Glades Day's Tony Kibler (6 feet 5, 300-plus pounds) wants to take a bite out of Jupiter Christian

Wednesday, November 25, 2009
by Jason Lieser

(Bruce Bennett / The Post)

When Glades Day offensive lineman Tony Kibler hears the words "Jupiter Christian" or sees those irritating red and black helmets, he tightens his fists and tilts his chin to the side.

That's because Jupiter Christian has the state championship rings Kibler deeply covets. It's also because Kibler was playing for Okeechobee last year when his Brahmans were whipped by Jupiter Christian. And add the fact that Kibler accuses Jupiter Christian players of diving at his knees when his Glades Day team was beaten by the Eagles earlier this season.

"Basically, that's telling me they're not man enough," said Kibler, who stands 6 feet 5, 320 pounds. "That isn't football.

"That's why every time they do it I put every elbow, every knee into it –- anything I can do to make them feel as much pain as possible."

Kibler and the Gators (9-2) seek to inflict revenge on Jupiter Christian in Friday's Class 1B playoff regional final at Port St. Lucie High. In Week 4, the Eagles (9-2) beat the Gators 28-21 on their way to claiming the District 7-1B title. But Glades Day remains the most threatening obstacle in Jupiter Christian's pursuit of a third straight state championship.

Kibler, who transferred from Okeechobee to Glades Day late last year, has been a massive addition to the Gators' offensive line and a magnetic character in their locker room.

"He's a funny guy -- good guy to hang around," freshman running back Kelvin Taylor said. "He still acts like a little kid."

Sometimes his humor gets him in trouble. At a recent practice, Kibler picked an inopportune moment for a one-liner and interrupted a feisty lecture by coach Pete Walker.

Walker –- a full foot shorter than Kibler –- quickly reminded his largest player that it was time to listen.

"I got one of those death glares," Kibler said. "He's a mean little guy."

Walker benched Kibler during last week's win over Miami MacArthur North for an undisclosed violation of team rules, but overall, Kibler's behavior has not been a problem.

"He's kind of a funny guy, so sometimes you have to get him back focused," Walker said. "I've never hesitated to get on his butt. I jump. I get on my tippy toes. Most of the time I say, 'Bring your head down here where I can talk to you,' but I really haven't had to get on him that much."

Kibler is equally irrepressible on the field. As an all-state junior at Okeechobee, he earned scholarship offers from Arkansas, South Florida, Central Florida and Middle Tennessee State. Kibler committed to USF in the off-season.

He started this year at right tackle before shifting to center, where he now anchors an offensive line that helped Taylor rush for 1,439 yards during the regular season. He also occasionally plays defensive tackle.

Despite undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee before the season, Kibler has quick footwork for his size and is virtually impossible to escape once he locks on to a defender.

"He makes his block every play," said Jupiter Christian coach Bill Powers, who played offensive guard at Montclair (N.J.) State. "In the five years I've been coaching, other than Joe Looney from Lake Worth, he's the best lineman we've gone against."