Kizziah returns to Gator coaching squad

There are 16 lettermen among a roster of 29 players, and many names and faces on the Wewahitchka roster this fall are familiar.

The key one, however, won’t be wearing pads.

Former head coach Dennis Kizziah has returned to the Gators this fall as offensive coordinator under head coach Todd Lanter, who begins his fifth season in Gulf County.

In addition to having an experienced hand lessening his load as coach, Lanter said that Kizziah, who most recently has been an assistant at a 6A school in Orlando is significant for another reason.

“I’ve been doing both sides of the ball for a couple years, and I think people are able to figure me out and figure out our tendencies,” Lanter said. “I think that’s one reason we start well and finish poorly.

“I have somebody I can turn the offense over to and he can run it. That’s huge to us.”

Lanter also describes this edition of the Gators as his largest team. With just six freshmen and sophomores on varsity, it could be his most mature and experienced.

“We feel really good about this year, with the addition of Coach Kizziah and how hard they’ve worked,” Lanter said. “We have 16 lettermen. For a school of 240 kids that’s pretty good.”

Lanter predicted that Wewa’s strength will be its running game and linebacker play, two key components at any level. And the Gators have experience at quarterback.

The offensive line is all juniors and seniors. The center is Cory Walding, the guards Greg Hurley and Austin Guffey, the tackles Dee Hurley and Quenton Carter and the tight end Taylor Husband.

That should aid senior quarterback Beau McCorvey who was thrust into the mix without the benefit of many repetitions last August when the starter broke his ankle in a preseason kickoff classic. McCorvey completed 19 passes for 163 yards in a run-heavy offense.

“He played quite a bit and already he is much better,” Lanter said. “We’re very very happy with the things he’s been able to do.”

The receivers are Jamaree Hunter and Justin Flowers, with four players in the rotation at running back. Colton Price (143 yards, two touchdowns, two conversions) and Jaylen Addison likely will start, but Lanter said Dvante Baham and Jonathon Nobles (135 yards, 18 points) will play a lot.

The defensive line has Dexter Terry and Baham at the tackles and Husband and Dee Hurley at the ends. Walding and Flowers flank Nobles at linebacker and the secondary is Addison and Price at safety and Hunter and Randy Veasey at the corners.

Lanter didn’t downplay the Gators flying under the radar in District 2-1A, which he feels should be very competitive this season.

“I hope so, it’s possible,” he said. “I think it’s a good mix this year. Blountstown and Liberty County are well-coached and going to be good, Port St. Joe could have the best player (Calvin Pryor) in the Big Bend, West Gadsden has good athletes and Franklin County is not going to do anything but get better.”

The Gators host South Walton for a kickoff classic on Aug. 27 and open the following week with Maclay. Three of the first four games are at home so another fast start might be in order.

2009 results (4-6, 1-4)

Wewahitchka 28, Maclay 7

Wewahitchka 25, Chipley 13

Wewahitchka 29, Jefferson Co. 20

Blountstown 39, Wewahitchka 27

Bozeman 27, Wewahitchka 12

Liberty County 33, Wewahitchka 20

Franklin County 9, Wewahitchka 2

Wewahitchka 14, West Gadsden County 6

Port St. Joe 28, Wewahitchka 0

Jay 28, Wewahitchka 6

2010 schedule

Aug. 27: South Walton, kickoff classic

Sept. 3: Maclay

Sept. 10: at Chipley

Sept. 17: Jefferson County

Sept. 24: Blountstown

Oct. 1: at Bozeman

Oct. 8: at Liberty County

Oct. 15: at Franklin County

Oct. 22: West Gadsden

Oct. 29: idle

Nov. 5: at Port St. Joe

Nov. 12: Jay