BELLE GLADE – The heart and soul of Glades Day’s line on both sides is arguably Octavio Muniz III.
Playing at defensive tackle on defense and center on offense, the ‘25 two-way player started five games last season for the Gators.
Muniz III posted the following statistics as a junior:
•13 pancakes on offense
•4 tackles (1 tackle for loss) on defense
The best individual game for the 5-foot-10, 205-pound lineman happened in the first round of the SSAC (Sunshine State Athletic Conference) 5A playoffs at Oasis (Fort Myers).
In Glades Day’s 42-0 road that effectively ended its 2023 season, Muniz III registered the following:
•4 pancakes on offense
•2 tackles (1 tackle for loss) on defense
“This is what happened against Oasis,” Muniz III said. “We were kinda doomed before we even stepped on the field. We had lost five starters to suspension due to a fight that had broken out the week before. We tried to rally up some of our guys, but with some suspended and some injured, I was the only starter remaining on the offensive line. Me and the few other veterans tried to rally our guys, but in the end it just wasn’t enough to come out with the win.”
Muniz III recapped his junior season at Glades Day.
“I liked how I wasn’t afraid to give it everything I had,” Muniz III said. “I’m not exactly the biggest guy on the field, but those bigger than me had a really hard time going against me. I feel like last year I was having a great season. That was before my injury. if there’s anything I would love to have gone differently, it would be to not have gotten injured.”
Muniz III spoke on Glades Day’s coaching staff, which is led by head coach/athletic director Zach Threkeld.
“Coach T is always gonna get the best out of us,” Muniz III said. “He may be hard on us, but he’s only trying to get the best out of his players. Coach [Eric] Pitts has always encouraged me to give it my all on every snap, whether that be offense or defense. Coach Blaze [Thompson] and Coach [Willie] Bueno are some of the toughest coaches I’ve ever had, but what they do is only to bring out the best of their players. It may be through anger or technique, but it’s always gonna happen with those two.”
For this offseason, Muniz III has been working quite hard to get better overall as a lineman. He shared what he has being doing over these past several months.
“Over the offseason, I’ve been pushing myself in the weight room,” Muniz III said. “I’ve brought up both my squat and bench maxes. I’ve also been doing different types of drills with one of my teammates who is graduating this year, Ivis Mendoza. They could range from footwork drills, to speeding up my get offs, and maintaining leverage. Ultimately the work that I’ve put in over the offseason, I hope to show in our spring game next week.”
Glades Day’s spring game is at home against Canterbury (Fort Myers) on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. This is essentially a rematch of Glades Day’s 19-15 road win over Canterbury in Week 7 of the 2023 season.
After that will be the summer offseason for about two months and then the fall football season for at least three months.
Muniz III shared his aspiration for his final high school football season at Glades Day.
“My individual goals are to bring up my totals from last season,” Muniz III said. “I hope to get many more pancakes, tackles, tfls, and hopefully get a few sacks this year as well. This will be my first full year playing defense, and I hope to make a mark in my senior year.”
Muniz III did not stop there.
“I hope to also lead my team on a playoff run this year as well,” Muniz III said. “I feel like we haven’t gained much respect recently due to falling short of our team goals. But I will make sure that everyone is ready to show up and show out for the season. in all honesty, I couldn’t care less about individual success. I just want what’s best for my team.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Jack Bartlett and Greg Baltazar
Muck City Media Enterprises 
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