GAINESVILLE (December 14) — The finalists for the 2016 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football and Football Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school football coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in his classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in his class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Finalists for the 2016 Mr. Football Award (Area winners in bold)
Mike Dean, Senior, Quarterback, Vero Beach, Class 8A Player of the Year
Dean led his team to the regional finals by completing 197-of-284 passes (69.4%) for 3,032 yards with 33 TD passes and only three interceptions. Also rushed for 7 TDs.
Matt Laroche, Senior, Running Back, Venice, Class 7A Player of the Year
Laroche led his team to the state Final Four by rushing for 2,742 yards on 236 carries (11.6 avg.), averaging 210 yards rushing per game with 37 TDs. He also had seven receptions for 162 yards and scored four 2-point conversions.
Michael Carter, Senior, Running Back, Navarre, Class 6A Player of the Year
Carter led his team to the state Final Four by rushing for 2,536 yards on 296 carries (8.5 avg.) while scoring 41 rushing TDs. He also caught 37 passes for 415 yards and 2 TDs and averaged 38 yards on 10 kickoff returns with 2 TDs. Committed to the University of North Carolina.
Nick Tronti, Senior, Quarterback, Ponte Vedra, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his squad to the state championship game, completing 217-of-325 passes for 3,328 yards with 34 TDs and four interceptions while also rushing for 615 yards on 115 carries (5.7 avg.) with 19 TDs. Committed to UNC-Charlotte.
Bruce Judson, Senior, Quarterback, Cocoa, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led his squad to the state championship, completing 62-of-94 passes for 1,163 yards with 16 TDs and four interceptions while also rushing for 866 yards on 130 carries (6.7 avg.) with 9 TDs. Committed to the University of South Florida.
Shaun Wade, Senior, Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), Class 3A Player of the Year
Helped his squad to its fourth straight state title, catching 27 passes for 520 yards (19.3 avg.) and 6 TDs on offense while posting 63 tackles (42 solo) with seven interceptions (2 TD returns) on defense. Committed to Ohio State University.
Griffin Alstott, Senior, Quarterback, Northside Christian, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state Final Four by completing 164-of-296 passes for 2,410 yards with 31 TDs and 8 interceptions. Also rushed for 235 yards and 8 TDs. Committed to Purdue University.
Dentarrius Yon, Junior, Quarterback, West Gadsden, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to the regional finals by completing 180-of-296 passes for 3,075 yards with 38 TD passes and 8 interceptions. He also rushed for 582 yards on 72 carries (8.1 avg.) and 10 touchdowns.
Jarrett Conkling, Junior, Quarterback, International Community School, Independent Player of the Year
Two-way standout completed 92-of-178 passes for 1,113 yards and 12 TDs, rushed for 2,187 yards on 200 carries (10.9 avg.) and 21 TDs, had 96 tackles on defense (70 solo) and had a 37.9 yards punting average.
Finalists for the 2016 Football Coach of the Year:
Billy Rolle, Miami Southridge, Class 8A Coach of the Year
Became first coach in state history to win state titles at three schools (Northwestern 1998 and 2007; Killian 2004) by leading Southridge to the Class 8A state title in his second year at the school. Has a career mark of 170-56.
O.J. Small, Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville), Class 7A Coach of the Year
In the school’s best season in 20 years, Small led Lee to a 10-2 record and a spot in the state Final Four, where the Generals dropped a highly-competitive semifinal contest to Tampa Plant, 27-19.
Doug DeMyer, Lake Gibson (Lakeland), Class 6A Coach of the Year
In his first season at Lake Gibson, DeMyer led his squad to a 13-1 record and a state runnerup finish after a tough 14-6 loss to Carol City.
Matt Toblin, Ponte Vedra, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led team to a 13-1 record and a state runnerup finish after a tough 35-33 state-title game loss to unbeaten American Heritage. In three years at Ponte Vedra has posted a 24-11 record and has an overall mark of 41-18 in five years.
Johnny Wilkinson, Cocoa, Class 4A Coach of the Year
Led team to the state title with an 11-1 record, Wilkinson’s fourth state title (2008-09-10-16) and 10th consecutive state Final Four appearance. Career record of 147-40, including a 132-25 mark in 13 years at Cocoa.
Dameon Jones, Chaminade-Madonna, Class 3A Coach of the Year
In his first year at Chaminade, led squad to a 10-4 record and a state runnerup finish. Posted a 71-18 record in nine years at Hallandale High School.
Dennis Marroquin, Champagnat Catholic, Class 2A Coach of the Year
In his second year at Champagnat, led squad to an 11-2 record and a state runnerup finish after finishing 3-7 in 2015.
Orson Walkes, Pahokee, Class 1A Coach of the Year
In his first year as head coach at his alma mater, Walkes posted a 14-0 record as Pahokee won its seventh state title. Walkes served as an assistant on four previous Pahokee title-winning teams (2004-06-07-08).
Keith Allen, King’s Academy, Independent Coach of the Year
In his second year at King’s Academy, led team to an 11-0 record and the Southeastern Football Conference title after finishing 4-6 in his inaugural season. Coached six years at D-II Southwest Baptist University before joining King’s Academy.
Final voting numbers by class (top five):
Class 8A
Player School Points
Mike Dean Vero Beach 125
Jerry Jeudy Deerfield Beach 103
Anthony Wynds Palm Beach Central 39
Jordan Pouncey Winter Park 35
Lorenzo Lingard University (Orange City) 29
Coach School Points
Billy Rolle Miami Southridge 124
Rodney Wells Dr. Phillips (Orlando) 120
Don Stark Seminole (Sanford) 66
Jevon Glenn Deerfield Beach 32
Brian Dodds Park Vista (Lake Worth) 24
Class 7A
Player School Points
Matt Laroche Venice 79
Michael McFarlane Lake Nona (Orlando) 66
Austin Kuyrkendall Martin County (Stuart) 52
Derrick Jones Lee (Jacksonville) 47
Chris Rumph II Buchholz (Gainesville) 39
Coach School Points
OJ Small Lee (Jacksonville) 101
Robert Weiner Plant (Tampa) 94
John Peacock Venice 71
Roger Harriott St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale) 56
Darrell Sutherland Bartram Trail (St. Johns) 20
Class 6A
Player School Points
Michael Carter Navarre 99
Rusty Moorer Crestview 71
N’Kosi Perry Vanguard (Ocala) 49
Denzel Houston Mainland (Daytona Beach) 48
Tyler Phelps Gulf Breeze 39
Coach School Points
Doug DeMyer Lake Gibson (Lakeland) 129
Aubrey Hill Miami Carol City 112
Jay Walls Navarre 52
Binky Waldrop Charlotte (Punta Gorda) 42
Edwin Farmer Vanguard (Ocala) 15
Class 5A
Player School Points
Nick Tronti Ponte Vedra 107
Malik Davis Jesuit (Tampa) 93
De’Vonta Smith Central (Brooksville) 64
Jamari Peacock Yulee 41
Cade Weldon Jefferson (Tampa) 32
Coach School Points
Matt Toblin Ponte Vedra 151
Pat Surtain American Heritage (Plantation) 120
Matt Thompson Jesuit (Tampa) 59
Chris Sands Central (Brooksville) 22
Josh Hoekstra Clay (Green Cove Springs) 20
Class 4A
Player School Points
Bruce Judson Cocoa 109
Quadry Jones Jones (Orlando) 80
Ahman Ross Bolles (Jacksonville) 64
George Bubrick University (Ft. Lauderdale) 61
Ivory Durham Raines (Jacksonville) 25
Coach School Points
Johnny Wilkinson Cocoa 147
Corky Rogers Bolles (Jacksonville) 104
Ty Lawrence South Sumter (Bushnell) 82
Elijah Williams Jones (Orlando) 32
Corey Green Bradford (Starke) 15
Class 3A
Player School Points
Shaun Wade Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 74
Henry Colombi Chaminade Madonna (Hollywood) 68
Joaquin Collazo Melbourne Central Catholic 56
Gordon Stetson Berkeley Prep (Tampa) 44
Cam Brown Florida High (Tallahassee) 35
Coach School Points
Dameon Jones Chaminade Madonna (Hollywood) 114
Verlon Dorminey Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 78
Stacey Sizemore Melbourne Central Catholic 74
Jarrod Hickman Florida High (Tallahassee) 30
Dom Ciao Berkeley Prep (Tampa) 17
Class 2A
Player School Points
Griffin Alstott Northside Christian (St. Petersburg) 82
Amorie Archibald Trinity Christian (Deltona) 74
Dalton Jenner Victory Christian (Lakeland) 72
Jayce Howell First Baptist (Naples) 34
Marvin Scott Warner Christian (South Daytona) 32
Coach School Points
Dennis Marroquin Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) 103
Mike Alstott Northside Christian (St. Petersburg) 91
David Penland III University Christian (Jacksonville) 89
Tommy Lewis Victory Christian (Lakeland) 42
Steve Price North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) 15
Class 1A Player School Points
Dentarrius Yon West Gadsden (Greensboro) 70
Rodney McKay Pahokee 61
Javontai Hall Cottondale 58
Cory Durden Newberry 35
Jalen Ciurleo Baker 29
Coach School Points
Orson Walkes Pahokee 115
Matt Brunson Baker 80
Richard Vester Newberry 44
Mike Coe Madison County 35
Bill Wiles Trenton 34
Independent
Player School Points
Jarrett Conkling International Community School 111
Justin Wake King’s Academy (West Palm Beach) 96
Chase Trunell Oak Hall (Gainesville) 87
Tre Preston St. Joseph (St. Augustine) 32
Fred Billy St. Stephens (Bradenton) 17
Coach School Points
Keith Allen King’s Academy (West Palm Beach) 120
Matt DiBernardo Oak Hall (Gainesville) 102
Todd Creneti St. Stephens (Bradenton) 83
Byron Walker Archbishop McCarthy (SW Ranches) 35
David Lowe Cocoa Beach 10
