Newberry Panthers (Class 1A-District 7)
2013 Record: 4-5
Head Coach: Kepa Sarduy
Key Players: Brandon Gunter (LB, Sr.), Malik Neal (QB/DE, Jr.), Nick Oelrich (QB/SS, Jr.), Calvester Mingle (RB, Sr.), Dejwon Howard (CB, Sr.)
Outlook: The Panthers, state semifinalists in 2011, missed out on the state playoffs last season, but the margin for error is small in 1A-District 7, which is referred to as the ‘SEC of 1A football.’ The Panthers return three starters on offense and four starters on defense.
Last season, Gunter had 85 tackles in nine games, Howard had two interceptions and Neal returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns. Newcomers include Oelrich, a transfer from St. Francis, and Mingle, who is in his first year of playing football.
“We have a lot of underclassmen that are going to need to step up and fill key roles,” said second-year coach Kepa Sarduy. “We expect to be competitive in every game and keep on improving as the year goes on.”
2014 Football Schedule
Friday, August 22 – vs. Trenton, 7:30 p.m. (Preseason)
Friday, August 29 – at Santa Fe (Alachua), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 5 – vs. Fort White, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 12 – at Jefferson County (Monticello), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 19 – vs. Chiefland, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, September 26 – vs. Keystone Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 3 – at Williston, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 10 – vs. Robert Toombs Christian Academy (GA), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 – vs. Union County (Lake Butler), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 24 – at Dixie County (Cross City), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, November 7 – vs. Chiles (Tallahassee), 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 7
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)
