FORT PIERCE CENTRAL COBRAS

THREE PLAYERS

TO WATCH

JOE FIGUEROASenior safety2011 stats: 97 tackles (five for loss), six interceptions, one fumble recoveryCoach Shaffer: “Joe is very versatile. He’s got great coverage ability, great speed, great change of direction.”

JAMES BLACKSHELLSenior wide receiver2011 stats: Injured after one game last season.Coach Shaffer: “In the first game of the year, last year, he breaks his leg ... He’s back full speed. He’s ready to go.”

FRIDAYNIGHT

MEMORIES 1994 STRENGTHSDEFENSIVE LINECentral has a wealth of riches along the defensive line and at the skill positions. All four starting defensive linemen return, including ends Rashawn Shaw (14 sacks, 17 tackles for loss in 2011) and Elliot Jacobs (six sacks, eight tackles for loss). Offensively, running back Marcus Levy is committed to Cincinnati, while wide receivers Josh Knight (six touchdown catches) and Jameel Jackson (five touchdowns) each have a handful of offers.

WEAKNESSESOFFENSIVE LINECentral’s offensive line was a strength last season — it allowed just four sacks during the regular season — but now is a question mark. Tackles Zerrie Patterson and Bryce Hall graduated and now play at Florida A&M, meaning last year’s backups must step up. Quarterbacks Demarcus Semer and Sam Vaughn have talent, but are unproven and must replace Marcus Sigmon, a two-time all-area selection.

KEY GAMESEPT. 27: AT VERO BEACHCentral-Vero Beach easily was the most anticipated non-district game in 2011 and it turned out to be a thriller. The Cobras led 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-14 at half, but Vero Beach scored the next three touchdowns and won the game 35-28. Central felt it should have won last year’s game and the coaching staff already has talked about wanting to beat Vero Beach on the road this season.

PREDICTION7-2, 3-0 DISTRICT 12-7AFort Pierce Central has the talent to be very good, but first must prove it has the right pieces, particularly at quarterback and on the offensive line. Whoever the quarterback is will have Marcus Levy in the backfield and four solid receivers to throw to, and with the addition of linebacker/defensive end Sharieff Rhaheed, the defense could be just as good as it was a year ago. Tough non-district games at Palm Bay, Vero Beach, St. Lucie West Centennial and Hardee will be a challenge.

DID YOU KNOW? ■ In 1975, Fort Pierce Central was 5-0 at Lawnwood Stadium, giving the Cobras a 32-2 home record through their first six seasons.

■ In 1994, the trip to Miami-Dade County was Fort Pierce Central’s first since 1971.

SCHEDULEAugust31 Fort Pierce Westwood 7September7 at Palm Bay 7:3014 Sebastian River 727 at Vero Beach 7October5 at Viera 7:3019 Martin County 726 St. Lucie West Centennial 7November1 Port St. Lucie 79 at Hardee 7:30

DEPTH CHARTOFFENSE

Pos Name No Cl Ht WtQB SamVaughn 2 Jr. 6-3 166RB MarcusLevy 14 Sr. 5-11 195WR JameelJackson 18 Sr. 6-0 180WR J.J.Stevens 5 Sr. 5-6 160WR JoshKnight 4 Sr. 6-2 180WR AlquawnVickers 7 Jr. 5-8 160OL GarrettSmith 50 Sr. 6-4 280OL B.JeanCharles 68 Sr. 5-10 220OL NicPadrick 53 Sr. 6-1 255OL ZachGroothouse 54 Sr. 6-0 215OL LouisSaez 61 Jr. 6-1 260

DEFENSEPos Name No Cl Ht WtDE ElliotJacobs 6 Sr. 6-0 200DT MauriceCampbell 99 Sr. 6-4 240DT JerandiousWorks 32 Sr. 5-11 265DE RashawnShaw 42 Jr. 6-2 225LB ShariefRhaheed 15 Jr. 6-4 205LB StacyNoble 44 Sr. 5-11 220LB WilliamDaceus 30 Jr. 5-10 180DB JosephFigueroa 31 Sr. 5-11 180DB RoodyClerisier 3 Sr. 5-10 160DB TylerGaskin 8 Sr. 6-1 185DB CourtneyMimms 19 So. 5-9 140

SPECIAL TEAMSPos Name No Cl Ht WtK DylanBlosser 35 Jr. 5-9 160P MikeMcGinnis 80 So. 5-9 170

RESERVESDemarcus Semer (12, Sr., QB), Alonzo Hip-polyte(55,Sr.,OL),RogerClark(52,Sr.,DL),MikePercival(20,Jr.,DB),JamesBlackshell(16,Sr.,WR),BillyJolivert(22,So.,WR),LowgensCleriser(13,Sr.,WR),RobbyRudoff(77,Jr.,OL),AndrewGuthart(68,So.,OL),BrianBurritt(34,Jr.,LB),AnthonyGamble(11,Jr.,DB),WilliamBlue74,Sr.,OL),KyleWest(82,So.,WR),NehariCrawford(10,So.,WR),SharmarPierre(81,So.,WR),CasseyPierre(83,So.,WR),RobinZimeo(84,So.,WR),MikeGladstein(33,Sr.,LB),Eu-geneJacobs(43,Sr.,LB),StevensonSimeus(95,Sr.,DL),JamesMathews(72,Sr.,OL/DL)

COACHING STAFFCoach: Josh Shaffer (second year)Record: 9-22010: 9-2 (3-0 District 12-7A)Assistants: Dave Jacobs (offensive line), Keith Powell (wide receivers), Stacy Noble (running backs), Jake Padrick (offensive line), David Pierce (offensive line), Jerome Bembry (offensive skills), Charlie Matthews (defensive coordinator), Henry Scurry (defensive backs), Will Padrick (defensive line), Kimberry Lubin (linebackers), Brenton Kappler (defensive line)

STADIUMLAWNWOOD STADIUM (5,000)Playing surface: GrassAddress: 1500 Virginia Ave., Fort PierceDirections: From U.S. 1: Go west on Virginia Avenue for one mile. The stadium is on your right. From Interstate 95: Take exit 129. Take Okeechobee Road east. Stay right at the fork when Okeechobee becomes Virginia Avenue. Take Virginia two miles. The stadium is on the left.Main office: 772-468-5888On the web: www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/fpc

RIVALS ■ Fort Pierce Westwood ■ Martin County ■ Vero Beach

MARCUS LEVYSenior running back2011 stats: 1,382 rushing yards,18 rushing touchdowns, 409 receiving yards, three touchdownsCoach Shaffer: “He’s a dynamic player. He can turn a 1-yard gain into 80 yards.”

By Jon SantucciSpecial to Treasure Coast Newspapers

FORT PIERCE — The combination of a lengthy playoff run in 2011 and the return of talented players at almost every position has Fort Pierce Central dreaming of big things again this season.

Central went 9-2 last season, losing in the Region 4-7A final to eventual state champion Braden-ton-Manatee 13-10.

“I have the expectation to go at least three (rounds) deep in the playoffs,” Central coach Josh Shaffer said. “To get there is the tough part.”

To illustrate the point, in the final team meeting before fall practice began, Shaffer pulled out a ladder with five rungs and asked defensive back Roody Clerisier to climb to the top.

“We’re trying to get to that fifth level,” Shaffer said. “Once you’re on that fifth level, there’s nothing there to hold on to, nothing there to catch you. You have to have the courage to get there and stand there.”

Central certainly has the play-ers — both offensively and de-fensively — to make another run deep into the postseason, starting with running back Marcus Levy.

A consummate all-purpose back, Levy rushed for 1,382 yards,

caught a team-best 30 passes and scored 21 total touchdowns in 2011. The Cincinnati-commit was a first-team all-state selection in 2011 and is working toward a repeat performance.

The passing game is set at re-ceiver with Josh Knight, Jameel Jackson, J.J. Stephens, Alquan Vickers and James Blackshell.

The biggest offensive question is: Can junior quarterback Sam Vaughn fill the void left by Mar-cus Sigmon’s graduation?

Vaughn only won the starting job Monday after battling with senior Demarcus Semer since January, and it was a close compe-tition throughout the spring and preseason camp. Shaffer said the decision was a tough one because they’ve been pushing each other to get better.

“I’m comfortable with both of them,” Shaffer said. “They need to manage the game.”

Regardless of who is under center, the offense will feature a different kind of attack than last season.

While Sigmon’s biggest strengths were his leadership and smarts, Semer and Vaughn both have stronger arms, allowing the Cobras to take more shots down-field — something which should open up more room for Levy.

The defense allowed just over 13 points per game in 2011 and should once again be one of the best on the Treasure Coast. The unit’s main objective is to get the ball back by whatever means nec-essary, whether it’s forcing a turn-over or forcing a fourth down.

Everything for the Central defense starts up front.

The entire defensive line — ends Elliot Jacobs and Rashawn Shaw and tackles Maurice Camp-bell and Jerandious Works — re-turns. The four combined for 23 sacks and three fumble recover-ies last season. Central also added all-area linebacker/defensive end Sharieff Rhaheed, a transfer from Fort Pierce Westwood, who can make plays off the edge.

“It goes under the radar, but that’s really a strength of the team,” Shaffer said. “We have both ends returning, we add Sharieff Rhaheed, we’ve got about eight defensive tackles we rotate in.

“Our defensive line is really solid.”

Linebacker Stacy Noble re-turns from a season-ending injury and should be a leader of the unit, while all-state safety Joe Figueroa mans the defensive backfield. The senior led the Treasure Coast with six interceptions last season.

Climbing the ladderCentral determined to extend its run in the state playoffs

8-5Why it was special: After a 6-4 regular season, the Cobras stunned 10-0 Palm Beach Lakes 44-14 and knocked off 9-2 Dillard, 17-13, before losing to nationally ranked Miami Southridge 20-16 in a state quarterfinal.By the numbers: Fort Pierce Central scored 300 points, becoming the first

St. Lucie County team to do so three years in a row.Playmakers: Running backs Maurice Toombs and Alvin Swoope led the way behind a terrific line that included Florida State-bound tackle Jerry Johnson. Toombs had 1,473 yards and 17 touchdowns, Swoope 1,134 and 12 TDs. The defense was led by Sam Knight,

who averaged nearly 8 tackles and intercepted 5 passes. Darrell Reaves had 3 blocked kicks and Joe Kisler had a team-high 10 sacks.Etc.: Toombs and Swoope were arguably the greatest running back tandem in area history. They combined for 8,055 yards and 79 touchdowns.

CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Sam Vaughn, a junior, was named the starting quarterback this week. He hit 9-of-11 passes for 94 yards against Treasure Coast in the kickoff classic last Friday.