The new District 5-5A has a lit bit of everything, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
Nemesis Baker County is still in Class 5A but in a different district, allowing newcomer Gainesville Eastside to move in with district rivals Clay, Menendez and Ridgeview.
Will the new kid on the block take the crown or will one of the old kids on the block regain the trophy?
Clay Blue Devils
Coach: Jay Stilianou
Record: 4-6
Key Players: Tre Griner (Jr., QB), Al’querious Ray (So., RB), Joseph Grelli (Sr., OL), Jordan Bell (Sr., OL), John Haymore (Sr., OL), William Kendrick Jr., (Jr., RB/WR), Dallane Brown (Sr., RB), Brishaun Britt (Sr., RB/WR), Joe Reed (Jr., LB), Colin Dumas (Sr., DL), Ty Summerford (Sr., DL),Tucker Reape (Sr., K/P), Jeremy Sims (Sr., RB), Alex Maier (Jr., LB), Tristan Keith (Jr., FS), Valdez Seymour (Jr., DL), Jordan McGill (Jr., OL)
Newcomers: Brian Lester (Fr., NG), D’maurion Frazier (So., DB/WR), Jayden Brown (Jr., DB/LB), Chris Goldstein (So., DB/WR), Jonathan Rouw (So., DB/WR), Brandon Combs (So., RB), Ramsey McCloud (Jr., MLB)
Schedule
Aug 23 Fleming Island
Aug 30 at Palm Coast
Sept 6 at University Christian
Sept 13 at Orange Park *
Sept 20 Palatka
Sept 27 Eastside *
Oct 4 OPEN
Oct 11 Menendez *
Oct 18 at Bolles
Oct 25 at Ridgeview *
Nov 1 Oakleaf
Outlook: Something extremely weird happened in Green Cove Springs last year, as for just the second time in ten years the Blue Devils missed the playoffs. For the first time since 2012, the Devils failed to make the playoffs meaning the five year playoff streak came to an abrupt end. The bad taste has been lingering at spring practice and into the summer, as the Devils can’t way to get that taste out of their mouth and start a new streak. Long time head coach Josh Hoekstra left to take an assistant coaching job at Bolles, turning the program over to athletic director Jay Stilianou. The transition to Stilianou has been smooth so far but it could get rocky right away as the Blue Devils were dealt two big blows on offense as two prominent starters left the program. Derek Holt, a dynamic pass catcher and kick returner, moved to South Carolina with his family; while versatile athlete TK Kocak transferred to rival Fleming Island in the offseason. That will put a lot of pressure on new starting quarterback Griner, who didn’t attempt a pass last season, as well as Ray (903 yards, 8 touchdowns), who averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Brown, Kendrick and Britt will also get carries and look to keep the Devils ground game running. Digging holes for them will be a trio of seniors Grelli, Bell and Haymore along with McGill. The defense will also need to fill several holes but is in good shape in the trenches with Summerford, Dumas, Lester along with Reed at linebacker. The good news is nemesis Baker County is out of the district and is perhaps more fitting for them with nearby rivals Orange Park, Ridgeview along with newcomers Menendez and Gainesville Eastside.
Eastside Rams
Coach: Cedderick Daniels
Record: 7-4
Key Players: Anthony Richardson (Sr., QB), Carlteon Brooks (Sr., RB/WR/LB), Emanuel Fort (Sr., CB), Deion Jenkins (Sr., RB), Brent Clark (Sr., LB), Jah’ren Phillip (Sr., LB), Chris Burwell (Sr., DT), Draco James (Jr., DB), Tavares Williams (So., LB), Tyreese Sanford (Sr., LB)
Newcomers: KJ Wooden (So., RB), Quan Lee (So., WR/DB)
Schedule
Aug 23 at Buchholz
Aug 29 Bishop Moore
Sept 6 PK Yonge
Sept 13 at Menendez *
Sept 20 OPEN
Sept 27 at Clay *
Oct 3 North Marion
Oct 11 Ridgeview *
Oct 18 Orange Park *
Oct 25 at Santa Fe
Nov 1 Gainesville
Outlook: Daniels has taken the Rams from one win in his first season, to three wins in year two to seven wins and a playoff berth in year three. Year four looks even more promising with the return of several starters plus a brand new manageable district . Richardson, who has committed to the University of Florida, gets all the attention and rightfully so after throwing for 1,567 yards and 17 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 924 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. While defenses will spend hours trying to stop Richardson, the Rams are loaded with many other weapons. Jenkins, who missed his entire sophomore season with an injury, has become a go-to-guy coming off a huge junior year finishing with 1,091 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wooden and Lee, who has an offer from Tennessee, are two young guys to watch out for on offense. Defensively, Phillip (51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks), James (55 tackles, 2 INT), Clark (50 tackles, 9 tackles for loss), Williams (44 tackles), Burwell (36 tackles, 14 tackles for loss) and Sanford (68 tackles) are all back to lead a stout defense. On paper, the Rams are loaded and primed for another big year, but as we all know paper don’t win games, can they translate on to the field.
Menendez Falcons
Coach: Kyle Skipper
Record: 8-3
Key Players: Tre Evans (Sr., WR/DB), Tre Lyons (Sr., LB/FS), Anthony Harrell (Sr., OL), King Benford (So., QB), Aaron Wynn (So., RB/WR), Moses King (So., DL), Terrell Newsome (So., FS), Ryan Schiavone (Sr., LB/DE), Dakota Matthews (Sr., DE/TE), Marcus King (Sr., DL), Noah Gillan (Sr., TE), Seth Stamps (So., LB), Evan Davis (Sr., DB)
Newcomers: Noah Lawless (Fr., QB), Tabias Brown (So., RB)
Schedule
Aug 23 at Palatka
Aug 30 St. Augustine
Sept 6 at Merritt Island
Sept 13 Eastside *
Sept 20 Ponte Vedra
Sept 27 OPEN
Oct 4 at Englewood
Oct 11 at Clay *
Oct 18 Ridgeview *
Oct 25 at Orange Park *
Nov 1 Matanzas
Outlook: Quite a debut for Skipper, who guided the Falcons back to the playoffs before stumbling in the first round. Now the job gets even more intense as Skipper won’t have either Kenny Logan (1,631 all-purpose yards, 20 TD) or Tye Edwards (2,083 all-purpose yards, 26 TD) around to make plays anymore. Benford saw very limited playing time last season before an injury slowed his playing time down, he will be heavily counted on this season. Wynn appears to be the main back and also saw limited playing time last season but is ready to take over the reins. Evans returns for his final year and looks to be the go-to-guy veteran the Falcons desperately need. This team is extremely young especially on offense and may take their lumps early while relying on the defense to lead them. Defensively, the Falcons do have some upperclassmen that will help including Evans, Lyons, Schiavone, Matthews, King and Davis. Yet despite being young, several of the Falcons have played under the intense pressure before having helped the Gamble Rogers Stingrays win the 2017 St. Johns County Middle School football title. With nobody likely expecting big things from Menendez this year due to its youthfulness, this is a recipe for a potentially stunning season.
Orange Park Raiders
Coach: Tom McPherson
Record: 6-4
Key Players: Vincent Walker Jr. (Sr., QB), Alex Collier (Sr., RB), Sean Dixon (Sr., WR/DB), Kendy Charles (Sr., DE/FB), Spencer Kirkham (Sr., SS), Jacob Moore (Sr., NG), Isiah Blair (Sr., DB), Diego Soto (Sr., WR/DB), Cameron Broughton (Sr., FS/WR), Stewart Udell Jr. (Sr., WR/SB), Arlo Wilson (Jr., RB/SS), Christian Bartley (Jr., K/P), Julius McCray (Jr., LB), Julian Moore (So., LB), Hunter Moore (Sr., LB)
Newcomers: Terrance Johnson (So., RB), Keondre Peterson (So., DB)
Schedule
Aug 23 Oakleaf
Aug 30 at Middleburg
Sept 6 at Baker County
Sept 13 Clay *
Sept 20 Westside
Sept 27 at Ridgeview *
Oct 4 at Bishop Kenny
Oct 11 OPEN
Oct 18 at Eastside *
Oct 25 Menendez *
Nov 1 at Fleming Island
Outlook: In two short years, McPherson has taken a program from one win to six wins last year. Building a program takes time and McPherson begins his fourth season with lots of confidence and a lot of momentum. Seven starters return on both sides of the ball, making this team a quite polished one. Among those coming back on offense are playmakers Walker (1,341 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT) and Collier (1,016 yards, 8 TD). A year under McPherson system has polished Walker and gained a lot of trust by his coach. Collier, a state champion track star, has blazing speed and great vision and brings the hammer with him. Walker will have a solid trio of receivers to chose from including Dixon, Soto and Stewart, which will help release some of the attention from Collier. With seven starters back on defense, the unit will be solid led by Charles, an end getting a lot of college attention in the off season. Joining Charles will be Moore, McCray, Blair, Broughton and Kirkman as well as several others in the rotation. A combination of speed and experience will go a long way with this group as they chase the playoffs possibly for the first time since 2010. It’s a been nearly a decade since the Raiders made the playoffs and this is good as any to finally break that streak.
Ridgeview Panthers
Coach: Matt Knauss
Record: 5-5
Key Players: Denali Lindo (Sr., WR/SB), Nick Staefe (Sr., OL), Sean Graffiti (Sr., OL), Glendon Miller (Sr., WR), Spencer Calise (Jr., WR), Isaac Chaffin (Sr., WR), Reynaldo Gonzalez (Sr., RB), Tyler Duggan (Sr., TE/P), Matt Dye (Sr., DB), Jacob Gregory (Jr., SS/WR), Jordan Jackson (Sr., DL)
Newcomers: Max Munroe (Jr., QB), Rasheed Baker (Jr., RB), Miika Tuisano (So., FB/MLB
Schedule
Aug 23 Baldwin
Aug 30 at Ed White
Sept 6 Oakleaf
Sept 13 OPEN
Sept 20 Fleming Island
Sept 27 Orange Park *
Oct 4 at Middleburg
Oct 11 at Eastside *
Oct 18 at Menendez *
Oct 25 Clay *
Nov 1 West Nassau
Outlook: After three short years, Cameron Porch left Ridgeview to take a defensive coordinator job at Berrien High in Nashville, Georgia in June. Ridgeview worked quickly to name a successor and found Knauss out of Daytona Father Lopez. A new coach from out of the area brings in a lot of changes and a fresh look on things as well. Knauss will have his hands full in year one as the Panthers are extremely young and full of inexperienced players. Former St. Johns Country Day starter Max Munroe appears to be the starter at Ridgeview now and will rely on veteran athlete Lindo likely as his go-to-guy while the offense continues to jell. A huge concern was revealed in the referee scrimmage last week as Munroe spent more time on his back than throwing the ball, as the offensive line was manhandled upfront by the Westside front seven. Staying healthy and maturity are two major keys for the Panthers this season.
District 2-5A Projections
1 Eastside
2 Orange Park
3 Clay
4 Menendez
5 Ridgeview
Helmets courtesy of Florida Helmet Project and FloridaHSFootball
