To say 2016 was a banner year for high school football, is an understatement. A record four area teams made it to Orlando and two brought home state titles.
Trinity Christian won its fourth state title in a row and University Christian won its second in a row (9th overall), while Bolles finished as state runner-up again.
But it was blue collar lunch pail team from Ponte Vedra that shocked many by winning 14 in a row before stumbling in the Class 5A state title game.
Lee brought alumni back and had the whole city supporting its run to the state semi-finals and sent a message to everyone too, “WERE BACK”.
These are just some of the stories of the past football season along with the stories comes great players too.
Here is the inaugural Duval Sports All-Area football team.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
LB – Audre Hampton (Sr., Union County)
Stats: 159 tackles (114 solo), 15.9 tackles per game, 24 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles
LB – Corey Dryden (So., Fort White)
Stats: 111 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 cause fumble
LB – CJ McCoy (Sr., Fort White)
Stats: 90 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions
LB- Eriq Gilyard (Jr., Trinity)
Stats: 91 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass deflect, 1 forced fumble
DL – Torri Singletary (Sr., Baldwin)
Stats: 62 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 1 caused fumble, 1 fumble recovery
DL – Deon Pate (Sr., Trinity)
Stats: 66 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks
DL – Brian Roberts (Sr., Trinity)
Stats: 55 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 10 QB hurries, 2 block punts
DL – Kyle Coffindaffer (So., Bolles)
Stats: 60 tackles, 7.5 sacks
DB – Ahmon Ross (Sr., Bolles)
Stats: 6 INT, 56 tackles
DB – Chris Cummings (Jr., Bradford)
Stats: Led team with 4 INT
DB -Tyler Murray (Sr., Baldwin)
Stats: 5 INT, 13 pass deflections
DB -Derek Smith (Sr., Trinity)
Stats: 3 INT, 52 tackles
ATH – Leon Huey (Sr., U.C.)
Stats: 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 4 INT, 5 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, 6 defensive TDs
ATH – Shaun Wade (Sr., Trinity)
Stats: 60 tackles, 7 INT, 26 catches for 507 yards, 6 TD
ATH – Demetric Jackson (Sr., Fort White)
Stats: 48 tackles, 5 INT, 8 pass deflections, 45.0 punt average, 102 of 179 for 1392 yards, 12 TD, 4 INT, 228 rushing, 8 TD, 20 total TD
P – Scott Seigler (Sr., Baldwin)
Stats: 33 punts for 1517 yards, 46.0 average, 61 long, 10 inside 20
