Four players from Barbara Goleman Senior High’s football team comprised the cornerstone of the Gators’ offense during its record-breaking season.
Wide receivers Zachary Valcarcel and Avari Marshall and running backs Jamaal Joseph and Ahmauri Randolph met every challenge this season to help Goleman dominate its opponents.
The quartet accounted for 49 touchdowns and 270 points for the Gators (10-1), who nearly achieved a perfect season, according to MaxPreps.com.
The Gators outscored their opponents 420-183 and averaged 38 points per game, a school record.
Valcarcel, a senior, averaged 15.6 yards per catch, per game; had 729 passing yards and scored 16 touchdowns.
Marshall, a sophomore, averaged 29.7 yards per game and had 565 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns.
Joseph, also a sophomore, rushed for 941 yards on 7.4 yards per carry, per game and scored 10 touchdowns.
Randolph, a senior, recorded about 356 yards and scored 1 touchdown.
“All four of them are great athletes who can do something special with the ball,” Coach Ariel Cribeiro said. “They stepped up when we needed them to do big things.”
Cribeiro and the Gators are already focusing on next season.
Valcarcel and Randolph are set to graduate in 2020.
Marshall and Joseph are among 12 returning starters.
Their coach hopes the duo can lead the team and pick up where the Gators left off.
Cribeiro said he will use the same run-pass offense next season. In that play a quarterback may throw a pass or hand the ball off from scrimmage.
“The strategy is a run-pass offense that defenses hadn’t caught on to,” Cribeiro said.
Quarterback Anthony Fernandez is graduating in 2020.
“Our biggest question is, who’s going to be our quarterback?” Cribeiro said. “Mario Pinera is the leader of the club.”
Cribeiro said the defense may need some fine-tuning but expects players to be ready by next season when the Gators would like another shot at the Independent league championship.
Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High beat the Gators for that prize on Nov. 6.
The defeated coach was graceful about the heartbreaking loss.
“They were well coached in that game,” Cribeiro said of Krop’s coach Thomas Caporale. “They have a great program.”