Editor’s Note: This is a joint Q & A session that focuses in on the Pahokee offensive linemen’s thoughts in regards to the Muck Bowl against Glades Central, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 3 at Effie C. Grear Field in Belle Glade. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
How the Muck Bowl group chat came about: Pahokee Blue Devils offensive line coach Jose Paniagua has always wanted his players to be highlighted in the best possible light. With scores of people coming to watch this year’s Muck Bowl, he knows this will perhaps be their best opportunity to shine in front of college recruiters, their fans, and their opposition. He summoned 2018 linemen Nylander Grandville (6-3, 290; left guard) and Michael Police (6-3, 290; left tackle) to take part in this exclusive Muck Bowl group chat. From that point on, he allowed them to freely share their thoughts on this year’s Muck Bowl and more.
New Era Prep: Please open up to us on your thoughts about playing in the Muck Bowl at Glades Central?
Nylander Granville: It’s a great feeling, plus it’s our last one, so we’re just going to leave it out all on the field.
Michael Police: I feel blessed to be able to play in this game. The Muck Bowl is the game to give 110 percent. Bragging rights for a whole year.
New Era Prep: How have you been preparing for the Muck Bowl? What advice have you been getting from the coaches and other past greats?
Mike: This game brings a different type of energy like no other game. I see that the team is more focused. Our coaches continue to push us on and off the field, and they help us to become the best we can be.
Nylander: We’re a lot more focused at practice and we take the conditioning seriously. And of course, we have been putting in the work in the weight room, as far as preparation goes. But in a big game like this, we just have to stay calm and do what the coaches taught us to do all week.
New Era Prep: Off the field, what have you done to keep yourself focused?
Mike: Staying off social media! I know I can get a little carried away with trash talk when it comes down to playing GC (Glades Central). But other than that, everything else is pretty easy to avoid.
Nylander: Mainly social media because that’s where they do all the talking, so we try to ignore whatever is being said about this upcoming game. We try to tell our guys not to respond to any of that. But when it comes down to the classroom, we try to be there on time and do what we have to do.
New Era Prep: The offensive line is a close-knit group. What do you do to motivate and encourage each other through challenging moments such as this week?
Michael: We are the most dominant group on the team! We motivate each other by pushing each other to be great. We’re the best offensive line in the state. And after a bad play, we forget what just happened and move on to the next play.
Nylander: Everything that happened this season has led us to this game right here. We learned from our mistakes. Not only that, we made sure to push each other as teammates so we can get better. We worked on our weaknesses so no one would even think about pointing out a weak link on this line.
New Era Prep: What did you learn from last week’s 45-0 road loss to Cocoa?
Michael: We got embarrassed. We learned to take every practice more seriously. I think our team got too comfortable winning and we needed that wake up call. And in order to win, everyone has to do their jobs correctly.
Nylander: As a team, we weren’t too focused that week. We came into the game kind of flat, and it showed during that game. But we learned a lot from it.
New Era Prep: The Muck Bowl Dinner is coming up (Thursday, Nov. 2; 6:30 pm at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade). Can you reflect on all that went down at last year’s gathering in Pahokee?
Nylander: It was a great experience. As far as the awards that was given to some of my teammates like (Pahokee 2017 alum Tyron) Arnette, it really showed what hard work in the classroom looks like. You’re being chosen from a group of about 45 players, so that kind of motivated me when I witnessed that. That’s when the competitive part of it came in. We don’t just compete on the field; we compete in the classroom as well.
Michael: I honestly don’t remember much of the banquet from last year.
New Era Prep: How you would like to remembered at this year’s Muck Bowl Dinner and the Muck Bowl game at Glades Central?
Nylander: For the Muck Bowl dinner, I want to show my teammates that I’ve been working hard in the classroom and can get an award for something like community service hours or for my GPA. I just want to set an example for the underclassmen like [Pahokee 2017 alum B.J.] Crawford did for us last year. As far as the game goes, I’d rather be remembered as a part of the amazing group of linemen that took the trophy home this year. I say that because this is much bigger than me and there’s no reason to get selfish. This is a team sport.
Michael: I want us to be remembered as the greatest offensive line group in Pahokee history.
New Era Prep: Any last words?
Michael: We will be victorious!
Nylander: This year’s team is going to leave their mark on this game. We’re going to still be talked about for years to come.
Coach Jose: Basically I feel as if this game will be a good one overall. Both teams have had a strong season and want to end the regular season on a high note. Like the boys said, we feel as if we are better than them. I just don’t see anyone in the trenches over there who can out-block any one of our boys. Resse Collier (Pahokee assistant coach) and myself have been working with these same group of guys for two years, and that bond we have built between all of us is one that I can say equals success. They listen to us and do what we ask them to do. So on Friday, just know that when we tell them beasts, ‘It’s time to work them people over’, they (Glades Central Raiders) are in trouble.
NOTE: Both Pahokee and Glades Central will come into the Muck with identical 6-2 overall records. The last time this happened was in 2007, when both teams went into the Muck Bowl with 9-0 respective overall records.
