SNEADS, Fla. (WTXL) - High schools in the state of Florida get to hit the field for the first time this week, with most playing games on Friday night for preseason match-ups.
Bill Thomas enters his third season as head coach of the Sneads Pirates, and it's a season Thomas said he is excited about. The Pirates were 5-5 last season, and 2-2 in District play, where they just missed the postseason.
The bad news is that Devante Pettus, who is the only returning rusher with significant yardage, is out after tearing his ACL. The good news? Antwan Durn is back after spending his junior year at Union County, where he led the Tigers with over 800 yards on the ground last season.
Durn rushed for close to 1,600 yards for Sneads in his sophomore campaign, and Thomas said with Durn back and some other guys returning with experience, he is excited about the possibilities.
"We were able to get some young guys in and out them in positions they probably weren't ready for yet, and still managed to win some games doing that," he said. "I got some good playing time out of some young guys, and had to put them in roles they needed to be in to be ready for this season. Everything happens for a reason. You know, we had a little bad luck but everything happens for a reason. I think some of that bad luck last year helped us get ready for this year."
The Pirates host Liberty County on Friday for the Fall Classic. They take on North Bay Haven to open the regular season on August 28th.
