Seminole High (Sanford) football looking to fight for a state title

SEMINOLE, FLORIDA – When it comes to high school football, Seminole High battles like a champion every year. Things are expected to be no different for the Seminoles in 2022.

With a total of 13 starters back from last year’s team that barely missed the Class 8A state semifinals, Seminole is on a quest for something better this fall. The Seminoles are shooting for their fourth consecutive playoff berth, and sixth in seven years.

Seminole won it all during the shortened 2020 season, going 12-0 and beating Kissimmee Osceola for the Class 8A title. Last year, the Seminoles fell to Apopka, 28-27, in overtime in a nail-biting regional final and finished 11-2.

“We are looking forward to having an opportunity to win a state championship,” said Seminole coach Eric Lodge, who is entering his third season as head coach. “We feel that we have a good opportunity as long as we can stay focused and healthy.”

The opportunity for another big playoff run can be credited to a tremendously experienced offense that includes senior quarterback Luke Rucker, wide receivers Goldie Lawrence and Michael Key, senior running back Rory Thomas and a massive line.

“I think we have lot of experience,” Lodge said. “I mean, we lost Kentravius Williams and Donta Whack, and those guys will be hard to replace. But we bring back some talent.”

Williams, a massive 6-foot-4, 304-pound offensive lineman who signed with Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., and Donta Whack, a bruising running back who rushed for 908 yards and eight TDs and went to UMass, were two big reasons why Seminole scored 35 or more points seven times last year.

But Seminole may be able to reproduce or better those numbers this year. Rucker last year passed for 1,835 yards and 26 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He has committed to Florida Atlantic University.

Rucker will be the main man at quarterback with the transfer of Karson Siqueiros-lasky to Lake Highland Prep. The latter passed for 459 yards and five TDs last season.

Rucker’s top two targets from last year – Lawrence (team-leading 782 yards, 11 TDs) and Key (420 yards, eight TDs) – are back for another go-around. Lawrence (6-2, 190), a senior, is an FSU commit. Key is only a junior.

Thomas (6-0, 194), a senior who has three Division I offers, rushed for 303 yards and one TD last year. The Seminoles also return Trey Clark, who rushed for 372 yards and four TDs; and Tyrone Williams, who ran for 387 yards and three TDs.

“As everyone knows, we employ a running back by committee,” Lodge said. “We have had a lot of talent back there for quite a while. I don’t expect it to be anywhere different this year.”

Opening the holes for that group will be an experienced offensive line. Returning starters are seniors Josiah Chenault (6-3, 290), who has committed to Howard; Stephon Mango (6-3, 280), who is drawing Division I interest; and Khaleeq Stephens (5-11, 275); and massive sophomore Max Buchanan (6-5, 275), who is expected to be one of the most recruited linemen in the country in the years ahead.

“This year our goal on offense is to show the world what a team looks like when it has a dominant defense and offense,” Buchanan said. “Our goal is high-scoring games and shutouts. Expect my offensive line as a whole to be completely dominant!”

Defensively, the Seminoles have some big shoes to fill with the loss of Kameron Moore, who had 71 tackles last year and signed with UCF; twin defensive backs Ja’cari and Demari Henderson, who also went to UCF; Anthony Dunn Jr., who had 44 tackles and went to Marshall; Dequan Butler, who had 31 tackles and went to Tusculum College (Tenn.); and Lucas Fonseca, who had 50 tackles and went to Lake Erie College in Ohio.

That group helped Seminole last year hold five opponents to seven points or less.

“There’s a lot of talent for us on defense but mostly through experience,” Lodge said. “Kameron and Lucas started 30 games for us in their varsity careers. And the Henderson twins were two-year starters. It’s going to be hard to replace them. We have a lot of young talent. It’s just a matter of reps.”

Returning starters on defense this year for Seminole are: senior lineman Charles Green (6-3, 250), who had 29 tackles last season; junior linemen Preston Watson (6-2, 265) and Dallas Hudson (6-0, 265); junior linebacker Jordyn Perkins (6-2, 186); and senior defensive back Antonio Simpson (5-10, 178), who had 58 tackles and is expected to be one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the state.

On special teams, Cale Tomlin returns as kicker.

Seminole also will tackle 2022 with a new classification alignment by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Gone is the eight-classification format and in its place are four categories – Metro, Suburban, Retro, and Independent. Metro and Suburban each will be broken down into four classes.

Seminole will compete in 4M, District 2 with Apopka, Evans, Lake Brantley and Lake Mary. Apopka last season finished 12-3 and state runner-up. Lake Mary finished 10-2 and advanced to the regional semifinals.

“Obviously, the district is going to be a tough one,” Lodge said. “This district is not one you can't just sleep through. We have to approach every game like it’s a playoff game.”