Team preview: South Walton

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

travisd@nwfdailynews.com

SANTA ROSA BEACH - David Barron watches as players file out of the South Walton fieldhouse and onto the Seahawks' practice field and can't help but shake his head.

Entering his fourth year as the Seahawks' coach, Barron raises his arm and points to the far end of the field.

"Do you see that?" Barron asks. "For the first time in school history we've got enough kids to practice junior varsity on one end of the field and varsity on the other.

"It's still iron man football, but I don't have ninth graders having to go against 12th graders."

For Barron and South Walton football, it is a step - however small - in the right direction.

Another step was taken earlier this offseason when Barron enlisted the services of former Niceville offensive coordinator Ron Mayer to run the Seahawks' offense.

What followed was a spring camp that featured more forward passes - and completions - than Barron had witnessed in his previous three years.

"The kids seem to enjoy it," Mayer said. "It's a little bit more wide open than what they're used to here."

Now, the sights have been set on achieving another first for the program - a winning season.

South Walton returns the bulk of last year's three-win team, a win total that ranked as the school's best yet.

Dennis Smith is back under center after having to be forced into early playing time a year ago.

"He has improved by leaps and bounds," Barron said.

Aiding in Smith's progression has been an infusion of bodies at the Seahawks' skill positions.

Seniors Jake Hawkins, Fort Walton Beach transfer David Bazylak, Hunter Infinger and Josh Murphy are expected to give the South Walton passing game a lift.

Junior Bryant Adams displayed a hard-nosed running style from the fullback position this spring that figures to play a more prominent role in 2008.

Bazylak, junior Will Hickey and senior Ryan Shropshire remain deadlocked in a battle for the starting tailback duties.

If needed, junior D.J. Striedal, senior Howard Young and senior Kyle Stewart could also be inserted into the Seahawks' backfield.

"We've got more skill depth this year than we've ever had," Barron said.

That depth, however, does not extend to the line of scrimmage, where both offensive and defensive lines are limited.

Only seven players - seniors Jordan Seeling, Spencer Martin, Patrick Morris, Mason Gonzales, Ryan Keck and juniors Carlton Seilhan and Quinston Morris - will be asked to fill out both lines.

Barron can breathe easier when glancing over the Seahawks' defensive secondary.

"Our strength, if we have a strength, comes from a little bit of depth we developed last year in our secondary," Barron said.

Hawkins is expected to man one cornerback position while Hickey, Hawkins, Infinger and Murphy vie for playing time at the other corner.

The hope is that one year after playing every down at both quarterback and cornerback, the emergence of several other players can allow Smith to focus on his offensive responsibilities.

Bazylak will begin the season as the starter at safety.

First-year defensive coordinator Phil Tisa's 5-2 scheme will feature Adams and junior Charles Whitefield as the Seahawks' linebackers.

Keck will help provide experienced depth.