Mayer has Seahawks' offense flying high

By ADAM PRUIETT

(850) 315-4421 | adamp@nwfdailynews.com

 SANTA ROSA BEACH - Offensive coordinator or magician?

When you talk about Ron Mayer to South Walton football coach David Barron or members of his team, you come away a little confused about what exactly Mayer's specialty is.

Take Barron's thoughts on the Seahawks' offense for instance.

"(Mayer) takes what we've got in youngins' and the vast knowledge and base he has in 30 years of (coaching) and comes up with magic," Barron explained. "That's where the Mayer magic comes from."

He's going to have to conjure up some more of that magic starting at 7:30 tonight when South Walton (9-2) welcomes Florida High (10-1) of Tallahassee in the Class 2B regional finals.

Underdog South Walton has built a reputation for being able to win close games, with Barron's mantra being that the Seahawks only need to stop the opposition once more than they get stopped. Keeping things tight against Florida High - which is averaging 37.9 points per game and giving up 10.9 - will be a huge challenge in itself.

But that's where South Walton is hoping the Mayer magic comes into play. Just last year, the Seahawks' offense scored 14 points or more a paltry three times. This year, Mayer's first as offensive coordinator, 14 points is the season low.

South Walton has more speed and depth than in previous years, but everybody points to Mayer as the main reason why the Seahawks suddenly have a high-octane offense that is averaging 28.2 points. Barron said all he has to do is relay what defense an opponent runs to Mayer, and Mayer can immediately create a game-plan to exploit it with his patented double-slot offense.

That's what over 30 years of coaching experience can do for you. And the result is that South Walton has broken the 30-point barrier six times, including last Friday's 34-27 victory over Bozeman.

"The defense doesn't get to dictate on Ron Mayer," Barron said.

Even though he's only been at South Walton one year, Mayer seems to be building a legendary status. His offense paved the way for the Seahawks' first-ever District 1-2B championship and playoff victory.

But more than that, Mayer continues to coach even though he's got perpetual health problems. Most recently, Mayer got blood poisoning the week leading into the regional semifinals and was hospitalized from Sunday until Friday afternoon.

As for game night?

"He had (the team) in there in that weight room on that board coaching his butt off," Barron said. "You'd have never dreamt he had been lying on his back all week."

Senior Jon Conner swears Mayer would come to practice with an IV pole attached to him if he had to, saying, "He shows how tough he is, and it rubs off on us."

"If he can be here, he's going to be here," senior David Bazylak added. "He can be sick as a dog. Friday nights we always make the joke that he'll be in the hospital during the week making up plays in bed on drugs and stuff."

Actually, getting high is what Mayer has done to South Walton's point production.