A strange thing occurred last December at Camping World Stadium, instead of putting on the gold medal and their third straight state championship, University Christian had to settle for putting on the silver medal for once.
While several key starters are gone, the goal remains the same for the veterans and newcomers get back to Orlando and compete for a state title.
For Eagle’s View and North Florida Educational Institute, the playoffs are the ultimate goal and reward but building a program and consistency is the more realistic goal for both.
The addition of two wild card berths in each region gives both Eagle’s View and North Florida Educational Institute a fighting chance to make the playoffs and lots of confidence for both.
Note: Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball.com
Eagle’s View Warriors
Coach: Frank Andrea
Record: 6-4
Key Players: Jakobe Lavoile (Sr., ATH), Preston Nolan (Sr., LB/OL), Andre Rigens (Fr., RB/LB), Noah Rigdon (So., LB/TE), Justin Jones (So., OL/DL), Cory McCalip (So., TE/SS), Jakahri Johnson (So., OL/DL), JD Cunningham (Jr., OL/DL), Carl Otero (Sr., MLB/FB), Jamie Sharp (So., OL/DL), Brett Warren (So., TE/DE)
Newcomers: Chase Meredith (8th, QB/LB), Ethan Anderson (8th, LB/TE), Jaylon Hunter (Fr., QB), Corey Feagle (Fr., QB/FS), Caleb Busko (So., QB/DB)
Schedule
Aug 24 at Warner Christian
Aug 31 at Windermere Prep
Sept 7 at St. Joseph
Sept 14 TBA
Sept 21 OPEN
Sept 28 at Cedar Creek
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 TBA
Oct 19 at Christ’s Church
Oct 26 Halifax
Nov 2 Merritt Island Christian
Outlook: Eagle’s View made great strides last season nearly coming close to making the playoffs, not comes the daunting task of sustaining that momentum and taking it to the next level. It will be difficult though as graduation and the loss of five key unexpected juniors to transfer have handed the Eagles with a lot of depth problems as well as a lot of youthfulness. Two vital playmakers that ran the offense are also gone Kemasae Joyner (666 yards and 8 touchdowns on 88 carries) and Calaaga Jones Jr. (697 yards, 6 touchdowns on 75 carries) as both graduated, expected to fill those shoes rest in the hands of Lavoile (5 catches for 134 yards, 3 touchdowns). The Warriors will be quite young with just three seniors and two juniors, which means they will be extremely young at most positions and both sides of the ball. Andrea will count on several young guys including Rigens and Hunter, as well as potential starters Meredith, Anderson, Feagle and Busko. Defensively, the Warriors return a handful back including Nolan and Otero and will also rely on young guys Jones, McCalip, Johnson, Sharp and Warren. The dwindling roster of 23 players is the key reason the Warriors are playing their final season in the FHSAA as they make the transition next year into the Sunshine State Athletic Conference and into the First Coast Division with Christ’s Church, Bishop Snyder, Cedar Creek, Duval Charter and Harvest Community. Eagle’s View would like nothing more than to go out with a bang and make the playoffs in their final year before moving independent. That rest on the shoulders of all the young players and the few upperclassmen left and whether or not they can jell quickly and play together as a team.
North Florida Educational Eagles
Coach: Silas Daniels
Record: 1-8
Key Players: Shakur Stokes (Fr., QB/DB), Anthony Cooks (So., TE/OL/DL), Tori Crooms (Sr., CB/WR), Taris Dowdell (Sr., CB/WR), Demetrius Ellis (So., LB/OL), Ta’merick Johnson (Jr., OL/DL), Jaylin Orange (So., RB/WR/LB), Ke’Vaughn Gilbert (Sr., LB/RB), Jean Marseille (So., RB/WR/LB)
Newcomers: Jamari Mangham (Fr., WR/CB/KR), Derek Adams, Ramauri Simpsn (So., RB/LB), Deon Manick (Sr., ATH)
Schedule
Aug 24 West Nassau
Aug 31 at Hawthorne
Sept 7 Wolfson
Sept 14 at University Christian
Sept 21 OPEN
Sept 28 at Port St Joe
Oct 5 Lake Highland Prep
Oct 12 at Maclay
Oct 19 Hamilton County
Oct 26 Fernandina Beach
Nov 2 Hilliard
Outlook: Daniels is trying to bring some much needed stability to the young program that is on third coach in three years after brief stints from Joe McClendon and Rico Robinson. McClendon guided the Eagles to a 5-4 record in his only season, before Robinson took over and set them back in the wrong direction with just one win. The good news is Daniels has a proven playmaker in Stokes back to lead the offense, after throwing for 1,145 yards and 11 touchdowns as and eighth grader. Daniels wasn’t sure about the other skill players but knows several other young guys must step up. Daniels is also counting on a handful of guys from the Bahamas to help with depth including Adams as well. Daniels is trying to bring a new attitude and a change to the program as well and his goal is to the not only get the Eagles in the playoffs but also try to build team bonding.
University Christian Christians
Coach: David Penland III
Record: 10-3
Key Players: Ridge Jacobs (So., QB), Caleb Thomas (Sr., OL), Jaedon Stoshak (Sr., WR/DB), Max McClendon (Jr., RB/LB), Maurice Shingles (Sr., RB), Joe Carter (So., RB/LB), Derek Strumph (Sr., DE), Matthew Craig (So., DL/OL), Dymond Allen (Sr., DB/WR)
Newcomers: Allen Adams (Sr., OL/DL), Cody Kopp (Jr., WR/LB), Trevor Stuck (Sr., LB)
Schedule
Aug 17 at Metrolina Christian, NC
Aug 24 Bolles
Aug 31 at Wildwood
Sept 7 at Crescent City
Sept 14 North Florida Educational
Sept 21 Pierson Taylor
Sept 28 Bradford
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 at Foundation
Oct 19 Madison County
Oct 26 OPEN
Nov 2 at Clay
Outlook: Despite heavy graduation losses and the loss of several transfers, the expectations don’t ever change at University Christian, no excuses and next man up mentality. After back-to-back state titles in 2015 and 2016, the bid for a three-peat fell short with a loss to Champagnant Catholic, the goal remains the same getting back to Orlando and competing for another state title. Despite returning five starters on both sides of the ball, Penland will rely on young guys like McClendon, Carter and Ridge on offense along with veteran Stoshak. The addition of transfers Adams (Oakleaf) an UCF commit and Kopp (Providence) will help with depth and experience on offense. Thomas and Adams will man the line and be responsible for opening the holes for Ridge and McClendon as well providing protection for Ridge to get the ball to Stoshak and Carter. The key for UC getting back to Orlando is for everyone to know their roles and do their assignments and for all the young guys to step up and fill their roles and for the few upperclassmen to lead them back to Camping World Stadium.
