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BARRON COLLIER

Two-and-a-half weeks into the spring and Mark Ivey is starting to get a feel for his 2008 Cougars. He’s just not sure whether that’s a good or a bad thing yet.

“We’re either pretty good on defense,” Ivey said, “or we’ve got a lot of work to do on offense.”

In truth, the second-year coach said that’s a pretty positive development, what with the staff determined to shore up a unit that was susceptible to the big play last year.

“A lot of home runs,” Ivey said. “Last year we’d play two or three (tough) plays, then we’d give up the 70- or 80-yarder. If you’re playing good defense, you want to make somebody drive the field and earn it.”

Barron still won a district title behind its high-powered offense, and the slow-going on that side of the ball is to be expected, what with all but right guard Mike Herrera having graduated from last year’s line.

“We’ve got plenty of time, but graduating four of five is a big number,” Ivey said. “There’s good players here, we’ve just gotta get them all in sync. By the end of last year, they knew how to work together and right now we just don’t have that chemistry.”

The search will likely extend into summer, with the Cougars not expected to dig deep into the playbook for the May 24 spring game against St. Petersburg-Lakewood.

— Dana Oppedisano

CYPRESS LAKE

The Panthers have been spending more time on defense than offense this spring, which coach Chris Hall says is not typical. He said the offense is already strong, so offensive drills are not needed as much.

“Our offense is looking pretty good,” Hall said. “That’s what spring is for. It’s about seeing who you have and moving around spots.”

More players are emerging, giving further encouragement to the fall outlook. Two freshman defensive ends, Hunter Johnson and Rommell Samuel, have impressed Hall.

Also on the defense, rising senior Brandon Derita is having a strong showing. Rising sophomore Casey Gibson, who played strong safety in the fall but could move to another position, has also caught the coach’s eye.

“Everywhere we put him, he succeeds,” Hall said.

— Dave Montrose

ESTERO

The public can get its first Friday night glimpse of the Wildcats under new coach Rich Dombroski in the Blue/White scrimmage Friday at 7 p.m.

“We’ve had a lot of great competition in practices,” Dombroski said. “We’ll be looking to see who has picked up the offense and the defense the quickest.”

Dombroski said Will Davis has emerged as the team’s starting quarterback.

“I couldn’t be happier with his progress the past couple weeks,” Dombroski said.

Junior running backs Josiah Arizmendi and Mark Celotto figure to see ample work out of the backfield.

Megan Hensel is expected to play in the scrimmage as an outside linebacker and wide receiver.

There is no admission charge.

— Kevin Johnson

GOLDEN GATE

The Titans continue to make strides in replacing parts from their departing senior class.

After moving Jonathan Lightell to defensive end to replace Anthony Mains and seeing Will Garcia flourish in a more prominent role in the linebacker corps, rising senior Zack Izbicki has taken on a bigger role as a defensive leader, as well aside Garcia. Last season, the two combined for 164 tackles and six sacks.

Murphy Lene has also stepped into a full-time starting role at cornerback, solidifying the defensive secondary. He is looking to give a lift to a unit where no player had more than one interception last season.

— Nick Krueger

GULF COAST

You can’t keep a tough football player down. At Gulf Coast High, linebacker Matt Milk is practicing this spring even though it was originally thought that an odd injury suffered during baseball season would keep him on the sidelines.

“Matt Milk is practicing and hitting. He is one tough kid,” said Sharks coach Frank Tudryn.

Milk had sustained an injury to his mouth when a baseball ricocheted off the batting cage piping during a pregame batting practice session.

Milk is part of a defensive unit that is loaded with returners — especially in the defensive secondary.

Paul Dunbar is back, having seen action as a linebacker and defensive lineman last year. One young player Tudryn is excited about is rising sophomore Brandon Bolock. Back on the defensive line are Charles Fox, Randy Clark and Paul Luebbe. The secondary is stacked with the likes of Cody Colosimo, Brian Biada, Tyler Weiss and Shawn Normil.

— Tom Rife

IMMOKALEE

After two weeks of practice, the Immokalee football team is anxious to compete in game conditions.

The Indians will get that chance Saturday in an intrasquad scrimmage.

“The guys have been on me wondering what team they’re going to be on,” first-year coach Israel Gallegos said. “They’re really looking forward to lining up and competing.”

Gallegos will use the scrimmage to evaluate his team ahead of the May 22 spring game with Miami-Bay Point.

“We’ll obviously film it and look at what we need to improve on,” Gallegos said. “I’m happy where we are right now. We’ve been working our base offense and base defense, and the kids are coming along. We’re young on both sides of the line, but we’ve got some strong kids who should step up for us.”

— Andrew Sodergren

LELY

Though Lely is one of the last teams to play its spring game, coach Steve Pricer is still anxious.

While he finds encouraging things to say to his team, he also gives them the countdown in days they have before the May 29 game at Clearwater-Countryside.

“I am very impressed with what I have seen so far,” he says to his team. “You are so far ahead of last year, but we are far from ready on either side of the ball to play another team at this stage.”

The field goal problem that has haunted the Trojans in the past is looking more like a bright spot this spring.

Freshman Jerry Reyes, an All-Star soccer player, may have problems with form, but he is booting field goals straight and long.

Dennis Marcelin appears to be gaining an edge over Sean O’Regan at quarterback, but Principe is not conceding the job yet. Sophomore Frankie Pugh appears assured to be taking over the load that outgoing running back Fortin Faustin carried in 2007. Speed at wide receivers is comforting, but Pricer has concerns with the offensive front and the defensive linebacker slots.

“Our kids are working hard,” he said. “The kids that sacrifice, who learn how to make the big play, will be in the lineup come game time.”

— Roger LaLonde

NAPLES

As spring football practice continues, Golden Eagles coach Bill Kramer is encouraged by his squad’s progress.

“It’s really starting to look like football again,” Kramer said. “Spring ball is all about fundamentals, getting back to the basics.”

The Golden Eagles will replace 31 seniors from last year’s 15-0 juggernaut, but the cupboard isn’t bare by any stretch. Among the returning standouts are running backs Greg Pratt and Carlos Hyde, quarterback Juno Prudhomm, defensive lineman Josh Elizondo and offensive lineman Nick Alajajian.

“Right now, we’re sorting out who is going to step up and lead this team,” Kramer said. “We’ve established a tremendous tradition over the past 10 years and the players feel that obligation to keep it moving in the right direction.”

Kramer said Prudhomm, Elizondo and linebacker Jose “Blue” Davila have proven to be strong leaders during spring practice.

Among newcomers, freshman offensive lineman Thomas Morris has impressed the coaching staff.

“As a freshman, he’s holding his own against experienced players,” Kramer said. “He’s doing a great job so far.”

— Andrew Sodergren

PALMETTO RIDGE

The countdown board in the weight room will tick some more today, this time showing only a week until the Bears travel to LaBelle for the spring game.

Even though Palmetto Ridge is a young team — only a handful of starters return — many of them will have some idea of what to expect.

The Bears played LaBelle last year, after all, to end spring practice, dropping a 20-14 decision at home in a tight, hard-hitting affair.

Hence the rematch.

“I like playing LaBelle,” Bears coach Tim Speakman said, “because they’re tough, hard-nosed kids. We’re looking forward to playing them again because we know it will be physical.”

The game will be at 6:30 p.m. on May 22.

It is more, however, than a rematch of last year’s spring game; the teams also met in the 2006 playoffs, with LaBelle taking a 38-24 win.

— Scott Hotard

ST. JOHN NEUMANN

With just 24 players out this spring, Neumann barely has enough for a full 11-on-11 scrimmage. Any injury would limit the team as it prepares for its May 23 game against Estero.

“I’m sure other schools do a lot more live tackling and hitting,” Howey said. “We can’t afford any injuries. We scrimmage a bit, but we don’t go live.”

In lieu of scrimmages, Neumann has started getting ready for their spring home game against the Wildcats. While the Celtics mainly worked on drills during the first few weeks of practice, they began preparing for Estero’s offense and defense this week.

--- Adam Fisher

SOUTH FORT MYERS

After a one year absence, the annual Red-White scrimmage returns to South at 6:30 p.m .Friday.

Wolfpack coach Grant Redhead knows how hyped-up players get for the intrasquad evening, so he decided to keep the rosters a secret until Wednesday.

“I didn’t post the list until (Wednesday) because I didn’t want to hear all the chatter back and forth,” Redhead said. “It’s always a fun game and the kids talk about how much fun it is.”

It’s also a chance for fans to see the team’s explosive weapons square off in different uniforms. Quarterback Dallas Crawford, who threw for nearly 1,800 yards as a freshman last fall, will play for the White team, while Brodrick Jenkins and Ed Dorris, the team’s leading rushers from 2007, will suit up for the Red squad.

In regard to spring practice, Crawford said players been very focused since Day 1.

“Because we went so far last season,” he said, “they see the reality that we can really go far this year.”

— Kevin Johnson