Charlie Ward likes what he sees from Florida High's undefeated football team
Charlie Ward has enjoyed watching Florida High’s football practices and home games this season.
Ward – Florida High’s boys basketball coach – has seen enough to feel good about the football team’s chances in Friday’s state championship.
“They have the right process in place to be successful,” Ward said.
Undefeated Florida High (14-0) - in search of the program’s first state title - meets Cocoa (10-3) in the Class 2S (suburban) championship game at Cox Stadium at 7 p.m.
The Seminoles are making their first title game appearance since 2019, when they finished runner-up to Chaminade-Madonna.
The Tigers – last year’s state runner-up in Class 4A – are seeking their fifth championship overall, but first since 2016.
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Twice as nice
Florida High has the chance to capture state titles in football and basketball in the same calendar year.
Ward’s Seminoles won their first FHSAA boys basketball state title in 59 years last spring with their 67-66 win over Miami Riviera Prep in Lakeland.
Four players from Ward’s team – Ashton Hampton, Christian Johnson, Landen Elkins and Jessiah Mcgrew – are on coach Jarrod Hickman’s football team.
“It would be awesome to see,” Ward said of the quartet’s opportunity to win a second state title in eight months.
Ward understands what it takes to be successful.
The former Florida State two-sport star was the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner for the national-championship Seminoles. Ward also played in the NBA for 12 seasons - 10 with the New York Knicks.
Ward's accomplished college career is currently featured in a new ACC Network documentary titled “Twice as Nice: The Legend of Charlie Ward."
The one-hour show debuted Monday and features interviews with Ward, three former FSU coaches (Mark Richt, Brad Scott and Pat Kennedy), teammates and family members.
It also includes video highlights from his playing days in basketball and football under legendary FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who died in August 2021 and ranks second all time in Division I wins. Ward was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
“It brings back some great memories,” Ward said of the documentary.
Florida High’s football, meanwhile, has the chance to end its season in storybook fashion.
The Seminoles must slow Cocoa senior quarterback Blake Boda − Florida's leader in passing yardage at 3,768.
In Cocoa's 31-21 win over Starke Bradford last week, Boda completed 19 of 25 passes for a pair of scores and 324 passing yards − his eighth 300-yard passing game this season. Sophomore receiver JayvanBoggs caught nine passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win.
Ward has watched enough of Florida High to know the team will be prepared.
“He (Hickman) is a quality coach, quality guy,” Ward said.
“They have a plan, they run the same system they’ve had, they have the same core coaches, which plays a big part in success. When you start to have those dynamics, and quality kids who are brought up through the program, it breeds success.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Charlie Ward pulling for Florida High football to win 2S state title
