After finishing 12-2 a year ago and reaching the Class 6A state semifinals, fourth-year head coach Kirk Karsen has found the recipe for success.
If you followed Hillsborough County football through the years, especially the public schools – outside of Armwood and Plant, getting the respect across the state of Florida has not been easy, but time are changing.
More and more public schools in the area are boasting more talent, quality coaching and year round commitments to getting better and being able to advance in the playoffs.
What the Cowboys returned this year was a talented group that includes several high-level Division I talents, including quarterback Kiael KellyKiaelKelly
6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021FL (Ball State commit), lineman Andrew Kilfoyl (USF commit), cornerback Jordan OladokunJordanOladokun
5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021FL(Iowa commit), tailback Ricky ParksRickyParks
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Tampa Gaither | 2021StateFL(Utah commit) and cornerback Jordan YoungJordanYoung
6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Tampa Gaither | 2021StateFL(Florida commit), among others.
Regarded as one of the top football programs in 6A this season, could this be the year that this time finally gets over that hump? Time will tell as the playoffs are set – and finishing out the season healthy is the main objective.
In getting to 6-0, the Cowboys opened with a 34-6 win over Tampa Chamberlain, 34-14 over competitive Tampa Bay Tech, Hudson Fivay (43-0), Tampa Chamberlain (27-0) again, Land O’Lakes (56-0) and powerhouse Seffner Armwood (17-10).
THE COWBOYS FILESCHOOL: Tampa Gaither
HEAD COACH: Kirk Karsen
2020 RECORD: 6-0
CLASSIFICATION: 6A
COWBOYS TO WATCH IN 2020
2021 – Malik Anderson, DT
2022 – Richard Andrews, WR
2021 – Nick Bartalo, LB
2023 – Kobe Bender, WR
2022 – Mikhai Campbell, DB
2021 – Isaiah Coleman, RB/LB
2021 – Jean Duclos, CB
2022 – Mario EugenioMarioEugenio
6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Tampa Gaither | 2022StateFL
, DE/OLB
2023 – Geovan Febus, DL
2021 – Cameron Alonso-Floyd, LB
2022 – Zachary Helman, PK
2023 – Carnell Herring Jr., RB/LB
2021 – Willie Jackson, Jr., DT
2021 – Jay Johnson, LB/S
2021 – Kiael KellyKiaelKelly
6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021FL
, QB
2021 – Andrew Kilfoyl, OT
2022 – Kobe McCloudKobeMcCloud
6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Tampa Gaither | 2022FL
, S/LB/QB
2021 – Jordan OladokunJordanOladokun
5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021FL
, WR/CB
2021 – Ricky ParksRickyParks
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Tampa Gaither | 2021StateFL
, RB
2022 – Drelin PittmanDrelinPittman
WR Tampa Gaither | 2022FL
, WR
2021 – Hayden Reed, LB
2021 – Josh Smith, WR
2022 – Tawfiq Thomas, DT
2021 – Asa Vanburen, DL
2021 – Jonathan Wallace, DE/TE
2023 – Eugene Wilson III, WR/CB/FS
2021 – Jordan YoungJordanYoung
6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Tampa Gaither | 2021StateFL
, CB
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.