Belleview Rattlers (Class 5A-District 5)
2013 Record: 3-7
Head Coach: Phillip Yancey
Key Players: Erik Pitts (QB/LB, Sr.), Jordan Collett (FS, Sr.), Kevante Duncan (CB, Sr.), Blake Norush (DL/OL, Sr.), Edward Motley (RB, Jr.), Shakir Fontenot (WR/So.), Kenneth Franklin (WR, Jr.), Daniel Claudio (SS, Jr.), Matthew McFeeley (DL, So.)
Outlook: The offense will once again be led by Pitts (1,600 total yards & 16 TD’s), a dual threat who has caught the eye of a lot of major D-I programs. He is elusive and hard to bring down. Pitts made the state weightlifting finals last year in the 238-pound weight class. He will be complimented by Motley, who is a talented newcomer. That combination in the backfield could be the X-Factor Belleview looks for in order to score a lot of points in the up tempo offense they installed this past spring.
The biggest question is the offensive line, which will have to replace five seniors. The Rattlers are deep at WR and are expecting a lot out Fontenot, a freak athlete who is turning the heads of college scouts.
However, if Belleview is going to turn the program around it will have to begin with defense, which allowed over 3,000 yards rushing in 2013. Their strength will be in the secondary with two returning starters (Collett & Duncan), along with newcomers Claudio and Taylor. They will need to lean on young players like McFeeley and sophomore Earl Watson in the front seven because they only return two starters (Norush & LB Enrique Martinez).
2014 Football Schedule
Thursday, August 21 – at West Port (Ocala), 7 p.m. (Preseason)
Friday, August 29 – vs. The Villages, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 5 – at Lake Weir (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 18 – at Eastside (Gainesville), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, September 26 – vs. Lecanto, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 3 – at Dunnellon, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 10 – vs. Suwannee (Live Oak), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 – at Santa Fe (Alachua), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 24 – vs. Crystal River, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 31 – vs. North Marion (Citra), 7 p.m.*
Friday, November 7 – at Forest (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
*District game
“The Prep Zone” will count down to kick-off with a daily preview of high school football teams in the North Central Florida area. Here are the future release dates:
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 5
July 11 – Crystal River
July 12 – Dunnellon
July 13 – Eastside (Gainesville)
July 14 – North Marion (Citra)
July 15 – Santa Fe (Alachua)
July 16 – Suwannee (Live Oak)
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 6
July 17 – Central (Brooksville)
July 18 – Weeki Wachee
July 19 – Hernando (Brooksville)
July 20 – Nature Coast (Brooksville)
July 21 – South Sumter (Bushnell)
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 3
July 22 – Columbia (Lake City)
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 5
July 23 – Citrus (Inverness)
July 24 – Gainesville
July 25 – Lake Weir (Ocala)
July 26 – Vanguard (Ocala)
July 27 – Forest (Ocala)
CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 6
July 28 – Springstead (Spring Hill)
CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 3
July 29 – Buchholz (Gainesville)
CLASS 8A-DISTRICT 1
July 30 – West Port (Ocala)
