No matter the year, or the situation, when teams prepare for the upcoming district season, all roads annually lead to St. Augustine.
Despite heavy losses on both sides, the Yellow Jackets are still prohibited favorites to take home the District 4-6A title again. Nease, White and Middleburg have threatened the hold but come up short in their quest for the district championship trophy.
As long as Brian Braddock is there the Yellow Jackets are not going anywhere and will always be the favorite like they have been the last two decades. However, the other teams in the district Ed White, Middleburg, Nease and Englewood are steady chasing them and trying to overthrown the dynasty.
Note: Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball.com
Englewood Rams
Coach: JD Stalvey
Record: 2-8
Key Players: Chris Denson (Sr., RB/WR), Ian Switzer (Sr., P/WR), Shemar Rodriquez (Sr., QB/SS), Collin Williams (Sr., LB), Devin Brewer (Sr., DT), Edward Holmes (Sr., WR), Gabriel Reyes (Sr., WR/DB), Chris Lands (Sr., OL), Isaiah Towson (Jr., RB)
Newcomers: Chivas Parrish (Jr., DB/WR), Kaloosh Henley Jr. (So., OL/DL), Connell Foster (So., DB), Daniel McCoy (JR., DT), Kalani Soule (Sr., TE/DE), Antonio Riley (So., LB), Angel Rivera IV (Jr., OL/DL)
Schedule
Aug 24 Paxon
Aug 31 at Jackson
Sept 7 Fletcher
Sept 14 at Middleburg *
Sept 21 Atlantic Coast
Sept 28 at St. Augustine *
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 Baldwin
Oct 19 at White *
Oct 26 Nease *
Nov 2 at Wolfson
Outlook: A lot of excitement and momentum for the Rams program with a coaching change and a blowout win over Fernandina Beach in the spring. Stalvey opened up the offense running for 336 rushing yards, including 164 for Denson. One thing this team does have is speed as several guys ran track, including the entire 4×100 relay team. It’s been a while since Englewood has been relevant, in fact the Rams have the longest playoff drought in the area as they last made the playoffs in 1998 when former Jaguars Rasheen Mathis was leading the team. Stalvey hopes to change that mentality and that starts with winning games they should win and pulling an occasional upset along the way as well, getting to .500 would be a huge target. Five starters return on offense and four are back on defense, including Denson, Switzer, Rodriquez, Holmes, Reyes, Towson on offense along with Brewer, Mitchell, Riley, Rivera and newcomer Soule a transfer from Orlando on defense. It may be to soon to be talking playoffs for the Rams but wouldn’t be surprised if they are in the conversation late in the soon.
Ed White Commanders
Coach: Kevin Sullivan
Record: 3-7
Key Players: Isaiah Flowers (Sr., ATH), Omari Fiffer (Sr., LB), Owen Fiffer (Sr., WR/RB), Chaz Hirschman (Jr., QB), Shawnell Hall (Sr., DB), DaShawn Patterson (So., RB), Cedric Woodson (Jr., DB/RB), DeAndre Tellfair (Sr., OL/DL), Austin Castro (Sr., OL/DL), Yontez Jarell (Sr., OL), Alex Anthony (Sr., DE/LB)
Newcomers: Isaac Byrd (Jr., WR/ATH), Jaylen Harvey (Sr., RB/LB), Kevin Greene Jr. (So., LB/TE), Trevon Adams (Jr., DL/OL), Raymond McArthur (Jr., LB/RB)
Schedule
Aug 23 Westside
Aug 31 Baker County
Sept 7 Raines
Sept 14 at Nease *
Sept 21 Fletcher
Sept 28 Middleburg *
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 at St. Augustine *
Oct 19 Englewood *
Oct 26 at Fleming Island
Nov 2 at Lee
Outlook: “That, that, that D” has always been a popular saying at Ed White over the years as the Commanders have had their share of defensive playmakers, this year shouldn’t be any different with the return of both Omari Fiffer and Kelly. Fiffer, who has several offers including South Florida and UCF, is the leader on the defense and Kelly is the unknown guy who is poised for a breakout year after a outstanding summer camp performance and Hall, a cover corner who has offers from Kent State and Southern Miss. Sullivan is hoping the defense, which gave up 241 points, will be much better and more reliable with the return of seven starters. As much as Sullivan is looking forward to watching his defense play, he must be even more excited to see what the offense can do with the return of nine starters. Flowers, an Idaho commit, is a dynamic versatile athlete who plays all over the field and will be joined by Patterson and Woodson and others in the backfield, along with Hirschman and Byrd. Now its time for the Commanders to take that next step and bring back that swag and fear back to the Westside and the rest of town.
Middleburg Broncos
Coach: Karl Smeltzer
Record: 1-9
Key Players: Tyler Bryant (Sr., RB/SS), Joe Justino (Jr., QB/K/P), Jacob Hensen (Jr., TE), Calvin Suggs (Jr., CB), Laron Bryant (Jr., SE), Richard Cole Leclair (Jr., OL), Colby Walker (Jr., OL), Carson Faulkner (Jr., OL), Jesse Saunders (Sr., OL), Dylan Keller (Sr., DE/LB), Noah Janda (Sr., DE/LB)
Newcomers: Anthony Havens (Sr., RB/DB), Jay Lane (So., SE/RB), Trevor Todd (So., DE), Brody Senn (Jr., LB/FB), Nate Ranie (So., OL)
Schedule
Aug 24 at Menendez
Aug 31 at Clay
Sept 7 Fleming Island
Sept 14 Englewood *
Sept 21 Orange Park
Sept 28 at White *
Oct 5 at Ridgeview
Oct 12 at Nease *
Oct 19 OPEN
Oct 26 St. Augustine *
Nov 2 at Bradford
Outlook: Two years ago, Middleburg came out of no where to sneak up on its district opponents to earn a playoff bid as a district runner-up, this team could do the same thing. Normally coming off a 1-9 season wouldn’t bring a lot of expectations to a program but after a season which saw as many as 31 players injured and young guys step up and fill their roles, the Broncos are confident in a breakout year. Injuries no doubt took a toll on them last year as 31 out of the 40 guys on the roster missed at least one game, staying healthy would be a start towards that breakout year. If their is such a thing as a silver lining, its that several young guys got to play and get valuable experience. Technically only three starters return on offense including Justino but Justino will have a bevy of weapons to choose from including wideouts Loan Bryant, Jay Lane, Trevor Todd and Jake Hansen. In the backfield, the Broncos will feature a combination of speed and power with Tyler Brant, Todd and Havens, a transfer from Fort Lauderdale. With so many injuries especially on the line of scrimmage, several guys played and the Broncos will expect big things from Leclair, Warner, Saunders, Faulkner and Ranie. With just two starters back on defense, Smeltzer will look to Bryant, Senn, Keller and Janda for help along with several young guys to try to stop high powered offenses like St. Augustine and Ed White.
Nease Panthers
Coach: Tim Krause
Record: 5-5
Key Players: Preston Staples (Sr., QB), Nick Bunkowsky (Sr., WR/DB), Josiah Haygood (Sr., DE), Gabe Hartley (Sr., P/K), Joe Bradshaw (Jr., RB/DB), Adrian Williams (Jr., RB/DB), Jacob Allsup (So., S), Dequan Thompson (Jr., DB), Peyton Brocksmith (Sr., DE)
Newcomers: Anthony Ferro (So., LB), Grayson Roberts (Jr., QB), Anthony Tanza (So., QB), Kyle Bazler (So., LB), Kevin Boose (So., LB)
Schedule
Aug 24 Ponte Vedra
Aug 31 at Orange Park
Sept 7 at Bishop Kenny
Sept 14 White *
Sept 21 at Creekside
Sept 28 Matanzas
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 Middleburg *
Oct 19 at St. Augustine *
Oct 25 at Englewood *
Nov 2 Bartram Trail
Outlook: Krause made a giant step getting back to the program he wants to have finishing .500 after a 2-7 disasterous season two seasons ago. Its been three years since Nease was in the playoffs, Krause would like nothing better than having the Panthers back in and consistently in the playoffs. The pieces could be there with the return of Staples (66 of 94 for 943 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT) and five other offensive starters. Unfortunately, playmakers tailback Jareem Westcott (1519 yards and 19 TD on 212 carries), receiver Ashton Wood (17 catches for 515 yards, 9 TD) and tight end Zach Sheffer (19 catches for 317 yards, 4 TD) are all gone. Who will take over their roles remains to be seen but likely in the hands of Bunkosky, Bradshaw and Williams, who all saw limited playing time at offense last season. Six starters are back on defense including Blakely (46 tackles), Allsop (59 tackles, 2 INT), Thompsn (26 tackles), Brocksmith (46 tackles) and Bunkosky (32 tackles). Krause is hoping the struggle two years ago and the progress last year paves the way for a special season this year.
St. Augustine Yellow Jackets
Coach: Brian Braddock
Record: 12-1
Key Players: Elijah Ryan (Sr., K/P), Brandon Johnson (Sr., RB/DB), Jarien Ramos (Sr., DB/WR), Jaden McDowell (Jr., WR/DB), Thomas Marrero (Sr., OL), Rylan Shugart (Sr., LB/TE), Nicholas Barlow (Sr., LB), Robert Zuzu (Sr., DL/FB), Darius Stanley (Sr., DL/FB)
Newcomers: Michael Early (Sr., QB/WR/SS), Wiliam Bothers (Jr., QB), Sammy Edwards (So., QB)
Schedule
Aug 24 at Baker County
Aug 31 Menendez
Sept 7 Ponte Vedra
Sept 14 at Palm Coast
Sept 21 at Bartram Trail
Sept 28 Englewood *
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 White *
Oct 19 Nease *
Oct 26 at Middleburg *
Nov 2 at Palatka
Outlook: Seems like every year, people look at St. Augustine and think oh they lost so and so they can’t be that good this year. Yet every year the Yellow Jackets keep proving the doubters wrong including a state semifinal appearance last season, four quarters away from playing for a state title. The same ones probably think the Jackets will be down again this season after losing 9 starters on offense including quarterback Austin Reed (159 of 248 for 2,925 yards, 34 TD, 7 INT), tailback Dexter Brown (1699 yards, 15 TD on 172 carries), tailback Frequan Sparrow (707 yards, 11 TD on 100 carries), and receivers Karim Brown (59 catches for 1385 yards, 17TD) and Cedrin Daniel (49 catches for 1699 yards, 9 TD). While those losses were substantial, the Jackets next man up philosophy has prepared all spring for finding replacements. As of day one of fall practice, Braddock had not named a starter at quarterback between the three man battle of Early, Bothers and Edwards. Whomever wins the job will have Johnson, who primarily played defensive back and was moved back to tailback in the spring, along with wideouts Ramos, McDowell and Stanley, a two way standout as weapons. Defensively, the Jackets are much better shape returning five starters including Shugart (75 tackles, 3 sacks), Zuzu (87 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss), Barlow (51 tackles, 2 sacks) and McDowell (77 tackles, 4 INT). Ryan is the weapon most teams don’t have after converting 62 of 66 point after attempts and 6 of 9 field goals last season.
