The landscape of high school football keeps changing every year now, giving more teams a perhaps realistic shot of finally making the playoffs.
Case in point in the newly appointed District 3-5A, which features a mixture of old rivals and new rivals put together.
For teams like Westside and Terry Parker gone are the days of having to face state powers Trinity, Bolles and Ponte Vedra in the district. The new district is a little more balanced which gives teams a better chance of making the playoffs.
Baker County Wildcats
Coach: Kevin Mays
Record: 7-5
Key Players: Alex Bowen (Sr., QB), Scooby Graham (Jr., RB), Tracy White (Sr., CB), Jaquan Paige (Sr., RB), Camron Crawford (Jr., WR/FS), Jaquez Elliot (Sr., NG), AJ Shoemaker (Sr., LB)
Newcomers: Ronnie Ellis (So., SS), Brian Mays (Jr., WR/FS), Carlos Jefferson (So., RB), Camilo Rollins (So., ATH)
Schedule
Aug 23 at Bradford
Aug 30 Gainesville
Sept 6 Orange Park
Sept 13 at Ed White *
Sept 20 at Suwannee
Sept 27 Westside *
Oct 4 Parker *
Oct 11 OPEN
Oct 18 West Nassau *
Oct 25 at Bishop Kenny *
Oct 31 at Rickards
Outlook: After three consecutive district titles and three consecutive playoff appearances, Jamie Rodgers abruptly left Baker County to take a job at Cook County, GA. Rodgers took over an average football program and made them an area power in his brief tenure including guiding them to a 2017 Class 5A state runnerup finish. In comes former Viera coach Kevin Mays, who guided Viera to a Class 7A state runnerup finish back in 2015. Mays will have a tough task keeping the mojo Rodgers started going. Five starters return on offense including go to guys Bowen and Graham, a scat back versatile athlete that reminds people of his cousin Lee Graham. The defense returns just five starters including Elliot and White, a big time shut down corner who finds the ball quickly. Despite all the changes, don’t bet against the Wildcats just yet, to be the man you have to beat the man.
Bishop Kenny Crusaders
Coach: Tim Krause
Record: 5-5
Key Players: George Farmand (Sr., QB), Neil Politano (Sr., DL), Andrew Tabor (Sr., WR/DB), Jordan Brown (Sr., CB/WR), John Godwin (TE/LB), DJ Clark Wiley (Jr., RB/LB), Lucas Sams (Jr., WR/FS), Raesean Cummings (Jr., RB/CB), Miles Cameron (Jr., SS/CB), Travis Driggers (Sr., MLB/DL), Cameron Moewe (Sr., MLB/DL), Michael Myslinski (Jr., OL/DL), Curtis Leggett III (Jr., OL/DL)
Newcomers: Bradley Miller (So., QB), Jackson Burnett (Fr., CB/WR)
Schedule
Aug 23 Fletcher
Aug 30 at Atlantic Coast
Sept 6 at New Smyrna Beach
Sept 13 Parker *
Sept 20 at West Nassau
Sept 27 White *
Oct 4 Orange Park
Oct 11 at Westside *
Oct 18 OPEN
Oct 25 Baker County *
Nov 1 at University Christian
Outlook: When the program who gave him his first break became open, Tim Krause couldn’t wait to go back home. Krause, who spent eight years as an assistant at Bishop Kenny, resigned from Nease to go back home again. Krause was the offensive coordinator under former BK coach Tim Raulerson for six years, which included presiding over former BK and Wake Forest great quarterback John Wolford, the state’s all-time passing leader. The transition to BK should be quite smoothly with 6 starters back on offense and 5 on defense, including returning quarterback George Farmand. Skill players Tabor and Brown both return on offense as well as tight end Godwin. The strength of the team appears to be both lines of scrimmage as Politano, Moewe and Myslinski all return and make up three key starters on both sides of the ball. The schedule is challenging but features several winnable games plus some new challenges from new opponents like Orange Park, New Smyrna Beach and University Christian. The district is also a lot easier with both Bolles and Trinity Christian gone, while bringing in old rivals Baker County, White, Westside and Parker. If Krause can keep this team focused and play together this team has the potential for a playoff run.
Ed White Commanders
Coach: Lawrence Johnson
Record: 4-6
Key Players: Grant Travis (Jr., QB), Ray McCarthur (Sr., RB/LB), Jaison Patterson (Jr., RB), Kentrelle Williams (Sr., RB/SB), Cedric Woodson (Sr., WR/CB), Landon Wilder (Sr., LB), Zorian Stanton (Sr., WR), Kevin Green (Jr., LB/DE), Tamichael Shellman (Sr., DB), Dewayne Wakefield (Sr., WR), Micah Simmons (Jr., WR), Will Clarke (Sr., LB/FS), Devin Kelly (Sr., TE/FB), Patrick Lewis (Sr., DT), Sal Rios (Sr., OL), Chris Harvey (Sr., OL), Trevon Adams (Sr., OL), Damien Wise Jr. (Sr., OL), Xavier Hall (Sr., OL), Patrick Johnson (Sr., OL)
Newcomers: Jonathan Brazle (Sr., FS), Katadrick Storey (Sr., FS/WR), Tavian Simon (So., RB/FB), Caison Davis (So., DL), Larry Worth (So., WR), Deric Andrews (So., RB), Aaron Gray (So., QB/P/K), JaQuan Stepherson (So., OL)
Schedule
Aug 23 at First Coast
Aug 30 Ridgeview
Sept 6 Atlantic Coast
Sept 13 Baker County *
Sept 20 at Oakleaf
Sept 27 at Bishop Kenny *
Oct 4 OPEN
Oct 11 Parker *
Oct 18 at Westside *
Oct 25 Mandarin
Oct 31 Lee
Outlook: Longtime Sandalwood offensive coordinator and former Ed White offensive coordinator Lawrence Johnson takes over the program after legendary coach Kevin Sullivan retired. Johnson hopes to bring in some new life and the consistent winning attitude back to the once feared White program. Ten returning starters are back for the Commanders, meaning several new faces will be getting their first significant playing time of their career. Among the veterans back are part time starter Travis, McCarthur and Patterson on offense and Woodson, Wilder, Greene and Shellman on defense. Johnson spent the off season putting in his new offense and trying to find a replacement for tailback Isaiah Flowers (1,703 yards, 22 touchdowns). McCarthur, Patterson and newcomer Williams will likely split the carries this season, while look for Travis to throw the ball a lot more than White is use to. A defense which has always been the backbone of the team and ran on the field yelling “Got, Got, Got that D”, is led by Woodson, Wilder, Greene and Shellman and again looks to be solid. Two transfers to keep an eye on are Brazle (Cedar Creek Christian) and Storey (Westside), both are dynamic playmakers who may play both ways for the Commanders. The district is a little easier with St. Augustine gone, meaning the Commanders could be in contention for their first district title since 2014, providing they can beat both Bishop Kenny and Baker County.
Terry Parker Braves
Coach: Char-ron Dorsey
Record: 3-7
Key Players: Will Wyche (Sr., QB), Tyrone Williams (Sr., WR/DB/QB), DJ Thompson (Sr., RB), Javis Brooks (So., RB/LB), Matthew Rivera (Sr., WR), Shaheim Montgomery (Jr., DE), Casile Vazquez (Jr., K/P), Damani Dent (So., FS), Jonathan Diaz (Sr., DT), Jerahmi Gordon (Sr., TE/DE), Maiki Thomas (Jr., LB), Antonio Riley (Jr., DT/LB), Johnny Wright (Sr., OL/DL), Omar Wright (Jr., WR/DB), Tyrek Williams (So., QB/FS), Phillip Hartsfield (So., DB/WR), Lonnie Sanders (Sr., DB)
Newcomers: Jaquan Turner (Sr., ATH), Artis Maddox (Sr., ATH), Kmorire Hooper (Fr., FB/LB)
Schedule
Aug 23 Sandalwood
Aug 30 First Coast
Sept 6 Fletcher
Sept 13 at Bishop Kenny *
Sept 20 at Atlantic Coast
Sept 27 OPEN
Oct 4 at Baker County *
Oct 11 at White *
Oct 17 Middleburg
Oct 25 Westside *
Nov 1 at Yulee
Outlook: Returning for their second season, defensive coordinator Mike Holloway and head coach Char-ron Dorsey have big expectations for this year. There is a lot of optimism for the Braves program this year as the two have had a year to implement their systems and run the program the way it should be done. The pieces are there for a break out season and perhaps their first winning season since 2008. Wyche returns as the starter at quarterback and will have a bevy of weapons to choose from including go-to-guy Tyrone Williams, Thompson and Rivera, who transferred back after a year at Sandalwood. Maddox and Turner, whom both played for Holloway and Dorsey at Matthew Gilbert, transferred from Jackson and provide two more proven playmakers on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Braves under Holloway, will need a ton of improvement after giving up 320 points last season. Look for big contributions from Montgomery, Brooks, Dent, Diaz, Gordon, Riley, Thomas as well as Williams, Turner and Maddox this season for the Braves. The district is a little easier with both state powers Bolles and Trinity gone, along with the addition of Baker County and Bishop Kenny.
Westside Wolverines
Coach: Rodney Dubose
Record: 1-9
Key Players: Ditannon Otis (Jr., QB), Angelo Philpot (Sr., SS/MLB), Jared Ealey (Sr., RB/FS), Ahmari Mahan (Sr., WR), Chadwick Martin (Jr., DE), Tyrell Brabham (Jr., DL), Jaquan Braswell (Sr., RB/DB), Rashid Roberts (Sr., WR)
Newcomers: Afeyohn Miller (So., WR/DB), Ahkeem Liscomb (So.), Ahmed Lipscomb (Jr., MLB), Kaloun Walker (So., RB), Ray Bolden III (Jr., OL)
Schedule
Aug 23 Middleburg
Aug 30 at Englewood
Sept 6 Baldwin
Sept 13 at Jackson
Sept 20 at Orange Park
Sept 27 at Baker County *
Oct 4 OPEN
Oct 11 Bishop Kenny *
Oct 18 White *
Oct 25 at Parker *
Oct 31 Dixie County
Outlook: Like every year Westside has the skill players to go against any team in the area; however like every year the offensive line prevents them from utilizing them fully. The same could be said this year as well as Dubose is blessed with a bevy of weapons on offense led by three year starter Otis, the leader of the offense, as well as versatile athlete Ealy. The key for the Wolverines is the line, can they protect Otis enough and give Ealy enough room to make plays. Defensively, the Wolverines should be fine led by leader Philpot and others like Martin and Braswell. The biggest concerns are depth and staying healthy, while the strengths are the secondary, quarterback, special teams and skill players. Dubose is excited about the new district saying it gives his team a fair chance now, especially against teams all familiar with each other and in size.
District 3-5A Projections
1 Baker County
2 Ed White
3 Bishop Kenny
4 Parker
5 Westside
Helmets courtesy of Florida Helmet Project and FloridaHSFootball
