desoto high school football champions

Community supporting our BulldogsCommunity supporting our Bulldogs

Thursday, October 30, 2014Arcadian |

Community supporting our Bulldogs

Dear Fans,

It is hard to believe this school year is well underway and the stu-dents are in their second quarter. It’s my favorite time of the year be-cause campus comes to life with the excitement, enthusiasm and eager-ness of the students and parents as

the crisp autumn nights take hold. DHS has been busy as students and teams � ll our gyms, athletic � elds, and weight room every day. It always excites me to see our student athletes hard at work.

I want to thank our community and great fans we have that bleed blue and white. Your support is what drives our athletic programs to be the best. DeSoto football is 6-1 and is the 5A-13 District Champs. � is � ursday we face the always tough Hardee Wildcats. We need to � ll the stands with Bulldog Blue and loud cheering! Come on out to Bulldog stadium and watch your Dogs take on those pesky Cats.

Go Bulldogs!

Jarrett ZolkosAthletic Director

8

301 N. Brevard Ave. Suite BArcadia, FL 34266PO Box 1733Wauchula, FL 33873

Ph: (863) 993-4101Fax: (863) 773-3615

[email protected]

Dear Football Fans:

It is no secret that DeSoto and Hardee have a long-standing his-tory of exciting and competitive football. It’s the longest standing rivalry of high school football in the state of Florida. � e School District of DeSoto and our entire

community are looking very forward to this game and extend our most spirited welcome to Hardee County.

My sincere appreciation to Coach Eglo� and his foot-ball sta� for all the support, extra hours and unequaled commitment you give to the program and to our � ne athletes. A special appreciation also is extended to the DeSoto County High School administration, teaching sta� , support sta� , Big Dawg Club members, Blazing Blue Band Booster members, parents, and our citizens for your vital support which is necessary in producing such inspiring young people who make up our football team, cheerleading squad, and marching band.

So, come join the fun as we support our 2014-5A-13 hometown district champions. Let the game begin and the “Dogs” win!

Sincerely,

Dr. Karyn E. GarySuperintendent

Thursday, October 30, 2014 Arcadian |


ARCADIA – Today, the DeSoto County Bulldogs and Hardee Wild-cats play each other for the 94th straight year, a length of time both teams and their fans proudly tout as the longest continuous rivalry in Florida.

� e claim may seem outland-ish – how could anyone know with certainty that the two teams have met every year since 1921? And how could they know that no other rivalry has been going on just as long, or longer? But 30 years ago, the DeSoto County High School student newspaper, the Bulldogs’ Bark, set about proving it. � e evidence remains tucked away in a � ling cabi-net in Jill Maassen’s classroom.

Maassen started teaching English and journalism at DCHS in 1972, where she’s still the adviser of the Bulldogs’ Bark to this day. During the 1984-85 school year, her sta� set about proving the DeSoto Coun-ty-Hardee rivalry as the longest con-tinuous rivalry in the state – a great “exercise in inquisitiveness” and “not just taking things at face value”

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– and compiled a booklet, the origi-nal of which Maassen can bestow by opening up the drawer of the � ling cabinet behind her desk and push-ing some other papers aside.

Maassen chuckles as she looks at the pictures of old DeSoto County football teams that � ll the booklet, particularly one of 1923 Bulldogs sporting rugby polo shirts and leather helmets. Other pages are � lled with lists of coaches and scores

of every

game played in the rivalry since

1921, and Maassen up-dates the scores every year. Hardee leads the rivalry 59-31-5.

An article details the history of the Buck Carlton trophy the two teams play for every year.

Another explains the research put forth by the Bulldogs’ Bark sta� to prove no other pair of rivals have been going at each other for as long as the Bulldogs and Wildcats have. It explains that the curious student reporters started by sending letters to athletic directors at all 494 public and private high schools that ex-

isted at the time, asking who each school’s biggest rival is and how many consecutive years they’ve been playing. � ey received 86 responses, and none reported a rivalry dating back to 1921, though some were close. Sarasota and Manatee, which previously extolled their rivalry as the oldest in state but have since modi� ed to include the word “second,” started playing in 1923. So did Hillsbor-

ough and Plant. Sebring and Avon Park started playing in 1926.

Maassen said “sure, I wonder” if there’s an older rivalry out there that wasn’t reported. But she points out that most of the schools that didn’t respond probably didn’t bother because they don’t have a long-time rival, and that every rivalry inher-ently involves two schools, making it twice as unlikely that a notewor-thy rivalry wasn’t reported.

� e work by the Bulldogs’ Bark sta� a� rmed what Bulldogs’ and

Wildcats’ fans already believed to be true, that they own the oldest continuous rivalry in the state. � at knowledge provides a source of shared pride between two teams and communities, as does the belief that they also own the � ercest rivalry in the state. DeSoto County always tries to schedule a bye in the week

leading up to the Hardee game to prepare for the emotion

of the most intense game on the sched-

ule.“It’s as big as any

college football rivalry you can think of. It’s as big as Florida-Florida

State,” said Jarrett Zolkos, who grew

up in Arcadia and is currently the Bulldogs’

athletic director. “We beat Hardee every year that I played here. � at’s something I’m very proud of.”

On game day, the school holds a pep rally unlike any other. � e rally peaks with a funeral scene, in which cheerleaders dressed in black hold candles as the football players enter the room carrying a co� n. Inside the co� n is a stu� ed Wildcat, which the players take out and shred to bits to the delight of the entire stu-

� e claim may seem outland-ish – how could anyone know with certainty that the two teams have met every year

been going on just as long, or longer?

the DeSoto County High School student newspaper, the Bulldogs’ Bark,

sporting rugby polo shirts and leather helmets. Other pages are � lled with lists of coaches and scores

of every

game played in the rivalry since

1921, and Maassen up-dates the scores every year. Hardee

modi� ed to include the word “second,” started playing in 1923. So did Hillsbor-

ough and Plant. Sebring and Avon Park started playing in

leading up to the Hardee game to prepare for the emotion

of the most intense game on the sched-

Zolkos, who grew up in Arcadia and is

currently the Bulldogs’ athletic director. “We beat

riVAlry | 4

By Zach MillerStaff Writer

Oldest football rivalry in Florida



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dent body.“You’ve never experienced a

pep rally until you go see a DeSo-to-Hardee pep rally,” said Curtis Williams, who grew up in Arcadia, taught at DCHS for 10 years and worked as the athletic director. “It’s untouchable, the craziness and the support that that school has during that pep rally. You walk out of there with the biggest headache in Amer-ica.”

DeSoto County cheerleaders used to present the Hardee principal with black roses at the game for many

years, but that tradition eventually fell by the wayside.

� ere are other, much tamer, long-time traditions that the schools take part in together. On the weekend before the DeSoto County-Hardee game, alumni of both schools play in the Bob Martin Memorial Golf Tournament, named for the only person to coach both teams. � e winning school receives 60 percent of the winnings, while the losing school receives 40 percent.

In the days leading up to the game, cheerleaders of both teams plant school spirit signs from their school to the county line on U.S. Highway 17, so patrons of the opposing bus

know as soon as they cross from one county to the other.

And it wouldn’t be a rivalry without a few pranks. Students of both schools have gone onto the opposing � eld and painted it on the night before the game. Williams also remembers a year that Hardee students le� a dead hog with the words “here lies DeSoto” written on it in the DeSoto County student parking lot.

When the teams renew their ri-valry today in Arcadia, the Bulldogs (6-1) look for their � rst win against the Wildcats since 2008 and to snap a 13-1 run by Hardee (4-4) since 2000. � ey’ll be the favorite, hav-

ing already won the District 5A-13 championship, but both teams know the records have no bearing on the way this game will go.

“It doesn’t matter if the teams are 9-0 versus 0-9, there’s always a chance that either team can win that game because they’re that � red up about it,” Williams said.

No matter who wins, Maassen will add the result to the Bulldogs’ Bark booklet, keeping alive the proof that DeSoto County and Hardee have been playing each other continu-ously longer than any other teams in Florida.

riVAlryFrom pAgE 3

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Coached by: Ralph Gandy



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1972-73 BULLDOGSCoached by: Bob Martin



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2014 DESOTO BULLDOGSVARSITY FOOTBALL

Front row from left: Oscar Alfonso, DaWayne Hearns, Kionte Akins, Emmanuel Wesley, Reginald Jones, Julio Gaitan, Anthony Lee;Second row: Angel Torres, David Kirkland, Alfredrick Tyson, Tevin Cambell, Caleb Blackwood, KeShawn Smith;Third row: Tajahs Jackson, Cesar Barajas, Jeremiah Castillo, Zackery Beeles, Deionte Turner, Stefan Williams, Andre Jones;

Back row: Catera Parhams, Amber Hutcherson, Alexis Johnson, Ariana Washington, Sabrina Martin, Jasmyn Jackson, Hayden Lipe, Destiny Payne, Larissa LaraMiddle row: Delaney Cole-Boggess, Alexia Clark, Taylor Smith, Makayla Green, Katie Turner, Jazmine Venegas, Zakiya TaylorFront Row: (Co-Captain JV) Alyssa Hairston, (Captain JV) Shana Rosine, (Varsity Captain) Kirsten Ramos, (Varsity Co-Captain) Jada RossMascot: Caris Dodd and Castalyn AllshouseNot Pictured: Cierra Crews

2014 DHS CHEERLEADERS



Bob millerCounty Commissioner, District 5

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GO BULLDOGS!

JOB WELLDONE!

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2014 DESOTO BULLDOGSVARSITY FOOTBALL

Front row from left: Oscar Alfonso, DaWayne Hearns, Kionte Akins, Emmanuel Wesley, Reginald Jones, Julio Gaitan, Anthony Lee;Second row: Angel Torres, David Kirkland, Alfredrick Tyson, Tevin Cambell, Caleb Blackwood, KeShawn Smith;Third row: Tajahs Jackson, Cesar Barajas, Jeremiah Castillo, Zackery Beeles, Deionte Turner, Stefan Williams, Andre Jones;

Front row from left: Sacha M., Brittany S., Victoria H.Second row: Mariela E., Kayla L., Jacqueline G., Yesenia G., Brittany J.Third row: Amber M., Jacqueline F., Lauren S., Jessica G., Marisol B., Shelby T.Fourth row: Khorey H., Kevin M., Brendon W., Bradlee H., Jorge H., Taylor B.Fifth row: Logan L., Hunter M., Chace A., Jackson B., Emilie W.Last row: Oliver C., Devin T., Greg P., Romaldo A., Joshua K.Not Pictured: Carli R., Natasha R., Skylynn S., Ashley L., Andrew W., Francisco G., Jafet A., Alexa E.

Fourth row: Nick Castro, Chace Higgins, Hunter Browning, RayShawn Stroman, Patrick Jackson, Gerardo Alonso;Back row coaches: Jamar Jones, Jeff Golden, John Hearon, Travis Johnson, Matt Egloff .Not pictured: Nirion Washington, Tyvion Rembert, DeQualon Fudge, Rosario Zavala, Earnest Robinson, Kendal Stewart.

2014 DHS BAND



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matt Egloff Bulldogs � fth-year head coachDeSoto High physical health instructorFormer college linebacker

Coaching principles:

� e biggest thing is teaching various ways (to learn football skills). Nobody learns the same way. � ere’s a lot of repetition, but there is no one way to learn anything. It’s amazing how great a coach I am when the kids play for each other. � ese are great kids.”

Jamar JonesFirst-year wide receivers coach2003 DeSoto High graduateFormer college receiverCoaching principles:“I make sure my guys know the fundamentals, to teach them things they may not know, may not have been taught in the past.”

travis JohnsonSecond-year defensive back� eld coachDeSoto High instructorFormer college quarterbackCoaching principles:“We teach � ying to the ball, with dis-cipline and being physical. We want smart football players. � is is the oldest rivalry in Florida, so the school will be decked out.”

Wade HuckabySecond-year defensive line varsity/co-coach Junior Varsity1993 DeSoto High graduateDeSoto High industrial tech instructorCoaching principles: “As a squad, we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. It’s a big week and the (kids) are ready. But at game time there’s no doubt (you) can take all the records over the years and throw ‘em out.”

darrel nicklowBulldogs wide receiver/backs coach 14 yearsCoaching principles:“� ese are seniors who’ve been together from the begin-ning. So we want to make sure they know their assign-ments and their techniques. We teach as much as we can.”

John HearonFirst-year special teams/o� ensive-defensive line coachDeSoto High physics instructorFormer football coach northeastern New JerseyCoaching principles:“Get a bunch of kids really believing in themselves, that they can win. You have to be OK with the guy in the mir-ror, respect one another and play like brothers. � e team is very excited to be part of the (DeSoto/Hardee) rivalry.”

2014 BULLDOG COACHING

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Bumper HayThird-year o� ensive coordinator/ nine years coaching Bulldogs1994 DeSoto High graduate/middle linebackerFormer college linebackerCoaching principles:“Keep it simple. Lots of repetitions, adding in new plays based on what we see on � lm. � is is a great game (DeSoto/Hardee). You can be 0-8 and you’re still going to get in some licks.”

Jeff goldenFirst-year quaterbacks coachFormer college quarterbackCoaching principles:“Attack mode 99 percent of the time. It’s that 1 percent you take a knee. And keeping it simple lets the kids be athletes. It’s why we play the games.”

richard KoonceFive-year defensive line coach/co-coach Junior VarsityDeSoto High world history instructorFormer college lineman/grandson of former Bulldogs head coach Richard BowersCoaching principles:“Teaching fundamentals; you out hit them, you’re tougher than the other team. It has to be bred into the play-ers. And we’re de� nitely doing that this year.”



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