Beginning its eighth year as an independent football conference, the North Florida Football Conference is stronger than it has ever been in its existence.
Some of that can be attributed to programs taking the conference seriously as well as their own programs. One thing for sure is nobody can argue the conference it as its good as its been.
A meeting between athletic directors started the conference back in 2010 with the charter members being Tallahassee Maclay, Gainesville Oak Hall, Gainesville St. Francis, Aucilla Christian, Munroe, John Paul II, Florida Deaf, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph and Rocky Bayou.
The conference was split up in two divisions with Maclay, Aucilla, Munroe, John Paul II and Rocky Bayou in the North and Oak Hall, St. Francis, Florida Deaf, St. Johns and St. Joseph in the South. The two division winners meet in the finale to play for the conference championship.
Maclay dominated the conference early on for two years before moving back into the FHSAA state playoff series, making the league nine teams. While the league has talked about replacing Maclay, the league has not found a suitable replacement yet.
Going into the 2018 season the league seems to be a wide open race at least in the South Division, St. Francis is the reigning champions but is having to replace several key pieces from its title team leaving the door wide open for arch-rival Oak Hall or even St. Joseph and St. Johns as possible threats to dethrone the defending champions.
Here is a run down of the South Division and what Florida Deaf, Oak Hall, St. Francis, St. Johns and St. Joseph all have to offer this season.
SOUTH DIVISION
Florida Deaf Dragons
Coach: Travis Homewood
Record: 1-7
Key Players: Jonathan Byron (Sr., WR/DB), Reuben Johnson (Sr., RB/DB), Meehan Darren (Sr., RB/LB), Meehan Doug (Sr., WR/LB/P), Nathan Negeron (Sr., OL/DL), Alex Alridge (Jr., OL/DL), Rey Suerro (Jr., RB/DB/LB), Alejandro Torres (Jr., OL/DL), Floyd Veal (Jr., OL/DL)
Newcomers: None
Schedule
Aug 23 Oak Hall *
Aug 30 at Halifax
Sept 6 TBA
Sept 13 at Merritt Island Christian
Sept 20 St. Johns *
Sept 27 St. Joseph *
Oct 4 TBA
Oct 11 at St. Francis *
Oct 18 Cedar Creek
Oct 27 at Alabama Deaf
Nov 2 NFFC Cross Over
Outlook: Florida Deaf is hoping longtime wrestling coach Travis Homewood can bring some of his success from the mat over to the gridiron. Over the last two years the program has took a solid hit with low numbers and it showed on the field as the Dragons have combined for just one win over the last two years. Hopefully Homewood can get that back on the right path that just a few short years ago saw them consistently compete for NFFFC titles, including a divisional title in 2014. From 2012-2015, the Dragons won at least five games every season including 7-2 and 9-1 seasons in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Oak Hall Eagles
Coach: Matthew DiBernardo
Record: 7-3
Key Players: Rocky DiBernardo (Jr., ATH), Thomas George (Sr., FB/LB), Grant Pita (Sr., OL/DL), Matthew Kasitz (Sr., DL/OL), Porter Thibault (Sr., DL/OL), Alex Anderson (Sr., DL/OL), Nick Loryea (Sr., DL/OL), Andrew Clark (Sr., DL/OL), Stephen Kaleel (Jr., DB/RB), Jackson Ryan (Jr., DB/WR), Andrew Pickens (So., WR/DB)
Newcomers: Kyle Pollock (Fr., ATH), Jake Gill (So., DB/WR), Cole Gonzales (Fr., WR/DB), Ben Moraski (So., WR/DB)
Schedule
Aug 23 at Florida Deaf *
Aug 31 TBA
Sept 7 at Bronson
Sept 14 St. Joseph *
Sept 21 Munroe
Sept 28 St. Francis *
Oct 5 at Maclay
Oct 12 at St. Johns *
Oct 19 at Rocky Bayou
Oct 26 John Paul II
Nov 2 NFFC Cross over
Nov 9 Bowl Game/Title Game
Outlook: On the surface this might be a possible rebuilding year for Oak Hall, after three highly successful years the Eagles might take a step back this year for a change. However, don’t be fooled though this team is still quite loaded despite being so young. The loss of three year starter Matthew Armstrong, now relies on the shoulders of either DiBernardo or newcomer Pollock. Armstrong played in 7 games last season due to an ankle injury yet still managed to finish 53 of 93 for 896 yards and 12 touchdowns, finishing his career with 2,496 yards and 35 touchdowns both school records. DiBernardo took most of the snaps in the spring and played receiver last season catching 28 passes for 501 yards and 16 touchdowns along with 315 yards and 3 touchdowns on 47 carries on his way to being named first team All-Conference last season. Pollock ran the offense during 7-on-7 season and summer workouts and looked efficient despite his youthfulness. George, a two way standout ran for 270 yards and 8 touchdowns on 41 carries on offense, while accumulating 39 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks on defense., is back as a key leader on both sides of the ball. DiBernardo has guided the Eagles to three straight winning seasons, winning at least seven games each season, look for that streak to continue again and compete with St. Francis for the divisional title again its first since winning the division two seasons ago.
St. Francis Wolves
Coach: Scott McDaniel
Record: 8-2
Key Players: Jacquez Jackson (Sr., WR), Calvin Little (Sr., WR/DB), Stone Brush (Sr., OL/DL), John D’Allessio (Sr., DL/OL), Sim Haug (Sr., LB), Tim Johnson (Sr., RB/LB), Derek Simpson (Jr., QB/DB), Tyler Stone (So., QB/DB), Tyrone Mullins (Sr., RB/WR/DB)
Newcomers: None
Schedule
Aug 24 Joshua Christian
Aug 31 at St. Joseph *
Sept 7 at Aucilla Christian
Sept 14 St. Johns
Sept 21 at Bronson
Sept 28 at Oak Hall
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 11 at Florida Deaf
Oct. 19 Admiral Farragut
Oct. 26 at Chiefland
Nov 2 NFFC Cross over
Nov 9 Bowl Game/Title Game
Outlook: As the reigning divisional champions, the Wolves enter the 2018 season with a huge target on their back now. St. Francis had a breakout season last year winning their first divisional title and playing for the North Florida Football Conference championship. Can they repeat their success this year ? That remains to be seen with a lot of several key starters gone most notably Nick Baskin. Baskin leaves St. Francis after accumulating 3,572 yards and 45 touchdowns both school records, including passing for 1,826 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. Who will replace him seems to be between Simpson and Stone, neither saw much playing time last season. Also gone is playmaker Demari Turner, who set a school record with 25 catches for 912 yards (36.5 y.p.c.) and 14 touchdowns to go along with 24 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense. Stepping in to fill Turner’s shoes will be third year starter Jackson, who ran for 260 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 26 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns last season. Jackson led the Gainesville area with 7 interceptions last season to go along with 38 tackles on defense. Johnson will also be counted on heavily after grinding for 825 yards and 7 touchdowns on 91 carries on offense while racking up 54 tackles and 1.5 sacks on defense.
St. Johns Country Day Spartans
Coach: Derek Chipoletti
Record: 1-6
Key Players: Max Munroe (So., QB/K), Brady Walden (Sr., WR/DB), Wyatt Smith (Jr., OL/DL), Logan Higby (Jr., RB/DB), Max Arnold (So.,WR/DB), Eli Morton (Sr., OLB/RB), Patrick Lindholm (Sr., WR), Joseph Shimko III (Jr., OL/DL), Marcus Holden (So., WR/DB),
Newcomers: Tyler Townsend (Sr., WR/MLB)
Schedule
Aug 24 Merritt Island Christian
Aug 31 Deltona Trinity
Sept 7 OPEN
Sept 14 at St. Francis *
Sept 20 at Florida Deaf *
Sept 28 Halifax
Oct 5 St. Joseph *
Oct 12 at Oak Hall *
Oct 19 at Georgia Christian
Oct 26 Aucilla Christian
Nov 2 NFFC Cross over
Nov 9 Bowl Game/Title Game
Outlook: After a couple of years away from the game, Chipoletti decided to return to the game again and take over a struggling St. Johns program. It’s good Chipoletti (51-24) likes rebuilding things, having rebuilt Bradford, Williston and Oakleaf all into successful playoff contenders. Chipoletti brought longtime friend Steve Reynolds who was on staff with him at both Oakleaf and Williston. If he’s given the time, which he should be, expect Chipoletti to have the Spartans competing for a South Division title and a NFFC title soon. It may be to soon for this year but he will have some weapons to coach up including Munroe and Walden; while the addition of Bishop Snyder transfer Tyler Townsend brings even more experience to an already solid receiving core.
St. Joseph Academy Flashes
Coach: Brandon Tidwell
Record: 4-4
Key Players: James Drysdale (Sr., RB/LB), Dylan Thibault (Sr., QB), Ethan Senderling (Jr., LB/WR), Patrick Lane (Jr., WR/DB), Miles Ayers (Jr., OL/DL), Christian Kes (Jr., DB), Will Cowles (Sr., RB/DE), Tyler Strausbaugh (So., WR/DB), Tim Colbert (Jr., OL/DL)
Newcomers: Gregory Allen (Fr., RB), PJ Stevens (Fr., WR), Kent Hall (Fr., WR), Cameron Helt (Fr., OL/DL)
Schedule
Aug 24 at Cedar Creek
Aug 31 St. Francis *
Sept 7 Eagle’s View
Sept 14 at Oak Hall *
Sept 21 Cocoa Beach
Sept 27 at Florida Deaf *
Oct 5 at St. Johns *
Oct 12 at John Paul II
Oct 19 OPEN
Oct 26 NFFC Cross Over
Outlook: Hired two months before the first game, Tidwell did a heck of a job stepping into a tough situation and guiding the Flashes to a .500 season. With a full year now, the sky is the limit for the program and its expectations. The hiring of former Swiss Point coach Don Luczak was a great hire and should bring some winning attitude back to the program. Tidwell returns six starters on both sides of the ball including playmakers Thibault (90 of 136 for 1739 yards, 19 TD, 3 INT) and Drysdale (558 rushing, 317 receiving, 15 touchdowns) as both were All-Conference selections.
NFFC Championship games
2017: John Paul 14, St. Francis 12
2016: Oak Hall 41, John Paul 13
2015: St. Joseph 10, John Paul 0
2014: Rocky Bayou 22, Florida Deaf 21
2013: Rocky Bayou 26, St. Johns 19
2012: Maclay 41, Oak Hall 13
2011: Maclay 54, Oak Hall 42
