After a two-year hiatus, Munroe football is rebuilding from the ground up. Leading that effort is a familiar face under center.
Senior quarterback Landon La Rosa has reunited with head coach Colby Roberts, his former coach at Aucilla Christian, as the Bobcats prepare for their first season back as an independent eight-man football program in 2026.
Landon and his brothers, Aiden and Liam, left an established Aucilla Christian program to join a young Munroe team that is focused on laying the foundation for long-term success.
“It really speaks to their character and their love for the game,” Roberts said. “We had a longstanding relationship during my time over there. They are great kids and are doing a tremendous job of setting the foundation with the right things.”
For Landon La Rosa, the move to Munroe was about more than football. It was an opportunity to help build something new.
The senior quarterback is transitioning from traditional 11-man football to the faster-paced eight-man game, a challenge he welcomed.
“Just looking for an opportunity and a new challenge,” La Rosa said. “Obviously, coming from 11-man to eight-man is a whole different game. I’m just looking to challenge myself and be in a new environment.”
La Rosa arrives at Munroe after a productive season with the Warriors, where he accounted for 2,444 total yards and 27 total touchdowns. earning him All-Big Bend honors during the 2025 season.
Despite entering his final high school season, he said Roberts’ vision for the program and the culture they previously built together played a major role in his decision.
“Really just building a foundation for this school,” La Rosa said. “Football is a culture, and getting to build this culture again with Coach Colby and the guys out there, we’ve got a good group going. Building that foundation is going to be really important.”
Familiar faces strengthen chemistry
One of the benefits of the transition has been reconnecting with former teammates.
La Rosa will once again share the field with center Jaylen Beavers-Moore, a teammate dating back to their middle school days.
“It feels good,” Beavers-Moore said. “We were there when we were in middle school. It feels good to have that team chemistry back.”
That familiarity could prove valuable for a team that features several inexperienced players and younger athletes learning the game.
La Rosa hopes to serve as a leader during the rebuilding process.
“I want to be a leader out here,” he said. “I want to be someone these younger guys look up to. If someone needs someone, I’m their guy. With the direction that this program is going in, I want it to be on my shoulders. I want to guide this program.”
He said his message to younger teammates is simple.
“Keep your head up and keep playing,” La Rosa said. “Things aren’t going to go your way. People are going to turn on you, but whatever you do, just keep going.”
Aiden La Rosa ready to contribute wherever needed
Landon’s twin brother, Aiden La Rosa, is expected to play multiple roles for the Bobcats, including tight end and linebacker.
Like his brother, Aiden said returning to Munroe has allowed him to reconnect with players he never lost touch with despite changing schools.
“It means everything to me,” Aiden said. “Our relationship is great. Even though we left schools, our bond with the guys that were still here never changed. It only grew stronger. That’s what we’re building here, and we’re building off of that.”
His relationship with Roberts has also made the transition seamless.
“I’ve played multiple positions for Coach Colby over the years, and not one time have I told him no,” Aiden said. “Whatever he tells me to do, I’ll do.”
Building for the future
While Munroe’s roster remains young and inexperienced, Aiden believes the team’s work ethic has stood out throughout preseason practices.
He said players have continued pushing through the Florida heat while adapting to the unique demands of eight-man football.
“It’s definitely a learning curve, but I think it’s more of a challenge,” Aiden said. “We’re playing on smaller fields, fewer guys and quicker games. I think it’s going to make us compete and give us a challenge that we haven’t seen before, and hopefully build off of that.”
For the La Rosa brothers and Roberts, success in 2026 will not be measured solely by wins and losses. The greater goal is establishing a culture and foundation that can sustain Munroe football for years to come.
As the Bobcats begin a new chapter, familiar relationships and shared belief in the program’s future are providing the blueprint for its return.
Munroe 2026 football schedule
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: La Rosa brothers lead Munroe football into new era, focused on culture
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
