LocalReplay Class 4A Florida Football Rankings (Preseason Edition)
August 30th, 2007 Posted in Florida Sports, Recruiting News, High School Sports, Florida Football, football, High School FootballLinks to other Florida high school football class previews:
Class 1A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 1B Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 2A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 2B Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 3A Florida High School Football Rankings
We’re continuing to run down our top 20 lists for each of Florida’s eight high school football classifications. Time is running short, so we’re going to be brief here. Class 4A is something of a contentious area, one where several teams have legitimate claims to the No. 1 spot. We give it to Nease, which nearly won last year and returns some key players in 2007.
A lot of folks, though, are predicting Booker T. Washington to win the 4A state title, and you’ll get no arguments here. They’ve already pulled off a big upset against a legendary South Carolina team.
Plant and Armwood also are strong, but both lost key athletes to graduation last spring, which knocks them out of the top spot here. Our No. 3 and No. 4 face off Friday in a sold-out game in Tampa. So that should shake things up.
And keep an eye on Seabreeze and their quarterback, Troy Dannehower, as well as First Coast, which also won last week against a South Carolina team.
1. (Ponte Vedra Beach) Nease—There’s nothing like losing a state title game to put some fire into a football team. Following the team’s 25-21 loss to Plant last November, senior QB Ted Stachitas is ready to lead the troops to a return trip. To accomplish the goal, though, Stachitas, who has already committed to Wake Forest, need big contributions from some new faces after the team lost most of its offensive starters from 2006. Defensively, few teams can compare, and one of the team’s newcomers is senior transfer Ramon Booi, whose 6-6, 328-pound frame speaks volumes about his potential. He’ll start the season on the defensive line, but don’t be surprised if he makes his mark on offense, where that kind of height makes up for lacking speed.
2. (Miami) Booker T. Washington—Like First Coast, Booker T. Washington started the season last week with a big cross-state game with a South Carolina team. The result? Booker T. marched to a 36-2 victory against legendary Summerville, but that win isn’t going to satisfy a team that that has been within reach of a state title berth twice in as many years without ever playing in one. Last fall, Washington lost 20-15 to eventual state champs Plan. Senior WR Thearon Collier is one of the leaders for the team. He caught 34 balls for 791 yards and nine touchdowns in 2006 and should top the 1,000-yard mark this fall. He’s also a threat in the return game. Senior WR Davon Johnson gives QB Sancho McDonald another great target. Johnson, a big target at already has five catches for 155 and is a sure bet to top 1,000 yards this fall. McDonald should go over 2,000 yards passing after coming close to that mark in 2006.
3. (Tampa) Plant—Behind defensive menace Patrick Carter, the Panthers ran the table in 2006, defeating Nease 25-21 to win the state title. Plant, though, didn’t shut down opponents’ offenses last fall, which meant some close playoff games that were won via the offense and Robert Marve, who was named Florida’s 2006 Mr. Football. The offense is now led by junior QB Aaron Murray, a 6-2, 210-pounder who has turned heads with his arm strength and quick grasp of the Panthers’ play book. Murray will get help from senior RB Lovell Jackson, and Carter should dominate this fall, his last before heading off to the college game. If the offense lives up to the hype under the leadership of a quarterback who already has received scholarship offers despite not playing a varsity down, the team probably doesn’t need many shutouts to get back to the state title game. In a game that’s already sold out, though, Plant tees it up with Armwood this Friday, and Armwood’s big OL Matt Patchan, has already guaranteed a victory, according to a Wednesday article that appeared on the St. Petersburg Times Web site.
4. (Seffner) Armwood—Senior OL Matt Patchan is ranked No. 2 in the state on our preseason Pigskin Prodigy list, and junior DB Angelo Hadley is also highly touted after making 100 tackles and picking off six passes as a sophomore. Neither, though, does much scoring for a team that was 11-2 last fall. As such, Armwood will need others to contribute this fall. Senior RB/WR Eric Smith is ready to reach the end zone after missing most of the 2006 season with injury. He could go over 1,500 yards on the ground after showing his talent two years ago as a sophomore. Patchan runs well for his size (6-7, 260), so he could almost lead Smith all the way down the field. Junior QB Mywan Jackson will run the team’s new option offense despite having no varsity experience at the position. His first test? Well, Armwood will be looking for revenge Friday against top-ranked Plant, the team that defeated the Hawks 38-20 in the 2006 regional finals. Don’t bother inquiring about tickets. The game is sold out.
5. (Jacksonville) First Coast— Marty Lee’s boys are already 1-0 after defeating a South Carolina powerhouse on national TV last week. Senior LB Nigel Carr is a monster on defense. After making more than 100 tackles as a junior, he added some bulk to his 6-3 frame in the offseason. Carr is joined be several other top recruits. Senior RB Jermaine Thomas is the heart of the team’s offense. He’ll go well over 1,000 yards on the ground after splitting carries and finishing with about 700 rushing yards in 2006. Senior WR Avis Commack also is a threat, particularly on deep passes to the Florida State recruit. First Coast is hungry for more than a district title after falling 17-14 in a disappointing season-ending loss to Mosley in the regional quarterfinals last fall. This is a team that could rise into the upper echelons lightning fast.
6. (Daytona Beach) Seabreeze—Last fall, QB Troy Dannehower had his bell rung on a late hit and missed three key games for the pass-happy Sandcrabs. With a talented backup, Seabreeze managed to eke out a playoff spot anyway. With Dannehower back at the helm late in the season, Seabreeze won 10 games and didn’t bow out of the playoffs until Nease tripped them up 24-14 in the regional finals. With Dannehower more mature, and with most of the team’s starters back this fall, look for the Sandcrabs to make a run at a state title in 2007.
7. West Boca Raton—Senior OL/DL Michael Ross dominates on both sides of the ball, but he’s not going to put the ball in the end zone. That job belongs to senior QB Robert Powell and 6-6 TE Nathan Nord, the heart of the Bulls’ offense. Their success will play a big role in West Boca’s success in returning to the playoffs, where the ended a 10-2 season with a 17-10 loss to Jackson in the regional semifinals. A host of returning offensive starters should help, too.
8. (Tallahassee) Lincoln—It’s easy to forget about Lincoln, a team that was just 6-4 in its first nine games last fall. But don’t discount a team that rallied for three big wins, including two by a total of four points, in the state playoffs to stay alive until a 35-21 state semifinals loss. Lincoln, though, lost several key players to graduation and must rebuild, most notably on the offensive line and on the front seven on defense. If they make a splash again this fall, it might be on the shoulders of senior QB B.J. Daniels and senior RB Jabaris Little.
9. (Gainesville) Eastside—A regional semifinals loss to Seabreeze ended the team’s season. After that 10-2 season, Eastside looks to turn it up a notch. Senior Desmond O’Neil takes the reigns as the Rams new quarterback, and that could spell trouble for a coach who has said that his team will go undefeated this fall if it scores 35 points per game. That’s a lot to ask from a quarterback, even if O’Neil arrives with a strong arm and a determined attitude. He’ll likely make or break this team, and that’s a lot to for a kid to have on his shoulders, but this is high school football, when boys become men. Expect him to answer the bell.
10. Ridgewood—The offense is set to fly behind senior RB Byronell Arline, who rushed for 1,717 yards last fall, and an offense that returns most of its 2006 starters. But can Ridgewood shut down opponents? Senior LB Ben Perry might answer that question. He made 160-plus tackles last fall, but that’s not necessarily a good stat given that it means the team’s other defenders must have missed a few. If the defense jells, look for the Rams, who were 6-4 last fall, to butt their way into playoff contention in Tampa’s talented 3A world.
11. South Lake—Jeff Demps is one of the fastest men in the world. The defending Class 2A 100-meter dash champion, though, hasn’t quite accomplished his goals on the football field, where a state title run is in his sights after a junior year that saw him rush for nearly 2,000 yards. He’ll have another fine year, but can he carry a team that was just 5-5 at the Class 3A level last year? The answer lies in South Lake’s defense, which needs to make stops to get Demps on the field.
12. (Palm Beach Gardens) Dwyer—Panthers’ coach Jack Daniels demands excellence, and he gets it every year from his squad, which has won him 92 games in 12 seasons at the helm. Dwyer, though, wants more than last year’s 10-2 season, which ended with a 38-21 loss to Washington in the regional semifinals. The Panthers want a rematch with Booker T., but they’re first going to need to focus on an Oct. 26 matchup with West Boca Raton in a game that will have playoff implications. Junior QB Bradley Wallace, who won the job after performing well in the preseason, leads Dwyer’s offense. The defense should be the team’s strength.
13. Winter Haven—The pride of Polk County walked off the field with a headache last fall after being pounded 46-6 by eventual state champion (Tampa) Plant in the regional semifinals. Some pain reliever and a year to recover, though, have the Blue Devils ready to move on behind talented senior QB D.C. Jefferson. He’s big at 6-6 and 240 pounds, and he’s expected to blossom in this, his third straight year as Winter Haven’s starting quarterback. Accuracy, though, has hindered his progress. Jefferson completed just 46 percent of his passes in 2006 for 1,148 yards and eight touchdowns, and he threw 10 interceptions. He’ll need to improve for the Blue Devils to move deeper into the playoffs. The defense, though, is a strength, with most of last year’s starters returning.
14. Northeast—Senior RB Jeff Brinson is set to bring this squad along following a 7-3 season a year ago. He averaged 120 yards per game during the team’s 7-3 season a year ago, and he scored better than two touchdowns per game. Handing the ball to him is a curious but talented, senior, QB Armando Sanchez, who also plays LB for the Vikings. It’s tough to throw the ball, though, when you’re busy making an average of 10 tackles per game. So don’t expect much from Sanchez in the passing game and be overwhelmed if he comes up big.
15. (Tampa) Jefferson—QB Zack Grossi takes over the offensive for a team that was 9-3 last season. Grossi will face some incredibly gifted defenders from Armwood and Plant this fall. If he holds up well, his stock will rise significantly among college recruiters.
16. Palmetto Ridge—With just three years of varsity football under its belt, Palmetto Ridge moves up to Class 4A this fall. Senior RB Chad Austile, though, makes the move a little easier. He rushed for nearly 1,500 yards in 2007, with more than half of the total coming during a three-game stretch. Senior QB Trey Carter also gives the team experience on offense after throwing for nearly 1,000 yards last fall. It could be a big season for third-year coach Tim Speakman’s bunch, but District 4A-15 is probably the most talented in the entire state, which makes a playoff berth a challenge.
17. Hillsborough—The team was just 6-5 in 2006, but the new year brings new hope Senior DL Moses McCray will disrupt opponents’ offenses, and an experienced Terriers offense will put points on the board. After making the playoffs during a 6-4 season last fall, expect Hillsborough and coach Earl Garcia to make another appearance this fall.
18. Pace—A 31-30 state regional finals loss still burns, but Pace is ready to rise above that 2006 loss Lincoln. And, with most of the team’s offense returning this fall, they have the group to accomplish the goal. Junior QB Aaron Munoz leads the way after emerging as a sophomore. Seniors Vance Smith and Riley Hawkins give Munoz two big targets. Hawkins had almost 1,000 yards receiving in 2006 after catching 52 passes, and Smith already has given a verbal commitment to Auburn University. If the defense steps up this fall, expect Pace to be right in the mix for a state title run.
19. Land O’Lakes—Senior QB Ely Payne is expecting a big season, and that’s what this team will need after losing its top running back from 2006. A beefy offensive line and FB/LB John Weatherford, who can pack a wallop on both sides of the ball, should help, but Payne needs to step up after the team lost QB Joe Weatherford to graduation. Payne seemed to win the job over the summer session, but he could lose the reigns if coach John Benedetto turns to freshman QB Steve Weatherford, yet another in the family’s long line of football players.
20. Okeechobee—The Brahmans return most of their offensive, including junior RB Lonnie Pryor, who went over 1,200 yards as a sophomore and could rush for close to 2,000 if the team can improve on a 3-7 from 2006 and get to the playoffs in District 4A-13.
