Football preview: Tarpon Springs — Aug. 13

Tarpon Springs

At a glance

Coach: Jeremy Frioud, first season

Class: Independent

Last season: 3-7

Key players: WR/RB/S Jaylan Erby, Fr.; RB/MLB Parkees Harris, Jr.; OT/DT Marcus Morton, Sr.; DE Daniel Page, Jr.; DE/OT Stavros Pantelis, Jr.

Schedule

Aug. 19 vs. Cornerstone Charter Academy, 7

Aug. 26 vs. St. Petersburg, 7:30

Sept. 2 at Seminole, 7:30

Sept. 9 at Osceola, 7:30

Sept. 16 vs. Palm Harbor University, 7:30

Sept. 23 at East Lake, 7:30

Sept. 30 vs. Anclote, 7:30

Oct. 7 vs. Gulf, 7:30

Oct. 14 Bye

Oct. 21 at Dunedin, 7:30

Oct. 28 at North Port, 7:30

Nov. 4 at Land O’ Lakes, 7:30

Outlook

Jeremy Frioud, a former standout at Tarpon Springs who previously coached at Northeast, returned to his alma mater this offseason to take over the Spongers. He replaces Cedric Hill, who left after three seasons. Frioud inherits a program  that has a combined five games in the past three seasons and has not fielded a junior varsity team in four years. To boost the numbers – and confidence – Frioud decided to go independent to put together a more favorable schedule and focus on putting together a junior varsity squad. And there are some standouts to build on at the varsity level. Marcus Morton and Stavros Pantelis will anchor the offensive line. Daniel Page will be one of the defensive leaders at linebacker. And Jaylan Erby has already impressed as a freshman as a playmaker on both sides of the ball.