District 4-2B preview

District 4-2B preview


Keystone Heights

Head Coach: Chuck Dickinson (11 years)

2008 Record: 3-7

Last time in playoffs: 2007

Key losses: Marcel Robinson (RB), Garrett Strickland (FB/DE), Thomas Ricketss (RB), Clayton Mosley (QB), Travis Westberry (WR), Kyle Cravey (OLB), Chris Johnson (LB), Dillon van Wagner (LB), Brett Anderson (NT), Eric Hunt (LB)

Key returners: Brantley Lott (Jr., QB), Timothy Frysinger (Jr., K), Zach Davis (Jr., LB), Shane Jennings (Sr., FB/LB), Chase Chambers (Sr., FS/RB), Seth Green (Sr., OL/DL), Ryan Latner (Jr., WR), R.J. Buxton (So., QB), Kyle Williams (Sr., OL/DL), Jonathan Stanley (Sr., OL/DL)

News: A combination of injuries, red zone mistakes, turnovers and inexperienced quarterback play helped the Indians end their consecutive winning seasons streak at four. Over the last four years, Dickinson teams were 8-2, 9-1, 7-3 and 6-3 yet struggled last season due to a series of setbacks finishing 3-7 for Dickinson’s first losing season since going 3-7 in 2003. Dickinson returns six starters in his multiple wishbone offense including Stanley, Green, Latner (523 receiving yards, 4 TDs on 23 catches), Lott (26 of 46 for 531 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs), Buxton (13 of 46 for 171 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs) and Jennings (171 yards on 33 carries). When Lott was injured in the third or fourth game of the season, Dickinson was forced to bring up Buxton from the JV team, giving Buxton valuable experience for this coming season. In Dickinson’s 5-2 defense, he returns just three starters back including Chambers (52 tackles, 41 assists), Williams (21 tackles, 26 assists) and Jennings (45 tackles, 51 assists). Having two reliable guys at quarterback is the team’s strength along with the return of three year starter Jennings as well as Chambers. An apparent weakness is definitely playing a lot of young guys, inexperienced tailbacks and depth at tailbacks and the team’s overall size.

Mount Dora

Head Coach: Chad Grabowski

2008 Record: 6-4

Last time in playoffs: 2007

Key losses: Micah Howard (FB/WR), James Davis (QB), Greg Herrick (DL), Dakarai Curry (DL), Lizandro Linares (P), Hector Tijerina (K)

Key returners: Jordan Ozerities (Sr., DB/WR), Anthony Harley (WR/DL), Bruce Heggie (Sr., TE/DT), Javonte Berry (Jr., LB), Richard McCovery (Sr., DE/RB), Cornelius Whitehead (Sr., WR/DB), Vegas Harley (So., QB), Brent Skipper (Sr., LB), Alex Williams (Sr., RB/DB)

News: Grabowski lands his first coaching gig at a program that went 12-8 and brought an end to a 24 game losing streak under former coach Wade Beale. Losing Howard (1217 yards, 16 TDs) and Davis (1240 yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs) will be rough for the Hurricanes, especially since Grabowski will now rely on Vegas Harley, who threw only one pass last season. Veterans Ozerities (515 yards, 3 TDs on 29 catches) and Harley (418 yards, 4 TDs) along with Mt. Dora Bible transfer Whitehead, a UCF commitment, will be counted on heavily.

Newberry

Head Coach: Tommy Keeler (fifth year)

2008 Record: 9-3

Last time in playoffs: 2008

Key losses: Ryan Brown (RB/CB), Steve Whitmer (OT), Travis Whitley (OL), Paul Hope (DT), Tay Ross (DB), Steve Whitmer (OL), Travis Whitley (OL)

Key returners: Yance Enoch (Sr., QB), Demetrius Dubose (Sr., RB/SS), Chadd Buchholz (Sr., OG/LB), Hank Blackwell (Jr., OT/DL), Ryan Johnston (Jr., OG), Kelly Caldwell (Sr., OL), Nick Sanders (Jr., OT), Boris Hadley (Sr., FB/DL/LB), Chris Gilyard (Jr., RB/FS), Caleb Robinson (Sr., WR/CB), Josh Robinson (Sr., WR/CB), Alex Black (Sr., OL/DL), Cody Rogers (Jr., LB), Chris White (Sr., DE), Larry Williams (Jr., SS/FB), Brandon White (Sr., LB/WR), Jr., Mike Kiem (DE), Travis Boyette (So., QB/LB), Troy Fowler (So., LB/RB), Labaryian Davis (Sr., DT/OL), Michael Hayes (Sr., RB/FS), Javonte Hayes (Sr., WR/CB)

News: Newberry has been one of the state’s top small-school programs the last two years, going 21-4 including an appearance in the 2008 Class 2B state title game. It will be difficult to replace Brown (1,655 yards, 21 TDs) and Whitmer but the Panthers didn’t miss a beat last season when they replaced all-state back Kelo Ivey. Dubose, will be the featured back in the double slot and pro-I offense s, while keep an eye on Hadley (121 tackles, 8 sacks) in Keeler’s 4-3 and 3-4 defense. Keeler received an early Christmas gift when the FHSAA granted Enoch a fifth year of eligibility Aug 11, an appeal was submitted due to a family related hardship that forced Enoch to miss school and the chance to play sports while he was at Buchholz, prior to transferring to Newberry.

Trinity Catholic

Head Coach: John Brantley III (second year)

2008 Record: 12-2

Last time in playoffs

Key losses: Rob Henry (QB)

Key returners: Kadron Boone (Sr., WR), Kedrick Rhodes (Sr., RB), Dionte Ponder (Sr., DB/WR), Chris Johnson (Jr., DB), Terry Murphy (Sr., FB), Jeremiaha Gates (Jr., RB/DB), Levaris Sims (Sr., OL), David Leopard (Sr., DL)

News: Getting to the state title game hasn’t been a problem for Trinity Catholic, having been there three of the last four years, its winning there that has been the problem. Trinity nearly had their second state title in four years wrapped up before Pahokee scored in the closing minute to steal it away from them. Boone, a Texas Tech commitment, is one of the top receivers in the state, getting him the ball will be a big priority for whomever wins the quarterback job. Coaching Boone will be former Florida Gator great wide receiver Reidel Anthony, who was hired to be the receivers coach over the break. Anthony will have lots of weapons to work with in addition to Boone, he will also have Ponder and Rhodes, who has an offer from Iowa. Clearwater Countyside sophomore quarterback Grey Crow transferred to Trinity Catholic late July and figures to be one of three guys in the mix for the starting job.

Umatilla

Head Coach: Mike Sosinski

2008 Record: 0-10

Last time in playoffs: 2003

Key losses: Eric Samuels (RB/DB), David Triplett (OG/LB), Eric Stiefield (QB/S), Chris Lightfoot (Sr., C/DL)

Key returners: Chauncey Gaines (RB/DB), Bobby Pedderson (Sr., FB/LB), Dan Kiegans (Jr., FB/LB), Kevin Harrison (Sr., RB/DB), Cole Spence (Sr., LB)

News: Sosinki, a longtime assistant, takes over a program that went from winning consecutive district titles in 2002 and 2003 to one that has fallen on hard times since including a winless season last season. The new coach installed an option based offense and hopes to utilize the speed of Harrison and Gaines, a state qualifier in four different individual events.


Williston

Head Coach: Derek Chipoletti (first year)

2008 Record: 6-5

Last time in playoffs: 2008

Key losses: Travis Evans (RB), Trevor Hunsucker (OL/DL), Damien Geremany (OL/DL), Chris Morrow (LB)

Key returners: Deonte Welch (Sr., ATH), Dalton Edwards (Sr., QB), Ryan Spencer (Sr., OL), Jordan White (Sr., DL), Isaac Floyd (Sr., LB), Larry Debose (Sr., LB), Markeuise Minor (Sr., LB/DE), Tony James (Jr., CB), Desmond Holmes (Jr., SS), Kalen Penny (Jr., SS/RB), Jiwante Collins (Jr., FS), Dontrell Edwards (Jr., RB), Kelcey Coleman (Sr., SS/WR), DJ King (Jr., QB/WR), Brandon Preston (So., WR), Justin Becker (Sr., WR)

News: Former Fleming Island assistant coach Derek Chipoletti begins his first ever head coaching job in a hot bed area. While he loses Evans (1,837 yards on 221 carries) a Georgia State signee, backup Welch (809 rushing yards, 561 receiving yards) returns along with Edwards (496 rushing yards, 4 TDs, 403 passing yards, 3 TDs) and Spencer in his shot gun spread offense. Chipoletti will install a 3-3 odd stack defense and returns eight starters including White (77 tackles, 6 sacks), Floyd (87 tackles, 3 sacks), Debose (84 tackles, 3 sacks), Minor (73 tackles, 2 sacks), Holmes (64 tackles, 6 INTs), James (51 tackles, 3 INTs), Penny (67 tackles,, 2 sacks) and Collins (56 tackles, 1 INT).

Predictions
1. Trinity Catholic 
2. Newberry
3. Williston
4. Mount Dora
5. Keystone
6. Umatilla