The race for the District 3-7A title race is up for grabs and will be a battle all season long between Bartram Trail, Fleming Island, Creekside, Oakleaf and Buchholz. Every team has had to replace several key starters meaning there isn’t a clear cut favorite this season.
Bartram Trail has all the history and momentum on its side after advancing to the schools first ever state championship appearance, but the loss of 25 plus seniors will be hard to replace.
Fleming Island rode a tremendous defense all the way to the third round before falling to Bartram Trail again but must reload both sides of the ball especially the defense.
Creekside made huge strides ending a 22 game losing streak and nearly finishing .500, falling one win short but it too must replace a beavy of starters. Oakleaf lost four close games last season by a combined 17 points and came that close to finishing .500 or better, can the Knights improve on that. While the most experienced team appears to be Buchholz but its relying on a quarterback coming off an injury and only played in three games last season.
Note: Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball.com
Bartram Trail Bears
Coach: Darrell Sutherland
Record: 11-4
Key Players: Devin Ellison (Sr., RB), Gunnar Hitzeman (Sr., WR), Griffin Helm (Sr., WR), Johnny Burkett (Sr., OL), Harry Bowker (Sr., DB/P), Robby Love (Sr., OL), Chase Ruskin (Sr., LB), Nick Macabee (Jr., OL), Tre’Vez Johnson (Jr., DB), Aaron Jones (So., RB)
Newcomers: Chad Dodson (Jr., QB), Zach Rhodes (Jr., WR), Colin McKee (Sr., OL), Spencer Hudson (Sr., OL), Andrew Bonday (Sr., DL), Kaleo Fowler (Sr., LB), Craig Sinclair (Jr., DB), Connor Easterling (Sr., DL), Ralph Hamilton (Jr., LB), Jordan Webster (Sr., LB), Brandon Vespi (Sr., LB), Eric Weatherly (Fr., ATH), William Greig (Jr., K)
Schedule
Aug 24 Brunswick, GA
Aug 31 Apopka
Sept 7 at Clay
Sept 14 at Oakleaf *
Sept 21 St. Augustine
Sept 28 at Creekside *
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 Fleming Island *
Oct 19 at Cocoa
Oct 26 Buchholz *
Nov 2 at Nease
Outlook: After years of knocking on the door, Bartram Trail finally was able to get to the promise land, Orlando and compete for a state title. Now they have finally got there the goal doesn’t change of bringing home the first trophy back. It will be extremely difficult to duplicate the success but its certainly not out of the equation. It won’t be easy replacing most of an offense that scored 617 points last year and also most of a team that saw 12 guys move on to college, including six go Division I. For the first time in several years, Sutherland will look to just one guy to run his speed triple option offense in Dodson, who despite just throwing four passes last year, already has an offer from Akron. Dodson will have several weapons to choose from in speedy backs Ellison (1261 yards, 17 TD on 150 carries) and Jones (359 yards, 3 TD on 55 carries) as well as big time receivers Hitzeman (33 catches for 617 yards, 5 TD) and Helm (46 catches for 658 yards, 6 TD). The defense is still in good shape with the return of Bowker (41 tackles, 4 INT) and Ruskin (73 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks, INT) as well as Love. Part of the reason for the huge turnaround and success last season was the teams closeness and bonding and willing to set aside personal goals for team goals. Sutherland is hoping some of that rubs off on this team and says it already has. During his 17 year tenure, the Bears have made the playoffs 15 times including three straight, look for it to extend to four straight years.
Buchholz Bobcats
Coach: Mark Whittemore
Record: 5-6
Key Players: Trent Whitemore (Sr., WR/DB), Cam Orth (Sr., QB), Jakhai Mitchum (Sr., RB), Isaiah Michel (Sr., WR), Noak Keeter (Sr., DL), Armondo Acosta (Jr., LB), Blake Mitchell (Sr., WR), Lawrence Smith Jackson (Sr., DE), Victor Nelson (Sr., DB)
Newcomers: Richard Gronley (Sr., DL), Terrance Young (Sr., LB), Corbin Grantham (Jr., DB)
Schedule
Aug 24 Eastside
Aug 31 at Vanguard
Sept 7 Columbia
Sept 14 Fleming Island *
Sept 21 at Belleview
Sept 28 OPEN
Oct 5 Gainesville
Oct 12 at Creekside *
Oct 19 Oakleaf *
Oct 26 at Bartram Trail *
Nov 2 Santa Fe
Outlook: A year ago, Buchholz snuck in the playoffs in the backdoor, this year they hope to get in using the front door by winning the district title. With a mix of veterans and a healthy team, the Bobcats want to serve notice the district is wide open and theirs for taking. Cam Orth is back after missing three games last season due to a hand injury, despite only playing in three games Orth still managed to finish 48 of 81 for 743 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. With Orth back, Whittemore can go back to his natural position after having to move to quarterback with Orth out; as Whittemore threw for 885 yards and 11 touchdowns, ran for 451 yards and 3 touchdowns, caught 29 passes for 404 yards and 5 touchdowns and also had 34 tackles and 2 interceptions on defense. Mitchem (800 yards, 13 TD on 156 carries), Michel (39 catches for 708 yards, 7 TD) and Mitchell (29 catches for 383 yards and 3 TD) are back as well and will be key weapons. Defensively, the Bobcats return Keeter (80 tackles, 9 TFL, 10.5 sacks), Acosta (99 tackles, 18 TFL, 6.5 sacks) and Jackson (32 tackles, 2 INT) to form a solid unit. The key for the Bobcats is staying healthy something they couldn’t do last year as well as grow up after being dealt with such adversity.
Creekside Knights
Coach: Sean McIntyre
Record: 4-6
Key Players: Tai Lavatai (Sr., QB), Saul Storey (Sr., OL), Shane Calhoun (Jr., TE), Abe Cates (Sr., DL), Evan Wiley (Sr., LB), Ian Wiley (Sr., DB)
Newcomers: Roby Blake (So., OL), Will Erickson (So., OL), Jack Goodrich (So., WR), Hunter Jones (So., OL), Kyle Smith (So., OL), Kale Peacock (Jr., DL), Christian Williams (Jr., TE), Luther McCoy (So., DL)
Schedule
Aug 24 at Winter Springs
Aug 31 Ridgeview
Sept 7 Paxon
Sept 14 at Episcopal
Sept 21 Nease
Sept 28 Bartram Trail *
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 Buchholz *
Oct 19 at Fleming Island *
Oct 26 at Oakleaf *
Nov 2 at Ponte Vedra
Outlook: McIntyre worked miracles barely a few weeks into his inaugural season, helping the Knights end the 22 game losing streak with a win over Winter Springs and followed that with a four win season nearly finishing his first season with a .500 record. So what does he do for an encore ? Only time will tell, as well as how quickly his young team develops. Gone is a huge senior class that ended the long losing streak that tied a county record and with it hopefully changed the mentality of the program. Two starters are back on offense including Lavatai (31 of 74 for 593 yards, 12 TD, 0 INTs) and the lone veteran lineman Storey. Lavatai who committed to Navy, will also have four young offensive lineman to work with including Blake, Erickson, Jones and Smith. The defense returns five starters and will be led by Cates and the Wiley brothers. McInyre said he doesn’t care about the record as much as he cares about how they play and if they are being the best team they can be every Friday. I do care about wins and losses as the ultimate goal is getting in the playoffs and winning the district title, which is the standard we live by.. One things he said they team needs to do better is tackle a lot better, if they can do that they will be a lot more successful.
Fleming Island Eagles
Coach: Damenyum Springs
Record: 11-3
Key Players: Dean Hyams (Jr., QB), Sam Synder (Sr., TE), Eugene Oglesby (Sr., DB/LB), Dewayne McBride (Jr., RB), Max Michaels (Sr., FB), Jake Libretto (Sr., TE), Jaelin Blount (Sr., LB), Jacob Ashe (Sr., WR), Jared Ashe (Sr., WR/DB), Aaron Ramirez (Sr., RB/DB), Jeremiah Jackson (Jr., LB)
Newcomers: Andrew Thomas (Sr., RB/DB), Thomas Waters (Jr., OL), Bennett Corey (Jr., OL), Cody Carmen (Jr., OL), Evan Sheets (So., OL), Frank Rooney (So., OL), Zack Payne (Jr., LB), Bryan Maddox (So., RB/LB), Timmy Thomas (So., RB/LB)
Schedule
Aug 24 Clay
Aug 31 at Sandalwood
Sept 7 at Middleburg
Sept 14 at Buchholz *
Sept 21 Ridgeview
Sept 28 Oakleaf *
Oct 5 OPEN
Oct 12 at Bartram Trail *
Oct 19 Creekside *
Oct 26 White
Nov 2 at Orange Park
Outlook: What does Fleming Island do for an encore? We knew Fleming Island was going to be good but how good would they be. How about a run all the way to the third round of the playoffs. For the second time in less than a year tragedy struck the Eagles program as tailback Darnell Deas Jr. unexpectedly passed away, less than a year after lineman Ben Johnson unexpectedly passed. The Eagles rallied together as a team and will do the same this season in honor of both young men. It won’t be easy going deep in the playoffs but don’t count them out. Three offensive starters are back including three year starter Hyams who shared time as well as the speed star McBride and tightend Sam Snyder, a converted lineman. Joining them will be newcomers Michaels, Ramirez and the Ashe brothers, two way standouts as well a young offensive line featuring Waters, Corey, Carmen, Sheets and Rooney. The defense, which was the focal point of the team last season, only returns two starters in Oglesby and Libretto. Despite all the losses to graduation the defense played extremely well against Palm Coast in the spring and looks to be quite possibly just as good as last year. Springs is counting on several newcomers to fill those holes including Payne, Blount, Landon Perry and Middleburg transfer Andrew Thomas, a two way standout. Coaches are excited to see Jackson return after he missed the entire season after tearing an ACL in the referee scrimmage last fall prior to the season opener.
Oakleaf Knights
Coach: Frank Garis
Record: 2-8
Key Players: Keyshawn King (Sr., RB), Dexter Moore (Sr., LB), Chantz Williams (Jr., DE), Jalen Rivers (Jr., OL), Jamaric Bonner (Sr., ATH), Tre Simmons (So., QB), Damarious Flowers (Sr., TE), Kevin Davis (So., RB/LB), Tayari Otis (Sr., DL)
Newcomers: Chrystian Sellers (So., DB), Jordan Stringfield (So., DL), Jordan Randall (Jr., LB), Marcus Anthony (So., LB)
Schedule
Aug 24 Orange Park
Aug 31 at Glades Central
Sept 7 OPEN
Sept 14 Bartram Trail *
Sept 21 Clay
Sept 28 at Fleming Island *
Oct 4 Trinity
Oct 12 at Raines
Oct 19 at Buchholz *
Oct 26 Creekside *
Nov 2 at Vanguard
Outlook: Oakleaf is hoping its fifth coach in its nine years will be the spark the program needs to get back to what it once was. Garis spent time under Matt Toblin (Ponte Vedra), Josh Hoekstra (Clay) and Craig Howard (Nease) three of the most successful coaches in the area by far. So Garis knows what it takes to win and plans to take their philosophies with him including the tradition of practicing on Thanksgiving Day, something that hasn’t been done at Oakleaf since four years ago. Offensively, the Knights return five starters including a much more mature and bigger Simmons (87 of 197 for 1,108 yards, 5 TD, 11 INT) who struggled as a freshman but should improve drastically. King (1,427 yards, 17 TD on 201 carries) set a school record last season in yards and is back and determined to break the school record again and the Virginia Tech commit could do that. He will have help though as Davis, a two-way standout showed off his skills in the spring when King was sidelined and showed what he’s capable of. Bonner returns as the most experienced receiver and will be the leader of an area which was a major down fall last season. Rivers leads the offensive line and is being recruited by nearly every team in the country with multiple D-I offer. Five starters return on defense including Moore (96 tackles, 2 sacks), Williams (50 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) and Davis (69 tackles, 1 INT). While 2-8 seems like a terrible season and it is, when you look at the layers beneath it you see that the Knights lost four games by 17 points, including two by less than three points. If the Knights are going to turn things around they must win those close games as well.
