The Lennard Longhorns finished the 2025 football season 8-3, a two-win jump from their 6-4 record in 2024-25. In Gibsonton, the East Bay Indians went 5-5 under first-year head coach DeAndra Simmons and closed their regular season with a 50-0 demolition of Spoto on senior night.
Both South Shore programs now turn their attention to 2026 as classes resume Monday, Aug. 10.
Lennard's breakout year
Head coach KB Belton's Longhorns competed in FHSAA Class 6A District 11 and finished 2-2 in district play, according to MaxPreps. Senior quarterback Jacob Mobley capped his career with more than 1,600 passing yards.
The season wasn't without bumps. In an Oct. 30 home loss to Palmetto, 31-6, Mobley completed 17 of 31 passes for 175 yards against a Tigers squad riding a five-game winning streak, the Observer News reported. Lennard's lone score came on a 25-yard pass from junior Johntel Gibbson to Al'quan Smith.
Palmetto clinched the district title with the win, led by junior Ashton Kelly's 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
East Bay closes strong
Simmons, hired in February 2025 to replace retired longtime coach Michael Gottman, installed a spread offense with read-option principles at East Bay. The former University of Memphis offensive lineman had previously served as offensive coordinator at Palmetto High School and Braden River High School.
The results showed on senior night. East Bay's offense erupted against Spoto for its second shutout of the year. Gavin Altman scored on a 10-yard rush, Trey Alexander broke a 49-yard touchdown run, and Comarion Anthony returned a punt 57 yards for a score and set up another touchdown with an interception. Dorian Edwards added a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown. Omar Germany scored on a 3-yard rush and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Shondray Dixon.
"It's truly a family feel here," Simmons told the Osprey Observer in August 2025, before his first regular season. "The kids and the school are excited about football."
What's next
Neither team won its district outright. Tampa Bay Tech claimed the Class 5A District 8 crown at 3-0, and both Lennard and East Bay awaited FHSAA at-large playoff invitations after the regular season.
Looking to 2026, early MaxPreps projections slot Lennard as a No. 5 seed in Class 6A Region 3, matched against No. 4 Durant in the first round. East Bay returns under Simmons with a full offseason to build on the spread system's debut. Both programs open the new campaign after Aug. 10.
