Like it has the last three years, the race for the District 2-7A title will run through the annual Lee and Columbia winner. The annual meeting will take place Sept. 21 in Lake City.
That’s not to say Fletcher, First Coast and Atlantic Coast won’t have a say so in the race, just come November we expect those two to be the only two left standing in the playoff race.
After a first round stunning playoff loss, both Columbia and Lee have spent all off season brewing in their defeats and ready to kick some butt and avenge the losses.
Both have long playoff runs and trips to Orlando on their mind this season, which means knocking each other out. Who will be the last team standing ?
Note: Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball.com
Atlantic Coast Stingrays
Coach: Jimmy Hill
Record: 2-8
Key Players: Demetrius Byrd (Sr., DB/ATH), Patrick Bryant (So., WR/DB), Ryan Hoprich (Sr., K/P), Joseph Wingate (Jr,., WR), Jhakais Pippins (Jr., DL), Jordan Singletary (Sr., LB), Joshua Coffey (Sr., LB/FB), Markiel Ross (Sr., RB), Kai Hedgemon (Jr., DB), Jamoni Hill (Sr., RB)
Newcomers: Jordan Williams (So., WR/DB), Jordan Patrick (So., WR/DB), Brian McCullough (Jr., WR), Isaiah Sparrow (So., RB), Daniel Bubba Wohlgemuth (Sr., QB)
Schedule
Aug 23 Mandarin
Aug 31 at Bishop Kenny
Sept 7 at Orange Park
Sept 14 OPEN
Sept 21 at Englewood
Sept 28 Fletcher *
Oct 5 at Lee *
Oct 12 Columbia *
Oct 19 at First Coast *
Oct 25 Providence
Nov 2 at Sandalwood
Outlook: You win some, you lose some, should be the annual motto at Atlantic Coast. For whatever reason the Stingrays are cursed with losing players to transfer every season; the latest examples are the loss of to two key offensive lineman Nathan Brady and Kingsley Eguakun to rival Sandalwood. Imagine if the Stingrays actually kept their kids together for a change. That’s not say they don’t get their share of transfers either, as the Stingrays picked up senior Daniel Bubba Wohlgemuth from Fletcher, who will start at quarterback. Wohlgemuth will have several young guys like Bryant, Williams, Patrick and Sparrow along with a handful of veterans like Ross, Hill, Byrd and Wingate to help him. For the Stingrays to have any kind of success they must find a way to stop teams after giving up 433 points last season on defense. Hill is hoping guys like Byrd, Bryant, Pippins, Singletary, Coffey and Hedgemon can the job done. Year two should see an improvement, but it may not show on the record with such a tough district and out of district games against Sandalwood, Mandarin, Bishop Kenny and Englewood.
Columbia Tigers
Coach: Brian Allen
Record: 7-4
Key Players: TJ Jones (Sr., WR), Jordan Smith (Jr., QB), Marquez Bell (Jr., WR), Ethan Ulmstead (Sr., LB), Kylen Callum (Jr., RB), Sir Rollins Talbott (Sr., DB), Jaylen Brown (Sr., LB), Damien Lewis (Sr., OL), Ahmad Williams (Sr., DB), Zachary Bedenbaugh (Sr., OL), Brandon Scott (Sr., DB), Derek Johnson (Jr., CB), Devin Johnson (Jr., CB), Gilshard Newkirk (Sr., DL), Marlon Pollock (Jr., LB), Garrett Fennell (Jr., K/P), Aidan Jolliffe (So., K), Willie Jernigan (Sr., DL)
Newcomers: Levontae Camiel (So., SS/LB), Jaden Williams (So., WR), Bobby Fulton (Sr., WR), Caleb Dixon (So., RB)
Schedule
Aug 23 at Gainesville
Aug 31 Suwannee
Sept 7 at Buchholz
Sept 14 Lee *
Sept 21 Madison County
Sept 28 at Trinity
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 at Atlantic Coast *
Oct 19 Fletcher *
Oct 25 at First Coast *
Nov 2 Bolles
Outlook: As if they needed an even bigger target on their back, traveling to No. 1 nationally ranked IMG last week and pulling off the upset, has made the whole state and nation aware of the Tigers. How will they handle the pressure now and high expectations the rest of the season. The Tigers are loaded on both sides of the ball with five starters back on offense and eight on defense. Smith (43 of 94 for 650 yards, 8 TD, 5 INT), who shared time with Dylan Blair last season, is back and will be the No. 1 guy after Blair transferred to nearby Fort White. Smith will have both Jones (31 catches for 738 yards, 23.8 y.p.c., 6 TD) and Bell (32 catches for 762 yards, 23.8 y.p.c., 7 TD) back along with newcomers Williams and Fulton, who both played sparingly last year. Callum (335 yards, 5 TD on 60 carries) is back and will lead the running game along with Cray, to form a dynamic speed duo. The Tigers are blessed to have two special team weapons in Fennell (19/19 PAT, 1/2 FG) and Jelliffe (26/26 PAT, 3/3 FG), both give the Tigers a leg up on the competition. The defense, which surrendered just 282 points, returns Ulmstead (114 tackles, 2 sacks), Talbott (44 tackles, 3 INT), Scott (34 tackles) and Pollock (34 tackles) and will be a force for opposing offenses. A first round loss to nemesis Lincoln last season has fueled the Tigers all off season and has them focused on a long playoff run this season one that could possibly end up in Orlando.
First Coast Buccaneers
Coach: Marty Lee
Record: 3-7
Key Players: Jamal Gelsey (Jr., LB), Cole Beckham (Sr., LB/TE), Davon Davis (Jr., DB/WR), Maaki Marshall (Sr., LB), Tyree Saunders (Jr., WR/DB), Christon Johnson (Jr., LB), Darius Kelp (Sr., WR/DB), Alfred Chea (Jr., DB), Ronnie Blakely (Sr., DB), Shamar Rush (Sr., RB), Jacolby Evans (Sr., OL), Darius Lewis (Sr., RB/WR/KR), Jalen Leroy (Sr., K/P), Jordan Harmon (Jr., OL), Jordan Gray (Jr., OL), Isaac Sletton (Sr., OL), Mike Smith (Jr., DB)
Newcomers: Larry Edwards (Fr., QB), Jaylen Fowler (Jr., WR/DB), William Guyton (Sr., RB), Jaylen Gaines (Sr., DB), Jalen Evans (Jr., WR/QB), Gelique Williams (Sr., CB/KR), Chris Freeman (So., RB), Antonio Bell (Jr., DE), Arden Luster (So., RB/LB)
Schedule
Aug 23 Parker
Aug 31 Raines
Sept 7 OPEN
Sept 14 Jackson
Sept 21 at Ribault
Sept 28 Fletcher *
Oct 5 at Baker County
Oct 12 at Lee *
Oct 19 Atlantic Coast *
Oct 25 Columbia *
Nov 2 TBA
Outlook: One First Coast coach told me during Media Day, that the Bucs could be finally back. Seeing is believing though. There is no denying the Bucs have the talent to compete with anyone, but do they have the cohesiveness to compete. That will take time and depend on several things, including the defense which was terrible giving up 356 points, an average of 35 points per game. Coach said the defense should be much improved and is back and if they are able to stop people they will be successful. The Bucs return seven starters on defense and will rely heavily on Marshall, Gelsey, Beckham, Saunders, Johnson, Blakely and Smith along with transfers Williams (Yulee), Fowler (Trinity), Gaines (Ribault), Davis (Mandarin) and Bell (Trinity). Offensively, the Bucs return 7 starters, but will rely on a freshman at quarterback in Edwards, along with transfers Guyton (Lee), Evans (Lee) and Fowler (Trinity). Saunders and Lewis are all two-way players that will also play factors in the offense as well. The entire offensive line is back and with a year of experience should help pave the way for a potential explosive offense.
Fletcher Senators
Coach: Kevin Brown
Record: 7-3
Key Players: Jeremiah Payton (Sr., WR/DB), Hunter May (Sr., DE), James Schaefer (Sr., K/P/WR), Jalen Mitchell (Sr., DB), Devon Lingle (Jr., QB), Levi Centeno (Sr., OL), DJ Bennett (Sr., DE/FB), Brad Ashmore (Jr., OL), Bruce Benard (Sr., OL), Isaac Dunivant (Sr., OL), Nick Lavender (Sr., LB/DE), Caymen Webb (Sr., LB)
Newcomers: Matt Wilson (Sr., DB), Jayson Nelson (Sr., DB), Chandler Kirton (So., OL), Mike Bartilucci (So., OL), Aaron Hester (Fr., RB)
Schedule
Aug 24 Bishop Kenny
Aug 31 Parker
Sept 7 at Englewood
Sept 14 Raines
Sept 21 at White
Sept 28 at Atlantic Coast *
Oct 5 First Coast *
Oct 12 OPEN
Oct 19 at Columbia *
Oct 25 Lee *
Nov 2 Mandarin
Outlook: There is no one else with a lot more to prove than Fletcher, after back-to-back 7-3 seasons with no playoff appearances. In response the schedule was beefed up a bit with the addition of Raines which could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs. Seven starters return on defense including Payton, Mitchell, May (74 tackles, 18 sacks), Bennett, Lavender and Webb. Lingle returns as the starter again and will have go-to-guy Payton back to lead the offense. Brown says his team has plenty of speed to go along with a solid offensive line featuring Centeno, Ashmore, Benard and Dunivant. The goal is to make another run at the playoffs and that starts with winning the games they should and pulling off an upset or two against Raines, Lee and Columbia.
Lee Generals
Coach: OJ Small
Record: 9-2
Key Players: Jurial Caldwell (Sr., WR), Taz Nicholson (Sr., ATH), Kevonte Doles (So., RB), Allan Bass Jr., (Jr., RB/DB), Trevor James (Sr., LB), Terrance James (Sr., LB), Lamont Simmons (Sr., WR/DB), Robert Simmons (So., DB)
Newcomers: Cameron Sapp (Sr., QB), Malik Brown (Sr., RB), Deshaun Davis (Sr., WR/DB)
Schedule
Aug 24 at Raines
Aug 31 at Westside
Sept 7 at Mandarin
Sept 14 at Columbia *
Sept 21 OPEN
Sept 28 Atlantic Coast *
Oct 5 Ribault
Oct 12 First Coast *
Oct 19 OPEN
Oct 25 at Fletcher *
Nov 2 White
Outlook: Two years ago, Lee took everyone by surprise by advancing all the way to the state semifinals in a stunning loss to Plant. With several starters back, the Generals were expected to make another serious run but surprisingly were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round last season. Do the Generals have another run in them this season ? Six starters are back on offense including speedy playmakers Caldwell, Nicholson, Doles, Bass and Simmons along with transfers Sapp (Parker), Bates (Raines), Brown (UC) and Davis (Mandarin). Five starters are back on defense including the James brothers, Simmons, Nicholson and Bass.
