Southeast looks to its past to guide its future. Here’s what Brett Timmons envisions for program.

Brett Timmons is back at his alma mater, coaching a sophomore-laden Southeast High football team bereft of all but a handful of key seniors and juniors.

Timmons replaced Rashad West, who resigned in the wake of a troubled season that included a fight with Wauchula Hardee County and a 1-7 record thanks, in part, to six forfeits because of the use of an ineligible player.

Undaunted, Timmons is thrilled to coach the Seminoles. And he wants his young players to be thrilled to suit up for Southeast as well.

“It’s an honor to come back and coach a high school where you created a lot of memories,” said Timmons, who coached at Out-of-Door Academy for nine seasons and was a defensive coordinator at Palmetto.

A two-time state champion (1993 and 1994) as a player for the Seminoles, along with being on Tulane University’s unbeaten team in 1998, Timmons relies on that experience to steer his young charges toward success.

Talent alone, he noted, does not always translate to championships.

“The secret ingredient in those teams was chemistry, not the fact that we were super-talented,” Timmons said.

Buying into that concept is paramount to a team that includes many players who were on the junior varsity last season. Judging from what he saw in a preseason triple-overtime tie at 13 against Ruskin Lennard, Timmons feels the Seminoles are well on their way along those lines.

“The team showed a lot of heart and a lot of character,” he said, noting that it marked the first varsity experience for some of the sophomores.

While there was no winner following three overtimes, Timmons and Lennard coach Matt Kitchie opted to halt the game, in part, to avoid injuries that could come from players being mentally and physically exhausted.

“It always means something to win, but at the end of the day we’ve got a long season in front of us,” Timmons said.

What can go right

Maleek Huggins won a quarterback battle with Garrett Hight, who shifted to wide receiver. Huggins, a dual threat as a runner and passer, is a dynamic weapon who will shoulder a lot of the offensive load.

Defensive lineman Kam’ron Green, a University of Central Florida commit, is fully recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and becomes the spark on that side of the ball.

Linebackers Chauncey Green and Demetrius Bryant, along with cornerbacks Cam Bartels and Jordan Alexis, are the other leaders on defense.

The offensive line, anchored by senior Michael Brodsky, is solid and there is depth at running back — Eli Daniels, who ran for a touchdown in the preseason game, Chauncey Wilson and Frankie Clercius — and in a receiving group that features E’rion Neri, Calvin Clark, De’brion Whipper and Galen Washington.

What can go wrong

Huggins’ explosiveness could backfire with a slew of turnovers, although that is not likely.

And if Green cannot be the player he was, the defense could be in trouble.

Additionally, the sophomores could make their share of mistakes and need another year of seasoning to become consistent contributors.

Difference-makers

Huggins, need we say more?

“Maleek is a special athlete,” Timmons said. “When the ball is in his hands he can do some special things.”

If he returns sometime in September, as is projected, Green could instantly make the Seminoles’ pass rush much better. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound senior had 43 tackles with six sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble last season.

Alexis is the playmaker in the secondary

Depth at running back, receiver and on the offensive line could result in Bradenton Southeast being perhaps a bit fresher and faster late in games.

The last word

“It’s just a lot of teaching and a lot of love and patience,” Timmons said on working with a team of mostly sophomores.

Southeast’s 2018 schedule

Aug. 24 at Palmetto, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 vs. Sarasota, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 vs. Lakewood Ranch, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 vs. Bayshore, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Arcadia DeSoto, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 at Cardinal Mooney, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Englewood Lemon Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 vs. Wauchula Hardee, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 vs. Sarasota Booker, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Port Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally published August 22, 2018 at 10:35 AM.