Palmetto Starts 2020 Season Without Head Coach
From the start of the 2019 season, those who have a say in the state rankings felt so strongly about Palmetto that they not only had them as the top 6A team in Florida, but the No. 1 overall.
While the Tigers and head coach Dave Marino were trying to advance to their first championship game since 1986, would lose once during the season and get ready to host state power Miami Central in the state semifinals.
From the beginning of the game against the Rockets is was evident that this team was in the game to win it.
Too many mistake ended this see-saw battle and the dream ended, 34-30, before a packed house at Harllee Stadium.
With so much optimism after the school’s amazing season, bad news followed – and it spilled over to this coming season.
The Florida High School Athletic Association dropped the hammer on Palmetto and three other schools for recruiting violations involving about 30 middle school students from Lincoln Memorial Academy in Palmetto.
Coach Marino, who had built this program into a state contender, received an eight-game suspension and were fined $5,000.
The suspensions include the spring and fall classics (which were never played because of Covid-19) and regular season games. The suspensions do not include practice sessions.
So, Palmetto started the 2020 season without its head coach, and came up with a convincing 43-7 win over Port Charlotte, showcasing some impressive talent and proving that they will be right back in the mix.
THE TIGERS FILE
SCHOOL: Palmetto Tigers
HEAD COACH: Dave Marino
2020 RECORD: 1-0
CLASSIFICATION: 6A
TIGERS TO WATCH IN 2020
2023 – Cedric Augustin, LB
2023 – Cleve Benson, WR
2022 – Eric Brust, OL
2022 – Raetrell Crawford, WR
2023 – Nate Dawes, DB
2021 – Floyd Dozier Floyd Dozier 6'2" | 280 lbs | DL Palmetto | 2021 FL , DL
2023 – Jayden Dunbar, CB
2021 – Robert Gavin, RB
2021 – Zorian Geathers, WR
2022 – Colin Heina, OL
2021 – LJ Hewitt, CB
2021 – Sagel Hickson, RB
2022 – Danny Hollis, OL
2022 – Alzavien Houston, WR
2021 – Jacquez Hughes, DB
2021 – Karem Ismail, OL
2022 – Rylee Jackson, DL
2021 – Gabe McDuffie, DL
2021 – Myles Ormsby, DL
2023 – Jordan Renaud
2022 – Jake Rewis, LB
2022 – Danny Rivera, DL
2021 – Juliano Shytlla, OL
2021 – Josh Siplin, QB
2022 – Kijuan Smith. OL
2022 – Quay Smith, WR
2021 – Ruben Stamp, LB
2021 – Tariq Waggoner, CB
2022 – Jaylen Wester, LB
2023 – Jamil Williams, RB
2021 – Quintin Zanders, OL
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.