BOCA RATON – Brandon Walker is not afraid to be real about his team’s current situation at hand.

As the Boca Raton Bobcats head coach, he has had to deal with the departure of five key players. Combined in its totality of talent, these losses have significantly changed the identity of their team.

Here are the players that have transferred from Boca Raton:

-QB Michael Pratt (2020; Tulane commit): Now at Deerfield Beach
-WR Deltavian Jenkins (2020): Now at Deerfield Beach
-CB/WR Jared Moorer (2021): Now at Deerfield Beach
-ATH Molinsky Desire (2020): Now at American Heritage (Delray Beach)
-WR Rashawn Faustine (2021): Now at Atlantic (Delray Beach)

Walker spoke on his approach to overcoming these key player losses, which have all happened within the past few weeks.

“We prepare everybody. Next guy steps up,” Walker said. “We just have to manipulate some of things we were doing to better fit the situation we have here. We have to put our kids in the best possible position to succeed.”

Replacing Pratt at quarterback for Boca Raton this season will be Andy
Caverly, who has played 25-30 snaps last season as a backup. The 2020 signal caller saw most of his action against John I. Leonard as a junior.

“He’s going to go through some growing pains,” Walker said of Caverly. “We just want to him to get better every week than the week before.”

Walker said more about Caverly.

“Andy understands what we’re doing,” Walker said. “He isn’t afraid to move forward. He’s excited about this new opportunity. He’s a tough kid physically, and he’s been able to get our players to rally behind him. He doesn’t need to be Michael Pratt. He just needs to be Andy Caverly.”

Tra’Nell Hollis, who is now the best and most versatile player at Boca Raton, concurred with Walker’s take on Caverly.

“Andy has really stepped up, and we can expect great things out of him,” Hollis said. “He is an athlete who can run and pass. He’s definitely a player to watch.”

Hollis also spoke on the transfer situation.

“To be honest, Michael [and everyone else] leaving opened doors for a lot of us,” Hollis said. “I wish them the best.”

Moving forward, the only thing that matters is playing through the season schedule. Walker realizes that it’s a tough one, with road games at Coconut Creek (Kickoff Classic; Aug. 16), at Glades Central (Week 1; Aug. 23), at Atlantic in Delray Beach (Week 3; Sept. 6), and at Deerfield Beach (Week 6; Sept. 27).

“We’re probably gonna take it on the chin,” Walker said. “We’re going to line up against some of the best in the states, week in and week out. We have to play teams that are a lot more talented than us. Our players are young for the most part, but they’ll grow from it all. The best way for them to learn is to play. This may help our program moving forward, for sure.”

Hollis is looking forward to the Week 6 matchup against Deerfield Beach.

Boca Raton’s season may in the line by then, since it’s a District 12-8A game. To make this even more interesting, the Bobcats will face three of their former players (Pratt, Jenkins, and Moorer), who are now Bucks.

There is a chance that the Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach game could be for the District 12-8A title. Hollis is at least excited for the possibility of it happening.

“Playing against [Michael] Pratt for the district title, I feel like for the team it would be a statement game,” Hollis said. “I mean, going against your biggest opponent and our old QB, it’s gonna be tough. But we know Pratt like the back of our hands, so it will be interesting.”

Here is Boca Raton’s schedule for this upcoming season:

Kickoff Classic (Aug. 16): Cardinal Gibbons
Week 1 (Aug. 23): Glades Central
Week 2 (Aug. 29): Olympic Heights
Week 3 (Sept. 6): Atlantic
Week 4 (Sept. 13): BYE
Week 5 (Sept. 20): Treasure Coast
Week 6 (Sept. 27): DEERFIELD BEACH
Week 7 (Oct. 4): Wellington
Week 8 (Oct. 11): MONARCH
Week 9 (Oct. 18): Santaluces
Week 10 (Oct. 25): SPANISH RIVER
Week 11 (Nov. 1): Dwyer

NOTE: All of Boca Raton’s in bold print denote its fellow District 12-8A opponents for this season.

Walker provided a succinct analysis on this year’s schedule.

“Our focus this year is not on the scoreboard,” Walker said. “I just want us to get better each week as a group.”

PHOTO CREDITS: Mr. Sweeney – Boca Raton High School