Florida Youth and High School Sports News Blog

LocalReplay Class 2A Florida Football Rankings (Preseason Edition)

Links to other Florida high school football class previews:
Class 1A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 1B Florida High School Football Rankings

There’s plenty of talent in Class 2A this fall, but there’s no team like our No. 1. We expect Madison County to go undefeated. If that’s not a bold prediction, check out No. 20. Clewiston and (Jacksonville) Bolles should continue to be strong, but both teams will have to earn their keeps after losing some key players to graduation. Perhaps the most interesting scenarios involve talent yet to emerge. At Tampa Catholic, there’s a sophomore quarterback in the huddle. Meanwhile, (Orlando) Jones is ready to unveil what Stoney Burns can do in the backfield. It should be a fun ride in 2A, and it’s certainly more clear-cut than our upcoming 2B rankings, which should be up sometime before midnight as we continue rolling toward the weekend and the start of Florida high school football 2007.

1. Madison County—Here’s a team that returns most of the firepower from its 2006 squad, which went 10-3 and reached the state semifinals before losing 28-14 to eventual state champion Bolles. The Cowboys are a favorite to win the state title, so expectations are high under sixth-year coach Frankie Carroll, who has a 55-7 mark during his stretch at Madison County. Senior QB Blake Sapp leads the offense, but defense is the key to Carroll’s squad. Senior DB Travis Arnold, who is headed to Florida State next fall, and senior FB/LB Harry Reddick lead the charge. Reddick is likely to go over 1,000 yards this fall and could score as many as 20 touchdowns depending on how he’s utilized. There’s no lack of competition on the Cowboys’ schedule. Madison County hooks up with Ponte Vedra Beach Nease on Sept. 14 and also plays Godby and Wakulla, among others.

2. (Jacksonville) Bolles—Corky Rogers’ squad has lost some of the firepower from a team that went 14-0 last fall. But this is a team that doesn’t believe in rebuilding years. Youth is served in the offensive backfield, where Rogers is asking to a pair of sophomores to help carry the load. Defensively, senior LB Scott Betros (6-2, 250) can carry much of the load on his shoulders. Bolles gets an early test from Archbishop Carroll this Friday. That game should set the tone for the team’s season.

3. Clewiston—One of South Florida’s swamp monsters, the Fighting Tigers are in need of some patckwork this fall after losing some key players to graduation. Second-year coach Larry Antonacci, though, didn’t have high expectations last fall, when the Tigers nearly won a state championship, only falling in the title game to Bolles. If there’s a sure way to stay on top, it’s via size and speed. Clewiston has both again this fall, with 6-1, 225-pound senior DL Delvin Hughes and 6-1, 230-pound FB/LB Willie Armstrong. With that sort of defensive backbone, it won’t take much to win games.

4. Chaminade-Madonna—With senior LB Jordan Futch and senior RB T.J. Mitchell leading the way, this star-studded squad could run the table in 2007 after finishing 10-3 a season ago. Al Lang takes over as the new coach after five seasons at Hollywood Hills.

5. (Bushnell) South Sumter—A 10-2 season won’t satisfy this bunch, which returns many of its starters from last year’s playoff team. Perhaps the most well-known of their defensive powers is 6-2, 220-pound senior LB Yourhighness Morgan, who certainly has the name to play at the next level and soon will have a ticket, too. If the offense clicks this fall, the Raiders should earn a trip to the playoffs, but they shouldn’t look past fellow 2A-4 squad Orlando Jones.

6. Tampa Catholic—Once again, they’ll dominate District 2A-5, and they could mount a deep playoff run after finishing 9-3 a season ago. To do so, though, Catholic needs to get plenty of help from sophomore QB Christian Green.

7. Cardinal Newman—They were just 6-5 in 2006, but two of those losses were to Clewiston, their District 2A-6 adversaries. If Clewiston can’t play up to standards, look for this squad to steal the thunder and roll deep into the playoffs behind a brutal defense that features 6-3, 230-pound DL Kevin Garvy and senior FB Brian Gary (6-0, 230). This is the year that fourth-year coach Don Dicus emerges from the shadow of 44-year coach Sam Dubnyk.

8. Pensacola Catholic—Aside from the Eagles, mediocrity reigns in District 2A-1. Following an 8-3 season in 2006, there’s every reason to believe Pensacola Catholic will battle for a state title come November. Led by 6-6 QB David Kooi, the Eagles held their own against 5A powerhouse Pine Forest in the preseason classic last Friday. Expect Kooi to go over 2,000 yards again this fall, and they defense doesn’t look bad, either. An Oct. 5 tilt with Marianna stands tall, as does a regular-season finale against North Florida Christian, which just loves to play the toughest teams in the state.

9. Archbishop Carroll—The team returns a fair number of key players from its 2006 roster. Expect them to improve on a 7-3 record. Shakin’ George Baker paves the way for the Miami school. The senior is fast at, at 5-11 and 170 pounds, he can pack a punch on most high school linebackers. Look for No. 22 to go over 1,500 yards with 25 or more touchdowns this fall after going over the 1,000-yard mark as a junior. We’ll find out tons about Carroll when the team faces Bolles this Friday.

10. Keystone Heights—The Indians were 9-2 a season ago, and they’re expected to resume flight this fall behind senior RBs Matt Story and Greg Taylor, who is more of a smash-mouth runner. The duo combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards in 2006, and they have the horses to open the holes again in 2007.

11. Dixie County—They were 8-2 a season ago, but it’s tough in District 2A-2, where Madison County is gearing up for a state title drive. If RB Rodney Scott, who was picked to the 2A All-State second team last fall, has any say, it will be this county that goes furthest in the playoffs. Scott will have plenty of running room behindf a big, experienced offensive line that returns all but a tight end from 2006. The Bears, though, are looking to throw more this fall, and that’s always an adventure.

12. LaSalle Royal—They’ll be locked in a close battle with Gulliver Prep for the runner-up spot in District 2A-8. Both teams were 5-5 last fall, but LaSalle should get the job done behind some youthful excellence this fall.

13. Gulliver Prep—If LaSalle slips up, this squad is going to be ready to scoop up the district’s runner-up spot and the playoff road game that comes with it.

14. (Plantation) American Heritage—With a loaded Chaminade-Madonna team also bouncing around in District 2A-7, it’s a runner-up race for American Heritage. They could win that race, but they’ll have to do it without some of their top offensive weapons from 2006. Otherwise, North Broward Prep could step in and steal the runner-up spot.

15. Yulee—The team was just 4-6 last fall, but the 2007 squad features most of the same faces. That bodes well. But this is District 2A-3, which belongs to Bolles, so a runner-up finish is all that awaits for George Nelson, who is in his second year at the helm. Yulee calls itself the Hornets, but they’re led by a bulldog, senior FB Brett Davis, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2006.

16. (Orlando) Jones—QB Stoney Burns is a special athlete. He has speed and leaping ability. This fall, he’ll showcase his skills in the backfield after being moved to running back. Burns is the reigning Class 2A state champion in the triple jump, but he lacks bulk at 5-7 and just 155 pounds. Look for Jones to finish second in its district. The Tigers, though, could peak late in the season and make a mark in the playoffs.

17. St. Andrew’s—St. Andrews was 6-4 in 2006, but they’ll have to get past either Clewiston or Newman to earn a playoff spot. Senior FB/LB Isaiah Leake paves the way. Leake went over 1,000 yards rushing in 2006.

18. Marianna—With QB Brandon Gardner in the mix, anything is possible for a team that finished 5-6 last fall. Gardner can sling it, but he’ll have to improve his accuracy and reduce turnovers, such as the 11 interceptions he threw last fall.

19. (Callahan) West Nassuau—Well, if West Nassau needs extra motivation in their quest to upstage Yulee and Fernandina Beach, here it is. This squad was 6-4 last fall behind the arm of QB A.J. Higginbotham, a 6-1, 210-pounder who threw for 1,300 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. But we’re not sure they have the personnel to get over the hump after losing several key athletes. We’re probably wrong, and we’re likely to hear about it. But we’re married, and quite familiar with the territory.

20. Fernandina Beach—We’re a sucker for underdogs. Did we mention that we supported the Bengals over San Francisco and Joe Montana one January? If there’s an underdog in 2A, it has to be this team, which drops down from 4A following an 0-10 season. Look for the team to win half of its games and finish the year as a rising squad in the competitive 2A-3. Fifth-year coach Ed Brown hopes to get his squad over the hump in 2007, and he has the weapons to make his passing game a force.

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