SBLive Sports Florida 2023 All-North Suncoast Football Team
SBLive Sports Florida 2023 All-North Suncoast Football Team
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Luke Knight, Wiregrass Ranch & DJ Pickett, Zephyrhills: It's hard to leave off two players who just meant so much to their respective teams. Knight came onto the scene at Wiregrass Ranch and lit the scoreboard up for the Bulls. Throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns, leading the program to a district championship, playoff win was a season to remember for Wiregrass Ranch. The Army commit follows what's starting to become a line of talented signal callers coming through 'The Ranch'. Then to the always dangerous Pickett, who can't be underscored for how much he means to the Bulldogs. Though Zephyrhills as a team may not have reached its goals, the junior dynamo was a threat on offense and defense. Pickett had over 1,000 yards receiving and not many teams wanted to throw his way and rightfully so.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch: After a 4-6 season, we knew Kantor wasn’t going to be down for too long at the Ranch. The longtime bench boss of Pasco County bounced back with a banner year, finishing with a 9-3 record, winning the Class 4S, District 6 championship and reaching the region semifinals of the postseason.
OFFENSE
QB — Jack Niemann, Sr., Cypress Creek: The senior had a sensational final season for the Coyotes, completing 120-of-197 for 2,382 yards and 29 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Also rushed for 328 yards and scored twice.
RB — Antonio Muniz, Jr., Gulf: Muniz was the workhorse back for the Buccaneers, rushing for 1,930 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Also caught 26 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown.
RB — Corey Simms, So., Mitchell: Simms rushed for 1,742 yards and scored 26 touchdowns for the Mustangs.
RB — Connor Mccazzio, Sr., Springstead: Mccazzio did everything on the ground for the region quarterfinalist Eagles, rushing for 1,529 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns.
RB — Christian Cromer, Sr., Nature Coast: The Navy signee rushed for 1,464 yards on 208 carries and scored 30 touchdowns.
WR — Isaiah Riggins, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch: The shifty dynamo scored 16 touchdowns on 93 receptions for 1,586 yards to lead the Bulls in receiving.
WR — AJ McFarlane, Sr., Hudson: McFarlane was crucial in the passing game once again for Hudson, catching 43 passes for 908 yards and 14 touchdowns.
WR — Shawn Smith, Sr., Cypress Creek: Smith had himself a breakout season for the Coyotes, catching 41 passes for 881 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.
WR — Kendall Johnson, Jr., Zephyrhills Christian: The junior pass catcher had a big season for the Warriors. Johnson caught 48 passes for 824 yards and 15 touchdowns. Also picked off five passes on defense.
OL — Burke Malmberg, Sr., Lecanto: Malmberg anchored a Panthers' offensive line that paved the way for over 3,400 yards of offense.
OL — Chase Murray, Sr., Nature Coast: The 6-foot, 285-pound linemen led the way on the offensive line for the Sharks, which rushed for over 2,500 yards.
OL — Trenton Hayes, Sr., Springstead: The senior Springstead lineman led the way up front for the Eagles' offense that rushed for 2,213 yards.
OL — Austin Slusher, Sr., Cypress Creek: Slusher had a solid senior season leading Cypress Creek’s offensive line, helping pave the way for an offensive attack that went over 4,000 yards.
OL — Nick Mowry, Sr., Mitchell: Mowry had a solid senior season leading the Mustangs up front. The All-SAC selection helped pave the way for 2,204 yards on the ground.
ATH — John Capel III, Sr., Hernando: Capel III did more than play defense for the Leopards. The two-way star racked up 77 tackles, 14 for loss and two sacks and then flipped over to offense and rushed for 1,515 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns.
DEFENSE
DL — Elias Williams, Sr., Hudson: The Missouri signee could play inside, out for the Cobras on the line. Williams ended the season with seven sacks, 42 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss.
DL — Khris Cruz, Sr., Land O'Lakes: The defensive end led the Gators' front seven with 54 tackles, eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss.
DL — Sal Bonacasa, So., Fivay: The Falcons' defensive tackle had a solid second season on varsity playing both sides of the ball. Bonacasa tallied 29 tackles, 11 for a loss and three sacks at defensive tackle.
DL — Aidan Holewski, Jr., Gulf: Holewski was a menace coming off the edge for the Buccaneers. The edge rusher racked up 86 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks.
LB — Dylan Leighton, Jr., Mitchell: The Mustangs’ linebacker had 115 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks.
LB — Jadon Jaimes, Jr., Springstead: Walls had a solid junior season for the Eagles, racking up 107 tackles, 10 for loss and three sacks.
LB — Lukas Colella, Jr., Zephyrhills: Recorded 101 tackles and had six tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
LB — Ola Omoloye, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch: Was one of the Bulls' top defensive players, with the linebacker making 99 tackles, four sacks and also had 13 tackles for loss.
DB — Connor Riggins, Sr., Nature Coast: The Sharks' top defensive back intercepted four passes, deflected five and made 77 tackles.
DB — Roman Sercu, Sr., Cypress Creek: Sercu picked off three passes, 112 tackles for the Coyotes. Led the Cypress Creek defense in the category of tackles.
DB — Bryce Backus, So., Mitchell: Hard to leave off the sophomore that really made a difference on both sides of the ball. Backus on defense made 93 tackles from his free safety spot.
DB — Dalton Williams, Jr., Springstead: The Eagles’ junior made 85 tackles and picked off seven passes.
ATH — Milton Gracia, Sr., Cypress Creek: Gracia meant a lot to everything Cypress Creek did this season on both sides of the ball. The senior hauled in 26 passes for 587 yards and seven touchdowns. On defense, the defensive back was all over the field, intercepting 10 passes for the Coyotes and 41 tackles.
SPECIALISTS
P — Trevor Harden, Sr., Land O'Lakes: Averaged 37.4 yards per punt (20 punts) and three landed inside the 20-yard line for the Gators.
K — Reid Grek, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch: Grek connected on 56-of-63 extra points and made 5-of-7 field goal attempts, with a long of 30 yards.
ATH — James Conley, Sr., Hudson: Conley totaled 521 yards kick return yards and scored four times between kickoffs and punt returns.
