We’re counting down to the #1 team in the preseason football Prep Zone Power Poll with a look today at No. 12.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
No. 12 North Marion (Citra) (5A) (9-3)
Former Miami Northwestern coach Stephen Field looks to continue the Colts’ streak of 14 consecutive playoff appearances. North Marion always seems to have speed and D-I talent all over the field, especially at the skill positions.
James Allen, who led the team with 845 yards rushing, gave his verbal commitment to Louisville in June. Senior Jack Reed has garnered offers from Kentucky and Cincinnati. Junior Cam Mackey (Utah and Cincinnati), who scored seven TDs last year, will help on offense and in the return game. Then there’s Freddie Swain, who led the Colts in receiving last year with 29 catches for 612 yards and seven TDs. He has offers from Florida, Miami, Arkansas and Alabama. Mix in junior Caleb Seiler, who has been conditioning extremely hard since January, and the Colts have a chance to score some points this season. Seiler, who lost more than 30 pounds, threw for 1,023 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013. He connected with Swain four times for 131 yards, including an 89-yard scoring pass, in the spring game against Ocala Forest.
Defensively, senior De’Amontae Jackson (Alabama, FSU, and Miami) returns after leading the Colts with 111 tackles. Junior S.J. Montgomery & senior Kimball James are returning starters in the secondary. Expect North Marion to be in the mix for the 5A-District 5 title. Games against perennial power Bolles (Jacksonville), city rivals Forest & Vanguard (Ocala), and at district foe Suwannee (Live Oak) will have the Colts battle tested.
2014 Football Schedule
Friday, August 22 – at Lake Weir (Ocala), 7 p.m. PRESEASON
Friday, August 29 – vs. Forest (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 5 – vs. Vanguard (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 12 – vs. Bolles (Jacksonville), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 19 – at Suwannee (Live Oak), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, September 26 – vs. Eastside (Gainesville), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 3 – at Crystal River, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 10 – vs. Dunnellon, 7:30 p.m.*
Thursday, October 23 – vs. Santa Fe (Alachua), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 31 – at Belleview, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, November 7 – at West Port (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
*District game
Info gathered from Friday Night Football magazine.
Prep Zone Power Poll – 2014 Football Poll #1 – PRESEASON POLL
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, 2013 final record and total voting points)
11. TBA – August 17
12. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (9-3) – 78
13T Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (10-1) – 69
13T Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (8-4) – 69
15. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (8-6) – 56
16. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (11-2) – 52
17. St. Augustine (6A) (8-3) – 46
18. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (8-3) – 31
19. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (10-1) – 29
20. Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (9-2) – 19
Also receiving votes: University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-3) – 18; Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (8-3) – 16; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-2) – 14; Gainesville (6A) (9-3) – 9; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-3) – 6; Leesburg (6A) (8-4) – 5; Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-3) – 4; Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-3) – 4; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (8-3) – 4; Fort White (4A) (7-2) – 3; Citrus (Inverness) (6A) (9-2) – 2; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-3) – 1.
