District 1-6A preview

District 1-6A

Mandarin Mustangs

Head Coach: Jason Robinson (second year)

2008 Record: 7-3

Last time in playoffs: 2005

Key losses: Jonathan Pillow (QB), Wilfredo Acosta (WR), Tyler Cardey (WR), Matt Belser (LB/FB/DE), Rodney Baxter (WR), Matt Robinson (WR), Sam Clodfelter (OL), Joseph Babadi (OL), Greg Entzi (OL), Kirhy Smith (RB), Salmon Willams (RB), Chris Hall (DB), Diondre Walker (LB), Cody Carter (DL)

Top Players: Kevin Bell (Sr., CB/RB/WR), Larry Mitchell (Sr., LB), Trey Davidson (Sr., OL), Ryan Chatham (Jr., QB), Chelton Carter (Sr., WR), Alex Gallaher (Sr., K/P), Mose Countryman (Sr., TE/OL), Melvin Williams (Jr., DB), Daniel Cherry (Sr., WR), Worship Chaleka (Jr., WR)

News: What a first season for Robinson, who took over a program still in shock from the death of their former head coach JD Hall. Mandarin bounced back last season only to be the odd team out in three-way tiebreaker for the district championship and runner up spot in the playoffs. Robinson must replace several holes on offense in all four areas quarterback, tailback, offensive line and receivers. With Pillow gone, Chatham takes over and will have to rely on veterans Chelton Carter (789 yards, 4 TD’s on 47 receptions) and Countryman (a Division I prospect) to help groom several newcomers; while Mitchell (11 sacks, four interceptions and 183 tackles in his career) leads the defense.

Ocala Forest Wildcats

Head Coach: David Hodges (third year)

2008 Record: 8-2

Last time in playoffs: 2004

Key losses: Doug Webb (ATH), Larry Greene (LB), Jonathan Kletter (TE), Richard Bostick (LB), Alan Singleton (WR), Jesse Pettis (DL), Anthony Morrison (LB)

Key returners: Ricky Carter (Jr., OT), Adam Fontana (Jr., OG), Cameron Pennell (Sr., C), Ryan Singleton (Sr., OG), Dylan Sexton (Sr., TE), Zac Welch (Sr., QB), Donald Webb (Sr., RB), James Reid (Jr., RB), James Brooks (So., WR), Erik Hindmon (Jr., LB), Devan Roberts (Sr., DB), Antonio Dickson (Sr., S), Nolan McCaskill (Sr., CB), Kevin Kennel (Sr., DT), Garret Warren (Sr., DT), Jamaree Broadhurst (Sr., LB), Chris Veron (Sr., PK/P), B.J. Spikes (So., LB)

News: Having to wait on several underclassmen to develop early on may be downfall for the Wildcats, as Hodges started 11 sophomores in a surprising 14-7 win over arch-rival Vanguard in the spring game. The loss of leading tackler Doug Webb and third team all-state selection Jonathan Greene to graduation will be hard to replace. Forest does return 10 starters on offense and 6 on defense. Among the many players Forest is heavily counting on is Veron, who had interests from Alabama, Florida and FSU, before committing to South Florida in the summer. Aside from being a 3.03 core student, Veron put 58 of 65 kickoffs in the end zone with 30 of them reaching out of the end zone, booted a 51-yard field and averaged 43 yards per punt last season.

Orange Park Raiders

Head Coach: Danny Green (second year)

2008 Record: 10-3

Last time in playoffs: 2008

Key losses: Estevan Cintron (RB), Chris Wiggins (K/DB), Aubrey Felder (RB), Matt Garcia (OL), Chris Dent (LB), Cody Allen (OL), O’Brien Abner (OL)

Key returners: C.J. Stallworth (Sr., RB), Demetre Baker (Sr., OLB/RB), Travis Felder (Sr., RB), Quan Whitley (Sr., ATH), Antonio Thomas (Sr., WR), Andrew Denton (Sr., QB), Jacob Hagen (Sr., DB/WR), Andrew Denton (Sr., QB)

News: Green’s first season was a shocking one to say the least, turning a program -which averaged two wins a season- including one win the previous year, into a third round playoff appearance, its longest run since going to the Final Four in 1992. Year two will be filled with having to replace several offensive starters including three offensive lineman and two tailbacks including Navy bound Aubrey Felder (826 yards, 6 TDs, 12.0 y.p.c.). However, the Raiders do return Denton, Felder, Baker (Georgia commitment) and Stallworth along with Ridgeview transfer junior tailback Damon Kelly, in an offense that accumulated 2,603 rushing yards and averaged 330.0 yards per game.

Sandalwood Saints

Head Coach: Adam Geiss (first year)

2008 Record: 1-9

Last time in playoffs: 2006

Key losses: Devin Bland (OL), Julian Cinotti (LB), Elton Belcher (DB)

Key returners: Calvin Bryant (Sr., LB), Dalton Dixon (Sr., WR), Austin McKinley (Sr., QB)

News: To say anything less than a mess has occurred at Sandalwood the last couple of years would be an understatement. After six years Geiss (37-28) resigned and former longtime head coach Bob Withrow (91-30, 12 seasons) was brought back to bring some much needed discipline back to the program, which led to several kids transferring out. After one season, Withrow was forced to retire following a 1-9 season and Geiss, who remained at the school was rehired and several of the players who left have been rumored to have transferred back. McKinley and Dixon, also a baseball standout, return to an offense, which ran for 1,632 yards and averaged 223 yards per game.


Predictions
1. Orange Park
2. Mandarin
3. Ocala Forest
4. Sandalwood