Class 4A will look a lot different this year than years past as two time defending state champion Raines moved up to 5A this season. Meaning we will have a new 4A state champion and a new area representative in the state semifinals or finals.
Bolles is back in 4A after a two year run in 5A and looks to immediately stake its claim as the top dog in Region I-4A again. However, playoff veterans West Nassau and Bradford might have something to say about that.
Meanwhile, Palatka and Keystone Heights were placed in Region II-4A and will have to go through state powers Cocoa, South Sumter and Lake Highland Prep if they want to get to the state semifinals.
Bolles Bulldogs
Coach: Matt Toblin
Record: 8-5
Key players: Ben Netting (Sr., QB), Simon Brackin (Sr., TE), Kenny Samuels (Sr., RB), Will Netting (Sr., WR/SS), Jeremiah Johnson (Sr., QB), Mack Marrone (Jr., LB), Andre Parker (Sr., RB/FB)
Newcomers: Caden Fordham (Jr., ATH), Davis Ellis (Jr., WR), Kade Frew (So., RB/WR), Cooper Fordham (Fr., ATH), Jackson Fowler (Jr., DB)
Schedule
Aug 24 University Christian
Aug 30 Hialeah Miami Lakes
Sept 6 at New Hampstead, GA
Sept 13 St. Augustine
Sept 20 at Creekside
Sept 27 at Palatka
Oct 4 at Melbourne Central Catholic
Oct 11 OPEN
Oct 18 Clay
Oct 25 John Carroll Catholic
Nov 1 at Mainland
Outlook: Toblin takes over a historic program that has fallen well beyond its own high expectations. After successful turn arounds at Clay and Ponte Vedra; Toblin has stepped into perhaps his hardest challenge to date taking over a program that has won a state record 11 state titles to date but hasn’t won one since 2011, including losses in the state title game in 2012, 2013 and 2014. His job is to keep it going including the state’s second longest consecutive playoff streak going currently at 26 straight appearances. For that to happen, Toblin will rely on a mixture of veterans and several transfers to help the transition run smoothly and help the Bulldogs potentially get to Daytona and play for a state title. Among those veterans are last year’s starter Ben Netting, Johnson, Samuels, Parker, Will Netting and tight end Brackin, who has numerous D-I offers including nearly every Ivy League school. The addition of transfers Caden Fordham (Ponte Vedra), Fowler (Ponte Vedra), Few (Fleming Island) and 1,000 yard receiver Ellis (Episcopal) should not only help with depth but with more proven playmakers. The schedule is challenging with numerous playoff team from 2018 and will have the Bulldogs ready for another long playoff run. A close loss to rival Trinity in the state quarterfinals should serve as plenty of motivation for a possible run to Daytona again and potentially its 12 state title.
Bradford Tornadoes
Coach: Brian Tomlinson
Record: 5-6
Key Players: Erric Smith (Jr., RB), Nathaniel Davis (Sr., WR/DB), Gavin Woods (Sr., OL), Malik Hankerson (Sr., LB/SS), Kam Thomas (Sr., WR/DB), Pedro Carter (Jr., QB), Dontae Balfour (Jr., FS), Isaiah Crum (Sr., CB), Gabe Cook (Sr., LB), Drake Barber (Sr., OL/DL)
Newcomers: Angelu Nunu (DL), Sterling Roberts (DB), Joey Baxter (Sr., OL), Dayviontae Thompson (Fr., RB), Dejon McBride (Fr.,ATH)
Schedule
Aug 23 Baker County
Aug 30 at Baldwin
Sept 6 at Keystone Heights
Sept 13 OPEN
Sept 20 Pierce County, GA
Sept 27 University Christian
Oct 4 West Nassau
Oct 11 PK Yonge
Oct 18 at Palatka
Oct 25 at South Sumter
Nov 1 at Fort White
Outlook: A year removed from a surprising run to the Class 4A state semifinals, the Tornadoes were determined to get back and do it again, unfortunately a first round loss to PK Yonge ended that dream. A year later, the Tornadoes are not only looking to extend its playoff streak to five in a row but put themselves into position to make another long playoff run. For that to happen, Tomlinson knows his team must stay healthy and also play together again. That starts with a solid nucleus of returnees including a dangerous playmakers Smith (813 yards, 5 touchdowns), Davis (580 all-purpose yards) and Carter (610 all-purpose yards, 3 touchdowns), who all saw significant playing time last season. Of course a young offensive line will need to jell quickly but Tomlinson got some huge help with the addition of Baxter a Keystone Heights transfer. Baxter wasn’t the only transfer Tomlinson acquired as former Keystone Heights teammate Roberts also made the move to Bradford. Union County lineman Nunu, a Class 1A weightlifting state champion, also joins the team and will help a solid defense as well. A handful of freshman could also see playing time including both Thompson and McBride. With Raines moving to 5A, the road back to the state semifinals gets a little easier but not much easier. The new revised Region 1-5A should see competition from not only West Nassau and Santa Fe but state power Bolles as well.
Fernandina Beach Pirates
Coach: Jude Swearingen
Record: 2-8
Key Players: Chase Boyd (Sr., ATH), Jackson Mock (Jr., QB), Latrell Whitehurst (Jr., DB), Cam Miller (So., DB/WR), Josiah Rauls (So., RB/LB), Carington Wells (Sr., RB), AJ West (Jr., RB), Jeremiah Giedrys (Sr., WR/CB), Cassell Wimbush (Sr., LB/SS), Elias Batten (Sr., OL)
Newcomers: Jalen Holmes (Jr., RB/DB), Ernest Cortez (So., FS), Willie Coleman (So., RB/LB)
Schedule
Aug 23 at Keystone Heights
Aug 30 Yulee
Sept 6 Interlachen
Sept 13 at Wolfson
Sept 20 at Stanton
Sept 27 Jackson
Oct 4 Paxon
Oct 11 at West Nassau
Oct 18 Hilliard
Oct 25 at North Florida Educational
Nov 1 OPEN
Outlook: Two years ago, the Pirates were one of the surprise teams of the area by finishing 5-5 its first winning season in a long time. The question was could they sustain it a year later or would they go back to being what they have been. Unfortunately their second season under Swearingen back fired as the Pirates finished 2-8 last year. However, as bad as things have been at Fernandina Beach, things could be promising in year three. A lighter schedule should have the Pirates back to five hundred again and potentially in the mix for their first playoff appearance since 2007. Eight of the 11 teams in the region will earn playoff bids and the Pirates could be one of the eight if things go well. If the Pirates are playoff bound, they will have to fix a defense that gave up nearly 300 points last season, while tuning an offense which only scored 129 points. Part of that will rely on the hands of its best playmaker Boyd (1,413 all-purpose yards, 4 touchdowns) along with quarterback Mock, who threw eight interceptions and only three touchdowns last season. Its not a two man show at Fernandina Beach and the Pirates will need strong contributions from young guys like Miller, Whitehurst and Rauls as well as some several new guys in the program.
West Nassau Warriors
Coach: Rickey Armstrong
Record: 9-3
Key Players: Blayze Padgett (Sr., QB), Centari Mitchell (Sr., CB/WR), Chaz Davis (Jr., RB/SB), Ethan Johns (Sr., RB), Elijah Canode (Sr., TE/WR), Wyatt Rochay (Sr., LB), Seth O’Neal (Sr., LB)
Newcomers: Chaz Hirschman (Sr., QB), Michael Thorn (So., DE/TE), Conner Nobles (So., RB/LB)
Schedule
Aug 23 at North Florida Educational
Aug 30 Lee
Sept 6 at Yulee
Sept 13 at Baldwin
Sept 20 Bishop Kenny
Sept 27 OPEN
Oct 4 at Bradford
Oct 11 Fernandina Beach
Oct 18 at Baker County
Oct 25 Jackson
Nov 1 at Ridgeview
Outlook: After a five year drought, Armstrong has restored the Warriors program not only making it an consistent winner but a playoff contender as well. Over the last two years, the Warriors have made back-to-back playoff appearances, won their first playoff game since 1978, and won their first ever home playoff game. As exciting that was, both runs ended with back-to-back losses to Raines in the second round. The goal now is trying to become just the second team to make it three straight playoff appearances (2001-2004) but become the first team in school history to make it to the state semifinals. For that to happen, Armstrong will count on a mixture of veterans and newcomers to keep the mojo going. A huge senior class that graduated has left huge holes in the Warriors defense and offense. Offensively, Armstrong spend the spring and summer looking for new playmakers after having to replace 33 of the teams 35 rushing touchdowns from last season. Defensively, the Warriors aren’t nearly in bad shape with the exception of replacing the entire secondary which hauled in 22 of the 25 interceptions. One guy who was supposed to fill part of the void was Deebo Coleman (6 interceptions), however Armstrong said Coleman, a major D-I basketball recruit, decided to concentrate on playing basketball fulltime.
Keystone Heights Indians
Coach: Chuck Dickinson
Record: 5-5
Key Players: Nick Channell (Sr., RB/SS), Ty Friedlin (Sr., RB/LB), Gage Stevens (Jr., QB), Kade Sanders (So.,RB), Kaleb Vojnovski (Jr., FB/LB), Colton Tibbets (Jr.), Andrew Cox (Sr., FS), Colby Townsend (Sr., DL/K), Layton Murphy (Sr., DL), Ian Schofield (Jr., TE/DE/K)
Newcomers: None
Schedule
Aug 23 Fernandina Beach
Aug 30 Bell
Sept 6 Bradford
Sept 13 at Umatilla
Sept 20 OPEN
Sept 27 at St. Joseph
Oct 4 Crescent City
Oct 11 at Wildwood
Oct 18 at Pierson Taylor
Oct 25 Interlachen
Nov 1 Union County
Outlook: The areas longest tenured head coach Chuck Dickinson, nearly had his team back in the playoffs again. Now in his twenty first season at Keystone, Dickinson has to feel confident the Indians will again be back in the playoffs. Two good reasons to fill optimism is the return of its top two playmakers in Channell (1,048 yards, 10 TD) and Friedlin (909 yards, 11 TD). The duo nearly combined for 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Dickinson will count on both heavily again, while a young offensive line jells. A defense, which surrendered 226 points last season, will have to replace some holes but does return second leading tackler Andrew Cox (68 tackles) as well as fifth leading tackler Colby Townsend (41 tackles). The schedule is challenging with the usual rivals Bradford, Crescent City, Interlachen and Union County posing the biggest threats. If Keystone Heights can stay healthy including both Channell and Friedlin, the Indians could see themselves back in the playoffs again.
Palatka Panthers
Coach: Willie Fells
Record: 3-7
Key Players: Demontae Ashley (Sr., QB/CB), Ke’shawn Hughes (Sr., RB), Wesley Roberts (Sr., WR), Faizon Sutton (Jr., FB/TE), Desmond Hammock (Sr., OL), Dantonia Williams (Sr., OL), Nelson Williams (Sr., OL), De’shawn Shaw (Sr., FS), David Williams (Sr., LB)
Newcomers: Brandon Lewis (Fr., WR), Kamari Betts (So., RB), Jared Adkins (Jr., K/P)
Schedule
Aug 23 Menendez
Aug 30 at North Marion
Sept 6 Fleming Island
Sept 13 Ponte Vedra
Sept 20 at Clay
Sept 27 Bolles
Oct 4 at Suwannee
Oct 11 Santa Fe
Oct 18 Bradford
Oct 25 OPEN
Nov 1 at St Augustine
Outlook: Willie Fells knows all about playing in the Pitt and all the pressure that goes along with the head job as well, as a former Panther player and now as the head coach. Beginning his second season, Fells knows the town of Palatka can be brutal and impatient as well. Going to the playoffs would go a long way of getting some of that pressure off. For that to happen, Fells is going to have rely on several veterans with 15 starters back, including 7 on offense and 8 on defense. The biggest loss on offense is replacing Jaylyn Session, who ran for 1,589 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Fells will rely a lot on second year starter Ashley, along with a solid nucleus of Hughes, Roberts and Sutton. Hughes will be counted on heavily as well playing multiple positions including tailback, free safety, kick returner, punt returner and punter. Roberts, an all-state basketball player, will try to use his 6-2 frame to try to be another go-to-guy on offense. The defense will need to replace leading tackler K’darious Poole (102 tackles), who transferred to Mandarin prior to the season. Fells will look to Hughes (77 tackles), David Williams (54 tackles, 9 sacks) and Shaw (40 tackles, 3 interceptions). The move to Region II-4A will be an interesting one with state powers Cocoa, Lake Highland Prep and South Sumter, however after the big three its anyone guess who the fourth seed will be, perhaps Palatka.
Regional Projections
Region I
1 Bolles
2 West Nassau
3 Bradford
4 Santa Fe
5 Marianna
6 Bay
7 Rutherford
8 South Walton
9 Fernandina Beach
10 Gadsden County
11 North Bay Haven
Region II
1 Cocoa
2 South Sumter
3 Astronaut
4 Lake Highland Prep
5 Palatka
6 Villages
7 Keystone Heights
8 Space Coast
9 Hudson
10 Umatilla
11 Cypress Creek
Helmets courtesy of Florida Helmet Project and FloridaHSFootball
