Lake Mary set to Ram through 2022 season

LAKE MARY, FLORIDA – Even when facing tough obstacles, members of Lake Mary High’s football team are Ram tough.

With 10 defensive starters and their elite quarterback gone from last year’s team that made the Class 8A regional semifinals, the Rams are not looking back as they charge into the 2022 season with a new-look offense and a rebuilt defense that already has shown signs of greatness. And the goal is the same: a spot in the postseason.

“We look to compete for a district title and as much progress in the playoffs as possible,” said Lake Mary coach Scott Perry, a former University of Florida player who is entering his 18thseason as head coach.

The postseason is fast becoming a familiar place for Lake Mary, which is shooting for its fourth playoff spot in six seasons. The Rams advanced to the regional finals during the COVID-affected 2020 season,

Former star quarterback Gunnar Smith, who signed with the University of South Florida, had a lot to do with Lake Mary’s recent success. A Class 8A All-State selection in 2021, he threw for 2,211 yards and 22 touchdowns with only nine interceptions.

Ranked as one of the country’s top pro-style passers, Smith (6-foot-5, 185 pounds) passed for more than 8,000 yards and 90 total touchdowns in four years as a starter. He finished as Seminole County’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing TDs.

But Lake Mary has found a capable replacement, albeit a different style of quarterback, in junior Logan Cook (5-11, 175). A returning wide receiver who also served as backup quarterback last season, he is a fleet-footed dual-threat signal-caller who can hurt teams with his feet and his arm.

Cook showed plenty of potential in this year’s spring game when he completed 7-of-10 passes for 82 yards and three TDs in a 21-7 victory against Orange City-University.

“He’s a mobile runner,” said Perry after the spring game. “He can do both.”

Cook will lead a talented offense that has a nice mix of returnees and newcomers. He will hand the ball off to senior returnee Manquez Lang (5-11, 205), a strong runner who is tough to bring down.

“He’s our No. 1 starter,” Perry said. “He’s a bruiser. He’s a solid load. He runs hard. He runs low to the ground. And he has good hands, and we can throw to him out of the backfield.”

Cook also has plenty of options to throw at wide receiver – arguably the deepest position on this year’s team. Back for another go-around are junior returning starters Caden Harshbarger and Markell Jones.

Jones, who is one of the county’s most talented wide receivers, had 811 yards receiving and eight TDs last year. Harshbarger, who also can play at running back, had 296 yards receiving and two TDs.

Junior Carson Hinshaw also is expected to be a big contributor at wide receiver for the Rams.

Helping to protect Cook so he can deliver the ball to Lake Mary’s receivers are returning starters Sam Musgrave (5-10, 240) at center and Josh Raymond (6-4, 260) at tackle. “We have a more experienced offensive line,” Perry said.

Defense, however, is an entirely different story. The Rams were decimated by graduation, losing 10 starters.

Among the stars Lake Mary lost were middle linebacker Brock Brown, who last season had a team-leading 79 tackles, six sacks and two fumble recoveries; defensive lineman Trevor Duncan, who had 31 tackles and 7.5 sacks; outside linebacker Gannon Stoner, who had 60 tackles; strong safety/linebacker Stone Boss, 50 tackles; and defensive backs Ayden Petitpas and Alejandro Ramos, who combined for 76 stops.

Defensive back Braeden Marshall, who last season, had 28 tackles and is the team’s top punt return man, is the lone starter back.

“Defensively, our strengths are the defensive backfield, as well as a solid front seven,” Perry said.

Garrett Law will take over as punter and kicker for the Rams.

Lake Mary also will have to contend with a change in Florida High School Athletic Association classifications. Gone is the eight-class format and in its place are four categories – Metro, Suburban, Rural, and Independent – with the Metro and Suburban categories broken down into four classes each.

This fall, Lake Mary will compete in Class 4M, District 2 with Apopka, Evans, Lake Brantley, and Seminole. Last year, Apopka finished 12-3 and as the 8A state runner-up, while Seminole, 11-2 was a regional finalist.