For the past three seasons, Varela football has had the talent to put together a season in which they could capture a District title - something that has only been done once since 2006.

After clinching a playoff berth appearance during last year’s roller-coaster season by finishing second in their District 15 Class 8A division, the team has gained a step into the right direction but still needs to close the gap that separates them from reaching the ever-so desired first place.

"We are hungry as a team," said senior cornerback Jordan Armstrong who is being recruited by several Division I colleges as an athlete. "For the past three years we have been the most talented team in our District, but we have always fallen short of winning the [District] title."

Now entering his third season as head coach, Matthew Dixon has progressed with each season. During Dixon’s debut in 2009, he was able to get the first of four collegiate recruits a football scholarship, two of which went to Division I.

His sophomore campaign again had five collegiate recruits sign a football scholarship one who went Division I, and the team made it to playoff competition for the second time in school history.

Entering his third year, most of last year’s young core is back as the team has had to replace positions at quarterback, wide receiver, defensive line and punter/kicker.

The team’s running back, senior Bernard Saunders, who has rushed for over 100 yards and made a touchdown in three of his five starts, is taking over much of the offense’s scoring load from last season’s offensive scoring machine Norfolk State wide receiver, Shaun Corbett, who caught 13 passing touchdowns which is good enough for him to be Varela’s first, first team All-Dade athlete for football.

Replacing Corbett as the team’s number one wide receiver is senior John Green, a University of Connecticut commit, whose 4.3 (40-yard dash) speed, makes Green the fastest and most explosive player on the team.

Although wide receiver is Green’s primary position, he is also the offense’s decathlon: returning kickoffs and punts, splitting occasional carries at running back, but also as well as kicking and punting.

And at quarterback, the team has resorted to senior Garry Olivier-Chouloutte, a first-year starter who is taking command of the offense for the very first time.

"The hardest part has been making sure to be as perfect as I can be possible," said Olivier-Chouloutte. "Taking control of the whole offense, being successful and my teammates have made me feel really comfortable."

During the team’s first match against Edison, Varela had a single digit lead that they carried through the first quarter until a delay of game was called due to a power outage. After the delay, Edison came out with more execution the rest of the way, capping with a late scoring touchdown drive, winning 15-18.

The following week, a rematch of last year’s first round playoff game against South Dade ended in an ugly loss (6-38), as several of the team’s top players missed the game due to developing injuries.

The team has bounced back, however, strongly cruising through Goleman High and Ferguson, displaying an all-out effort against Homestead even though they lost by another late fourth quarter touchdown. The team’s overall record is 2-3.

With the bulk of District games coming in the next few weeks against Sunset, Braddock and Southwest, it’s now Varela’s chance to seal their case as they continue their journey on the road to a District championship.