Young Players Need to Step Up for Palm Glades

Palm Glades will be looking to replace 13

seniors off a 27-man

roster that finished 7-3. This year’s team will have a different look with just six seniors.

“Some of the younger guys have got to step up,” head coach Robert Green said.

Junior Alonso Gonzalez is counted on lead the offense at quarterback after a 220-yard effort in the spring game, but will be looking to bounce back from a 29-14 loss to Westminster Academy in the kickoff classic last week.

“He can make the throws, he has the arm for it, he just had a lot of bad reads,” Green said.

Sophomore Da’Sani Thomas could be in store for a breakout season after catching three

passes for 138 yards in the spring game and returning an interception 65 yards for a score in the kickoff classic.

Seniors Malikk Kennedy and Khymani Martin, who had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week, will be looking to run behind a line led by

senior Kevin Rubio and junior Alan Roeder.

Kennedy had nine

tackles and two forced fumbles against Westminster, junior Devin Carswell led with 11 tackles, and freshman Jose Garcia showed flashes on the line.

“Overall there’s a lot of talent,” Green said. “I think we’ll be a better overall talented team than we had last year.”

Green will be looking to combine talent with discipline. He has his players on a weekly progress report and they must adhere to the standards set forth or playing time will be taken away.

“If you get a ‘D’ or an ‘F,’ you don’t play,” Green said. “If you have a ‘C,’ there better be a good reason why you got a ‘C.’ Any conduct or discipline issues, you don’t play. If it’s severe, you’re off the team. Even if it’s minor, the whole team suffers because what I drill as well as family versus team because I feel like you’ll fight harder for your brother than you would your teammate. We’re labeled as a football team, but we are a family.”