Posted on Fri, May. 16, 2008

I f you have followed high school football in Miami-Dade County through the years, you know North Miami Beach was never considered an elite team in an area that features perhaps more talent than anywhere in the nation. Times have changed.

What Jeff Bertani has done with the Chargers over the past decade is to take a program that lived close to the bottom of the district and turn it into a team that expects to be in the hunt to play for a 6A state title.

How has Bertani been able to change the perception and put NMB in a position to win each year? ''We finally found young men who want to work hard, put in the time and make positives happen,'' Bertani said. ``This is not a team or a program. The kids here are family, and that's what makes it all so special.''

Whether it was Bertani's father, Fred, who opened the school in 1971, Tom Turchetta, Bill Foley, Gary Altheide or current running backs coach Ron Shycko, who also served as head coach, none had the success Bertani has achieved.

Bertani has made it special to suit up for the Chargers. Last year, in victories over Miramar and Cypress Bay and in its only loss of the season to Deerfield Beach in the third round of the playoffs, North Miami Beach had just 31 players in uniform. As he gets his team ready for a spring game against Miami Northwestern on May 30 at Traz Powell Stadium, Bertani has 34 athletes in uniform.

''At a school like this, you are never going to get the numbers that you have at Northwestern and Central,'' Bertani said. ``What we've done is make it a privilege to wear this uniform.''

After winning 11 times in 2006, last season's 12-1 record was the best in school history.

Although two-standout Aaron Winchester leaves for Western Michigan, North Miami Beach has spent the spring trying to search for replacements for the county rushing champion.

The Class of 2009 starts with underrated quarterback Nico Flores (6-2, 210), heavily recruited receiver Kemal Ishmael (5-11, 175), fullback Jonathan Cyprien (6-0, 190), defensive back Yves Dessin (5-8, 160) and offensive lineman Maurice Anderson (6-1, 235). There also is running back Markeith Russell, who at 6-0 and 200 pounds is bigger than the average Chargers running back and reminds Bertani of Lemar Parrish, who played for Bertani in his first year few years as coach.

North Miami Beach also is in good hands with Class of 2010 running back Nick Williams (5-9, 180) and Class of 2011 quarterback Ricky Desir (6-0, 170) and linebacker Max Dorsainvil (5-9, 195).

NEW NATIONAL POWER

What football team will be the overall No. 1 program, heading into the season? Could it be defending state and national champion Northwestern? Probably not. Maybe a Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas team that has as much offense as anyone? There is a chance. What about Madison County?

When the 2007 football season ended, some fans believed the Cowboys should have been mentioned in the same sentence with powers Northwestern and Miami Booker T. Washington, as well as Pahokee, which won yet another state 2B title.

The Cowboys, who took home the school's second state title, a convincing victory over Tampa Catholic, have been one of the state's premier programs throughout the years, winning well above 90 percent of their regular-season games and taking on all opponents.

Last year, after losing to Georgia power Coffee County (20-19) to start the season, the Cowboys won 13 consecutive games, including impressive victories over Nease, Bartram Trail, Tallahassee Godby, Wakulla and South Sumter on the way to coach Frankie Carroll's first state title.

There is little doubt Madison County will be the early favorite to get back to Orlando to defend its 2A state title. And with a more mature team than last year, it could be the best the program has ever fielded.

As the Cowboys left Orlando for the nearly three-hour drive back to North Florida, they had the right to look ahead to the following season. The program would finally get the national attention it has long deserved.

The Class of 2009 begins with impressive two-way line prospect Jacobbi McDaniel (6-2, 275), who has committed to attend Florida State. It also includes running back prospects Chris Thompson (5-10, 185) and Corey Akins (6-0, 200), tight end Chad Mitchell (6-2, 230) and linemen Justin Hood (6-4, 280) and Jordan Carroll (6-4, 255).

On defense, Terell Gillyard (6-0, 210), Quanta Barfield (5-9, 190) and Cortez Akins (5-10, 200) are impressive linebackers. The secondary also will be quality with Donteris Huggins (6-0, 185), Jordan Johnson (6-2, 200) and versatile Kendall Kornegay (5-10, 190).

Although the impressive senior class will lead the way, the underclassmen will be a huge asset to the Cowboys' success. The Class of 2010 features receiver Darius Livingston (6-3, 195), as well as linebacker Coydrick Williams (6-2, 210) and defensive back Justin Hampton (5-9, 190).

If you are looking for some future stars on this team, there are Class of 2011 standouts such as linemen LaDante Gibson (6-3, 280) and Jumbo Brinson (6-3, 280), as well as Josh Copeland (6-1, 190) and Mike Jones (5-9, 200). Other rising stars include quarterback Kelvin Singletary (6-1, 173) and defensive back Jermaine Hart (5-10, 175).

CHANGES AT CAROL CITY

Just when legendary coach Walt Frazier stepped down, three of Carol City's top Class of 2009 players also were off to other schools.

New coach Harold Barnwell must replace several graduating seniors, as well as receiver Joshua Mathis (5-10, 165) and cornerback Jeremy Mathis (5-10, 160), each of whom moved to Davie University School. Promising linebacker Cleveland Seymour (5-11, 190) has moved on to a Hallandale team that is expected to make a serious run in 4A.

Larry Blustein is co-host of the Miami Dolphins Gridiron Show every Thursday evening from 8-9 on WQAM (560 AM). Have a comment? You can contact Larry via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com.