TALLAHASSEE — Former Brahman Eric Lodge took over head coaching duties for the football program at Seminole High School earlier this year, and on Dec. 19 the team won their second state championship in school history.

The Seminoles defeated Osceola Kissimmee 38-10 and secured an undefeated 12-0 season.
“We put in a lot of hard work and had to grind all year,” said Lodge after the championship win. “For it all to pay off at the end and be the last one standing just feels really good. We faced a lot of adversity, lost a teammate and family member at the beginning of the year, one of our players lost his mama this morning. We overcome, we’re resilient. These boys fight and I’m so proud of them. I love them.”

In September of this year the team lost running back Zi’Erric Wynn in an auto accident.

Lodge credits his time at Okeechobee, specifically guidance from Brahman coaches Chris Branham and Ty Smith, for giving him the foundation to get where he his today.

“My parents were divorced when I was 2, and it’s not that my dad was never around, he just wasn’t around all the time,” explained Lodge. “So the men in my life that were there every day were my football coaches. Those were the guys who I looked up to. That’s what got me into this profession.”

Lodge is joined on the Seminole coaching staff by another former Brahman — Rex Erwin.

“As his friend, I’m thrilled that they chose him,” said Rex after Lodge was announced as the new head coach. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to coach at Seminole. He’s the person that got me over here three years ago after being at Okeechobee. Strictly as a coach, I think Eric was the best choice for the job and I’m looking forward to working with him in this new capacity. Eric has worked really hard to earn this position. He’s a great coach on the field and has built strong relationships with the players and community here in Sanford.”

Lodge had tried to bring Rex over to University High School when he coached there under Don Stark, but the timing wasn’t right and Erwin ended up spending time on the Brahman coaching staff.

But when Rex and his wife moved to Orlando shortly after Lodge took up a coordinator position at Seminole, the two Brahmans were able to reunite.

“Rex is a good coach,” Lodge said. “For one, he has a good football mind. But also he cares. He is going to make sure he does a good job. If something doesn’t go well, it’s not going to be because Rex didn’t put in the time to prepare.”