No matter where you look in South Florida, there are offensive game changers. Players who can lift their respective teams and take them a long way.

Broward has two-time rushing champion Devon Wright from Taravella and Ely quarterback Michael German.

In Miami-Dade County, there are junior quarterbacks Raheem Cato from Miami Springs and Teddy Bridgewater from Northwestern, Columbus senior running back Jakhari Gore and Central quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey who can turn a game around in an instant.

But as impressive as all those athletes are, and they are among the best anywhere, can any of them match the speed and game-changing ability Southridge senior quarterback Jermaine Kelson has?

Where would the 7-0 Spartans be without the gifted 5-9, 175-pounder, who originally started playing for the Spartans before leaving for Doral, only to return just in time turn enough heads in his final season.

Ask any team who lined up against the speedy (4.37) Kelson and all will agree that this is an athlete who is explosive, football savvy and impressive as anyone who plays football in the state of Florida.

``He's magic,'' said Spartans' first-year coach Patrick Burrows. ``Just when defenses think they have him stopped, he darts through the smallest of holes and he's got a first down or a touchdown.''

A TEAM PLAYER

Kelson never considered himself as an individual. If you talk to him about what he does, he quickly deflects the attention to the rest of the team. A program that has certainly brought back the glory years of this program.

Having watched Kelson play the past three years, you cannot be impressed by his speed and vision. He is stronger than you think and his leadership abilities remind many of former Southridge great Pat Young, who guided the Spartans in 1983-84.

``I don't consider myself an individual,'' Kelson points out. ``I know that you win and lose as a team, and that's what the coaches have told us here since day one.''

While Kelson does make good use of his running backs such as seniors Christian Goods, Rashad Jackson, Markell Mayfield and Jean Driscolline, and a huge line that features UCF-bound brothers Jordan and Justin McCray, a pair of 6-3, 300-pounder, he has a way of making his own way out there for a program that has to be taken serious this season as a threat against anyone.

If you understand Burrows method of coaching, he will never concede anything. He knows that his team is unbeaten and state rated because they have discipline and plenty of athletes. The mention of programs such as Columbus, Northwestern or Central standing in the way of pulling off the unexpected will never get sympathy from a coach who took Southwest from the basement to the top in three short years.

TOUCH SCHEDULE

When the Spartans head toward the playoffs, there will be no 6A team in South Florida that had to run through a more competitive district than the Spartans, so you'll excuse Burrows and his team if they worry more about South Dade, Homestead, Coral Reef, Palmetto and Killian in a district that is shaping up to be a powerhouse of the future. They also finish off the year with district champion Carol City.

``This team you see out here is no fluke,'' Burrows said. ``This is not a one-year wonder. What we've been able to do is take the young men who belong here and get them back to playing the football they were brought up playing -- championship caliber football.''

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