The Prep Zone

Dixie County football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 21, 2020

3

By Mike Ridaught
Twitter – @ridaught

Mission accomplished.

Last year, first-year Dixie County (Cross City) head football coach LB Cravey wanted to make the state playoffs.

The Bears won their first six games in 2019 before injuries took their toll, but Dixie County still made the Class 1A playoffs as a number three seed in Region 3 despite losing its final three regular season games.

It was the sixth appearance in the past seven years for the Bears.

Cravey, who begins his seventh season on staff, looks to make it back-to-back state playoff appearances as he enters his second year as head coach.

“The Dixie County Bears are excited and hungry for the opportunity to take the field again,” said the 2006 Dixie County alum.

Cravey, who had served as the Bears’ defensive backs and quarterbacks coach from 2014-2018, will have to replace Gainesville Sun Super 11 running back Fitzgerald Warren, who missed three games because of injury late in the season but still rushed for an average of 112.7 yards per game.

Jaydon Malone, who rushed for 630 yards (7.2 ypc) and eight touchdowns as a junior, will try and fill that void.

Plus, Sam Cannon returns at quarterback.

Cannon, who threw for nine touchdowns with only one interception, will provide some key leadership on offense.

The most important position battle heading into the fall will be the offensive line, which graduated four out of five last year.

“We have the skill and a group of young players in the O-line ready to fill some big shoes left to them from great players,” said Cravey.

On defense, the Bears will return seven starters from a team that held 1A playoff teams Trenton & Hawthorne to a total of 21 points.

Depth will be a concern as Cannon, Malone, senior FB/LB Keatan Brown, senior OL/DE Thomas Smith, junior WR/CB Brenden Hall, junior FB/DE Paras Clines, and junior RB/Safety Kolton Hunt will play on both sides of the ball.

To make it back to the postseason, Dixie County will have to finish in the top six of the 9-team Class 1A-Region 3, which includes 3-time defending state champion Madison County and Union County (Lake Butler), which eliminated the Bears in last year’s FHSAA Regional Quarterfinals.

They will get a good test to start the year on Friday, August 14, when they travel to Class 3A Trinity Catholic (Ocala) for the Kickoff Classic.

Dixie County will open up the regular season at home against Taylor County (Perry) on Friday, August 21.

School: Dixie County High School (Cross City)
Coach & year: LB Cravey (2nd year)
Number of starters returning on offense/defense: Six return on offense & seven return on defense
Key losses: Fitzgerald Warren, Easton Locke, Austin Roberts, Ervin Sapp
Key returning players: QB Sam Cannon (Sr.), RB/CB Jaydon Malone (Sr.), FB/LB Keatan Brown (Sr.), OL/DE Thomas Smith (Sr.), WR/CB Brenden Hall (Jr.), FB/DE Paras Clines (Jr.), RB/Safety Kolton Hunt (Jr.), OL Javarian Henry (So.)
Key newcomers: FB/LB Scott Hysmith (Sr.), WR/S Carson St Laurent (Jr.), OL/DL Trevor Chapman (So.)
Most important position battles heading into the fall: Offensive line (graduated 4 out of 5 last year)
Outlook/Expectations: “The Bears have found ways to overcome the adversities that fall in our path whether it was a new coach or injures and will do the same with the current situation of our nation. The Dixie County Bears are excited and hungry for the opportunity to take the field again. The boys will play and practice every day with their all. I believe that. I believe in our team and they believe in each other! We have the skill and a group of young players in the O line ready to fill some big shoes left to them from great players.” – Coach Cravey

2020 football schedule
8/14 at Trinity Catholic (Ocala), Kickoff Classic, 7 p.m.
8/21 vs. Taylor County (Perry)
8/28 at Trenton
9/4 at Union County (Lake Butler)
9/11 vs. Williston
9/18 vs. Chiefland
9/25 at Hawthorne
10/2 vs. Lafayette (Mayo)
10/9 at Newberry
10/23 at P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
10/30 vs. North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville), Homecoming

All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

Class 1A-Region 3 (top 6 make postseason)
Branford
Bell
Dixie County (Cross City)
Fort White
Hamilton County (Jasper)
Hilliard
Lafayette (Mayo)
Madison County
Union County (Lake Butler)

St. Francis Catholic Academy football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 21, 2020

4

By Marty Pallman
Twitter – @mpallman

Before Scott McDaniel arrived at Saint Francis Catholic Academy (Gainesville) as the head football coach in 2015, the Wolves’ program had never advanced to the postseason.

But after a third straight playoff appearance in 2019, the postseason has become a rite of passage for McDaniel and his team.

Now the goal for the Wolves in 2020: Stick around longer and win their first playoff game in program history.

There are plenty of returning starters for St. Francis Catholic in 2020 with eight back on offense and 10 on defense.

“With all but our QB returning from the offensive skill positions, we have a chance to be very productive on that side of the ball,” McDaniel said. “If a solid QB emerges during camp, then we could be an extremely explosive offense.”

Saint Francis only finished with a 3-8 record last season, but that was enough to qualify as the #6 seed in Region 2-2A. The Wolves were eliminated in the 2A regional quarterfinal by rival Oak Hall School (Gainesville) 47-0.

Tyler Stone threw for 12 TD’s and almost 1,500 yards as the Wolves quarterback in 2019, but he has graduated. Junior Riley Brown saw some time as the signal-caller a year ago and will compete for the starting job in 2020 along with senior Trevor Spencer.

Junior running back Levi West is back in the backfield for St. Francis after leading the Wolves in rushing last season with 599 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior Jeck Walker will get carries as well.

Wide receiver Omarion Littles will once again be the top target for whoever the new starting quarterback will be. The junior caught 54 balls for 915 yards with a long catch of 80 yards and five TD’s as a sophomore in 2019.

Littles is a dual threat as he rolled up 40 tackles and a team-high eight interceptions as a defensive back last season.

Spencer and senior tight end Travis Williams will also have an impact in the passing game for the Wolves in 2020.

McDaniel expects big things from the Wolves’ defense with 10 starters returning.

“Defensively we will be much improved with another year of growth,” McDaniel added.

Seniors Tylan Roundtree and Thomas Duarte will anchor both lines and will be joined by newcomers sophomores Dalton Dean and Christian Starke on the offensive and defensive line as well.

Outside of the quarterback position, McDaniel believes depth on the lines will be key heading to fall practice, and the battle for 4th and 5th linemen positions will be ones to watch as well.

Saint Francis will play in Region 2-2A again this year, which was originally to include eight teams, but Oak Hall recently announced they will be playing eight-man football this fall. St. John Lutheran (Ocala), Foundation Academy (Winter Garden), Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona), and Victory Christian Academy (Lakeland) are also in this region again this year.

The Wolves will open the season on August 21 at home against Bronson. They have a three-game homestand in September against Aucilla Christian (Monticello), Munroe (Quincy), and Eagle’s View (Jacksonville), followed by four straight road games in October at Bell, Cocoa Beach, Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona), and St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park).

School: Saint Francis Catholic Academy (Gainesville)
2019 record: 3-8 (lost in first round of 2A playoffs)
Coach & year: Scott McDaniel (6th year at Saint Francis/22-29 overall)
Number of returning offensive/defensive starters: 8 offensive; 10 Defensive
Key losses: Tristan McDaniel OL/DL ,Jack Stuckey OL, Tyler Stone QB
Key returning players (Name, position, year): Tylan Roundtree Sr OL/DL, Travis Williams Sr LB/TE, Trevor Spencer Sr WR/QB ,Thomas Duarte Jr OL/DL, Omarion Littles Jr WR/DB, Jeck Walker Jr Ath, Levi West Jr LB/ RB
Key newcomers (Name, position, year): Dalton Dean So OL/DL & Christian Starke are both expected to contribute on OL/DL; Riley Brown is expected to compete at QB
Most important position battles heading into the fall: QB and 4th and 5th linemen
Outlook/expectations: With all but our QB returning from the Offensive skill positions, we have a chance to be very productive on that side of the ball. If a solid QB emerges during camp, then we could be an extremely explosive offense. Defensively we will be much improved with another year of growth. It could lead to a big year and a 4th consecutive playoff appearance.

2020 Football Schedule
Aug. 21 vs. Bronson
Aug. 28 at St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine)
Sept. 4 vs. Aucilla Christian (Monticello)
9/11 vs. Munroe (Quincy)
9/18 vs. Eagle’s View (Jacksonville)
10/2 at Bell
10/9 at Cocoa Beach
10/16 at Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona)
10/23 at St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park)
10/30 vs. Rocky Bayou Christian (Niceville)

Region 2-2A (top six make the playoffs)
Foundation Academy (Winter Garden)
Halifax Academy (Daytona Beach)
Orangewood Christian (Maitland)
Saint Francis Catholic (Gainesville)
St. John Lutheran (Ocala)
Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona)
Victory Christian Academy (Lakeland)

Vanguard football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 20, 2020

0

By Marty Pallman
Twitter – @mpallman

Consistency has been a staple of the Vanguard Knights under coach Edwin Farmer.

In Farmer’s six seasons as head coach, Vanguard (Ocala) has advanced to the playoffs five times.

Now the Knights would like to get over the hump and advance to the state championship game.

It was another banner year this past fall, as Vanguard finished 9-3 and picked up playoff wins over Menendez (St. Augustine) and North Marion (Citra).

The Knights’ season came to an end with a loss in the Region 2-5A final at eventual state runner-up Jones (Orlando).

The third round has been a tough hump for Vanguard to get over through the years, whether it be previously in Class 6A or last year in 5A.

This upcoming season is expected to be another big year for the Knights, with plenty of returning starters, especially on defense.

“We expect to be very aggressive on defense,” Farmer said. “We have all starters back besides two.”

The defense is led by senior strong safety Sergio Gunsby, who led Vanguard in tackles in 2019 with 98 and added 16 tackles for loss and two sacks. Gunsby will be joined in the secondary by senior free safety Mykel Randall.

Senior linebacker Ronald Leslie-Farmer returns after finishing last season with 84 tackles and 13 for loss, as well as senior defensive end Bryce Langston, who will anchor the Knights’ defensive line. Langston has offers from Florida, LSU, and Auburn, among others.

Vanguard does have to replace Southern University signee Andre Jones, who had 15 tackles for a loss and eight sacks as a defensive end in 2019 as a senior, and defensive back Desmond Dailey, who led the Knights with five interceptions. Dailey will be playing college football at East Tennessee State.

Vanguard has a few question marks offensively, starting at the quarterback position. Dailey was also the Knights quarterback last year.

“Quarterback will be interesting this season,” Farmer said. “We expect to have speed on offense and expect some major improvement up front with our offensive lineman.”

Senior Trevonte Rucker, a UF commit, saw some playing time at quarterback last season and will have a shot at the job in 2020, and other than that position will be up for grabs when practice is slated to being in August.

Vanguard also lost its top running back in Dewayne McBride, who rushed for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns last seasons.

Rucker, who averaged nine yards per carry on 35 attempts, and junior Tyrell Randall are the returning leading rushers, with Randall being another option at quarterback.

The offensive line lost Antonio Smith, who is now at Southern as well, but returns seniors Syncere Brown and Gabriel Seamon and junior Noah Walker.

Vanguard will also have to replace kicker Logan Swift, who is now at UF.

As for the schedule, Vanguard will once again play in the tough District 6-5A and will have to travel to Dunnellon, North Marion, and Lake Weir (Ocala) with a home game against Belleview.

The Knights open the regular season with back-to-back home games at Booster Stadium against Gainesville and Buchholz (Gainesville).

School: Vanguard High School (Ocala)
2019 record: 9-3 (advanced to third round of 5A playoffs)
Head Coach: Edwin Farmer (7th year/56-16 record at Vanguard)
Key Losses: Andre Jones DE (Southern University), Desmond Dailey DB/ATH (East Tennessee) , Antonio Smith OL (Southern University) , Logan Swift Kicker (Florida)
Key Returning Players: Seniors: Sergio Gunsby ATH, Trevonte Rucker ATH, Bryce Langston DE, Mykel Randal ATH, Tevin Smith ATH, Savion Harris ATH, Tony Johnson ATH, Ronald Leslie-Farmer LB, Syncere Brown OG, Gabriel Seamon OT; Juniors: Emile Sancho DB, Tyrell Randal ATH, Kelmonte Pete WR, Ronald Carpenter ATH, Jaelyn Gaines DL, Noah Walker OL
Key Newcomers: Brent King ATH, Malik McCanico DB , DD Watts DB , Jordan Woods LB
Most important position battles heading into the fall: Quarterback will be interesting this season.
Outlook/expectations: We expect to have speed on offense and be very aggressive on defense. We have all returners on defense besides two. Expect some major improvement up front with our offensive lineman.

2020 Football Schedule
8/21 vs. Gainesville
8/28 vs. Buchholz (Gainesville)
9/4 at Sandalwood (Jacksonville), 6 p.m.
9/11 at Dunnellon
9/25 at North Marion (Citra)*
10/3 at Carol City (Miami), 7 p.m.
10/9 vs. Belleview*
10/16 vs. Lake Minneola
10/23 at Lake Weir (Ocala), 7 p.m.*
10/30 vs. Forest (Ocala)

All game at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
*Class 5A-District 6 game

The Prep Zone Show – May 20th, 2020

"The Prep Zone" Sports Show Presented by Sonic Drive-In

Mike Stanton

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May 20, 2020

0

Wednesday, May 20 – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show presented by Sonic Drive-In (broadcast from Sonic Drive-In on 39th Avenue in Gainesville)

Join Mike Ridaught and Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports from Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville. Joshua Wilson of FloridaHSFootball.com will be their guest to talk about a number of topics including coaching changes, impacts of the virus, and what we might be looking at for this fall.

Gainesville football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 19, 2020

1

By Marty Pallman
Twitter – @mpallman

The Gainesville Hurricanes hope a coaching change can bring back a winning tradition to their football program in 2020.

The Hurricanes, who had advanced to the playoffs nine out of the 10 previous seasons coming into 2019, struggled to a 2-8 mark last year.

Patrick Miller was let go after two years as Gainesville head coach and replaced by former Gator football player Dock Pollard, who was head coach at Santa Fe (Alachua) for the last two seasons, leading the Raiders to the playoffs in 2018.

GHS could never get anything going offensively last season, scoring only 51 points in starting 0-6.

The Hurricanes did come close against Baker County (Glen St. Mary), losing 13-10 in overtime, and city rival Buchholz (Gainesville) 18-13, but were blown out by Vanguard (Ocala), Columbia (Lake City), North Marion (Citra), and Oakleaf (Orange Park) by an average margin of almost 28 points per game.

Gainesville went 2-2 down the stretch with wins over Middleburg and city rival Eastside (Gainesville) and losses to playoff teams Wakulla (Crawfordville) and Lee (Jacksonville).

The ‘Canes played five playoff teams on their 2019 schedule.

GHS lost two senior quarterbacks in Rod Williams and Jacob Hanson, who combined for only three touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Hurricanes will need to find a new signal-caller this fall.

“The quarterback position is wide open,” Pollard said. “That will be our main position battle come summer and fall camp.”

Sophomore Darian Smith-Williams is considered one of the favorites to start for the Hurricanes at quarterback.

Gainesville only returns three starters on offense, as they also lost starting running back KZ Hutchinson, a three-year starter who rushed for 582 yards and 6 TD’s last year as a senior, and also had 31 catches for 285 yards out of the backfield.

Junior running back Nayron Jenkins is the returning leading rusher and is expected to pick up the running game for the Hurricanes along with junior athlete D’yoni Hill. Sophomore John Cooper is a newcomer who will see carries as well.

The leading returning receiver is senior Elijah Lee. Another newcomer, sophomore Cameron Boykin, will be a target for the Hurricanes new starting quarterback in 2020.

Senior Rae’Neal Carter returns to anchor the Gainesville offensive line along with senior Julian Moore and they will be joined on the O-line by a newcomer in senior Michael Bullard.

Gainesville returns six defensive starters, although they do lose their top two tacklers from 2019 in Gentle Hunt and Michael Cromarty.

Senior linebacker Charles Seymore is the leading returning tackler for the Hurricanes’ defense, with 45 stops and 2 sacks last season. He will be joined by another senior linebacker Chadwick Ellington.

Hill, who had two interceptions and 11 passes defensed, leads the Gainesville secondary.

Not having spring practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic is tough for a coach like Pollard, who is in his first year with the Gainesville program. The coach has been busy checking in with his players during the spring and at least is not new to the North Central Florida area.

“We lost quite a bit of experience from last year,” Pollard said. “But we are gaining a wealth of young, athletically talented young men to mix with what is coming back.”

The schedule is once again daunting, with an opening game at Vanguard, and trips to Columbia, Wakulla, and Lee, along with home games against Baker County, North Marion and Centennial (Port St. Lucie).

The winner of Class 6A-District 2 will make the playoffs, along with four at-large teams from the region.

School: Gainesville High School
2019 record: 2-8
Coach & year: Dock Pollard (1st season)
Number of returning offensive/defensive starters: 3 Offense/ 6 Defense
Key losses: Gentle Hunt, Tramel Brown, Austen Register, Alex Berceli, Cameron Cohens, Alex Hood, MIchael Cromarty, KZ Hutchinson, Rod Williams, Jacob Hanson, Raymond Cobb, Caleb Washington, Josiah Williams, Deon Dexter, Emmanuel McCollum
Key returning players (Name, position, year): Nay’Ron Jenkins (RB, 2022), D’yoni Hill (Ath, 2022), Rae’Neal Carter (OL, 2021), Elijah Lee (WR, 2021), Charles Seymore (LB, 2021), Jerohn Gordon (DB, 2021), Cassaun Garrison (DB, 2021), Chadwick Ellington (LB, 2021), Davontis Clements (ATH, 2021), Julian Moore (OL, 2021), Dylan Theriault (OL, 2021), Connor Diven (OL, 2022), Daryus Boyd (Hybrid, 2022), Will Wistruck (TE, 2022), Dallas Figueroa (Hybrid, 2021), Brandon Bates (LB, 2021), Bavan Bates (DL, 2021), Davontis Clements (ATH/DB, 2021)
Key newcomers (Name, position, year): Cameron Boykin (WR, 2023), Darian Smith-Williams (QB, 2023), Jakarious Jones (OL/DL, 2022), John Cooper (RB, 2023), Brandon Bowden (LB, 2022), Kenneth Nelson (DB, 2023), Michael Bullard (OL, 2021), Darian Owens (DL, 2023), Stanley Cooks (DL, 2023), Ahman Covington (DB, 2023), Taylor McGriff (2023), Brennan Kade (WR, 2022), Rei Hines (DB, 2022)
Most important position battles heading into the fall: QB. The position is wide open.
Outlook/expectations: Lost quite a bit of experience, but we are gaining a wealth of young, athletically talented young men to mix with what is coming back. I think Gainesville football will have a lot of fun this year!

2020 Football Schedule
8/21 at Vanguard (Ocala)
8/28 vs. Baker County (Glen St. Mary)
9/3 vs. North Marion (Citra)
9/11 vs. Centennial (Port St. Lucie)
9/25 at Columbia (Lake City)*
10/2 at Buchholz (Gainesville)
10/9 vs. Middleburg*
10/16 at Wakulla (Crawfordville)
10/23 at Lee (Jacksonville)*
10/30 Eastside (Gainesville)

*6A-District 2 game

Trinity Catholic football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 17, 2020

2

By Mike Ridaught
Twitter – @ridaught

John Brantley is back as head coach of Trinity Catholic (Ocala).

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

But perfection is something Brantley has experienced several times as both a player and a coach.

The former University of Florida quarterback won a state title as a QB at Forest (Ocala) in 1974. He led the Wildcats to a 13-0 record and the first state football championship in Marion County history.

He was an assistant coach under Kerwin Bell in 2005 when the Celtics went wire-to-wire to finish 14-0 and win the Class 2B state title.

And he won his first state title as Trinity Catholic head coach in 2010. That Celtics’ team also went 14-0 and won the Class 2B state title.

In seven years as head coach at Trinity Catholic, Brantley’s teams never lost a district game.

They were district champions every year, going 26-0 in league play — a Marion County record.

This season, Brantley takes over for Andrew Thomas, who left to become the head coach at Union County High School in Lake Butler.

He inherits an 8-win team that advanced to the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs in 2019, before falling at #1 seed Pensacola Catholic.

And they are loaded on the offensive side of the ball, which is Brantley’s forte.

Ocala Star-Banner Offensive Player of the Year Jamarian Samuel returns after rushing for over 2,000 yards and finishing just under 200 yards shy of 3,000 all-purpose yards.

He’ll be running behind an offensive line that has three seniors committed to D-I schools – OT Caleb Johnson (6’7, 290; Auburn commit), OL Jake Slaughter (6’4, 300; Florida commit), OL Garner Langlo (6’7, 270; Auburn commit).

One of the top newcomers is Oak Hall School (Gainesville) transfer QB Cole Gonzales, who is the son of University of Florida wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Billy Gonzales.

Last year as a sophomore for the Eagles he completed 137 of 238 passes for 2,112 yards and 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Gonzales also rushed for 885 yards with 16 scores in helping to lead Oak Hall to its first FHSAA playoff win in school history.

“He’s got good fundamentals and will have good players around him,” said Brantley, whose son John Brantley, IV led the Celtics to back-to-back state championship game appearances in 2005 and 2006. “I like sons of coaches.”

Defense will be the biggest challenge for the Celtics, who lose Chase Oliver, the Star-Banner’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Oliver led the Celtics & Marion County in total tackles (130) and tackles for a loss (23). He is one of seven starters lost on defense.

However, LB Marquis Jones (6’1, 195) returns after recording 79 tackles as a sophomore.

No spring football “hurts first year coaches.”

But this isn’t Brantley’s first rodeo.

The Celtics have the horses to compete for the Class 3A state title.

“The expectations are always high at Trinity Catholic,” said Brantley. “We have only one goal.”

School: Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Coach & year: John Brantley (1st year/2nd stint) (67-20 overall) (Brantley was head coach of the Celtics from 2008-2014)
2019 record: 8-4
Number of starters returning on offense/defense: 8/4
Key losses: OL Miller Merriweather Lewis, LB/S Chase Oliver, & ATH Jamarrien Burt
Key returning players: RB/DB Jamarian Samuel (5’10, 190; Sr.), OT Caleb Johnson (6’7, 290; Sr., Auburn commit), OL Jake Slaughter (6’4, 300; Sr., Florida commit), OL Garner Langlo (6’7, 270; Sr., Auburn commit), TE Jaylen Williams (6’4, 235; Jr.), LB Marquis Jones (6’1, 195; Jr.), K Alvaro Cebrian (5’11, 170; Sr.)
Key newcomers: QB Cole Gonzales (Jr.), DE Jacque Njeanwobe (Sr.), CB/RB Daijhae Abate (Sr.), DL Josh Pitts (So.), RB Beau Beard (So.)
Outlook/Expectations: “The expectations are always high at Trinity Catholic. We have only one goal.” – Brantley

2020 Football Schedule
8/14 vs. Dixie County (Cross City), Kickoff Classic
8/20 (Thur.) at Leon (Tallahassee), Gene Cox Stadium
8/28 at P.K. Yonge (Gainesville)
9/11 vs. South Sumter (Bushnell)
9/18 at North Florida Christian (Tallahassee)
9/25 vs. The Villages
10/2 vs. Fort White
10/9 at Melbourne Central Catholic
10/16 at Victory Christian (Lakeland)
10/23 vs. Calvary Christian (Clearwater)
10/30 vs. Dunnellon

Class 3A-Region 1 (top six make the playoffs)
Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville)
Baldwin
Episcopal (Jacksonville)
Florida High (Tallahassee)
Interlachen
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville)
Pensacola Catholic
Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville)
Walton (Defuniak Springs)
Wolfson (Jacksonville)

Santa Fe football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 15, 2020

2

By Mike Ridaught
Twitter – @ridaught

It’s been “a whirlwind” for new Santa Fe head football coach Jared Allen.

Allen was hired to replace Dock Pollard, who left the Raiders after two seasons in late January to become head coach at Gainesville High School.

The first-year coach has been traveling back and forth between DeFuniak Springs and Alachua as his wife was expecting a baby (Jax Bryant Allen was born at Midnight on May 10).

His first day at school in Alachua was going to be March 16th, “and we all know what happened that day.”

He has spent time calling his players “to check in on them and their families, making sure that they don’t have any needs other than football” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“At the end of the day, I feel that we worry a lot about football, but I think this is God’s way of telling us to slow down and take a step back,” said Allen, who has been an assistant coach at Walton (DeFuniak Springs) and Pensacola Catholic. “Plus, shifting the focus away from football, in my opinion, makes it to where the players are chomping at the bit getting ready for summer workouts.”

From an organizational standpoint, he doesn’t think it’s (no spring football) that big of a deal.

“We can install our entire offense in three days,” he explained. “After that it’s just getting reps to perfect schemes.”

However, Allen did note that having no spring football was also going to hurt in a number of ways.

“First, I know of coaches that still haven’t sent their helmets off for reconditioning and with the plants just opening back up there’s no way to know, if they send them off now, when they will get them back,” he said.

Secondly, Allen said injuries could become a problem.

“I think that we’re going to have a large influx of injuries this year if we try to jump back into it too soon just because of the fact that the kids aren’t conditioned and ready to play at this moment,” he said.

The Raiders lost some key players like Deron Reid, Kynian Murphy, and Darrius Powell, but Allen still has high expectations entering his first season.

“If the guys show up every day and do what is asked of them, I can easily see us winning 7+ football games this year and making the playoffs,” he said.

School: Santa Fe High School
Coach: Jared Allen (1st year)
2019 record: 5-5
Number of returning starters: We graduated 15 players off of a team of around 30, so there will be a lot of new faces starting for us.
Key losses: Deron Reid, Kynian Murphy, Darrius Powell, Vince Dixon III are some of the names I know that we are missing, but that whole group of seniors will be tough to replace. It’s hard to lose 15 at a school the size of Santa Fe.
Key Returners: Najhay Calhoun (DT, 2021), Balin Strickland (OLB, 2021), Gerrell Richardson (Striker, 2021)
Key Newcomers: my son, Landon Rogers 6’3, 207lb (QB 2022), is moving down with me from Walton High School, but other than that I haven’t really gotten to work with my guys yet to see who is ready to step into major roles for us.
Key position battles: As our staff is new, coming in this year, I feel that our guys should be prepared to battle for all 11 starting positions on offense and defense. Guys aren’t promised to start because they started last year. Everything that we do is going to be earned and that includes being a starter.
Outlook/Expectations: SFHS is a great school, full of tradition, and we are looking at this thing like building a house. Before you go up you have to dig and get a good foundation set. We are hoping that this summer will provide us with the opportunity to get the foundation set for our program moving forward and then we’ll go from there. The players have been excited about getting started and if the guys show up every day and do what is asked of them, I can easily see us winning 7+ football games this year and making the playoffs, and then once you get to the playoffs It’s just taking it week by week and see where you can go from there.

2020 Football Schedule
8/14 vs. North Marion (Citra), Kickoff Classic
8/21 vs. Newberry
8/28 at Suwannee (Live Oak)
9/4 vs. Fort White
9/11 at Wakulla (Crawfordville)
9/18 vs. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), Homecoming
10/2 at Union County (Lake Butler)
10/9 vs. Palatka
10/15 (Thur.) vs. Forest (Ocala), Senior Night
10/23 at Eastside (Gainesville)
10/29 at Buchholz (Gainesville)

Class 4A-Region 1 (top six make the playoffs)
Bay (Panama City)
Bolles (Jacksonville)
Bradford (Starke)
Fernandina Beach
Gadsden County (Havana)
Marianna
North Bay Haven Academy (Panama City)
Rutherford (Panama City)
Santa Fe (Alachua)
South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach)
West Nassau (Callahan)

Newberry football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 14, 2020

3

By Marty Pallman
Twitter – @mpallman

The ending wasn’t what Newberry High School wanted, but the 2019 football season saw the Panthers back in a familiar place: the FHSAA state playoffs.

After going 1-9 in 2018, Newberry let head coach Richard Vester go and promoted assistant coach Ed Johnson to the top job. Johnson had also been the head boys’ basketball coach at Newberry.

The turnaround was immediate last season.

After dropping their opener to rival Santa Fe (Alachua), the Panthers ran off nine wins in a row and earned the top seed in Region 4-1A.

After a bye in the opening week of the playoffs, Newberry opened up the postseason at home against Chiefland and quarterback Ty Corbin.

But Newberry lost a 13-point lead in the second half and saw its season come to an end with a stunning 20-19 loss to Chiefland.

As Coach Johnson enters his second season as the Panthers’ head coach, there is plenty of talent returning for 2020.

“Replacing four starters from defense, including three that made the all-state team will be crucial,” he said. “But with most starters returning, we’ll be a year smarter in our system, and plan on playing fast and physical.”

The Panthers will return seven starters on offense and seven on defense this season.

However, they will have to replace two all-state defensive players in defensive tackle Cedric Cohen and linebacker Eric Hester, who were the Panthers’ top two tacklers a year ago.

On offense, senior quarterback Makai Johnson is back after throwing for nine touchdowns and rushing for two more scores as a junior last season. Coach Johnson expects Johnson’s play to be improved after a season of experience behind center, but the Panthers will have to break in a new group of receivers.

“We have to be better in the passing game to accomplish our ultimate goal,” said Coach Johnson.

Newberry should have a physical running game with 1,000 yard rusher Kobe Delima returning, and Coach Johnson is expecting the team to be faster on offense.

As far as the position battles go heading into fall camp, replacing all three linebacker positions as well as solidifying the offensive line will be what Coach Johnson is looking for when his Panthers hit the practice field.

“We will suffer from missing the spring where a lot of our young guys could have gotten a lot of reps,” he added. “But we’ll work to make sure we are ready to go come August.”

After a 2019 season in which the Panthers returned to the playoffs, more of the same is expected this season.

Coach Johnson says they “expect to make the playoffs and contend for a state championship every year in Newberry.”

School: Newberry High School
Coach & year: Ed Johnson (2nd year)
2019 record: 9-2
Number of returning offensive/defensive starters: 7 offense/7 defense
Key losses: Cedric Cohen (DT), Eric Hester (LB), JJ Harper (WR/P)
Key returning players (Name, position, year): Makai Johnson (QB, Sr.), Kobe Delima (RB, Sr.), Leontre Robinson (DE, Sr.), Munshae Lancaster (DE, Sr.), Harley Zilcosky (C, Sr.), Mason Markle (OG, Jr.), Chris Jonas (DB, Jr.), Lennie Boykin (OL,Jr.), Tyreke Williams (DB, Sr.), Thad Rucker (SS/OLB, Jr.)
Key newcomers (Name, position, year): Carson Price (TE/H-Back, Jr.), Malachi Jackson (DT, Jr.), Tre Butler (ATH., So.), Waylon Philpot (OL, Jr.)
Most important position battles heading into the fall: Replacing all three LB positions, and solidifying OL.
Outlook/expectations: Replacing 4 starters from defense, including 3 that made the all-state team will be crucial. But with most starters returning, we’ll be a year smarter in our system, and plan on playing fast and physical. On offense, we have to be better in the passing game to accomplish our ultimate goal. Will be breaking in a new group of WR’s, but QB play should be improved this season. We will still have a physical running game that we rely on, and will look to be faster on offense. We will suffer from missing the spring where a lot of our young guys could have gotten a lot of reps but we’ll work to make sure we are ready to go come August. We expect to make the playoffs and contend for a state championship every year in Newberry.

2020 Football Schedule
8/14 vs. Bradford (Starke), Kickoff Classic*
8/21 at Santa Fe (Alachua)*
8/28 at Hawthorne*
9/4 vs. Trenton*
9/11 vs. Union County (Lake Butler)*
9/18 vs. Taylor (Pierson), Homecoming*
9/25 at Williston*
10/1 vs. Hamilton County (Jasper)*
10/9 vs. Dixie County (Cross City)*
10/23 at Fort White*
10/30 at Paxon (Jacksonville), 7 p.m.

*7:30 p.m. kickoff time

Class 1A-Region 4 (Top 6 make playoffs)
Bronson
Chiefland
Crescent City
Fort Meade
Hawthorne
Newberry
Pahokee
Trenton
Wildwood
Williston

The Prep Zone Show – May 13th, 2020

"The Prep Zone" Sports Show Presented by Sonic Drive-In

Mike Stanton

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May 13, 2020

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Wednesday, May 13 – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show presented by Sonic Drive-In (broadcast from Sonic Drive-In on 39th Avenue in Gainesville)

Join Mike Ridaught and Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports from Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville. Eastside Athletics Director Philip Crutchfield will be our guest to talk about a number of topics including: Covid-19 from initial shutdown to now and how it’s affected Eastside Athletics, new Eastside football coach Alex DeLeon, could high school football be played without fans or would it be postponed or possibly canceled, could a spring sport like tennis be moved to the fall to allow a contact sport like football to be played in the spring? It’s all speculation but in this unprecedented time schools may have to be proactive and flexible.

P.K. Yonge football preview

Mike Ridaught

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May 12, 2020

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By Marty Pallman
Twitter – @mpallman

The P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) Blue Wave look to take another step forward after a tough 2019 season.

In coach Marcus McDonald’s first season as Blue Wave coach in 2018, P.K Yonge finished 10-2 and advanced to the second round of the 4A playoffs.

That was a seven-win improvement from the previous season for the Blue Wave.

But last year McDonald had to replace 15 seniors along with the starting quarterback and running back from the 2018 playoff team, and P.K. Yonge struggled to a 3-7 record against a schedule that included six playoff teams.

Heading into McDonald’s third season as head coach the Blue Wave hope the trend ticks upward in 2020. McDonald has high expectations.

“We want to win every regular season game and have a shot at hosting a playoff game and winning two of them,” he said. “We want to go into the playoffs and practice on Thanksgiving.”

This P.K. Yonge group will be a bit more experienced than a year ago as nine starters return on offense and seven on defense, although the Blue Wave do lose their leading receiver in Jacobi Byrd and leading tackler in linebacker Grant Dycus from last year’s team.

Among those returning on the offensive side of the ball are junior quarterback Aaron Small, Jr. and senior running backs Taylor Kendrick and Phillip Miller.

Small threw for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 505 yards and seven more scores in 2019. Kendrick is the second-leading returning rusher from a year ago.

Seniors Javari Seabrooks and Tyler Green will anchor both lines for the Blue Wave, although McDonald sees depth on the line as being one of the key battles heading into fall practice.

P.K Yonge’s schedule is pretty similar to 2019, with seven playoff teams on the slate.

The Blue Wave will open the season August 21 at rival Hawthorne, but only have three more road games the remainder of the season: at Santa Fe (Alachua), at Taylor County (Perry) and at South Sumter (Bushnell) in the final game of the regular season.

The home schedule includes games against Eastside (Gainesville), Trinity Catholic (Ocala), last year’s 3A state runner up Florida High (Tallahassee), and Bradford (Starke).

School: P.K. Yonge (Gainesville)
Coach & year: Marcus McDonald (3rd year)
2019 record: 3-7
Number of returning offensive/defensive starters: 9 offense/ 7 Defense
Key losses: WR Jacobi Byrd, MLB Grant Dycus
Key returning players (Name, position, year): Aaron Small Jr (Jr QB) Taylor Kendrick (SR RB/ILB) Phillip Miller (SR RB/DB) Javari Seabrooks (SR OL/DL) Tyler Green (SR OL/DL)
Key newcomers (Name, position, year): Danny Sanders (Sr OL/DL) KJ Wooden (Jr RB/LB)
Most important position battles heading into the fall: Depth on the line
Outlook/expectations: The goal is always to win every game, period. We understand that, that it’s tough and a lot of things have to happen, but that is the standard we hold ourselves to. We want to win every regular season game and have a shot at hosting a playoff game and winning two of them. We want to go into the playoffs and practice on Thanksgiving.

2020 Football Schedule
8/21 at Hawthorne
8/28 vs. Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
9/4 vs. Eastside (Gainesville)
9/11 vs. Florida High (Tallahassee)
9/18 at Santa Fe (Alachua)
10/2 at Taylor County (Perry)
10/9 vs. Bradford (Starke)
10/16 vs. Fort White
10/23 vs. Dixie County (Cross City)
10/30 at South Sumter (Bushnell)

Class 3A-Region 1 (top 6 make postseason)
Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville)
Baldwin
Episcopal (Jacksonville)
Florida High (Tallahassee)
Interlachen
P.K Yonge (Gainesville)
Pensacola Catholic
Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville)
Walton (DeFuniak Springs)
Wolfson (Jacksonville)