It all started the day the Everglades High opened in the western reaches of Miramar. Many predicted that Mike Zarra, the school's first ever head football coach, would have success, using some talented athletes who had been getting it done in West Miramar and in the Western Pembroke Pines youth football programs.

After leaving to return to McArthur, Zarra passed the torch on to young Mike Palmieri, who was considered one of the top coaches around. The former South Broward standout not only rallied his team, but taught them plenty as the Everglades made the playoffs in just its third year at the varsity level.

As Palmieri built and developed the Gators, there was a sense that along with rival Miramar and powerful Cypress Bay, this would become a district that offered no guarantees. Three tremendous teams and two playoff spots up for grabs.

For the first time in school history, the Gators were developing college talent, winning football games and making major strides in an area that was new and embraced a winning football team. While Palmieri was being courted by several local programs to come in and apply the same discipline and organization he had as an assistant and then as a head coach at Everglades, this was a program that was bringing college coaches to a campus that was one of the furthest west in Broward.

Before the 2007 season began, Palmieri took a job at Charlotte's newest program, Mallard Creek, which wanted a coach who knew how to develop talent in North Carolina – much the way he had in football crazy Florida.

As Palmieri left the area, Everglades made a decision to hire Josh Shapiro, who had been an assistant coach with plenty of ability and knowledge of the game. Shapiro realized that if he followed the same plan as Palmieri had, things would fall into place.

While 2007 was tough on the Gators, going through a transition period, finishing 3-7, Shapiro realized that the 2008 team would be better than most expected. At a time when much of the focus was on head coach Mark Guandolo and his powerhouse Cypress Bay squad, and Eugene Smith and the talented Miramar Patriots, someone completely forgot about the talent and discipline the Gators still had out in western Miramar.

During the summer, I had the pleasure of watching many of the linemen perform at the Down & Dirty Lineman Camp in Deland (near Daytona Beach). Even losing standout lineman Morell Pierre, a huge offensive lineman, who went to rival Miramar, there was little concern shown by the players in attendance. They knew that with a quality coaching staff and improving athletes, this team would be a force.

The first time anyone got a look at the Gators was during a 28-21 upset win over Deerfield Beach in the BCAA Kickoff Classic. As many pushed the "meaningless" win off to the side and chalked it up to being a pre-season event, the Gators knew better. They understood that with the season a week away, they had just beaten a 6A team that nearly everyone was picking to win it all this year.

Last week, as the regular season began on Thursday night, Everglades once again played a team that many felt was one of the best in South Florida. Hallandale, which was chosen as one of the top 4A programs, loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, was to beat Everglades and move on to the second week 1-0. That never happened. The Gators went to Hallandale and beat the Chargers, 14-12, behind the running of Damian Fortner, who rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against Deerfield. Against the Chargers, Fortner was even better as he had 191 yards and a touchdown.

Roderic Blunt

Before the opening game against Deerfield Beach, the only players most had heard about were linebackers Roderic Blunt and Devon Butler. Both impressive football players had been looked at by several colleges. But since that Deerfield Beach game, the entire team is beginning to receive press with quarterback Courtney Thompson and receiver Rodney Rumph Jr. joining others such as defensive lineman Donovan Spence.

If you are looking for a program that will wear that Cinderella tag this year, look no further than Everglades. The Gators only add one more team to a 6A mix that already includes Deerfield Beach, Boyd Anderson, Plantation, Cypress Bay, Miramar, North Miami Beach, Miami Norland, Miami Central, Northwestern, Miami Springs, Columbus, Killian, Homestead and South Dade.

NEXT WEEK: Some big matchups will feature top-rated BCAA teams.

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com. He can also be heard every Thursday night (9-10) on the Miami Dolphins High School Gridiron Report on WQAM (560 AM).