District 4-5A gets alot tougher with the addition of the two time state champion Raines Vikings now in the mix. Ribault won the district the last few years taking advantage of weak competition as Paxon, and Yulee, have struggled. On paper this district will come down to the Northwest Classic late in the season, adding suspense to an already sold out rivalry. If one of the dark horses are to upset the two front runners they’ll need to capitalize from teams under estimating them , or show extensive improvement across the board. We’ll see what happens in the district as we preview each team and get you ready for kickoff!
Paxon Eagles
Head Coach: Steve Brown
2018 Record: 2-8
Key Players: `Jaquan Jaudon (Sr, FS/CB); Mike Young III (SR, RB/MLB), Robert Russell (SR, RB); Derek McNair (JR, RB/CB); Malcom Seaborn (JR, WR) Kyle Holland (SR, WR) Jeremy Porter (JR, FS); London Richardson (JR, LB); Nicholas Bell (Soph, FS)
Schedule:
Aug 16 Nease (Kickoff Classic)
Aug 23 Englewood
Aug 30 at Wolfson
Sept 6 at Cedar Creek
Sept 13 Yulee *
Sept 20 Raines *
Sept 27 OPEN
Oct 4 at Fernandina Beach
Oct 11 at Stanton *
Oct 18 Episcopal
Oct 24 at Ribault *
Nov 1 at Hamilton County
Outlook: If Paxon is to return to the glory days of gridiron success, Head Coach Steve Brown must rely on key play makers to lift the team going into his seventh season at the program. Players like Mike Young III and
Jaquan Jaudon must step up big and play larger than life for the Eagles to have a competitive chance in their district. The offense is the biggest question mark and at the most important position, quarterback. Struggles on offense yielded a 26-6 loss to Nease in their kickoff classic. In order for the team to improve on their win total from the last two years they’ll need to control the ball on the ground and play good defense. Leading pass catcher Malcom Seaborn may have to be used in other ways to get him the ball, including possibly quarterback.
Prediction: 2-8
Stanton Blue Devils
Head Coach : Chris Crider
2018 Record: 3-7
Key Players: Logan Warming (SR, OLB), Carson Blank (C), Jaylen Jackson (JR, CB); EMMANUEL OKAFOR (JR, DE), Tyler Bass (QB), SPENCER CRIVINEANU (DB), Xavier Holden (JR, RB)
Schedule:
Aug 16 Joshua Christian (Kickoff Classic)
Aug 23 Wolfson
Aug 30 Jackson
Sept 6 at Providence
Sept 13 Raines
Sept 20 Fernandina Beach
Sept 27 at Baldwin
Oct 4 OPEN
Oct 11 Paxon *
Oct 17 at Ribault *
Oct 25 at Yulee *
Oct 31 Episcopal
Outlook: If the kickoff classic is any indication, Stanton is definitely headed in the right direction. Coach Mike Healey stepped down after four years at the school and in steps Chris Crider as the head coach. Crider has a task to turn the Blue Devil program into something of prominence. A 36-0 win over Joshua Christian in the preseason has the team thinking big. Look for them to create turnovers on defense and pound the rock as usual. It will be interesting to see if a new regime means a new offensive system. They’ll need to adjust to their district with Raines and Ribault , two passing teams that can put up points.
Prediction: 3-7
Yulee Hornets
Head Coach: Robert Flagler
2018 Record: 3-7
Key Players:
Clayton Walden (Sr., WR/CB) Devonn Littlejohn (Jr., WR/FS), Khamari Barksdale (Jr., RB/SB), Donovan Henry (Jr., DE), J’caidyn Albertie (So., RB/MLB)
Schedule:
Aug 16 at Suwannee (Kickoff Classic)
Aug 23 St. Augustine
Aug 30 at Fernandina Beach
Sept 6 West Nassau
Sept 13 at Paxon *
Sept 20 Nease
Sept 27 Ribault *
Oct 4 at New Smyrna Beach
Oct 11 OPEN
Oct 18 at Raines *
Oct 25 Stanton *
Nov 1 Parker
Outlook: Yulee had a tough season last year with only three wins. It was a disappointing first year for Head Coach Robert Flagler, but he and his staff are optimistic that they can improve on this season as the players buy into the system. The Hornets hope that Donovan Henry, the little brother of Derrick Henry, can generate gains through genetics on the gridiron. They’ll be in defensive struggle with teams for most of the season.
Prediction: 3-7
Ribault Trojans
Head Coach (Interim): Wagner Lindsell Shell Jr (Lin-J Shell)
2018 Record: 5-6
Key Players:
Chris Calhoun (So., QB), Santana Jackson (Jr., QB), Chris Johnson (Jr., TE/DE), Freddie Manning Jr. (Fr., WR), Winifred Jones (Jr., T), Josh Jones (So., SB/RB), Keonta Jenkins (Sr.)
Schedule :
Aug 16 at First Coast (Kickoff Classic)
Aug 23 at Creekside
Aug 30 Mandarin
Sept 6 at Trinity
Sept 13 Lee
Sept 20 at Sandalwood
Sept 27 at Yulee *
Oct 4 OPEN
Oct 12 Raines *
Oct 17 Stanton *
Oct 24/25 Paxon *
Nov 1 at Lincoln
Outlook: Ribault seemed to be on the rise and in the right direction. An influx of young top talent flooded the program for the last two years, making for a high expectations this year. Especially after a playoff birth in 2018 where freshman quarterback Chris Calhoun endured the bumps and bruises to guide the young team to the post season. However recent activity has Ribault questioning their future. First there was the loss of their top running back Martranius Mack and other players after the spring game. Then there was the abrupt and sudden departure of Head Coach Kelvin Smith who lead the program for the last three years. Interim Head Coach Lin-J Shell must rally his team around the notion that the ship is not sinking. And why would one think it was. They still have one of the best young quarterbacks in the city. They still have a great running back in Josh Jones. They still have one of the most talented play makers to come out of middle school in tight end / defensive end Chris Johnson, and an explosive weapon at receiver in Freddie Manning. However if Ribault is going to win the district, its defense is going to have to lead them. With hard hitters at every position, the Trojans can beat anyone as they won the district a year ago. The problem is, this year they don’t just have to beat anyone, they must beat the one team that won it all last year. Rival Raines.
Prediction: 3-7
Raines Vikings
Head Coach: Deran Wiley
2018 Record: 13-1
Key Players: Kyree Hammon (So., DB), Adrian Williams (Sr., QB), Treyvon Hobbs (Sr., FS/CB), Jarius Stewart (Sr., CB/FS), Derek Nealy (Sr, OLB),
Carleton Butler ( Soph, QB) ; Reginald Harden (Sr, WR), Quincy Burroughs (Soph, WR), Kareem Burke ( Soph, WR),
Schedule:
Aug 16 at Ed White (Kickoff Classic)
Aug 23 Jones
Aug 30 at Pahokee
Sept 7 at Lee
Sept 13 at Stanton *
Sept 20 at Paxon *
Sept 27 OPEN
Oct 4 Sandalwood
Oct 12 at Ribault *
Oct 18 Yulee *
Oct 25 Trinity
Nov 1 at Bartram Trail
Outlook: The Raines Vikings are fresh off back to back state championships, the first public school in Duval County to do so. Coach Deran Wiley is preparing a new cast to attempt a sequel to the critically acclaimed thriller “3-PEAT”. This cast includes a new running-back to replace Raines all time leading rusher Brandon Marshall. That task will prove to be extremely tough. New wide receivers man the outside, and a new defensive line. The offensive line returns with veteran leadership which bodes well for sophomore quarterback Carleton Butler who looked good in the pre-season game versus Ed White. He hooked up with big target Reginald Harden for a touchdown as the Vikings blanked Ed White. The Vikings defense is lead by their secondary and linebackers who are quick and aggressive. The defensive line can apply pressure and force turnovers. They won’t wow you with size, but the unit plays fast and physical, one of the reasons Head Coach Deran Wiley schedules some of the toughest opponents in the regular season. They’ll face rival Ribault potentially to decide the district this year. Yet District titles isn’t on the mind of the Vikings, its State titles.
Prediction: 8-2
