Don’t blame the boys soccer coaches in District 2-3A for not predicting Mosley’s dominance during the regular season.
In addition to first-year Dolphins head coach Ryan Rogers, Rutherford (Craig Ingram) and Arnold (Aaron Murphy) also field new head coaches this season.
So leave it to Bay’s Ron Houpt, whose had two decades involved with the Tornadoes’ program to make an assessment of Mosley heading into Tuesday’s district tournament at Arnold.
“They’ve got a lot of really talented kids,” Houpt said. “They have three or four sitting on the bench that could start for all three of us.”
The Dolphins, 11-1-2, are top seeded and face Rutherford 7 p.m. Tuesday at Arnold’s Mike Gavlak Sports Complex. That match will be preceded by No. 2 seed Bay vs. Arnold at 5 p.m.
The winners not only meet for the district title 7 p.m. Friday at Arnold, but also qualify for next week’s Region 1-3A tournament that begins Jan. 30.
Rogers, not to be confused with a Mosley running back of the same name, is a 26-year-old head coach who previously spent a season guiding Mosley’s junior varsity and worked for three years in the Trinity International University system.
He said the regular season was a learning process for both coach and players, and the team has responded successfully, the only blemishes a tie and narrow loss to 4A Niceville.
“I would say they’ve surprised me,” Rogers said. “I wasn’t sure how we could bring everything together and form chemistry.
“I knew that we had talented players. But how hard they’ve worked to come together. They’ve bought in. They expected to be strong and do well, but I didn’t anticipate having the season we’ve had so far.”
While Rogers called this year a growing process for him as he learns how to best motivate the Dolphins, they have thus far avoided complacency because of what he termed a harmony between confidence and humility.
Rogers had a difficult time singling out players who helped pave the way, noting a team concept forged from many talented feet.
He did, however, laud first-year keeper Alex Gentili and his brother, Anthony, who helps anchor the defense. Senior Tyler White is the leading scorer and a versatile player both up front and at midfield, and James Lovette is a center midfielder who provides strength and stability.
“We’ve moved guys around … they’ve been very unselfish,” Rogers said. “Some have been a forward their while lives and we asked them to play center mid.”
That also describes a Bay team that is rounding into form with an 11-7-2 record. Houpt seldom if ever is concerned with the Tornadoes’ won-loss record in December.
Bay will be tested by Arnold, which it defeated 1-0 and 2-1 this season. Houpt said the Tornadoes’ losses to Mosley were by 2-0 and 3-0.
“Yeah, we’re peaking at the right time, playing good soccer,” Houpt said of his team’s chances. “We were not all that good last week, but played two higher-class teams. We’re coming together defensively and have a pretty good attack.”
Houpt’s guarded optimism is based somewhat on a late-season move that sent high-scoring Corey Joseph from the front line to the back. That switch also involved Christian Wilkins going from the back to the front.
“He (Joseph) said he’d play in the back and that’s what we (coaches) wanted to hear,” Houpt said. “He’s a senior and a leader.”
In addition to Wilkins, freshman Hunter Hall has taken over as the leading scorer. Houpt never questioned Hall’s skill, but has been impressed with how he’s progressed against defenders often three and four years older.
Keeper Zach Watson also has been a mainstay, Houpt said, and probably will be a major factor if Bay can contest for the district crown.
“We can only hope,” Houpt said. “But we like where we’re at.”