PALMETTO (SNN-TV) – If you take a trip down to Harllee Stadium you’ll find the Palmetto Tigers looking to defend their regional title for the third year in a row. At the helm for Palmetto, is long time head coach Dave Marino, who took over the program in 2010. Coach Marino has his sights set on nothing short of success for his team. “We place high expectations on our kids in our program…our kids have set a high standard that it’s a state championship, that’s our goal.”
The goal of winning a state championship doesn’t come without a talented team on the field. One key to Palmetto’s success this season will be their production from the Quarterback position. The Tigers have two solid options under center, in freshman Zander Smith and sophomore Zymarrion “Nooka‘ Lang. Smith is a highly touted QB, who transferred to Palmetto from Bradenton Christian this off-season, after starting for the Panthers as an 8th grader last year. Coach Marino likes what he sees from his two studs at QB. “They both have really progressed really well over the summer and in 7-on-7 work…Zander is a little bit further ahead than Nooka.”
Upon asking Coach Marino about more of his core guys, he raved about leaders like Jaylen Wester, Kyjuan Smith, Eric Brust, and Cedric Augustine. The latter of that group, Augustine, leads a talented group of bruisers on the defensive front. The D-line is a position group that Palmetto will heavily lean on. “You know, we feel good about our guys in the trenches. We got depth that we can develop.”
Development will come at a premium for a younger Palmetto Tigers squad, but their inexperience shouldn’t prove costly to Marino’s bunch, as they aim to prove their still a top contender here on the Suncoast.