Tour of Brevard: Melbourne High football is growing up again

The young are getting older, gradually, at Melbourne High.

Loaded with ninth- and 10th-graders last year, the Bulldogs have a growing number juniors for 2024. That maturing roster and morning practices that have allowed the team to learn while maintaining effort have head coach David Kintigh optimistic.

Melbourne comes off a 21-17 road win against Ft. Pierce Central in its preseason game, a good start after a two-win 2023 season.

"We still have a bunch of ninth-graders coming in," Kintigh said at one of this month's 6 a.m. sessions. "Ninth and 10th still makes up more than half my team, so we're at a young age, but they've all come together and are working so hard together that it makes the future look really good for us."

Despite the youth, the coach drew hope from a group that is learning the system and showing that in practice.

"They're grasping the concepts of what we're doing, and they're starting to push it," Kintigh said. "They understand what we're doing and why we're doing it, offensively and defensively. That makes a huge difference, because we spend less time correcting. It's getting a lot smoother, and with this young of a group learning how to do that makes me feel so great for the future."

Leading the way statistically for the defense is one of the juniors, Tyler Gagen, who accounted for 135 tackles last year. He's playing behind a defensive line that includes 6-foot-2, 310-pound Fallon Battice, a sophomore.

Junior Ty Field, a second-year starter, caught seven passes and scored the winning touchdown last week at Ft. Pierce Central. Six-1 James Knolmayer, a junior, and 6-1 sophomore E.J. Hall are two more receiving weapons for new quarterback Mike Rogers, who Kintigh said is "doing a phenomenal job of picking it up."

Protecting him is an offensive line with some size and experience, and "the anchor" according to Kintigh is 5-10, 220-pound Dean Baker, who was called up to the varsity as a ninth-grader a year ago and became a starter at center. Carter Black (6-3, 295) is a sophomore up front, and Cameron Willwerth is a 5-11, 240-pound junior starter in the group.

Melbourne has experienced ball carriers. Sophomore back Kymarion Johnson ran 108 times for 459 yards and a couple of scores a year ago, while Jaylen Daley added 74 attempts for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He is now a junior.

The Bulldogs are playing their 100th season of high school football.

Head coach : David Kintigh begins his fourth season mentoring the Bulldogs.

Returning stat leaders : Kymarion Johnson 108 rushes-459 yds, 2 TDs; Jaylen Daley 74 rushes-276 yds, 3 TDs; Tyler Gagen 135 tkls.

Postseason history : Melbourne was Brevard County’s first state finalist in football. Playoff seasons : ’65, ’66, ’85, ’86, ’90, ’97, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’13, ’14, '19, '21, '22. Playoff record : 15-19. State finals : 1965 (Coach Byrd Whigham, 2A state runner-up to Miami, 44-12, Orange Bowl); 1966 (Whigham, 2A state champion over Fort Lauderdale, 31-12, Fort Lauderdale).

2024 Melbourne schedule

Friday  Tohopekaliga

Aug. 30  Merritt Island

Sep. 6  at Satellite

Sep. 13  South Fork

Sep. 20  Palm Bay

Sep. 27  at Kissimmee Osceola

Oct. 4  at Bayside

Oct. 11  at Longwood Lyman

Oct. 25  Viera

Nov. 1  at Eau Gallie

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Tour of Brevard: Melbourne High football is growing up again