By: Malcolm Shields
The 2011 season for the Boca Raton Bobcats was marred with missed opportunities. In key district matchups against Park Vista High School and Palm Beach Central High School, Boca Raton was unable the pull out close victories. The consequences: the Bobcats ended a rocky 2011 season watching the playoffs from the sidelines.
What was a disappointment for the Bobcats has now become motivation to reach the playoffs in 2012.The last time the Bobcats made the state tournament was in 2009 when they reached the regional semifinal versus Treasure Coast High School.
“The guys know that we have a lot to clean up from the last couple of years coming off of two losing seasons in a row,” Boca Raton head coach Lewis Burnham said. “The guys have been real focused on getting that stuff corrected and putting a winning product on the field.”
This may be Boca Raton’s best opportunity to make a playoff push as it has key returning seniors at important positions for the upcoming season. “We have a good group of seniors,” Burnham said. “We’ve had three weeks of good practice. It all comes down to this week. Hopefully things continue to go well and we have a good spring game.”
Senior quarterback Kevin Anderson is the unquestioned leader for the Bobcats. With a scholarship offer from Marshall University already in the fold and other football programs showing interest, Burnham has praised Anderson for his focus throughout the spring. “He’s been completely focused on football,” Burnham said. “He and his family and myself, we deal with recruiting. Whether it’s during school or at nights on the phone, but during practice he has been 100 percent focused.”
Anderson will have the services of senior wide receivers Cedric Bryant and Tard McCoy. The Bobcats have a young stable of running backs that will try to replace the production of Keith Byars II. Cecil Johnson and Davlin Doby have stood out in spring practices for Boca Raton. “They are going to step up and really help us out at running back this year,” Burnham said.
One of the many two-way players for the Bobcats is offensive/defensive lineman Colton Lynn. The upcoming season will be his third season starting on the offensive line for the soon to be junior. Leonard Moore and Charles Strippoli will solidify the offensive line for the Bobcats. Bryant and McCoy will also lead the defense in the secondary. Harrison Rodormer will lead the linebacker corps in the Bobcats’ 4-2-5 base defensive alignment.
With the spring game on the horizon, the Bobcats want to fine tune itself on both sides of the ball as the spring football season comes to a close. “[We want] everybody being on the same page [and commit] very few penalties as possible,” Burnham said. “Obviously we love a win, but in the spring, most important is seeing what we have and seeing that everybody is on the same page.”
Head Coach: Lewis Burnham
2011 Record: (3-7, 1-2 District 10-8A)
Spring Game: May 31 versus Santaluces Community High School 7pm
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