Sunshine State 25: Preseason No. 3 – Flanagan

Team: Flanagan Falcons
Sunshine State 25 Preseason Ranking: No. 3
Head Coach: Devin Bush, Sr.
2014 Record: 13-1

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Look Back On 2014

The Flanagan Falcons had an outstanding 2014 season winning the teams first district championship and reaching the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Players To Watch

LB Devin Bush Jr., Sr.; S Devin Gil, Sr.; S Josh Metellus, Sr.; WR Dredrick Snelson, Sr.; QB Kato Nelson, Sr.; DB Rocco Marucci, Sr.; DE Natrone Ray, Sr.; WR Maurice Codner, Sr.; OL Isaiah Murray, Sr.; LB Tyler Goetz, Sr.; QB/DB Stanford Samuels, Jr.; WR Clevan Thomas, Jr.; ATH Falon Hicks, Jr.

The Outlook

Flanagan is not known for its tradition, but don’t tell anyone that there. The tradition they have is the one that is currently being built under the watchful eye of Head Coach Devin Bush, Sr.

After making the deepest playoff run possible in the team’s second-ever playoff outing, the bar has been set for the Falcons this year with the ultimate goal of bringing home the Class 8A state championship. To bring home the hardware, first they must go through a schedule that will literally test them, but one that should be able to put Flanagan right back in the drivers seat of the district.

Offensively, the team will have to fill in shoes left open by Ryan Stanley who is now at Florida A&M after passing for 3,000 yards last season. The projected starter in Kato Nelson went down during the offseason and had knee surgery, with an uncertain return. Instead Stanford Samuels who has been lining up in the backfield the last few years will be the guy under center taking snaps. However, this will not be unfamiliar role for Samuels as he has played from under center before in the past. Samuels will have plenty of targets to aim for inlcudin transfer Dredrick Snelson as well Maurice Codner. Isaiah Murray will be the leader on the offensive line.

Looking over at the defense, the defense is very much stacked. That starts with Coach Bush’s son, Devin Bush Jr., who is one of the top defensive prospects in the country in the 2016 class. The defensive unit also sees the return of safeties Devin Gil and Josh Meteullus who can cause havoc for opposing offenses. Defensive back Rocco Marucci will help anchor the corners while defensive end Natrone Ray will help anchor the defensive line.

Given as much talent as the Falcons have, there is not reason to doubt that this will be the year that Flanagan Falcons finally put their name into the state championship record book as team that has participated in a state championship game.

The District

District 8A-12 remains the same for the most part with the exceptions of McArthur and Cooper City moving down to Class 7A, while South Plantation is moved over from District 8A-11 and Plantation moves up from Class 7A. With Miramar, Plantation and Cypress Bay all in the district, playoff contention will be tight.

Three Games To Watch

Friday 9/4 vs. Coconut Creek – Both of these teams have talent, but who can beat who? Sure it might favor Flanagan on paper, but this game could be a classic in the making if both teams live up to their potential. Since it is early in the season, the price of admission to this game will be worth for South Florida football fans.

Friday 10/2 as Miramar – This game is highly important as it will come right in the middle of the district slate. Miramar will be playing with high intensity this season considering they were banned from the playoffs due to off the field issues last season. Flanagan must be aware of it all and since this will be at Miramar, making few mistakes as possible will help them achieve victory.

Friday 11/6 at St. Thomas Aquinas – We wish this game was not the last game of the season, but we will take it. This game will be very daunting as the teams will likely want to play as many starters as possible despite the fact that both will likely be playoff bound at this point. Anyways, it will settle one big key point: Who is the best team in Broward County this year.

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Previous Sunshine State 25 Countdown Stories
No. 4: Mainland
No. 5: Jacksonville Trinity Christian
No. 6: Cocoa
No. 7: Booker T. Washington
No. 8: Plantation American Heritage
No. 9: Apopka
N0. 10: Kissimmee Osceola
No. 11: Columbus
No. 12: Oakleaf
No. 13: Dr. Phillips
No. 14: Manatee
No. 15: Armwood
No. 16: Lakeland
No. 17: Niceville
No. 18: Delray American Heritage
No. 19: Dwyer
No. 20: Wakulla
No. 21: Naples
No. 22: Lake Gibson
No. 23: North Marion
No. 24: Palm Bay Heritage
No. 25: Bishop Moore