It was another historic year for the First Coast area this past fall as the area crowned two state champions this season including back-to-back state titles for Raines and a first ever state title for Mandarin.
We honor those players that stood out in the 2018 season from Honorable Mention to First Team selections, as we release our 2018 All-Area team over the next week. Without further ado here is our 2018 All-Area Big School Third Team Defensive team.
Big School All-Area team is comprised of Class 5A-8A players from: Mandarin, Sandalwood, Palm Coast, Atlantic Coast, Columbia, First Coast, Fletcher, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Fleming Island, Oakleaf, Ed White, Middleburg, Nease, St. Augustine, Paxon, Ribault, Stanton, Suwannee, Yulee, Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Ponte Vedra, Terry Parker, Trinity, Westside, Baker County, Clay, Menendez and Orange Park.
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Third team
DL – Jake Libreto, Sr., Fleming Island
66 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks
DL – Ethan Brigance, Sr., Paxon
63 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 9 sacks
DL – Ty Gunther, Sr., Yulee
62 tackles, 8 sacks
DL – Peter Merlini, Sr., Ponte Vedra
59 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 block field goals
LB – Gabriel Border, Sr., Paxon
62 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks
LB – David Williams, Jr., Palatka
54 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks
LB – Jonathan Ealey, Sr., Trinity
42 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks
LB – Kelton Knabb, Sr., Baker County
130 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, INT
DB – Gelique Williams, Sr., First Coast
49 tackles, 3 interceptions
DB – Jack O’Brien, So., Creekside
41 tackles, 3 interceptions
DB – Jahlon Wilson, Sr., Sandalwood
52 tackles, 3 interceptions
DB – Holden Johnson, Jr., St. Augustine
41 tackles and 3 interceptions
UTILITY – James Schaefer, Sr., Fletcher
48.3 punt average, 3 of 9 FG, 29 of 51 for 384 yards, 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions
UTILITY – Jaden McDowell, Jr., St. Augustine
67 tackles and 2 interceptions, 21 catches for 360 yards and 5 touchdowns (17.1 y.p.c.)
KS – John Brady, Sr., Bolles
26/31 PAT, 37.5 kickoff, 2/3 FG
