Welcome to The Hills
PINE HILLS — In my first column for Sports Club Florida, let me begin with full transparency: I am a proud alumnus of ‘A Place of High Achievement, and the institution of excellence, that is Maynard Evans High School, in Orlando, Florida.
Before I was even conceived, both sides of my family already featured proud E-HIGH Trojans. Frankly, it was destined. And, from this perspective on life, I enter into any debate about Central Florida high school sports with a certain set of beliefs, especially when the topic is varsity football. So, cheers to all the Jones, Wekiva, and Edgewater faithful who are already sick of me.
That being said, it’s no secret that the last decade has not been exceptionally kind to Trojan Football. However, recent developments at 4949 Silver Star Road, have this alum convinced that Trojan Nation’s cold, dark chapter of discontent is finally coming to a close. And, of course, I have a lot to say about it.
The Advantages of Trojanland
As a result of prime location, Evans HS naturally possesses a footprint that includes some of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the entire region. FBS and FCS programs have scouted West Orlando’s renowned youth football ecosystem for NFL quality talent, such as Mike Sims-Walker, Alex Hayes, Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix, Chris Johnson, and many others, for decades.
In fact, no less than ten picks from this year’s NFL draft from Central Florida programs. However, the connection that would naturally funnel top talent of area to the program at Evans has frayed terribly in recent years, much to the angst of elder Trojans, who still reminisce about the glorious days of the 1991 State Championship. For example; in 2021, the Pine Hills Trojans 14U Youth Football program handily won the Pop Warner National Championship in December, and the star quarterback formally announced his intent to continue his young football career in January at the other E-HIGH (Edgewater, not Evans).
It has been a long time since Evans has fully leveraged control over the talent pipeline that runs directly through Trojans’ territory, much to the benefit of other area programs. Fortunately for Trojans Nation, change is coming in a big way.
Our Ol’ Ball Coach
Head Coach Kenard D. Lang, a Trojan, University of Miami graduate, and former first round NFL draft pick, who is entering his second full year at the helm for the Trojans, returned to his alma mater in the winter of 2020.
Even in the complicated midst of the pandemic, Coach Lang had begun the work of reviving a champion culture for a program seeking it’s first winning football season since 2012-13. As key part of that 1991 State Champion team in his youth, and having enjoyed successful stints coaching at Evans’ archrivals Oak Ridge, Wekiva and Jones HS; Coach Lang has already shown that he possesses a unique understanding of how to capitalize on every opportunity to rebuild Trojans Football into a powerhouse.
Proof of the shift happening at Evans is plainly visible on the Lang coaching staff, itself. Remember the National Champion Pine Hills Trojans? Well, the architects of that electrifying offense, Coach Malcolm Jones, is now coaching quarterbacks for Evans. Meaning that almost overnight, the brain trust at Evans now features over nine years of NFL and D1 experience, as well as, invaluable knowledge of the very youth football landscape that begins development of some of the best players in the country, long before their freshman year of high school.
Well-Placed Hope
While posting a winning record at the end of a season is good; development of talent, and elevation to the next level is a key hallmark of a healthy, thriving program. More specifically, a goal of this new staff at Evans must be to significantly boost the number of Evans talents that make it to the D1 college ranks, and then the NFL Draft.
With Spring 2022 sessions coming to a close, at the time of my writing this article, Coach Lang already has three-star Markeith Williams settling in at his alma mater in Coral Gables; two star Jeremiah Simms headed to Florida Atlantic University; and another committed to a respected HBCU, Edward Waters University, in Jacksonville, Florida. As we wait to see what happens before fall, our next opportunity to observe Lang’s new-look Trojans in action is scheduled for May 20th, a spring game jamboree with Spruce Creek HS (Port Orange) at Bishop Moore Catholic.
These days, if you decided to visit Evans High School, you would find what a number of national programs have already discovered, during their visits with prospects: a reinvigorated, reenergized, and competitively war-ready Trojans football team. And that should scare everyone in their path, just like old times.
The Scenario
Frankly, Evans High School has not enjoyed a winning season, or a head coach with vision for building a winning program, in over a decade. Continuity has largely been absent from our football program, save for the constant dysfunction.
The Prediction
There will be equal parts growing pain, and progress. Will we win another state championship this year? Probably not. But we believe that the Evans Football program is in good hands, and will begin to show a new competitive sprit, and give the Trojan faithful something to cheer about (myself included).
Evans Trojans 2022-23 football schedule
- Spring Jamboree: Evans travels to Bishop Moore Catholic High School, for a double-header against the hosts, and the visiting Spruce Creek Hawks (Port Orange). This format doesn’t bode well for our young, inexperienced team. I think we can go (1-2) on the afternoon.