District 2-1B preview

District 2-1B


Arlington Country Day

Head Coach: James Sims

2008 Record: 3-7

Last time in playoffs: 2008

Key losses: Dietrick Payne (Sr., RB), Brandon Boyd (Sr., ATH), Denzel Hayden (So., ATH), Daniel Wheat (Sr., OL), Anthony Mosley (DB)

Key returners: O’shay Carter (Fr., QB), Darius Sims (Sr., TE/DE), Cecil Countryman (So., OL/LB), Rodney Wrighten (So, LB), Kyle Smoot (Fr., RB/DB), Markell Hannon (So., RB), Archie Melendez (Sr., RB), Ronald Gelzer (Sr., WR/DB), Demetric Pugh (So., WR), Devonta Whittaaker (Jr., WR), Tyrese Gamble (Jr., OL), Akeem Campbell (Jr., OL/DL), Kohl Cavanary (Fr., OL), Robert Mackey (Fr., OL)

News: For ACD to get back to the playoffs again, Sims will have to replace several starters including his go to guy tailback Payne (1,039 yards, 13 touchdowns) and cornerback Mosley (10 interceptions, 2 touchdowns). Sims returns eight starters on offense and just three on defense after seeing several players transfer including Payne (Parker), Boyd (Nease), Hayden (Nease) and Wheat (Parker). Replacing Payne may lie in the hands of Smoot, Tallahassee Lincoln transfer Hannon and Melendez. Mandarin transfer senior Ryan Walker will get the nod at quarterback but will be pushed by last year's starter Carter (500 passing, 6 TDs). Both will have several young receivers to work with including Mandarin transfer junior Travis Makauskas, Gelzer, Pugh and Whittaker along with Sims, son of coach Sims. Sims is relying on five solid lineman to help protect Walker and Carter, Gamble, Campbell, Countryman, Cavanary and Mackey. Sims says his linebacker core, defensive line, quarterbacks, offensive line and wide receivers are his team’s strengths while his secondary is his weakness. Freshman Justus Gelzer, Wrighten (second in team tackles last season), junior Jimmie Martin and Countryman will be the starting linebackers. Junior Bryan Rose, sophomore Mike Hardmon, Sims and Campbell will be on the line while senior Robert Fields, Ronald Gelzer and Smoot will start in the secondary.

Aucilla Christian

Head Coach: Scott Scharinger

2008 Record: 3-7

Last time in playoffs: 2005

Key returnees: Joe Mizell (Sr., RB/DB), Alex Dunkle (Sr., RB/DB), Wilson Lewis (Sr., WR/DB), Brandon Dunbar (Sr., WR/DB), Matt Harrington (Sr., OL/DL), Jacob Pitts (Sr., OL/DL), Jake Walker (Sr., OL/DL), Buddy Vollerston (Sr. OL/DL), Koal Swann (Sr., OL/DL), Lane Fraleigh (Sr., K/DB), Daniel Ward (Sr., RB/DB)

News: Scharinger, a graduate of FSU, was hired to replace Joe Striplin in March and will take over a program that has seen its share of highs and lows over the past couple of years. Aucilla has seen its share of success just two seasons ago the Warriors were 7-3 yet reversed their record last season. Since 2002, the program has had just three winnings seasons going 31-39 during that stretch. The Warriors will be quite young with 16 of the 27 players being underclassmen with just 11 seniors

Cedar Creek Christian


Head Coach: Randy Howell (third season)

2008 Record: 1-7

Last time in playoffs: None

Key losses: Tommy Roach (DE), Matt Quinn (WR/SS)

Key returners: Scott Armstrong (Jr., LB/QB/RB), Brandon Hodges (Fr., LB), Hezekiah Lucas (So., QB/DE), Domique Davis (Jr., CB/WR)

News: Howell’s west coast offense fared better last season and has shown steady improvement as the Soldiers put up points and even managed a 50-12 win over Lake Wales Vanguard. Two years ago in the inaugural season, the Soldiers were shut out five of their six games and was outscored 269-6. After two years of playing in the independent league, the Soldiers make the move to district play joining 1B and will be quite familiar with some of the teams. Last season the Soldiers went 0-5 against new district teams Mandarin Christian (38-20), Hawthorne (57-14), Oak Hall (80-6), St. Johns Country Day (65-14) and St. Francis (37-0). If Cedar Creek can come out injury free after opening the season against state power North Florida Christian, the Soldiers have a chance to possibly win at least two games this season including one against a new program Peniel.


Hawthorne

Head Coach: Ronny Pruitt

2008 Record: 4-6

Last time in playoffs: 2006

Key losses: David Pittman (RB/LB), Robert Gordon (RB/LB), Sam Walker (RB/ LB)

Key returners: Armond Pittman (Jr., ATH), Re’shard Munnerlyn (Jr., RB/LB), Aaron Harriot (Sr., RB/DB/LB), Jonathan Mann (Jr., OL/DL), Marquise Hayes (Sr., QB), Demetrice Lawrence (Jr., RB/LB), Adonis Williams (Sr., DB/WR), Antonio Patterson (Sr., RB/LB), Jeremy Gordon (Sr., RB/DB)

News: Coming off a terrible season, Pruitt is hoping a summer full of workouts with alum and current Philadelphia Eagles' rookie tight end Cornelius Ingram will help spark his team. One of the players Pruitt is counting on heavily in his wing-t spread formation offense is Armond Pittman, the younger brother of 2009 graduate David Pittman (2,000+ all-purpose yards, 145 tackles, 12 sacks). Another player Pruitt said he is looking forward to coaching is senior utility player Aaron Harriot, who is returning from a season ending ACL injury in the preseason game last season. Pruitt is also counting on several transfers who returned back to Hawthorne, including Munnerlyn (North Marion), Williams (Interlachen), Patterson (Interlachen) and Lawrence (Interlachen).

Mandarin Christian

Head Coach: Denny Thompson

2008 Record: 3-7

Last time in playoffs: None

Key losses: Kevin Simpson (LB/OL), Barnes McKenzie (WR), Matthew Coggin (WR/CB)

Key returners: Josh Tylski (Sr., QB/P), Michael Rozmus (Sr., RB/DB), Mark Jewell (Sr., RB/DB), Grant Carson (Sr., LB/OL), Clayton Visman (Sr., LB/OL), Joey Livermore (Sr., DL/OL), Trey Tieneken (Jr., WR/CB), Patrick Hardie (Sr., WR/DB)

News: Mandarin Christian begins their third season of their program and makes the big move from independent status to district play this season. The Eagles got a taste of their new district opponents last season going 1-3, beating Cedar Creek 38-20, while losing to St. Johns 37-0, St. Francis 41-28 and Arlington Country Day 52-0. New coach Denny Thompson takes over for departing coach Steve Joyner and will have fourth year starters Tylski (1,802 passing yards, 13 TDs, 22 INTs) and Rozmus (1600 rushing yards, 5.8 y.p.c.) back to run his spread offense. Tylski loses his main receiver Mckenzie (694 yards, 5 TDs, 19.3 y.p.c.) but returns his second leading receiver Tieneken (595 yards, 5 TDs, 15.3 y.p.c.). Losing Simpson hurts on defense but he returns Carson, Visman, Livermore and Tieneken. As part of hiring a new staff, Thompson also hired former Mandarin High, University of Florida and New Orleans Saints player Fred Weary to coach the secondary, which should help the Eagles improve from giving up 1901 passing yards last season.

Mayo Lafayette

Head Coach: Joey Pearson

2008 Record: 10-1

Last time in playoffs: 2008

Key losses: Jamal Reid (WR/DB), Sergio Perez (DB), Shyler Morgan (RB), Joey Mroczokwski (OL), Casey Brewer (LB)

Key returners: Nick Bracewell (Sr., QB), Brooks Laminack (Sr., WR), Jared Sampson (Sr., OL), David Carson (Jr., OL), Troy Folds (Sr., DL), Aaron Goyette (Sr., DE), Alan Driver (Sr., LB), Antwan Brown (Jr., DB), Mel Jones (So., OL/DL), Tyler Chancey (Jr., LB/RB), Jose Rubio (Jr., LB/WR), Austin Anderson (Sr., WR/DB), Treston Whidden (So., RB/LB), Josh Lira (Jr., OL/DL), Arthur Sellers (Jr., RB/DB), Andre Hall (Jr., DB), Sean Lisk (Sr., OL/DL), Tripp McCray (Sr., OL)

News: Lafayette moves down to 1B and immediately becomes the favorite to be the North representative in the Class 1B state title game. Pearson loses do it all athlete Jamal Reid (1,224 yards, 24 TDs, 68 tackles, 6 INTs) but returns Bracewell (2, 262 yards, 31 TDs, 4 INTs) along with his second leading receiver Laminack (274 yards, 3 TDs on 24 catches) in his Pro-I offense. Four starters including Folds, Goyette, Driver and Brown all return in his 3-5 defense.

Gainesville Oak Hall

Head Coach: 4-6

2008 Record: Scott McDaniel

Last time in playoffs: 1979

Key losses: Will Indianos (QB/LB), James Marham (Sr., RB), Gene Rodrick (WR/DB), Jared Goodman (WR/LB), Nelson Smith (WR/LB), Allen Thigpen (TE/DT), Ben Van Gelder (OL/DL)

Key returners: Garrett Koons (So., DE/WR), Daniel Schultz (Sr., WR/DB), Leon Cummings (So., RB/DB), Travis Rwebyogo (So., WR/LB), Jared Armstrong (So., QB/LB), John Lowery (Sr., OL/DL)

News: As if McDaniel wasn’t already dealing with the loss of four year starting quarterback Indianos, the state’s all-time touchdown leader with 100 touchdowns last season; he was dealt another blow when starting tailback James Markam transferred to nearby Gainesville High in the spring for his final season. With just two seniors and one junior, this team will rely heavily on several underclassmen. Cummings saw action last season as Markam’s backup in the spread offense and will now get the bulk of the carries. Armstrong , son of former Gator and Chicago Bears great Trace Armstrong, takes over for Indianos. Koons returns as the teams’s leading tackler and sacker, in a defense that will be led by its linebacker core.

Gainesville St. Francis

Head Coach: Jeff Jenkins

2008 Record: 6-4

Last time in playoffs: None

Key losses: None

Key returners: Anthony Brown (Jr., RB/OLB), Andrew Brinsko (Jr., RB/CB), Andy Neisen (Jr., TE/MLB), Ben Ricards (Jr., FB/LB), Victor Bustamante (Sr., WR/OLB), Devonte King (Sr., OL/DL), A.J. McQuillan (Jr., OL/DL), Tommy Depatie (Jr., QB/SS), Tim Meissen (Jr., K/DE), Nick Iuliucci (Jr., TE/DE), Ben Casella (Sr., FB/DE), James Jenkins (Sr., TE/DE), Thomas Brinsko (Jr., OL/DT)

News: The young Wolves were inconsistent offensively in 2008, scoring 35 points six times while also being shut out twice. A program less than five years in existence takes a big step this year moving up from independent to district play. Brown is a potential star in the making after averaging 12.5 tackles a game last season.

St. Johns Country Day


Head Coach: Merlin Smith (1st year)

2008 Record: 4-6

Last time in playoffs: None

Key returners: Paul Steinmetz (Jr., DL/OL), Richard Illes (So., LB/FB), Daniel McCarthy (So., LB/RB), Cori Brown (Sr., DE/RB)

News: The only coach the program has ever known, Rodney Debose resigned over the summer to become an assistant coach at nearby Orange Park. Not only did St. Johns lost Debose but several players as well as the Spartans were down to 16 kids when practice started. As if that wasn’t enough distraction, the district get a lot tougher with the addition of Lafayette, St. Francis, Aucilla Christian.


Predictions
1. Lafayette
2. Arlington Country Day
3. Hawthorne
4. Oak Hall
5. St. Francis
6. Mandarin Christian
7. St. Johns Country Day
8. Aucilla Christian
9. Cedar Creek Christian