Wharton Wildcats Ready to Pounce on 2011 Season

It’s a pivotal year for the Wildcats.

They are in the midst of a three-year up-swing that they have the talent to improve upon. Head Coach David Mitchell had a very successful start to his reign at Wharton. In his first two seasons, they went 18-4 with a district record of 6-2. Since then, they tapered off into anonymity until last season, when they went 4-7, improving on a 2-8 record the year before.

They do not want to slide back down the slope. They have too much talent that will be gone in two years so they need to make something happen now.

And they might just have the tools to do it.

Their path will be a little bit easier due to the district and class re-alignments. This year, Wharton jumps from Class 5A all the way up to 8A; the class with the largest student populations. Normally, this move would be a tough one, much like a fighter trying to move up in weight class. It’s not always successful.

However, the district re-alignments provide an interesting scenario for the Wildcats.

Their old district included: Tampa Bay Tech, Brandon and Freedom. None of those teams are bad teams and two of them finished over .500. Now they are gone and replaced with a crop of new teams that made the upward move in class along with Wharton.

The new 2011 8A District 6

Team  2010 record (district record)

• Plant  12-3 (3-0)
• Alonso  4-7 (2-1)
• Wharton  4-7 (2-1)
• Bloomingdale  2-9 (1-3)

The Wildcats said goodbye to two tough teams in Brandon and TB Tech, only to say hello to one of the greatest teams in the state in Plant. Bloomingdale probably will improve on their performance last year, but it still gives Wharton a little better shot at the playoffs.

Two teams from each district make the playoffs and Wharton doesn’t so much have to beat Plant as much as beat Alonso and Bloomingdale. Alonso is not short on talent either but they lost a lot of talent to graduation and will be hard pressed to improve on their mark from last year.

If Wharton can get in there behind Plant, they can get back in the playoff mix for the first time since 2008.

However, slipping into the playoffs behind Plant is not on their minds.

“Winning the district is our goal, it’s why we play,” said head coach David Mitchell.

The Wildcats have sparked a nice little rivalry with Plant during the 7 on 7 competitions this summer, or at least Plant’s skill position players.

The Wildcats have some very promising skill players on their roster this year.

Sophomore quarterback Chase Litton has all kinds of good things going for him. Firstly, he’s about 6-foot, 5-inches tall. He’s still pretty thin but another year or two in the weight room will change that. Physical attributes aside, he’s calm in the pocket and has a strong arm, which, when you fold it all together, is a pretty sweet package.

“Without a doubt, he’s our guy,” said quarterbacks coach Craig Rainey. “He’s physically able, he’s got speed, he can read coverages.”

Litton looked very good at The BCP 9 Route 7 on 7 Tournament in late July, taking the Cats all the way to the double-overtime-tiebreaker game with Plant.

“These competitions are great to help me build confidence and see that we can play with the big teams,” said Litton.

Litton only started three games last year so his development in the summer and early fall will be a key to the team’s success.

Luckily, he’ll have plenty of help in the backfield.

Senior Darius Page is an everything back who will see the lion’s - make that wildcat’s - share of the carries this year.

“He’s stepped up his game 100%,” said Mitchell. “We really like what he’s doing.’

The coaching staff has already admitted that he will be the workhorse and if his performance at the BCP Tournament was any indication, they have made a solid choice. Page isn’t a tall guy, maybe 5-foot, 8-inches tall but he must go close to 200 pounds.

You’d think someone like that would be lumbering and slow. Not the case with Page. Page is nimble and fast, has baby soft hands and can leap like a defensive back. He made several circus catches at the tournament as well as scooping up short yardage plays like marbles in a Hungry, Hungry Hippos game.

He will have some company in the likes of sophomore Austin Green. Malcomb Banks and Jeff Keil could factor in but Page will be in there four out of five plays, most likely.

Litton will have even more help with a crop of talented, veteran receivers.

The receiving corps for Wharton is deep and dangerous.

Leading the way is senior Nyere “Grandpa” Thompson. Thompson is a thick 6-foot, 3 inches, and this reporter is still trying to figure out why he got the name grandpa. His ability to go up and get the ball at it’s highest point will no doubt bag him four or five touchdowns right there. His ability to cut and get up field could pave the way for who knows how many more touchdowns.

On the other side, the Wildcats will use class of 2013 Division I recruit, Vernon Hargreaves. Hargreaves is even better at playing corner and will start there and play full time. The Wildcats will pull back on him a little at wide receiver so he doesn’t tire out but as far as athletic ability goes, he’s unparalleled on the team. When Hargreaves jumps he doesn’t jump so much as levitate. It’s almost as if the earth’s gravitational pull is just a tiny bit weaker, wherever he walks.

When the Cats want to rest Hargreaves, they will bring in senior Jordyn Fulgham, who is not the leaper that Hargreaves is but is very athletic and can get open.

At the slot position is senior Jaylen Dinard who is blazing fast and has very good hands. Dinard is very effective picking up the underneath routes and turning them up-field for big gains. He will be looked to on many a-third and sevens.

Football is won in the trenches. Thus the Wildcats have a lot of work to do bringing the offensive and defensive lineman up to speed but they’ve got a great head start at putting their skill position players in a position to succeed.