Coach Blanton Optimistic About Young Celebration Storm Despite Portal Losses

Despite The Portal, Blanton Optimistic

By: J. Daniel Pearson

It had been a wild eight months since Celebration’s 1-9 season ended. Although the Storm saw 90% of its offensive production graduate, head coach Chris Blanton was highly encouraged by the talent that appeared in the spring.

But then he noted “the portal” got us, as several athletes he was counting on for the upcoming season – some returning starters — transferred to other schools. Still, Blanton noted that he was optimistic heading into the upcoming campaign. “We are going to be an extremely young team, but many of those guys are talented and they have a lot of potential,” Blanton says.

To counter the losses, Blanton plans on changing the Storm offense to best utilize the talent he does have. “We are going to have to change some schemes, particularly on the offensive line to help those guys out,” Blanton says. “Our base defense will remain the same.”

One position that became paramount in fall training camp was quarterback. James Wise-Pauley, who saw action as both a freshman and sophomore, had transferred for his junior year but returned to the Storm last spring, where he secured the starting spot. But Wise-Pauley informed Blanton that he was giving up football after spring drills ended. “He’s an incredibly intelligent young man, who is part of the International Baccalaureate program. He decided to concentrate on his academics his senior year,” Blanton said. “That left the position wide open for us and became the focus of summer workouts and training camp. We have two young players currently battling for that starter’s spot.”

Returning players Blanton will be counting on this year include athlete Tyce McNeal, corner Nicholas Edouard, fullback Jack Shockey, WR Richie Hydock and linemen Mason Bizzack, Andrew Hydock and Kody Vivero.

Last year, the Storm went 0-3 and were outscored 143-7. Its new district finds Dr. Phillips and Olympia replaced by Ocoee and Horizon, making the potential for a slightly easier schedule. However, East Ridge (a 48-7 winner over the Storm last season) remains. The non-district schedule includes county opponents Poinciana, Tohopekaliga, Liberty, Harmony and Gateway.

“Because of the district schedule, it appears to be a little easier this year. But East Ridge is tough and Horizon is a team on the rise,” Blanton said. “I think there are a few non-district opponents that you would call ‘toss-ups’ in the preseason. How we fare in those games will go a long way to determining what type of season we have.”

Celebration Storm (6A, District 7)

Coach: Chris Blanton

2025 Record: 1-9

8/14 River Ridge^ 7 p.m.

8/21 Poinciana 7 p.m.

8/28 Taveras 7 p.m.

9/4 at Space Coast 7 p.m.

9/11 Tohopekaliga 7 p.m.

9/18 Bye Week

9/25 East Ridge* 7 p.m.

10/2 Liberty 7 p.m.

10/9 Ocoee* 7 p.m.