BILL JOHNSON/staff Former Middleburg Bronco Bobby Mack makes a fingertip catch on a pass thrown by former Clay quarterback Shannon Asbell during tryouts for the Florida Falcons Developmental football team at Clay High last Saturday.

Falcons offer football dreams

Former Clay High player Lyndon Dunham among locals trying out for team

Lyndon Dunham sees the new Florida Falcons football team as something good for the Clay County community. Coach and owner Justin Moses sees the developmental minor league team as something good for players like Lyndon Dunham.

"We're trying to get these guys to the next level," said Moses, an assistant football coach at Clay High School. "This is to give these guys an opportunity to play football and to further their careers."

Dunham, a 2007 Clay High graduate, and his two brothers, Trey and William Kendrick, were among the 25 prospects who turned out for the team's first official tryouts at Clay High last Saturday. The team will have another tryout on Sept. 29.

"I'm pretty pleased with the turnout," said Moses, who lists 14 players on the team's fledgling roster at www.thefloridafalcons.org "Some of these guys maybe weren't good students in high school or college, or had an injury and had to quit their football careers. So this is a chance for them to keep going and follow their dream of playing the game of football."

The first step in following that dream is putting up $25 and trying out for the team. The second step is getting an offer to join and coming up with the $230 player fee.

Moses is quick to explain that he doesn't get any of that money.

"$100 goes toward buying a slot in the league, renting the field and paying the referees," he said. "The other $130 goes for uniforms, home and away."

Moses admits that the financial commitment and investment of time and energy for players who are at an age where they have other important commitments in their lives, such as family and jobs, can be an obstacle. He's hoping to make it worth their while by having scouts at every game.

In the first tryout, Moses said he saw several players he thinks could have a shot at playing for the Daytona Beach Thunder, a World Indoor Football League team he's involved with. And even if it means his Falcons won't have that player on their roster, it's more important to him that the player get the opportunity to actually get paid to play and possibly advance even further.

The Falcons are set to play in the Southern States Football League, which has eight teams throughout Florida. Their first game is set for Feb. 2 in C.W. Bowles Stadium at Clay High School. Moses said tickets will probably be $5 for adults and $2 for students.

That mean Dunham could once again get a chance to line up and play football on his old high school field.

"I think this is something really good for the community," the former Blue Devil said. "It gives the kids something to do."

The Florida Falcons minor league football team, which is dotted with Clay County players, is off and flying in its first year. Florida (1-1), a member of the Florida Football Alliance, plays its third game of the season at, 3 p.m., today against Daytona Beach at Orange Park Athletic Association, or OPAA. Last week, the Falcons beat the Orlando Outlaws, 25-7, for their first win. Florida lost its first game, 28-0, to the Duval Panthers.

Team owner/offensive coordinator Justin Moses, who is also an assistant coach with the Clay High girls basketball team, said one of the team goals is to offer an opportunity for some of its players to advance to the college ranks and the arena football leagues.

For instance, Erik Gibson, a Middleburg grad, signed a contract earlier this month to play with the Texas Tidalwave, an arena league team in Galveston, Tex.

"Gibby's a very talented player that can play both sides of the ball very well," Moses said. "We'll miss his leadership and playing ability here with the Falcons, but we are very excited about one of our own being given the opportunity to move up to the next level of competition."

Players are not paid. They practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at OPAA. Florida's roster consists of 55 players. Each team plays 10 regular season games. The top eight teams in the 12-team league will be involved in the playoffs.

Florida's head coach is Dahryll Brown, who is in his first year.

The team is also involved in giving back to the community. Moses said the team donated 22 turkeys for Christmas and members have been celebrity baggers at local grocery stores.

Moses said the roster consists of many Clay County high school graduates, including former Orange Park High standout Robert Pollard. Some of the other players and their school affiliations are William Kendrick and Percy Brown from Clay; Marcus Pulliam and Mike Chapman from Orange Park; Matt Hernandez, Thomas Dutcher and Sharrod Williams from Ridgeview and Bobby Mack from Middleburg. Kick returner Daniel Cooper, who is a Clay graduate, has a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown, the longest in the league.

Moses said the team provides a great way for local fans to continue to enjoy football after the college and NFL seasons are over.

"We invited people from Clay County to come out and watch our games," Moses said. "We're also looking for sponsorships for our team."