Cypress Lake Has Found The Formula

Once again in 2020, head coach <strong>Richie Rode</strong> and his Fort Myers Cypress Lake football program reached the playoffs and came away with a 7-4 record during a pandemic season. While losing to Lehigh, Fort Myers, North Fort Myers and Eau Gallie in the playoffs, this program learned quite a bit, standing toe-to-toe with some of Florida’s top teams and prospects. With a solid nucleus coming back in all classes – especially the group of rising seniors, there is plenty of confidence once again, heading into spring and summer. Those wins against Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Riverdale, LaBelle and Arcadia DeSoto in the regular season – and playoff wins against Sarasota Booker and Wauchula Hardee County will go a long way in determining what success the Panthers have in 2021. The success at the start of the season will certainly be the rising senior class (2022). This is a group that certainly has the experience and the potential leadership to give this program a lift. Among those players to keep an eye on include linebacker <strong>Zion Chase</strong> (6-1, 205 -3.83 GPA, 23 ACT), talented kicker <strong>Chris Clayton</strong> (6-0, 165 – 4.22 GPA, 1050 SAT), gifted <strong>Clayton McCleary (</strong>LB, 5-11, 205 – 3.66 GPA, 940 SAT) and versatile <strong>Jarvis Smith </strong>(DB/WR). The Panthers also feature <strong>Khalid Abdelquader</strong> (DL, 5-9, 230 – 3.15 GPA), <strong>Brendan Anderson </strong>(RB/DB, 5-10, 170 – 3.75 GPA), <strong>Jason Landrum</strong> (LB, 5-11, 195), <strong>Adam Larochelle </strong>(DL/OL, 5-11, 250 – 3.45 GPA, 1030 SAT), <strong>Jay’Various Liverman</strong> (DB/WR – 3.14 GPA), <strong>Michael Ridgeway</strong> (DL – 3.17 GPA), <strong>Cainan Sabo</strong> (WR/OLB, 6-2, 165 – 2.66 GPA), <strong>Lucius Slobodzian</strong> (OL/DL, 6-3, 225 – 3.42 GPA, 1190 PSAT), <strong>Kris Stefanic</strong> (OC, 5-11, 215 – 3.81 GPA) and impressive <strong>Tod Tomlinson</strong> (OLB/WR, 6-0, 160 – 3.94 GPA). <strong>KEEP AN EYE ON THE EMERGING UNDERCLASSMEN</strong> As the senior class will be vital in 2021, the rising juniors in the Class of 2023 will also be something to watch. Rising prospects such as <strong>Matt Bohl</strong> (OLB/WR, 6-0, 175 – 4.25 GPA, 1160 PSAT), gifted <strong>J.D. Sherrod</strong> (QB/S, 6-1, 195 – 4.16 GPA) and versatile <strong>Trevontay Watts</strong> (DB/WR, 6-0, 165 – 2.77 GPA). In addition, the Class of 2023 also boasts <strong>Zach Bocchino</strong> (WR/DB, 5-9, 145 – 3.73 GPA, 1100 PSAT), <strong>Haven Elias-Branca</strong> (OLB/S, 5-8, 160 – 4.16 GPA, 1080 SAT), <strong>Rashad Evans</strong> (DB/WR, 5-10 150 – 2.82 GPA), <strong>Alan Gutierrez</strong> (OL/DL, 5-11, 240), <strong>Ben Hahn</strong> (WR/DB, 5-6, 140 – 3.02 GPA), <strong>Marquall Harrell</strong> (DB/WR, 5-9, 145), <strong>Jaeden Herring</strong> (WR/DB, 6-2, 160) and <strong>Cedric Jenkins</strong> (WR/DB, 6-0, 165). There are also <strong>Nick Joyce</strong> (OL/DL – 3.28 GPA), <strong>Brandon Lee</strong> (LB, 5-11, 185 – 4.3 GPA, 1140 PSAT), <strong>Chris Marius</strong> (RB/DB, 5-9, 150 – 2.86 GPA), <strong>Kendrick Moore</strong> (DB/WR, 5-6, 140) and two-way lineman <strong>Phillip Morrison</strong> (6-3, 230). Even the rising sophomore class (2024) will be fun to watch – with <strong>E.J. Codie</strong> (WR/DB, 5-6, 130 – 2.71 GPA) and <strong>Charles Watts</strong> (WR/DB, 6-0, 140 – 2.6 GPA) leading the way. There are also emerging prospects such as <strong>Ryan Ortega-Arano</strong> (OL/DL, 5-11, 220 – 2.67 GPA), <strong>David Bellman</strong> (OL, 6-3, 245 – 3.86 GPA), <strong>Jakob Bickford</strong> (OL/DL, 5-11, 265), <strong>Alijah Bodero</strong> (WR/DB, 6-0, 170), <strong>Eli Jones</strong> (OL/DL, 5-10, 190 – 3.52 GPA), <strong>Sergeley Labissiere</strong> (WR/DB, 5-6, 130 – 3.29 GPA), <strong>Tyrese Nelson</strong> (QB, 5-11, 130 – 3.14 GPA), <strong>Jack Perrera</strong> (WR/DB, 5-6, 130 – 4.1 GPA), <strong>Ja Ramtahal</strong> (DL/LB, 6-1, 185 – 3.27 GPA) and <strong>Brady Rockwell </strong>(WR/DB, 5-8, 140 – 3.14 GPA). <strong> PHOTO COURTESY OF CYPRESS LAKE FOOTBALL </strong> <strong>TRACKING FLORIDA: Teams Look At 2021 Season. </strong>https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/tracking-florida-teams-look-at-2021-season/ <strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>