- December 4, 2025
High School football teams began preseason practice on Monday, July 28, and it didn't take long for a heat wave to affect the schedules. Here's a look at the area teams.
Without a kickoff classic scheduled, first-year coach Patrick Turner reached out to Palatka, his former school, to see if FPC could be a third team at the Panthers' exhibition with Jacksonville Terry Parker. Palatka accommodated the Bulldogs, who will play in the second and third halves of the Aug. 15 jamboree against Terry Parker and Palatka, respectively.
"Obviously the boys are excited," Turner said of his former Palatka players. "They want to beat Coach Turner. They have a lot of good guys returning. I’m excited to see them. It will be fun. I’m going to be pulling for them this season."
LAST SEASON: 9-2 record under former coach Daniel Fish. The Bulldogs tied for the district title with University and Spruce Creek and lost to Creek 36-35 in the first round of the playoffs. On their last drive of the game, a down was errantly taken away from them.
JAMBOREE: Aug. 15 at Palatka, 6 p.m. Palatka and Terry Parker play in the first half before FPC takes the field for two halves.
FIRST GAME: Aug. 22, at Matanzas, 7 p.m. The Flagler County rivals meet in the annual Potato Bowl game in Week 1. It's the first time since 2020 that the game will be played on opening week.
DISTRICT 2-7A SCHEDULE: Sept. 26 vs. University; Oct. 10 at DeLand; Oct. 24 at Spruce Creek.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: RB Ehimen Ajede and QB LaDarius Simmons both return after playing with the Bulldogs in 2023. Simmons was the starter at Halifax Academy last season. S/WR Kenneth Robinson, a Matanzas transfer, will be pivotal on both sides of the ball.
MOST IMPROVED: TE Stephen Bisulca and DE Regan Melland. Both have had a really good spring and summer, Turner said. "They're both really coachable, work really hard, bring energy everyday and want to have a deep understanding of their position," Turner said.
TEAM STRENGTH: The Bulldogs lost a ton of talent, but they return three starters on their offensive line.
DEPTH POSITION: FPC has two senior quarterbacks who started for different teams last year in Simmons and Matanzas transfer Caden Burchfield. "We’re definitely going to look at both of them," Turner said. "Leadership will be one factor — who the team rallies behind. I want both quarterbacks to push each other but also encourage each other." FPC has two running backs to replace all-time leading rusher Marcus Mitchell. Darwin Harris rushed for 130 yards in three games at Matanzas last season and Ajede rushed for 356 yards for FPC as a freshman in 2023. The Bulldogs have three safeties playing at a high level in junior Yamon Jordan, senior Dwayne Webb, and Robinson.
Coach Mike Klein was hired shortly before spring practice last year. A year later, the team is much more prepared, he said. "Last year we were very far behind; everything was new," he said. "I feel like we're well-prepared now. We had a great summer. This will be an exciting year."
LAST SEASON: 2-7 record. The Sandcrabs lost 13-10 in overtime to Deltona in their final game.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 15 at Titusville Astronaut, 7 p.m.
FIRST GAME: Aug. 22 at Spruce Creek, 7 p.m.
DISTRICT 6-4A SCHEDULE: Sept. 12 vs. Rockledge; Sept. 26 vs. New Smyrna Beach; Oct. 10 at Deltona; Oct. 24 at Pine Ridge.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: S/WR Owen O’Rourke. The senior transfer joined the team after the fourth of July and has fit right in, Klein said. He'll probably play on both sides of the ball and special teams. The freshman class is worth keeping an eye on simply because of their numbers. "We had almost 40 freshmen a day (at workouts) this summer," Klein said. "Last summer we probably averaged 40 guys a day at summer workouts. This summer, we were averaging 80."
MOST IMPROVED: CB/WR Stephen Williams Jr., The senior was in the rotation last year. This season he will be relied upon on both offense and defense. "He really worked his butt off," Klein said. "He’s going to be major impact player on both sides." QB Jayce Gainer has shown that he's ready to step in and be the starter. "He's passed every test we’ve put in front of him," Klein said of the senior.
TEAM STRENGTH: The Sandcrabs return three of four starters on the defensive line, and younger players have been developing. "Our defensive line is going to be the anchor of our defense," Klein said. "They're good against the run and they pressure the passer. Coach (Kerry) Kramer has done a great job with those guys."
DEPTH POSITION: Seabreeze is strong in the trenches with seven to eight players in the mix at defensive line and good numbers on the offensive line as well. "We have so many guys (in all positions) who will have to play a lot of different parts for us," Klein said. "The battles will be to show who's ready to to step into a role, whatever that will be. We're trying to get the most out of our personnel. Our guys are all open to doing what they can for the team (at multiple positions). We're trying to get two to three guys ready to play at each spot."
Last year was a rebuilding season after a strong senior class led the Pirates to the playoffs and a 7-4 record in 2023. "We took our bumps last year. But we saw progression, and a majority of the guys are coming back," said sixth-year head coach Matt Forrest, who is Matanzas' coaching wins leader with 25. "It's exciting when you get groups like that. The expectation (progresses) as well. We should be a year better and a year more efficient."
The Pirates would likely have to beat perennially talented Mainland to win their three-team district, but that makes the rest of the schedule and a chance to win enough games to earn an at-large playoff berth that much more important.
LAST SEASON: 4-6, 1-1 in the district.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 15, vs. Jacksonville Episcopal, 7 p.m.
FIRST GAME: Aug. 22, vs. Flagler Palm Coast, 7 p.m. The Potato Bowl moves from the final week of the season to the first.
DISTRICT 4-5A SCHEDULE: Sept. 26 at Mainland; Oct. 10 vs. Belleview.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: QB Cole Walker, and C Logan Walker are brothers with plenty of experience snapping the ball from center to quarterback. They transferred to Matanzas in January. This is senior Cole Walker's fourth school (including a spring at Nease), and his fifth head coach. He was the backup QB at Mainland last year and played at FPC in 2022 and 2023. "He is a super bright young man with a very high football IQ. He's transitioned very well into our offense," Forrest said. "He's able to relate what we do with the other systems he’s been in. We might be a little more complicated as far as our reads and progressions. But he’s definitely been a quick learner."
MOST IMPROVED: WR/DB Ladarien Baker. The 6-foot-5 Baker was pretty solid last year with 36 catches for 472 yards, two interceptions and four touchdowns, but the Pirates expect the senior to have a much bigger impact this season. "He's worked out really hard in the weight room and has really picked it up academically," Forrest said. "He's bought into the process of becoming an elite football player." Baker has three D-I offers from Presbyterian, Stetson, and Bethune-Cookman.
TEAM STRENGTH: The Pirates have a veteran team with a lot of varsity experience.
DEPTH POSITIONS: Secondary and offensive line — those positions should have the most competition during camp.
The Buccaneers have been unable to find a Week 1 opponent after University canceled out of its game, so Mainland won't play its first regular-season game until Week 2 on Aug. 29. The Bucs also have a bye on Week 8, which likely won't be filled because it's a district game week for most teams.
"We tried (to find a new Week 1 opponent), but a couple of opportunities fell through," second-year coach Jerrime Bell said. "At this point, we're OK with having two bye weeks."
LAST SEASON: 5-6 record, won the district title to reach the playoffs for the 31st consecutive season. They beat their two district opponents by a combined score of 100-0. The last time Mainland missed the playoffs (1993), head coach Jerrime Bell was in the fourth grade.
KICKOFF CLASSIC: Aug. 15 vs. Kissimmee Osceola, 7 p.m. at Daytona Municipal Stadium.
FIRST GAME: Aug. 29 at Cocoa, 7 p.m.
DISTRICT 4-5A SCHEDULE: Sept. 26 vs. Matanzas; Oct. 24 at Belleview.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: OL/DL Stephone Ross. The 6-5, 267-pound senior transferred from DeLand. Ross has offers from Georgia Southern and Toledo. He'll likely play defensive line in college. WR Jaden Parks. The sophomore transferred from New Smyrna Beach. He had a big spring with the Bucs.
MOST IMPROVED: QB Sebastian Johnson. The senior is beginning his second season as the starter. WR Christian Cooper is the Bucs' only senior receiver. DT Cortez Waring. The senior will be a key interior lineman.
TEAM STRENGTH: Linebacker corps led by Dennis "Tank" King who has 20-plus Division I offers. Junior Tamaj Woodard is a second-year starter and has a handful or Power Four conference offers. Shawn Holmes and Isaac Strozier are juniors with experience.
DEPTH POSITION: Defensive end. The Bucs has five or six defensive ends who can start for most teams. They'll all get a chance to play, Bell said.
