STUART – This past season was one for the history books at Martin County.
The wins are what we all love.
But to overcome a series of challenges to get those wins?
It makes the winning experience that much more special.
Martin County Tigers head coach Rod Harris was at the center of it all. He led this group of hard-working, focused, and determined players and coaches to feats that have never been seen before – at least in recent memory.
Where do we begin?
Let us start with the meteoric rise of senior athlete Pauly Boisvert, who emerged as our New Era Prep Co-MVP of the Year.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound team leader officially stepped in as the team’s starting quarterback from Week 6 of the regular season until the Class 4S-Region 3 quarterfinal round.
Here is what the Treasure Coast’s ultimate unsung hero achieved statistic-wise in a season to remember for the ages.
As a runner:
•111 attempts
•536 rushing yards
•4 touchdowns
As a passer:
•7 touchdown passes
Boisvert shared his thoughts on Harris and how he earned this special coaching honor.
“He just always put us in the right position to succeed,” Boisvert said. “He didn’t care who scored the touchdown or got the big play. That definitely changed the players mentality. We just wanted to win, no matter who scored. He was a main part of a special bond all us Tigers have, which is a family.”
The family bond and tightness is quite evident to see and feel within the Martin County football program. This is primarily what led Harris and his team to pull off the Treasure Coast’s best win of the year in Week 9 – a 28-21 home victory on senior night over Vero Beach.
Martin County would go on to finish the regular season at 8-2, which ended with a four-game winning streak.
The regular season finish could not have ended any better than it did for the Tigers, who came back on the road in Week 11 for a thrilling 27-22 win over Jensen Beach.
Harris commented on the game-winning play, which was a 96-yard kickoff return for a score at the final buzzer by senior wide receiver and Co-Special Teams Player of the Year Ricardo Weaver Jr.
“That return will go down in Martin County folklore,” Harris said. “I have never been on a field for that turn of events. Jensen Beach scored and got the two-point play to go up 22-21 with 6.3 seconds left. You’re talking Auburn return vs. Bama, Cal beating Stanford with band on the field. You throw in the fact it’s a rivalry game. The student section at Jensen Beach was at the gate to storm the field. We could replay that 1,000 times and lose 999 times, but not that Thursday night.”
Harris produced both of our Co-Special Teams Players of the Year, which included sophomore kicker John Connolly. He produced three award-winning players (Boisvert, Weaver Jr., and Connolly) from this past season and a team full of winners in their own rights.
One winning player who emerged in a big way is senior tight end Nick Roebas-Bass. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end finished his season with 15 catches for 275 yards and five touchdowns.
Here is one of the five scores by Roebas-Bass.
Roebas-Bass spoke on the level of impact that Harris has had on himself and his fellow teammates.
“Coach Harris is a great man who positively impacts a lot of young men,” Roebas-Bass said. “Through my development as a player, he was always there to push me and is a big reason for the success that I had this season. With success, he also expects great character and for us to finish a game with respect and class, no matter the outcome.”
We cannot honor Harris without getting some commentary from senior athlete Denzel Alexander.
The 5-foot-7, 150-pound speedster is one of the Treasure Coast’s most gifted athletes and one of the most positive individuals one will ever meet.
Alexander finished his senior season with 518 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns.
“Coach Harris is tough inside out, mentally and physically, and it’s contagious,” Alexander said. “He is the walking definition of a leader. He executes his job day by day and could be going through problems of his own, but wouldn’t let that knock him off his pivot or focus of his and the teams goals.”
Alexander had more to say about Harris.
“He believed in me since day one,” Alexander said “All he wants is the best for everyone, athlete or not. He cares about what goes on in your life and is willing to do whatever it is to make sure you and your family are good. He became a father figure for me at Martin County.”
Harris provided some remarks on his Co-Coach of the Year honor.
“The award is truly a testament to the best staff and student-athletes in Florida,” Harris said. “We always stick together, work hard, and put our Tiger family first. It’s truly humbling to call myself a Tiger. Martin County is a special place.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Rodney Harris (Martin County) and Mary Lucci
VIDEO CREDIT: Ricardo Weaver Sr.
