- November 23, 2024
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I’ve watched countless numbers of Friday Night Lights. Sixty episodes to be exact.
So, to say I’m ready for football to begin is probably an understatement.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve visited coach Keith Lagocki at Matanzas, and coach Caesar Campana, at Flagler Palm Coast, to watch the first practices when players were allowed to wear full padding. It was evident that they missed hitting each other because some hard hits were dished out.
Earlier this week while at FPC’s practice, a few players even needed medical treatment during a collision-heavy 3-on-3 drill.
Last week at Matanzas, coaches repeatedly had to blow their whistles to indicate the play was over because players continued battling through the end of the play.
But finally, Flagler County’s football players will get a chance to hit another team before they meet up at the end of the month to kick off the season.
Both teams will play their preseason games this coming week. Matanzas plays 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at home against Eagles View. Flagler Palm Coast will play in its kickoff classic 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at home against Deltona.
Then, Matanzas hosts FPC 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, in the eighth installment of the Flagler County crosstown showdown. (The Bulldogs are 7-0 since the series began.)
Junior DeUndre Lumpkins, who was a feature back for the Bulldogs last season, has transferred to Matanzas, Lagocki confirmed via email earlier this week. Lagocki said “he is doing great.”
Last season, Lumpkins scored three touchdowns against the Pirates. Then, during the Homecoming game against Spruce Creek, Lumpkins accounted for three touchdowns and more than 250 rushing yards despite the Bulldogs’ loss.
So, it should be interesting to see how Lumpkins can fit in with the Pirates’ spread offense, especially with Shawn White now in college.
FPC continues to develop younger players, although Campana will start 12 seniors. Junior Colton Boyd has a full season of manning the offense under his belt. Also, seniors Dustin Bowens (tight end) and Willie Gardner (switched from safety to wide receiver) bring size and athleticism to offensive skill positions.
The best part of a new season is there are new expectations and a clean slate as the Pirates and the Bulldogs begin their quests to get into the state playoffs.
Right now, anything is possible. But we’ll know a lot more over the coming weeks.
We are excited at the Palm Coast Observer as we enter our third football season with you: the coaches, the players, the fans, the parents.
See you at the stadiums!
