Branford Buccaneers (Class 1A-District 5)
2013 Record: 3-7
Head Coach: Roy Harden
Key Players: Anthony Akers (WR/DB, Sr.), Caleb Land (TE/LB, Sr.), Brandon Wilson (RB/DB, Sr.), Alec Burt (RB/LB, Sr.), Shawn Belanger (TE/LB, Sr.), Kenyon McFatten (DT, Jr.)
Outlook: The Buccaneers struggled down the stretch as they lost five in a row to end the 2013 season. In order to have a chance at a winning season, they will have to shore up the defense. Last year, Branford allowed an average of 37 points per game, including 48 points per game in three district games.
Akers (33 tackles), Land (32) and Wilson (31), who also had 82 carries for 376 yards and four TDs, return on the defensive side of the ball. They will have a stable of running backs with varsity experience in Wilson, junior Jason Chavez, and Burt, while juniors Nathan Sumner, Johnathan Carrier and Jeremy Onuska return on the offensive line, along with senior Blake Darling.
2014 Football Schedule
Thursday, August 21 – at The Villages, 7 p.m. (Preseason)
Friday, August 29 – at Aucilla Christian (Monticello), 7 p.m.
Friday, September 5 – vs. Trenton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 19 – at Bronson, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 26 – at Pope John Paul II (Tallahassee), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 3 – vs. Jefferson County (Monticello), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 10 – at Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 – vs. Hamilton County (Jasper), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 31 – at Lafayette (Mayo), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, November 7 – vs. Bell, 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 1A-DISTRICT 5
June 23 – Hamilton County (Jasper)
June 24 – Lafayette (Mayo)
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 6
June 25 – Bell
June 26 – Bronson
June 27 – Hawthorne
June 28 – Trenton
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 7
June 29 – Chiefland
June 30 – Dixie County (Cross City)
July 1 – Newberry
July 2 – Union County (Lake Butler)
July 3 – Williston
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 8
July 4 – Wildwood
CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 2
July 5 – Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
July 6 – PK Yonge (Gainesville)
CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 2
July 7 – Fort White
CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 4
July 8 – The Villages
July 9 – Bradford (Starke)
CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 5
July 10 – Belleview
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)
