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Heating Up: North Miami Beach Chargers

Larry BlockSFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

If you have followed high school football for any length of time, you already know what veteran North Miami Beach High head football coach Jeff Bertani has done throughout the years to change the culture of a program that had little success in the 1970s and 1980s.

What Bertani has done for the past three decades with his alma mater is develop, teach and turn out several collegiate and NFL players. He also instituted a year-round commitment to the program – way before anyone coaching now or in the past had even thought about doing it.

While Bertani used to get plenty of criticism from other coaches for running his program year-round, several of those finger pointers are now forced to do the same, keeping up with the competition.

"I have never stopped doing things the way I have been taught," Bertani said. "My grandfather, my dad and so many other coaches who have impacted my career did it the right way – and that is truly the only way I know how to do things."

The Chargers, through the years, have been as well coached as anyone, as Bertani has always surrounded himself with former players or assistants who have been with him for decades.

If there is anything that he will admit, it's the district and how three or four schools all have a shot in any given year to make the playoffs. Even in 2013 and 2014 when North Miami won the district crown, the Chargers took the game down to the wire.

Last year, district newcomer American won the title. But as things unfold for the 2016 season, it's the Chargers who loom to be the favorite.

American lost five starters who transferred and has a new head coach. Hialeah had a solid season under Steve Smith last year, but the T-Breds lost players as well. North Miami and Eddie Williams failed to make the playoffs last season, and are looking to 11 returning seniors to make some noise.

As Hialeah Gardens continues to build, it appears that Dr. Krop could be the other team – loaded with quality talent – that could be a surprise under first-year head coach Mike Farley.

What makes the Chargers special this season is the cycle of athletes that come through each year.

The senior class will be vital – with talented lineman Woodlyson Alcius leading the way – it's this group that will be needed to win the title.

"We have a schedule that could end up playing in our favor if we do the little things right," Bertani maintains. "But we also have to execute and stay healthy, which neither are ever a given in this game."

In addition to Alcius, the senior class also features versatile Jordan Atkins, a running back/linebacker who has been in the mix the past two years, but most around the program believe that this could be the breakout year for this NMB legacy athlete.

The Chargers also feature gifted receiver Alvin Floyd, who has been hearing from colleges for a long time – and is very much in the mold of some of the elite pass catchers in Chargers' history.

Linebacker Patrick Gilles and safety Shaide Ramirez are also expected to add that experience.

"The one thing that we have been able to build is our line of scrimmage," Bertani explained. "If you look back to our successful teams and you will see that we were strong up front."

Speaking about strong up front; 6-foot-6, 300-pound junior lineman Kahric Belle has been the talk of the offseason, and joins rising quarterback standout Wendell Morrison as players who will not only help for the future, but have a chance to make an immediate impact this season.

With a lack of numbers on the roster, Bertani and the Chargers have been using prospects such as 2019 receiver Leroy Wilson to give this team a huge lift.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
2017 – Khalil Absolu, DE
2017 – Stanley Antoine, RB
2017 – Brian Brown, FB
2018 – Jean Desir, OL
2018 – Marvin Francois, OG
2017 – Marcelin Guerrer, WR
2019 – Daryl Lefevre, TE
2017 – Fritz Merus, WR
2018 – Volaskis Walkin, WR

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