Season 3 Loading: 2027 Preseason Practices Set to Begin

Preseason practices begin November 7th as The Highlanders look to build on a 10–3 campaign and return to championship contention.

DUNEDIN, FLORIDA, USA — The Dunedin Highlanders will begin preseason practices for the 2027 season on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. Adult players interested in joining the organization are encouraged to register online for a tryout.

Player Registration:www.HighlandersFB.com/Tryout

Following a successful 2026 campaign that saw The Highlanders finish with a 10–3 overall record in the Universal Football League Xtreme (UFLX), advancing to the conference championship game, the organization is preparing for its third season of competition. With the UFLX suspending operations at the conclusion of the 2026 season, The Highlanders will return to the Elite American Football League (EAFL) for 2027. The organization previously competed in the EAFL during its inaugural 2025 season, advancing to the second round of the playoffs with an 8–4 season record.

“We are looking forward to an exciting Season 3 of The Highlanders,” said Steve Korossy, Chief of the Highlanders Clan. “The EAFL has added a number of new teams for 2027. We are looking to build on our successes while learning from our mistakes. Head Coach Mike Fritz and his outstanding coaching staff are an excellent fit for our young players and for the Highlanders organization as a whole.”

Building a Championship-Caliber Culture

Following the organization's inaugural season in 2025, Korossy implemented significant changes to better align The Highlanders with his long-term vision. During the subsequent offseason, Fritz was brought in as a key component of the team's rebuilding effort.

Korossy and Fritz worked extensively to strengthen the roster, establish a cohesive team culture, and assemble a coaching staff capable of developing young athletes both on and off the field. Fritz, a recently retired law enforcement officer with extensive coaching experience at the high school and amateur levels, quickly earned the respect of the players.

“Coach Fritz understands the Dunedin community, and he shares a similar vision for The Highlanders,” Korossy said.

Under Fritz's leadership, The Highlanders delivered one of the most memorable seasons in the organization's young history. The team became known for its resilience, overcoming halftime deficits in each of its first four regular-season games to secure victories. The comeback performances continued through the regular season and into the playoffs, earning the team the nickname “The Cardiac Highlanders.”

“There were a number of key factors that contributed to our success during the 2026 season: planning, execution, and players buying into our team culture,” Fritz said. “Coaches set the tone, but the players are the ones who must execute. The Highlanders are more than just a football team. We are truly a united family, and our comeback victories throughout the season demonstrated that. I was quality team players who share our vision”.

Fritz currently serves as head coach of the Dunedin High School Falcons girls flag football team and defensive line coach for the Dunedin High School Falcons boys football program. He previously coached football at Countryside High School in Clearwater, Florida.

A Local Football Legacy

The Dunedin Highlanders were founded in 2024 by Korossy and Andy Villamarzo, bringing together two individuals with deep roots in the local adult football community.

Villamarzo founded the Anclote Pirates in 2009, an organization now known as the Tarpon Springs Pirates. Korossy joined the Pirates in 2016, when the team relocated to Dunedin and became the Dunedin Pirates. He stepped away from the organization's administration in 2019 but continued serving as the public address announcer at home games through the 2024 season.

In 2022, Villamarzo transferred the Pirates organization to Darrius Smalls, and the team subsequently relocated to Tarpon Springs. Two years later, Korossy and Villamarzo reunited to establish The Highlanders.

Following The Highlanders' inaugural 2025 season, Villamarzo returned to the Pirates, due to differences in organizational philosophy and his longstanding connection to the team he originally founded.

“The Highlanders project would not have gotten off the ground without Andy's contributions to the organization,” Korossy said. “Andy and I invested considerable time, money, and effort in building The Highlanders in 2024. I also relied heavily on him while I was recovering from the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene and a subsequent spinal injury in late 2024. While Andy and I ultimately were not the right fit to continue working together, I'm glad he is back with the Pirates, the team he founded.”

The Highlanders and Pirates could meet on the field during the 2027 season, setting up a compelling local matchup. The Pirates enter the upcoming campaign as back-to-back EAFL league champions.

Smalls Returns for Season 3

The connection between the two organizations continues through Smalls, who departed the Pirates following the 2025 season. After considering the possibility of forming a new team, he joined The Highlanders as a veteran player for the 2026 campaign and is expected to return in 2027.

Smalls described his first season with The Highlanders as a particularly rewarding experience, highlighting the team's culture and its emphasis on personal development alongside football.

“The 2026 season with The Highlanders was the most fun I've ever had at this level of football,” Smalls said. “I love the culture here, and it's great to have coaches who challenge young players to become better not just at football, but also in life. It's going to be another great season of Highlanders football.”

Looking Ahead to 2027

ith a strong foundation, an established coaching staff, and the experience gained from two competitive seasons, The Highlanders are focused on continued growth as they prepare for their return to the EAFL.

The league's regular season is scheduled to begin in late February 2027. In the meantime, the organization is inviting motivated adult football players to attend preseason practices and pursue an opportunity to join the team.

For The Highlanders, the mission extends beyond wins and losses. The organization aims to create an environment where players can develop their football skills, embrace accountability, build lasting relationships, and pursue their ambitions in the sport.

The road to the 2027 season begins November 7th.

Adult Player Tryouts and Registration:
www.HighlandersFB.com/Tryout

Select Sponsorships Available:
www.HighlandersFB.com/Sponsor

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