The Lennard Longhorns added a new quarterback, a wave of transfers and a new district rival. The East Bay Indians are banking on defense and a sophomore running back. And down the road in Wimauma, a brand-new program will take the field for the first time.
South Shore high school football looks different heading into the 2026 season, which kicks off Friday, Aug. 14 when East Bay hosts Robinson.
Lennard: Transfers reshape the roster
Head coach KB Belton's Longhorns went 8-3 in 2025, rattling off seven straight wins to open the year before a first-round playoff loss at Mitchell High School in New Port Richey. They return a loaded defense featuring Mekhi Williams (committed to Wisconsin), Robert Gibbons (FIU) and Bryce Herald, plus FSU commit Chayse Brown and Terrance Leather (five Division I offers) on offense.
The headline addition: Antonio Balaguer, the former starting quarterback at Sumner, transferred to Lennard in June. He steps behind the same offensive line that protected Jacob Mobley's 2,000-yard, 18-touchdown passing season last year before Mobley departed for college.
Balaguer isn't the only new face. At least nine players joined the Longhorns this off-season, including three former East Bay Indians: Malik Boyd, Trey Knight and Demauris Feet. Running back Preston Beckham, a University of Cincinnati commit, and quarterback Jarvis Howell from Armwood round out the marquee arrivals.
Lennard moves from 6AD11 to 6AD10 this season, landing in the same district as Riverview. The Longhorns open Friday, Aug. 21 at Armwood, travel to St. Petersburg Catholic on Sept. 4 and head to East Bay on Sept. 18 for the South Shore Six rivalry game.
East Bay: Defense leads the rebuild
Coach DeAndra Simmons enters his second full season at East Bay after a 5-5 campaign that included a pair of blowout shutouts (57-0 over Leto, 50-0 over Spoto). The Indians lost three players to Lennard but return sophomore running back Preston Cooper, four offensive starters and seven defenders.
Simmons told Observer News his players are buying into the program and bringing a blue-collar work ethic to the field this season. He is counting on juniors Marquis Thornton, Lhoyalti Taylor and Andriano Betty, along with Cooper, to set the tone. The secondary and linebacker corps anchor a defense that will need to keep games within reach while the offense develops.
East Bay shifts from 5AD8 to 4AD9, splitting from former district rival Spoto. Jesuit, which went 11-2 in 2025, looms as the district favorite. The Indians open at home against Robinson on Friday, Aug. 14, host Riverview on Friday, Aug. 21 and travel to Chamberlain on Friday, Aug. 28 before the Sept. 18 showdown with Lennard.
Wimauma: Morgan High takes the field
Aquilla J. Morgan High School in Wimauma fields its first varsity football team in 2026, competing in 3AD10 under head coach Mario Hollingshed. The Mustangs are brand new. Their district includes Jefferson (10-2 in 2025), Chamberlain (7-4), King (2-8) and Robinson (1-9).
Junior quarterback Cole Verzosa and senior safety Braylon Hardy, both previously at Bloomingdale, headline the roster alongside returning senior wide receiver Jonathan Steven, who has set a goal of 1,000 receiving yards, and cornerback Jayden Averitte. Verzosa is targeting zero turnovers.
Morgan opens Friday, Aug. 21 at home against Leto and closes Oct. 23 against Brandon.
The bigger picture
The FHSAA overhauled its postseason for 2026-27, introducing an Open Division that pulls the top eight MaxPreps-ranked teams statewide into a separate bracket across 11 sports, including football. The FHSAA called it the most significant postseason change in state history.
The Sept. 18 East Bay-Lennard rivalry game in Gibsonton carries extra juice this year: Boyd, Knight and Feet will return to their former home field wearing Longhorn jerseys.
