Tampa Bay Tech Football Ready to Take Next Step

There is a new face in town, and it belongs to first-year Tampa Bay Tech football coach Jayson Roberts, who is trying to start a new era in Titans football history.

As a defensive coordinator the past few seasons, Roberts has witnessed the team go to the region semifinals three years in a row, but this season as the Titans' head coach, Roberts’ goals are much higher for his team.

“That has been the biggest question,” Roberts said. “What is it going to take to make us reach that next step and that deep run in the playoffs? Really I think the thing that is going to get us there is better preparation. We don’t only have a plan A, but we have a plan B and a Plan C so that we have something else to fall on. Athletically we have the talent. It is just a matter of putting that talent into the best position for us to be successful.”

Roberts said he believes his team is fully capable of reaching the state championship, showing the doubters that the Titans can and should be mentioned among the area's elite.

“Anytime you have changes within a program like we have had, some think there is going to be a transition period, meaning that the program might have a slow process to get to where they want to be,” Roberts said. “But, I don’t think that will happen here.”

The Titans not only have new coach, but they also a new quarterback, Aaron Midthus, who transferred to TBT after two years at Middleton High School; and a new offensive coordinator, Mo Harris, who brings over a completely different offense than the veer/option the Titans ran under previous coach, Corries Culpepper.

With all the changes, it could pose as a tall order for the Titans, who have to compete against the likes of Steinbrenner and Plant, both perennial state powerhouses. However, because of the district deconstruction in Hillsborough County in the offseason, the Titans now find themselves in a Class 7A-District 7 that features teams from four other districts, none of which have shown signs of being clear favorites.

“We are putting the majority of our focus on those district games and making sure that we are definitely prepared,” Roberts said. “We are going to have a tough district. Gaither is going to be tough; they have been super competitive in the off season. Freedom is always a nemesis for us, and Steinbrenner is an up-and-coming team that some have picked to win our district.”

Also in the district is Wiregrass Ranch, a Pasco County team that won its first district title last season. The top two teams in district make the playoffs.

Here is a look at how each of the teams fared last season:

• Tampa Bay Tech 7-5 (3-3 in the district), reached region semifinals
• Wiregrass Ranch, 6-5 (4-0), won their district title
• Steinbrenner, 5-6 (3-3)
• Gaither, 3-8 (0-3)
• Freedom, 4-6 (0-3)
• Chamberlain, 2-8-1 (1-2)

Regardless of the district shakeup or the fact that the Titans have a lot of new faces on the coaching staff, they have an impressive roster, and it starts on defense.

According to Roberts, the Titans will remain a defense-oriented team as they have in years past.

“That Tech defense will still be there,” he said. “We pride ourselves in defense and stopping the run, and we put our offense in a good position by controlling the opposition’s offense and defensively shutting them down.”

In fact, that aforementioned defense only gave up 14 points or fewer in nine of its games last season.

One of the standout players on defense is junior Kadesh Reaves, a 288-pound defensive tackle who could quite possibly be a Division I athlete in the near future. 

Some think questions still remain on the offensive side of the ball, but Roberts said he doesn’t think so. 

This season, the Titans will be showcasing a much different offensive scheme, resembling more of a pro style offense, which Harris, the Titans' new offensive coordinator, is bringing from Plant.

“Coach Harris from day one has been a worker,” Roberts said. “Some days he is here much longer than I am. The guys are definitely buying into what we want to do offensively and because of that buy in, and the fact that we are incorporating a lot of guys, the kids are fired up and excited.

“People are going to see this offense take over a lot sooner than expected.”

This season, the offensive line is going to be lead by junior Kilu Fontaine and senior Caleb Tucker.

“I am thrilled with the offensive line we have,” Roberts said. “We are huge up front; I cannot recall us ever being this big up front. I think the style of our offense suits us well. We want to be big, physical, and aggressive, and move you out of the way.”

TBT opens its regular season with a home game against Newsome on Sept. 2. It begins district matchups Sept. 23 when it travels to Chamberlain.