Week 1 Preview: Thursday night showdowns highlight openers

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It’s opening night for the 2018 season and four games on the docket to kick off the season, including a pair of rivalry games.

Opening night offers something for everyone with games featuring Westside at Ed White, Sandalwood at Ribault, Parker at First Coast and Mandarin at Atlantic Coast, while Columbia also travels to Gainesville tonight.

Note: Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball

Westside Wolverines (0-0) at Ed White Commanders (0-0)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m., John Gwynes Field
Series: Ed White leads XX-XX
1971: DNP
1972: DNP
1973: DNP
1974: N/A
1975: Forrest 21, Ed White 7
1976: Forrest 14, Ed White 6
1977: Ed White XX, Forrest XX
1978: Ed White 32, Forrest 0
1979: N/A
1980: N/A
1981: Forrest XX, Ed White XX
1982: Ed White 34, Forrest 0
1983: Ed White 21, Forrest 14
1984: Ed White 42, Forrest 14
1985: Ed White 18, Forrest 7
1986: Ed White 13, Forrest 11
1987: Ed White XX, Forrest XX
1988: Forrest XX, Ed White XX
1989: Forrest XX, Ed White XX
1990: Ed White XX, Forrest XX
1991: Ed White 17, Forrest 0
1992: Ed White 18, Forrest 0
1993: Ed White XX, Forrest XX
1994: Ed White 41, Forrest 22
1995: Ed White XX, Forrest XX
1996: Ed White 14, Forrest 3
1997-2004: DNP
2005: Ed White 28, Westside 8
2006: Westside 32, Ed White 27
2007: Ed White 41, Westside 12
2008: Ed White 38, Westside 28
2009: Ed White 42, Westside 28
2010: Ed White 51, Westside 0
2011: Ed White 68, Westside 21
2012: Ed White 29, Westside 7
2013: Ed White 49, Westside 0
2014: Ed White 60, Westside 0
2015: DNP
2016: DNP
2017: Ed White 31, Westside 2
Outlook: The oldest rivalry on the Westside has been one sided for the most part with the Commanders having won 17 of the last 18 meetings, including nine in a row. Could this be the year the Wolverines finally end the streak ? Skill wise Westside can match up with most teams including White; but do they have the mndset to stop the streak and pull the upset ?

Westside Wolverines

Coach: Rodney Dubose

Record: 1-8

Key Players: Javon Gannt (Sr., WR), Jalil Jackson (Sr., QB), Kenneth Davis (Sr., WR), Jared Ealy (Jr., RB), Dalton Wilson (Sr., RB), Clarence Conyers (Sr., DB), Angelo Philpot (Jr., DB)

Newcomers: Ditannon Otis (So., QB), Kalhoun Walker (Fr., RB)

Outlook: Twenty six seniors graduated from last years team fortunately for Dubose not everyone of those was starters as the Wolverines return six guys on offense and four on defense. Speaking of the defense, that unit needs a face lift badly after giving up 363 points last season, for the Wolverines to have any kind of success they must figure out how to stop all the high powered offenses as the season will come down to how well they play. Offensively, the Wolverines return Jackson, Davis, Wilson and towering Gannt, a Central Michigan commit. The Wolverines have an abundance of skill players with blazing speed but that wont mean anything if the offensive line doesn’t do their job. The talent is there, its time to take that next step and become a winning program. At the start of the fall practice, Dubose hadn’t decided on whether Jackson or Otis would be starting. At 6-4 Gannt towers over the majority of defensive backs look for him to have a coming out year statistically.

Ed White Commanders

Coach: Kevin Sullivan

Record: 3-7

Key Players: Isaiah Flowers (Sr., ATH), Omari Fiffer (Sr., LB), 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)

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 Anthony. Fiffer, who has several offers including South Florida and UCF, is the leader on the defense and Anthony 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.

Sandalwood (0-0) at Ribault (0-0)

Sandalwood Saints

Coach: Adam Geis

Record: 5-5

Key Players: Antonio Clary (Sr., DB), Jeff Sims (Jr., QB), Taylin Nalls (Sr., WR), Javonte Kinsey (Jr., WR), Walter McClinton (Sr., OL), Kobe Barnes (Jr., DL), Adam Burns (Sr., DB), Calvin Sinclair (Jr., DL), Kaloeb Parker (Jr., DL), Brandon Jennings (So., LB), Clarence Perrier (Sr., DL), Jered Geis (Sr., WR)

Newcomers: Jahlon Wilson (Sr., DB/WR), Kyjuan Herndon (Jr., RB), Kamari Stevens (Sr., OL/DL), Dylan Pate (Sr., ATH), Kingsley Equakun (Sr., OL), Nathan Brady (Sr., OL), Jahquez Robinson (Jr., DB), Matthew Rivera (Jr., WR), Jeremiah Huntley (Fr., ATH)

Outlook: If Geis wasn’t already excited about the upcoming season with 16 starters returning, the addition of eight transfers only solidifies an already potent lineup even more. Nine starters return on both sides of the ball including Sims, Nalls, Kinsey, Geis and Parker on offense and Burns, Perrier, Sinclair and Clary, a Virginia commit, on defense. The addition of Herndon (Trinity), Pate (Trinity), Equakun (Atlantic Coast), Brady (Atlantic Coast), Rivera (Parker) and Stevens will bolster an already loaded offense even more, as will Robinson (Trinity) and Wilson (Trinity) on defense. Newcomer Huntley will be a a huge playmaker and a good go to guy to give Herndon a breather. With such high expectations now how will the Saints handle the pressure, will they fold or will they prove people wrong and make a serious playoff run.

Ribault Trojans

Coach: Kelvin Smith

Record: 7-4

Key Players: Chris Johnson (So., TE/DE), Devin Norman (Sr., WR/DB), Josh Roberts (Sr., RB), Keonta Jenkins (Jr., DB), tony Jenkins (So., OL), Ernest Ricks (So., DB), Matranius Mack (So., RB), Santana Jackson (So., QB), Darnell Wilson (So., LB), Zabian Wilson (Sr., DB)

Newcomers: Bobby Brown (Sr., DB), Shaun Evans (So., DB), Chris Calhoun (Fr., QB)

Outlook: The good news is Ribault is coming off its second straight district title and playoff berth and has ton of momentum heading into the new season. The bad news is they lost 25 seniors from last year and only return three starters back on both sides of the ball and will look to a ton of young guys to fill their roles. Among the new guys expected to have bigger roles on offense are Johnson, Mack, Calhoun and Jackson joining upperclassmen Norman and Roberts in an offense that struggled a lot to find an identity last season. The loss of Jhamaal Marsh and wide outs Mike McCray, Kenneth Channelle and Devon Matthews will be huge tasks to fill but the coaches are confident in their young guys and their capabilities. The defense lost the entire secondary as well in Nick Gardner, Jabari Jaudon and Matthews, filling those holes appears to be Norman and young guys Ricks, Wilson and Evans. Three-peating isn’t out of the ream for the Trojans, if the young guys can limit their turnovers and continue to play solid defense.

Why should you watch: Trailing 14-7 with 20 seconds left, Sandalwood scored cutting the lead to 14-13, however the Saints decided against the tie and went for two only to be denied. You can expect the Saints haven’t forgot about that and will look for revenge.

Mandarin Mustangs (0-0) at Atlantic Coast Stingrays (0-0)

Atlantic Coast and Mandarin compete every year for the Principal Cup trophy.

When: Friday, 7 p.m., Arlington Toyota Stadium
Series: Mandarin leads 4-3
2011: Atlantic Coast 32, Mandarin 20
2012: Mandarin 22, Atlantic Coast 20
2013: Atlantic Coast 13, Mandarin 7
2014: Atlantic Coast 28, Mandarin 20
2015: Mandarin 27, Atlantic Coast 14
2016: Mandarin 28, Atlantic Coast 7
2017: Mandarin 27, Atlantic Coast 24
Outlook: When Atlantic Coast opened in 2011, the bulk of its student body came from Mandarin and thus a rivalry was born. The two play for the annual Principal Cup trophy, which has resided in Mandarin for the last three years. The annual season opener for both teams brings a lot of excitement on the Southside and reaches new heights this year being televised on WJXT and 1010 XL. Making this the most talked about game in the short rivalry and one of the most important ones as well.

Atlantic Coast Stingrays
Coach: Jimmy Hill
Record: 2-8
Key Players: Demetrius Byrd (Sr., DB/ATH), Patrick Bryant (So., WR/DB), Ryan Hoprich (Sr., K/P), Joseph Wingate (Jr,., WR), Jhakais Pippins (Jr., DL), Jordan Singletary (Sr., LB), Joshua Coffey (Sr., LB/FB), Markiel Ross (Sr., RB), Kai Hedgemon (Jr., DB), Jamoni Hill (Sr., RB)
Newcomers: Jordan Williams (So., WR/DB), Jordan Patrick (So., WR/DB), Brian McCullough (Jr., WR), Isaiah Sparrow (So., RB), Daniel Bubba Wohlgemuth (Sr., QB)
Outlook: You win some, you lose some, should be the annual motto at Atlantic Coast. For whatever reason the Stingrays are cursed with losing players to transfer every season; the latest examples are the loss of to two key offensive lineman Nathan Brady and Kingsley Eguakun to rival Sandalwood. Imagine if the Stingrays actually kept their kids together for a change. That’s not say they don’t get their share of transfers either, as the Stingrays picked up senior Daniel Bubba Wohlgemuth from Fletcher, who will start at quarterback. Wohlgemuth will have several young guys like Bryant, Williams, Patrick and Sparrow along with a handful of veterans like Ross, Hill, Byrd and Wingate to help him. For the Stingrays to have any kind of success they must find a way to stop teams after giving up 433 points last season on defense. Hill is hoping guys like Byrd, Bryant, Pippins, Singletary, Coffey and Hedgemon can the job done. Year two should see an improvement, but it may not show on the record with such a tough district and out of district games against Sandalwood, Mandarin, Bishop Kenny and Englewood.

Mandarin Mustangs

Coach: Bobby Ramsay

Record: 2-8

Key Players: Terrell Jennings (Sr., RB), Demario Douglas (Sr., WR/DB), Johnny Reggo III (Sr., LB/SS), Kris Mitchell (Sr., WR), Ernest Ricks (So., DB), Tre Lawrence (So., QB), Kasimir Absolu (Sr., WR/DB), Nijel McGriff (Sr., DL), Parker Merrill (Sr., OL), Nick Harris (Sr., DL), Zack Mills (Sr., DL), Travis Moss (Jr., LB), Christian Warren (Sr., DL)

Newcomers: Darian Oxedine (Sr., WR/CB), Carson Beck (Jr., QB)

Outlook: This is the year that Mandarin has building up to, at least it seems on paper it is. A heavy senior class plus some key transfers has put Mandarin back in the conversation for a potential playoff appearance. Ramsay has to be excited about the amount of seniors and starters back with 16 guys back including 9 starters back on offense and 7 on defense. Among the 9 starters back on offense is Jennings (844 yards, 5 TD), Mitchell (289 yards, 4 TD), Absolu (621 yards, 3 TD) and Douglas (270 yards, 6 TD), while the defense returns Moss (59 tackles), Warren, Merrill, Harris, Absolu, Ricks and Rego. The addition of Oxedine, a transfer from Menendez, gives the Mustangs that game changer needed on offense and defense as does the addition of Beck, a junior transfer from Providence who committed to Alabama. Year two under Ramsay should see a significant change one that could possibly land them in the playoffs.

Terry Parker Braves (0-0) at First Coast Buccaneers (0-0)

Terry Parker Braves

Coach: Char-ron Dorsey

Record: 2-8

Key Players: Tyrone Williams (Jr., ATH), Will Wyche (Jr., QB), Joe Brown (Sr., DB), Ahmad Moody (Sr., ATH), Jose Candelario (Sr., RB), Dante Lawrence (Sr., OL/DL),

Newcomers: DJ Thompson (Jr., RB), Josh Jones (Sr., ATH), Larry Smith (So., DB), Chris’tal Smith (So., FB/LB)

Outlook: Charon Dorsey and defensive coordinator Mike Holloway take over a program in shambles, that hasn’t been relevant in over 20 years. Taking over a program and turning it around into an instant success is nothing new for the duo, who quickly turned Matthew Gilbert Middle into a city power winning multiple city titles to go along with a 71 game winning streak. Both can do the same thing at Parker if given the time. That starts with molding the talent they inherited along with their former Gilbert players coming over. Among those are newcomers Josh Jones, Larry Smith, Tyrone Williams and Chris’tal Smith, who hope to bring that winning attitude and swagger back to Arlington. The Braves return four offensive starters and five defensive starters are looking for big things from Wyche, Moody and newcomer DJ Thompson, a transfer from Suwannee.

First Coast Buccaneers

Coach: Marty Lee

Record: 3-7

Key Players: Jamal Gelsey (Jr., LB), Cole Beckham (Sr., LB/TE), Davon Davis (Jr., DB/WR), Maaki Marshall (Sr., LB), Tyree Saunders (Jr., WR/DB), Christon Johnson (Jr., LB), Darius Kelp (Sr., WR/DB), Alfred Chea (Jr., DB), Ronnie Blakely (Sr., DB), Shamar Rush (Sr., RB), Jacolby Evans (Sr., OL), Darius Lewis (Sr., RB/WR/KR), Jalen Leroy (Sr., K/P), Jordan Harmon (Jr., OL), Jordan Gray (Jr., OL), Isaac Sletton (Sr., OL), Mike Smith (Jr., DB)

Newcomers: Larry Edwards (Fr., QB), Jaylen Fowler (Jr., WR/DB), William Guyton (Sr., RB), Jaylen Gaines (Sr., DB), Jalen Evans (Jr., WR/QB), Gelique Williams (Sr., CB/KR), Chris Freeman (So., RB), Antonio Bell (Jr., DE), Arden Luster (So., RB/LB)

Outlook: One First Coast coach told me during Media Day, that the Bucs could be finally back. Seeing is believing though. There is no denying the Bucs have the talent to compete with anyone, but do they have the cohesiveness to compete. That will take time and depend on several things, including the defense which was terrible giving up 356 points, an average of 35 points per game. Coach said the defense should be much improved and is back and if they are able to stop people they will be successful. The Bucs return seven starters on defense and will rely heavily on Marshall, Gelsey, Beckham, Saunders, Johnson, Blakely and Smith along with transfers Williams (Yulee), Fowler (Trinity), Gaines (Ribault), Davis (Mandarin) and Bell (Trinity). Offensively, the Bucs return 7 starters, but will rely on a freshman at quarterback in Edwards, along with transfers Guyton (Lee), Evans (Lee) and Fowler (Trinity). Saunders and Lewis are all two-way players that will also play factors in the offense as well. The entire offensive line is back and with a year of experience should help pave the way for a potential explosive offense.

Why you should watch: While these two teams do have a long history of playing each other over the years since First Coast opened in 1990, the two are not exactly rivals they don’t even meet annually. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything at stake in this one. Two young teams trying to prove they are relevant again and belong in the playoff conversations. The Bucs opened the season last year with a 62-6 win in Arlington and have won three in a row in the series.

History

Series: First Coast leads 11-8 unofficially

2017: First Coast 62, Parker 6

2012: First Coast 34, Parker 12

2011: First Coast 48, Parker 0

2008: Parker 28, First Coast 22

2007: First Coast 14, Parker 7

2006: First Coast 17, Parker 6

2005: First Coast 14, Parker 6

2004: First Coast 44, Parker 0

2003: First Coast 25, Parker 7

2002: Parker 21, First Coast 20 (OT)