First-year Coach Hopes to Build Parkdale's Football Program

For the last six years, Lorenzo Fludd watched as football team continually showed glimpses of a squad ready to step up and establish itself among the area’s elite teams.

Entering the 2011 season, though, the Panthers are yet to do that, something that Fludd largely attributes to the lack of continuity at the head coach position. Fludd, who is in his first season as Parkdale’s head coach, is the Panthers’ third head coach in the last five years.

However, he is looking to finally provide the program with that much needed continuity and finally lead it to a long-awaited next step.

Fludd replaces Rich Holzer, who resigned in January and is now the head coach at Meade High School in Anne Arundel County. Prior to becoming head coach, Fludd served as the Panthers’ junior varsity head coach from 2006-08, then varsity assistant for two seasons.

“I’ve seen this program improve a lot since I’ve been here,” Fludd said. “It’s been building, but the restarting with new coaches has been the main problem. We have kids in the school, though, and I feel like we can build the program up even more and should be able to compete with [the top teams in the area].”

He added, “I really want to build this program and am dedicated to doing that.”

, but is just 10-30 in the three seasons since its last playoff appearance in 2007.

The Panthers did finish last season 5-5, however. And with several key returners and talented newcomers, Fludd is hoping to build on last year’s record.

He mentioned wide receiver/defensive back Stephan Freeman, quarterback , offensive linemen Barry Manning and Devin Hawkins as well as running backs Richard Enyi and Ron Giddings as players that will be counted on to make impacts this season.

“I’m excited about the group I have,” Fludd said.

Offensively, he said Parkdale, which ran a Texas Tech air-raid style attack last year, will be more of a multi-set team this season, and depending on the game and situation, could line up in anything from the spread to the I-formation.

He says his offense is geared toward maximizing the talents of the players he has on the team.

He described Ojie as a knowledgeable pocket passer that has stepped into the role of a senior leader. He also said Enyi, a shifty, elusive runner, and Giddings, a hard-nosed, physical runner, will both see substantial carries. He said the two have differing styles and complement each other well.

As for the defense, the Panthers will operate out of a 3-5 defensive scheme and expect to be an aggressive unit, able to consistently generate pressure and create turnovers.

Parkdale began its season against Crossland High School Sept. 3.

“We’re hyped up for the season,” Ojie said. “My goal is to make the playoffs and go to the state championship. And if everyone does what they’re supposed to do this year, we have a great chance of doing both of those things. Everyone’s excited.”