To say 2016 was a banner year for high school football, is an understatement. A record four area teams made it to Orlando and two brought home state titles.
Trinity Christian won its fourth state title in a row and University Christian won its second in a row (9th overall), while Bolles finished as state runner-up again.
But it was blue collar lunch pail team from Ponte Vedra that shocked many by winning 14 in a row before stumbling in the Class 5A state title game.
Lee brought alumni back and had the whole city supporting its run to the state semi-finals and sent a message to everyone too, “WERE BACK”.
These are just some of the stories of the past football season along with the stories comes great players too.
Here is the inaugural Duval Sports All-Area football team.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
LB – James Drysdale (So., St. Joseph)
Stats: 111 tackles, 12.3 tackles per game, 1 fumble recovery
LB – TJ Robinson (Sr., Trinity)
Stats: 43 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery
LB – Dylan Cason (Jr., Fort White)
Stats: 84 tackles, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 4 pass deflected
LB – Timothy Perkins Jr. (Jr., Baldwin)
Stats: 91 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 QB hurry
DL – Maurice Strong (Jr., Union County)
Stats: 28 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 pass deflections
DL- Louie Nammour (Sr., Christs Church)
Stats: 47 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 caused fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
DL – Matt Stone (Jr., Christ’s Church)
Stats: 8 sacks, 34 tackles, 2 blocked punts
DL – Jabari Rivers (Sr., Fort White)
Stats: 53 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 caused fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries
DB – Johnny Williams (Sr., Baldwin)
Stats: 3 INT, 9 pass breakups, 15 tackles
DB – Josh Dennie (Jr., Christ’s Church)
Stats: 4 INT, 17 pass breakups, 20 tackles
DB – Andy Varnes (Sr., Christ’s Church)
Stats: 4 INT, 24 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups
DB – Kyle Sowards (Sr., St. Joseph)
Stats: 115 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
ATH – Dedrick Vanover (Sr., Fort White)
Stats: 22 tackles, 2 INT, 5 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery, 16 catches for 331 yards, 20.7 ypc, 4 TD, 504 AP yards
ATH -Will Cowles (So., St. Joseph)
Stats: 59 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 966 AP yards, 686 rushing/8 TD
ATH – Chamarri Connor (Jr., Trinity)
Stats: 99 tackles, 1 INT, 5 pass breakups, 1 block FG
P – Frankie Onate (Sr., Trinity)
Stats: 41.4 average, 28 punts, 56 long
