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Mitchell football, led by head coach Andy Schmitz, aims to return to basics after a successful season that included a region final appearance. With 13 consecutive winning seasons, the team looks to build on its past successes in the upcoming year.
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Mitchell head coach Andrew Schmitz looks on in a game against West Boca in the fourth quarter on Nov. 28, 2025, in Boca Raton, FL.
TRINITY, Fla.- Heading into his 13th season at the helm of the New Port Richey (Fla.) James W. Mitchell
football program, Mustangsâ head coach Andy Schmitz has seen his fair share of success.
13 consecutive winning seasons, nine district championships and two region final appearances, including one just last year. Schmitz, coming off a 10-3 season and a region final berth, has seemingly figured it out to a science when it comes to his Mitchell team and this yearâs group isnât any different.
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At Monday afternoonâs first practice of the spring, the Mustangs were right back on the field and for Schmitz, first thing is first: Getting back to the basics.
âThis feels almost exactly like the 2021 season because the 2020 season was the last time we made it to the regional finals. Got beat by Edgewater and then that next year we had we graduated a ton of people,â Schmitz said to Rivals on Monday. âLetâs get back to the basics. Letâs let everybody compete. Letâs just kind of see how it plays out. Thatâs really enjoyable, too, so itâs kind of the fun of high school football.â
What is fun for the Mustangs is the consistency of winning high school football games on the field and Schmitzâs squad has been the model of that on an annual basis. This team, though, will be a little different compared to the past group its had the last two or three years as the Mustangs will have to break in a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2023.
Graduating is quarterback Cayden Thomas, who is now at South Carolina State, but Mitchell received an off-season transfer in 2027 signal caller , who played at Tampa (Fla.) Gaither in 2025. Driggers is competing for the job along with 2028 , at the position.
Under coach Andy Schmitz, Mitchell football has achieved 13 consecutive winning seasons, nine district championships, and two region final appearances.
Last season, Mitchell football finished with a 10-3 record and reached the region finals.
This season, Mitchell football aims to return to the basics and build on its previous successes to continue its winning tradition.
The Mitchell football program is located in New Port Richey, Florida.

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Regardless of whomever wins the starting role will have huge shoes to fill as Thomas won three playoff games as Mitchellâs starter and a lot of the Mustangsâ offense is predicated on solid quarterback play.
Behind center isnât the only void the team is currently facing as wide receivers Bryce Backus and RJ Peabody both graduate this spring, leaving Schmitz and his staff searching for the new wave of playmakers out wide. The Mustangsâ head coach knows a lot of âheadlineâ name guys will be gone, but he sees plenty of experience also returning as well.
âWe obviously graduated a lot of talent and a lot of experience, but weâve got a really good, hard-working group of kids here that really like each other,â Schmitz said.
âWe lost the guys that kind of made the headlines, with Cayden and Bryce and RJ, you know, but, thereâs guys here that have been major contributors. Cody Connor was a major contributor on both sides of the ball last year. Nolan Keirns as a defensive tackle had a heck of a year. Anthony Mirabeli came on at the end of the year and was a really good football player for us. Robert Dunning at free safety and a little bit of running back. Thereâs guys here that have done it at the varsity level and have done on a team that made it to the regional finals.â
One thing that hasnât changed whatsoever for Mitchell is the type of numbers they see on an annual basis, with Schmitzâs squad hovering around 70 participants and he expects another 30 to join via its freshmen class when late July rolls around.
Heading into his 14th year as a head coach, Schmitz has seen a lot during his time out of Pasco County, Florida but the expectations havenât wavered at any point in time. Playing in a new district with the likes of Gaither, East Lake and Largo, Mitchell will have their hands full in trying to get back into the postseason.
At the end of many of their first spring practices, Mitchell concludes with running a fundamental pursuit drill with every player on the team taking part in some way, shape or form. Itâs getting back to the basics for the Mustangs as they have a group that will feature new stars, but its the goals remain the same.
âIâve always said the goal is always the same here. The goal is to win a district championship and advance (in the playoffs),â Schmitz added. âAnything that we do after that. Obviously, you never want to put a cap on what youâre trying to do or anything, but you know, winning the district and advancing in the playoffs is always the standard here. That doesnât change regardless of who graduated or whoâs coming back or whatever. I really like this group of kids.â
James W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, FL, offers a diverse educational experience with a focus on academic excellence and athletic achievement. As a part of the Pasco County School District, it provides a range of extracurricular activities and sports programs, including football and basketball, fostering both academic and athletic growth among its students.
For Florida high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Sunshine State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Florida.