ROGER ‘FRESH’ WALTERS

Roger “Fresh” Walters didn’t waste anytime making an impact at his new school.

After seeing little playing time with Charlotte’s football program for the past two
years, Walters, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound wide receiver, headed west and landed in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to play for Iowa Western Community College.

He’s playing a starring role.

In the season opener Aug. 31, Walters, a Seminole Tribe of Florida descendent, didn’t disappoint family members in the crowd as he caught nine passes for 108 yards in Iowa Western’s 42-41 win against Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Georgia.

In the next games, Walters hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He’s had at least five catches in every game and twice has eclipsed the 100-yard reception mark, including 120 yards, six catches and one touchdown in a 41-34 win against Iowa Central Community College on Sept 21. His seven-yard touchdown catch late in the first half knotted the game at 27-27.

As for the team, Iowa Western has emerged as one of the best in the National Junior College Athletic Association. With a 4-1 record – and its only loss coming to the No. 1 ranked team by one point – Iowa Western headed into October ranked No. 2 in the nation in NJCAA.

Walters is the son of tribal member Sheree Sneed and spent part of his youth on the Fort Pierce Reservation.

GREG JAMES

A busy October starts for the Moore Haven High School football team Oct. 4 when the Terriers host Westwood-Fort Pierce at 7 p.m. Moore Haven has five games in October, including on Halloween night.

The Moore Haven High School football season has seen Terrier victories in weeks 2 and 4 and losses in weeks 1, 3, and 5.

The rollercoaster season continues Oct. 18 with a home game against Somerset Academy-Boynton Beach. The Terriers also have games scheduled for Oct. 24 at home against Zephyrhills Christian Academy and on Holloween night at Palm Beach Christian.

The Terriers finished September on a strong note with a 44-14 win against Evangelical Christian on Sept. 20, but after a bye week, fell to Westwood-Fort Pierce, 31-6.

Moore Haven’s lineup includes tribal member Greg James and descendent Thaddeus Johns. James is a key part of the starting offensive and defensive line. Johns is a backup wide receiver.

GREG “ZAE” THOMAS

There might not be a high school team in the country with a tougher schedule than American Heritage-Plantation. And it’s not going to get any easier.

The Patriots, who include Florida State commit and tribal member Greg “Zae” Thomas, have already faced defending Georgia champion Milton, Southwest Florida powerhouse Naples, and recent state champions Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Central.

Plantation High School was undefeated until Heritage got back on the winning track with a 35-0 win Sept. 27 and improved to 3-3.

Still to come are games against Norland (Oct. 12) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Oct. 25), both ranked in the top four in their classes. All three of Heritage’s losses have come in heavyweight bouts and each within single digit margins.

The latest close loss came Sept. 20 in Miami, a 35-32 setback against Central. Heritage led in the first 21-6, but Central used a late first half and early second half surge to forge ahead.

Thomas, a senior cornerback, was matched against Mississippi State-commit receiver Sekou Smith for the entire first half. On the first play of the second half, Smith and Thomas weren’t matched up and Smith promptly caught a long catch that led to a go-ahead score.

Through six games, Thomas has 16 tackles, including a season-high six in a loss to Chaminade.