He has 48 players on a roster that has no seniors. His team will not have a home game this season and eight of the 10 games the West Broward Bobcats play this inaugural year will be against varsity competition. With all the odds stacked against him and his team, you would think that coach Rick Divita would be overwhelmed.

''This is a huge challenge,'' Divita said. ``One that I have prepared myself for over the years.''

As a coach who had the chance to work with such standouts as Chad 'Ocho Cinco' Johnson, Duane Starks, Samari Rolle, Terry Cousins, Ray Piuquion, Antoine Mirambeau and many more top-flight athletes at Miami Beach High School, and Ohio State freshman Travis Howard and Etienne Sabino at Dr. Michael Krop, where he helped to rebuild the Lightning, Divita is not intimidated by much.

Instead of dwelling on the many negatives that usually surround a new program, Divita points out the players, most of them 10th- and 11th-graders, who will make a difference as this program builds for the future. A future that appears to be bright with a talented youth football program sending players such as sophomore running back Nate Benton (5-6, 160), quarterback Chris Leyva (5-10, 170) and University School transfer Calvin Collie (6-0, 210) to Broward's newest campus.

While wins and losses are always important to fans, Divita and the Bobcats are resigned to the fact that their day in the sun will come, and spending time dwelling on what this program doesn't have right now, could easily get in the way of what is important in the development of this football team.

A TOP RECRUIT

''You always love to win games,'' said Collie, who is regarded as one of the top Class of 2011 defensive linemen/running backs. ``But with the experienced schools we are playing, we are faced with no seniors and that is a huge thing when you have so many younger players.''

Any program that requires starting from scratch usually takes time. Cypress Bay and Everglades represent exactly what Divita and his Bobcats are looking for. Both programs jumped out of the gate, using quality athletes and tremendous coaching to reach the point where both are among the best 6A teams in the state in a short period of time.

''What this is all about is developing talent,'' Divita said. ``I don't think there's a secret formula. You have to hope that the athletes who come into your school are willing to give everything to build a successful program. So far, I can see that happening here. We have young men who are willing to make sacrifices to compete sooner rather than later.''

It's the sophomore class that is the cornerstone for the Bobcats. In addition to Benton, Leyva and Collie, there are also defensive back/receiver Yamer Sandigo (5-9, 165), defensive back Juan Bezada (5-7, 175), running back/defensive backs Mike Padin (5-5, 145) and Brandon Rose (5-9, 170), quarterback Dustin Edens (6-0, 195) and receiver/linebacker Keith Regis (5-7, 170) and receivers Kenny Longo (5-7, 135), Brian Bullock (6-0, 180) and standout Mike Fratianni, a 6-3, 205-pounder. There are also linemen such as Josh Mittleberg (6-1, 165), Andy Moas (6-3, 245), Stephan Rucculli (6-1, 205), Christian Mendez (5-11, 220), Andrew Dominquez (6-2, 230) and Trevor Nemrow (5-11, 200).

With no junior varsity program, the sophomore class will take players and expose them to varsity football all season long. Linebackers Steve Inneh (6-0, 170), Cory McShane (5-8, 155), Colby Kudja (5-11, 155), Chres Orozco (5-9, 145), Jake Cutler (5-10, 155), Stephen Noriega (5-9, 155); defensive backs James Marr (6-0, 170), Streven Thomas (5-10, 150), Brandon Goldberg (5-9, 135); defensive linemen Eduardo Marquez (5-9, 155) and impressive kicker Connor Doole round out a class that has already served as a foundation.

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