Palmetto ended playoff drought in 2017. Here’s what Tigers need to do to take next step in 2018.

Filled with question marks last August, the Palmetto High football team’s offense finished the season scoring 24 or more points in seven of the team’s last eight games, producing 269 points in a span that included two playoff games — including the Tigers’ first since victory since 2012.

The only team that held the quick-strike Tigers in check was eventual state champion Venice.

This August, the question marks are on defense because the offense promises — on paper — to be even more prolific with eight returning starters and a deep talent pool in the backfield.

“We were able to score quickly (last year) and now with all the kids back we’ve seen that magnified,” Palmetto coach Dave Marino said. “In the spring game, we had the ball five times and scored all five times — and didn’t take long to do it. So it is encouraging that everything we did and proved to be at the end of last year carried over into the spring and now into the fall. We can score.”

Senior quarterback Anthony Marino symbolizes that continued growth.

“In the third game of season, against (Sarasota) Riverview, we get the ball with 1:48 left down 1, and he can’t deliver us in a two-minute drive,” Dave Marino said. “At the end of the season, against Pinellas Park, we are down 24-21 with 1:58 left and he takes us for the game-winning two-minute drive.

“There is the proof right there of how much he developed from the beginning of the season to the end. Now it is just carrying on with his development.”

What to watch for in 2018

How will linemen Lee Mathews (junior) and Ethan Ingham (senior) hold up playing both ways?

And will offensive line newcomer Michael St. Juste (senior) make an early-season splash?

The answers will go a long way in determining whether an offensive line, whose top six average about 275 pounds, will be able to control the line of scrimmage against Venice, Braden River and Sarasota Riverview (three of last season’s four losses on the field).

“Our offensive line is very experienced and has gotten bigger and stronger,” Marino said. “We feel good about what we have there.”

What degree of success will the defensive line have? After all, a young secondary’s best friend is a talented defensive line.

With tested two-way veterans in the mix — making the line the most experienced unit on defense — one indicator may be newcomer Floyd Dozier. The sophomore already tips the scales at 6-foot-1, 275 pounds.

“Big kid, athletic, strong, physical and he has a big motor,” Marino said. “If he can get into that starting defensive line and fill the void left by graduation, he can help us put pressure on quarterbacks.”

The most unenviable task of the season may fall to senior kicker Billy Pineda, who is likely to get first shot at following Alfredo Manriquez, who made extra points and long-range field goals so automatic they felt like afterthoughts.

Will Pineda hold the job all season or yield to Rafael Gonzalez or one of the younger kickers in the program?

What can go right

The big four receivers — David Burston, Kobe Mays, Lajohntay Wester and Eddravian Butler — take the next step and simply overwhelm defenses.

“They are all explosive kids who can make big plays,” Marino said.

Butler moves from tailback to slot this season, and all but Burston, who is a senior, are juniors.

“(Each) brings a different skill set,” Marino said. “Obviously, Kobe and David have a lot more length. Those are guys who can stretch the field where you can throw those go balls and have the confidence that they are going to go up and make that play.

“Butler may take a 5- or 10-yard route and turn it into a 40-yard gain at any time because of his skill set.”

What can go wrong

Can Palmetto stop teams from scoring? Last year, a veteran — and heralded — defensive unit allowed more than 40 points twice in the final four weeks and averaged nearly 19 points allowed per game.

This year, despite a lack of depth on the defensive line, senior Reese Lyons is moving from that unit to linebacker and Derrick Marino is moving from receiver to the secondary.

“We wanted to have some guys who were battle tested under the Friday night lights, so we’ve moved Derrick to strong safety,” Dave Marino said. “Reese isn’t a measurable D-I defensive end, but he is a measurable D-I linebacker, so he is going to solidify a linebacker corps that lost some key starters.”

Senior linebacker Brandon Waiters will be another key at linebacker.

“We have some young DBs we feel good about, but we lost our entire secondary. The real test will be how those guys stand up against the weapons we are going to face. Guys are going to have to step us for us to have success.”

Difference-makers

Johnny Jones headlined a dynamic duo a year ago with Butler. This season, he leads what Marino calls “a three-headed monster” in the backfield.

“He is the main weapon for us,” Marino said of Jones, a senior who can make people miss and accelerate away from most defenders.

Joining Jones are senior Corian Brown, who took last season off to concentrate on track, and sophomore Sagel Hickson.

“It’s like (Brown) never stopped playing,” Marino said. “He’s explosive, so he is going to be another key addition. And Sagel, who has had an outstanding preseason, is going to give us another weapon in the backfield. That is a lot of weapons.”

If the trio stay healthy, they will force defenses to choose what they want to risk getting beat by: the run or the pass.

The last word

“If we don’t commit dumb penalties, if we don’t drop balls and if we don’t make mental mistakes, we are going to be hard to stop,” Marino said. “But if we do those things, we are going to stop ourselves and we aren’t going to stop anybody.”

Palmetto’s 2018 schedule

Aug. 24 vs. Southeast, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 at Manatee, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 vs. Sarasota Riverview, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Braden River, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 vs. Lakeland Lake Gibson, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 vs. Sarasota, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Lakewood Ranch, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 vs. North Port, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 vs. Venice, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Punta Gorda Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally published August 20, 2018 at 10:36 AM.