2008 Team to Watch: Deerfield Beach

PrepNation.com continues to look ahead to the 2008 high school football season. We're still a couple months away from the start of our expanded preseason national rankings release, but it's not too soon to whet your appetite with mini-previews of teams that are likely to figure very prominently on the national scene this season.

The Bucks announced their presence as a team to watch in 2008 by beating eventual 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the regular season and taking No. 2 nationally ranked Miami Northwestern down to the wire before losing, 19-14, in the 6A semifinals.

Six starters return on each side of the ball, including all-state quarterback Denard Robinson. The 5-11, 180-pound senior has run a laser-timed 40-yard dash time of 4.4 seconds. He passed for nearly 2,000 yards and ran for 500 yards last season and already has 15 Division I scholarship offers, according to coach Art Taylor.

Lining up at halfback will be Cassius McDowell (5-9, 165), who ran for 900 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore.

The top returning player on defense is senior Adrian Witty, another player with 4.4 speed. Taylor says Witty has lock-down cover skills and also great hands as a receiver.

Deerfield Beach (Fla.)
Coach: Art Taylor (19-6, 3 years at Deerfield Beach; 28-18, 5 years overall)

2007: 11-3, unranked

Top returning players: QB Denard Robinson (5-11, 180, 4.4, 15 Division I offers); DB/WR Adrian Witty (5-11, 185, 4.4, can play CB, SS or WR); RB Cassius McDowell (5-9, 165, Jr., 4.5, 900 yards, 15 TDs).

Key losses: DB Jerral Stewart (Florida A&M), RB Rodney Harrel (Florida Atlantic), RB Matt Whitfield (Florida Atlantic), WR Joshua Philpart (Jacksonville)

All systems go: Speed and explosiveness at QB, WR, RB, DB and DL positions

Questions must be answered: Inexperience at DE and WR positions

Toughest games: @St. Thomas Aquinas (Oct. 17), @Dillard (Sept. 20), vs. Ely (Sept. 13), vs. Boyd Anderson (Nov. 1).

Sun-Sentinel Video: Deerfield Beach vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Highlights

2008 Team to Watch: Don Bosco Prep

PrepNation.com continues to look ahead to the 2008 high school football season. We're still a couple months away from the start of our expanded preseason national rankings release, but it's not too soon to whet your appetite with mini-previews of teams that are likely to figure very prominently on the national scene this season.

The Ironmen have their sights set high in 2008 after back-to-back undefeated seasons and Top 25 finishes in the National Prep Poll. Veteran coach Greg Toal's team has experience in key positions and will play a national schedule that includes defending national champion St. Xavier (Cincinnati) and six-time Prep Poll titlist De La Salle (Concord, Calif.).

Don Bosco, which enters the year on a 24-game winning streak, appears to have all the ingredients to equal or better its No. 6 National Prep Poll ranking in 2006.

A strong nucleus of six returning starters will lead the offense. The group includes quarterback Brett Knief (6-1, 190), who passed for 1,590 yards and ran for 622 yards with 23 touchdowns as a junior. Running back Dillon Romaine (5-11, 215) and junior Tony Jones (5-9, 190) combined for more than 1,500 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Three veteran starters return on the offensive line including Division I prospect Jack Templeton (6-3, 270).

A defense that allowed only 9 points per game last season has five starters back, including tough and aggressive junior defensive tackle Jim Kittredge (6-3, 250).

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Coach: Greg Toal (85-9, 9 years at Don Bosco Prep; 223-35-2 23 yearsoverall)

2007: 12-0, No. 21 in final National Prep Poll

Top returning players: QB Brett Knief (6-1, 190, 61% completion, 1,590 passing yards, 622 rushing yards, 23 TDs); RB Dillon Romaine (5-11, 215, 991 rushing yards, 12 TDs on 98 carries); RB Tony Jones (5-9, 190, Jr., 587 rushing yards on 82 carries, 17 TDs)

Key losses: S Alexander DiSanzo (Boston College), RB/LB Guy Germinario (Fordham), LB Nick Mistretta (Columbia), DB Curt Williams (Columbia)

All systems go: Experience on offense

Questions must be answered: Inexperience on defense

Toughest games: @Cincinnati St. Xavier (Sept. 13), @Concord, Calif., De La Salle (Sept. 27), @Bergen Catholic (Nov. 1), vs. St. Joseph's Regional (Nov. 7)

Forbes Report Video: Dillon Romaine