No. 8 – Wekiva Mustangs

2016: 7-4, lost to Winter Park 30-21 in 8A region quarterfinals

Head Coach: Rich Bedesem (2nd, 7-4)

Key Players: DT Tyler Davis, DL Norell Pollard, ATH Jarvis Ware (Apopka transfer), LB Rian Davis, DB Cayvian Holmes (Apopka transfer), DB Renardo Malcolm Green, DB Ladarian Paulk (Apopka transfer), DT Erion Lowe

The Scoop: The Mustangs enter 2017 with their most talented team in program history. Wekiva, which opened as a relief school for Apopka in 2007, advanced to the playoffs for the second time last season and lost to Winter Park in the first round.

The Mustangs project to have one of Central Florida’s premier defenses. Nine returning starters plus several talented transfers figure to make things difficult on opposing offenses. The defensive line includes juniors Tyler Davis and Norell Pollard. Davis holds offers from Florida, Florida State and Michigan while the list of schools recruiting Pollard includes Missouri and Tennessee. Three players that started in Apopka’s secondary last year – Jarvis Ware, Cayvian Holmes and Ladarian Paulk – all transferred to Wekiva and project to see a lot of action.

In all, the Mustangs gained nine transfers from rival Apopka. One of them is quarterback Sean Robles, who is in line to be the starter. Wekiva graduated virtually all of their offensive production – 1,000 yard passer Trey McGee, 1,000 yard rusher Jaylon Fair and leading receiver Wesly Touze. Bedesem is confident that their depth and athleticism at the running back position will lead to success on the ground.

Wekiva is one of four teams in 8A, District 4 and enters the season projected to reach the playoffs. The Mustangs narrowly lost to Apopka last year in a game that decided the district title and they have aspirations of knocking off the Blue Darters this season.  

Quotable: “It should be the best defense I’ve coached down here for sure and I think it could be a special defense.” -Bedesem

Schedule

Aug. 25 @Oak Ridge

Sep. 1 vs. Windermere

Sep. 8 @Winter Park

Sep. 22 @Olympia

Sep. 29 vs. West Orange*

Oct. 6 vs. Dr. Phillips

Oct. 13 vs. Evans*

Oct. 20 @Orlando University

Oct. 27 @Apopka*

Nov. 3 Lake Nona

*8A, District 4 game