- December 23, 2024
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Rising sophomore linebacker Jack Ferguson gets set for a snap during a Matanzas spring practice drill on May 9. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Quarterback Caden Burchfield (18) runs a keeper during a drill at Matanzas spring practice on May 9. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Quarterback Cole Hardy is one of about 35 Matanzas incoming freshmen who is participating in spring practice. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rising senior Jackson Lundahl (3) is competing for the starting quarterback spot after being the primary backup the past two seasons. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rising sophomores Jack Ferguson (7) and Brady Putis (13) are two young players who are expected to contribute in the upcoming football season. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Coach Matt Forrest talks to his players at the end of practice on May 9. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas defenders pursue a receiver after the catch during a spring practice drill on May 10. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas football coach Matt Forrest is excited about his current freshman class — those players who will be sophomores in the fall.
He’s also excited about his incoming freshman class — eighth graders who have been coming over from middle school each day to participate in spring drills with the older players.
About 35 rising freshmen have joined Matanzas’ spring practice, and about 30 rising sophomores have flourished in their first full year in the Pirates’ football program.
“We’ve got more eighth graders and ninth graders than we’ve got juniors and seniors,” Forrest said. “That tells us our program is growing.”
He expects 10 to 15 sophomores to contribute on varsity this season.
“You stay somewhere long enough, you go through this type of transition,” said Forrest, who is beginning his fifth season with the Pirates. “We graduated a lot of seniors that had a lot of production for us and really set the foundation for what we're doing here. And we got a lot of young kids, a lot of freshmen who have done a great job in buying into our culture and our standard.”
Rising sophomore linebacker Jack Ferguson began his freshman season on the JV team and was moved up to varsity for the final four games, spelling older players on the field. Receiver Brady Putis spent his freshman season on the JV team, but after a full year of working hard in the weight room, he’s ready to move up to varsity this year. They are representative of a freshman class that is expected have three more productive years in the program.
“Those guys have bought into the entire process," Forrest said. "When the doors are open to the weight room, they’re here, whether that's six o'clock in the morning or 3:40 in the afternoon. They're always the first to show up and the last to leave.”
Ferguson and Putis credit their older teammates with welcoming them onto the team and guiding them along the way.
I think our freshman class is the next big class. We’re all committed.”
— JACK FERGUSON
“I think our freshman class is the next big class,” Ferguson said. “We’re all committed.”
Forrest agrees.
“Our outgoing seniors did a great job of creating that foundation of what our standard is, and what to expect,” he said. “And I think this freshman group has really taken that process and ran with it and elevated it.”
The soon-to-be sophomores also credit the Pirates’ coaching staff, especially assistant head coach Don LaFleur, who leads their sixth period weightlifting class.
“He lifts with us,” Ferguson said. “He counts us (freshmen) as his class.”
“Coach LaFleur is like a father to me,” Putis said. “He also helps us with our diet. We’re bigger and stronger now, and Coach LaFleur is the main reason.”
The Pirates will have only 10 to 12 seniors this season, Forrest said, but they do have some experienced positions. Left tackle Jaylon Owens, a rising senior, leads an experienced offensive line. There are several returning defensive backs. And quarterback Jackson Lundahl, who has been the primary backup the past two seasons, is competing with rising junior Caden Burchfield and rising senior Ethan Ellis, who’s family moved in from Nikiski, Alaska.
With a second large freshman class in a row, Forrest expects to have over 100 players in the program for the second consecutive year.
“For us being a 5A football team, to me our sweet spot is 100 to 115 players," he said.
Matanzas finished 7-4 last season and made the playoffs for the first time in three years. It will have a more difficult schedule this year with Jacksonville Bishop Kenny replacing South Lake to open the season, and Mount Dora replacing Winter Springs. The Pirates have also added Andrew Jackson High School from Jacksonville.
State finalist St. Augustine is off the schedule but has been replaced by state champ Mainland. The Pirates will be in a new three-team district with Mainland and Belleview.
The Potato Bowl game against Flagler Palm Coast moves back to the last game of the season, Nov. 1 at FPC.
“We had some teams that had to make some decisions that were best for their program,” Forrest said. “That's what happens. You got to step up your competition, and we're certainly not afraid to do that. When your program thrives, so does everything with it.”
