By Richard Marion

Lake Okeechobee News/Richard Marion
Moore Haven Terrier football coach Brent Burnside (left) and Moore Haven senior Andrew Fish (right).
On Feb. 6, National Signing Day for student athletes all across the country, Moore Haven senior Andrew Fish signed on to play at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. Fish played on the offensive line for the Terriers varsity football team.
The signing took place in the Moore Haven gym in front of family and friends, including the entire Terrier varsity football team.
After the signing, Terrier head coach Brent Burnside noted that Moore Haven was going to have a hard time replacing a player like Andrew.
“A lot of our success was based on that offensive line unit,” explained Burnside. “It’s going to be a big hole to fill as far as losing him next year. That whole group of kids worked together as a unit and they communicated well, which is big on the offensive line.”
The Moore Haven offensive line was named Lake Okeechobee News Athletes of the Week in October 2018 after a dominating performance over Mulberry. Athlete of the Week is usually given to a single athlete after a great performance in a game or string of games. This was the first, and so far only, time an entire group of players was awarded that distinction.
That offensive line, which consisted of Justin Sexton, Connor Thomas, Robert Harris, Jermiah Williams, Andrew Fish, Oniel Satchwell and Eebonik Simmons, helped pave a way for Terrier running backs to rack up over 430 rushing yards against Mulberry on route to a 44-15 Moore Haven win.
“This has just been crazy,” Fish said of his feelings after signing to attend St. Thomas. “During my freshman year, I wasn’t even thinking about football, and now I’m about to go to college. It’s just crazy.”
Fish was a part of the Terrier team that made school history in 2017 by going undefeated in the regular season. The team nearly had another undefeated season in 2018 if not for a missed extra-point kick in overtime against Neumann.
Fish said the secret that helped the Terrier offensive line be successful during Moore Haven’s dominating two-year run was that each member along the line felt like family, which helped them communicate and push each other to get better every day.
St. Thomas University’s football program is brand new to the school, and will compete in the Sun division of the Mid-South Conference where they’ll compete against schools such as Southeastern, Ave Maria and Warner. The Sun division features another Lake Okeechobee area player, former Okeechobee Brahman kicker Jarret Mills, who plays for Keiser University.
As he prepares to leave Moore Haven, Fish gave a vote of confidence in newly named Terrier head coach Brent Burnside, who took over for Max Manin after the 2018 season.
“Oh, I think they’re going to be good next year with Burnside taking over,” said Fish.