Steinbrenner returns key skill players on offense for 2022

LUTZ, FLORIDA – Sometimes an 0-3 start to the season can end up being just what your team needs to kick-start themselves to getting on track.

How so?

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Steinbrenner started off winless after its first three games of the 2021 season before reeling off seven straight wins en route to the playoffs and a district championship. Now, Warriors head coach Andres Perez has guided the team through a smooth spring and summer, in hopes of Steinbrenner taking aim at a winning a third district championship and more.

“Looking for a third straight district championship and second regional title in three years anything else is gravy,” Perez said.

“Summer program has been solid. Finally feels like it used to before Covid times. The team is working hard and focusing on doing the little things right. We firmly believe that doing those little things right and creating championship habits will create championship caliber people and players.”

Those championship caliber players start with returning running back Kirby Vorhees, who rushed for 1,074 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021. Junior quarterback Ty Robinson is back as well after a solid sophomore campaign, in which he threw for 1,484 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Both Vorhees and Robinson will be joined by wide receivers Demitrius Carter and Andrew Brinsonon offense. Defensively, Perez expects defensive end/linebacker Will Miller, defensive back Eddie Davis and defensive lineman AJ Hill to be the mainstays on defense. Needless to say, Steinbrenner isn’t an easy school for kids to get in as it rivals of a private school-like requirements but is tuition free and a public school in Hillsborough County.

“First off, getting into Steinbrenner is just about impossible because it is essentially a top tier tuition-free private school,” Perez said. “Steinbrenner is such a unique place because it is a top tier academic institution while playing sports at a high level.

“Year in and year out, our football team is competing for district and regional titles and beyond on the field all while winning five consecutive state academic titles. Needless to say, we are busting at the seams with our enrollment. We have had a couple of guys move into our district that have come in and finding themselves in key roles already.”

The Warriors will be in a competitive Class 4A-Metro, District 6 with the likes of Sickles, Palm Harbor University and always tough East Lake. The Gryphons were the one of two teams in the district that made the playoffs in 2021 and the expectations have remained steady with taking home another title. Perez did have qualms when it came to the new metro-suburban state series, as he would like to see separate private and public classifications.

“I would love to see a public and private state series instead of metro and suburban since it seems both play under a different set of rules but under the same governing body,” Perez added.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.