they beat us at traz powell payback is a mothersuker. we were left with that same empty feeling that they were left with that year they beat us. it just they didn't cash in on thers and we did won the whole thing. DEERFEILD BEACH ONE THING YOU SOULD ALL WAYS KNOW IS WHEN IT COMES TO BIG GAMES JUST THINK OF MIAMI NORTHWESTERN SR. BECAUSE ONE THING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BULLS BIG TIMES PLAYERS MAKES BIG TIME PLAYS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BLUE AND GOLD THE MIGHTY BULLS! Well this year we might be back do'nt count us out just yet. you may get a rematch Deerfield Beach just hold your horses.
Posted by: Maurice Balthazar | May 20, 2008 at 07:57 AM
A now they see how we felt the year they beat us at traz powell payback is a mothersuker. we were left with that same empty feeling that they were left with that year they beat us. it just they didn't cash in on thers and we did won the whole thing. DEERFEILD BEACH ONE THING YOU SOULD ALL WAYS KNOW IS WHEN IT COMES TO BIG GAMES JUST THINK OF MIAMI NORTHWESTERN SR. BECAUSE ONE THING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BULLS BIG TIMES PLAYERS MAKES BIG TIME PLAYS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BLUE AND GOLD THE MIGHTY BULLS! Well this year we might be back do'nt count us out just yet. you may get a rematch Deerfield Beach just hold your horses.
Posted by: bull pride | May 20, 2008 at 07:58 AM
What goes around come right back around. Every BULL have their day.
Posted by: Buck Parent | May 20, 2008 at 06:54 PM
where is dat kid kevin augustin strong safety from miami edison high
Posted by: scout | January 09, 2009 at 11:31 AM