“Balanced” Eagles Confident Heading into New District

F.W. Springstead

Team Overview:
Head Coach: Michael Garofano
Assistant Coach: Frank Hynes
Previous Season Record: 7-4
’22-’23 Season Record: 9-2
Stadium: Booster Field at Springstead Stadium

Coach Hynes stated that the team’s hard-fought spring jamboree, in which they ultimately fell 28-17 to the South Sumter Raiders, can serve as “a launching pad” for the season.

As Coach Garofano had noted to the Sun’s Chris Bernhardt after the May matchup, “I think this will be the best opponent on our schedule.” They played a quality team to keep them prepared for the season ahead. They will need it, as Coach Hynes stated they have a difficult schedule ahead that features seven playoff teams.

They are confident, though. The Eagles’ staff feels they have a balanced squad of new and old players ready to go, especially with their development JV program. They have a “healthy program” and “guys in every facet or stage of the game,” Coach Hynes added. Springstead plans to have balanced production as well despite returning Connor Mccazzio and his back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons of production. He has talked with coaches from UT-Martin, but he is working on a prized offer from FSU. While Mccazzio will get his touches, Offensive Coordinator Shawn Fisher will spread the ball around to his bevy of talented playmakers like Tyree Davis.

A do-it-all back who can run, catch, or pass for the Eagles, Davis talked about the preparation that goes into making himself a versatile weapon for Coach Garofano and company. “Overall, you just have to work every day, consistency, repetition, grinding, making sure you know the playbook inside and out on both sides of the ball, and dedication to the team and to myself,” said Davis.

Offseason training combined with the cohesion of a veteran crew “could be the difference” in finding success this year, said the assistant coach. With the Eagles featuring an undefeated 6-0 junior varsity squad last season, the coaching staff is expecting 12 players (mostly linemen) to make the jump to varsity in 2024. Despite the arduous schedule, Coach Hynes and company are excited for their showdowns with teams such as Hernando and Fivay, and they are looking to win their new district after switching over from 4S District 6 to 5A District 7 this offseason.

“I believe we have the most athletes on the field since I’ve been here,” Coach Hynes said. “I’ve been here 13 years-plus.” Below are more of the players’ answers to various questions at the North Suncoast Media Day event:

Andrew Clarkson:
“To be part of Springstead football, you got to work man,” said Clarkson. “I mean, we grind every day, all day, off the field. We got a really tight-knit group this year. We’re working at the beach, at the park, off-time. So, to make it in this program, you got to compete. We got a lot of talent on the team. Some guys on the bench, they are some real players. When we’re gone, they are going to be great. So, if you want to play here, you got to work. We got a hard schedule, so we’re all grinding every day. It’s been that way for four years.”

Connor Mccazzio:
“To be honest, I think coming off that 9-1 two years ago, I feel like that was different for me because that was my sophomore year, and it was kind of different because I’m playing with older guys,” said Mccazzio. “So, this year, to get back to that 9-1 record, like Andrew said, we just got to keep grinding and getting better day-and-day, just progress as a team, team bonding, and just working.”

Jadon Jaimes:
“This is a stout unit this year,” said Jaimes. “We are all ready to come head hunt. That’s all we want to do all season long. We’re just ready for anybody that’s put in front of us. That’s just how we roll at Springstead. We just want to come get that ball every time.”

Gio Martinez:
“Really just becoming a family, being a brotherhood,” said Martinez. “The fact that I can go with a JV kid and he’s a brother to me. We’re all brothers. We all work. We all put the same work in. We’re all doing extra, going to Tampa to do work almost every Sunday. It’s work. We’re grinding. We have a goal. We’re trying to go as far in the playoffs as we can. Get that chip if we can.”

Eagles 2024 Schedule
8/30 vs. Citrus at 7:30 p.m.
9/6 @ Pasco at 7:30 p.m.
9/20 @ Hernando at 7:30 p.m.
9/27 @ Cypress Creek at 7:30 p.m.
10/4 vs. Nature Coast Tech at 7:30 p.m.
10/11 vs. Gaither at 7:30 p.m.
10/18 @ Wiregrass Ranch at 7:30 p.m.
10/25 vs. Wesley Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
11/1 vs. Lecanto at 7:30 p.m.