JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News, notes and notables from the Baker’s Sports High School Football media day on Tuesday.
Raines pulled off a spectacular comeback to stun Miami Northwestern 23-22 to win the Class 3A state championship last December. Billed as the “Revenge Tour,” the Vikings atoned for a 41-0 blowout in December 2024 with the most thrilling game of the season. The big question now: can they repeat?
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Head coach Donovan Masline said the state championship and the 14-0 season was unforgettable, but this year’s team is a much different squad. Raines graduated nearly 30 players, including a foundational playmaker in QB TJ Cole, a 2024 All-News4JAX player of the year. Sophomore Sa’mon Ellison-Morgan will take Cole’s spot, with 360-pound center McKinley Alexander IV helping clear the way. Junior athlete Zion Green is the team’s top recruit. On defense, Johdeem Jones and edge Troy Butler are both back.
The schedule is beefed up significantly, with a Week 1 game at Oakleaf kicking things off. Raines also faces Ed White, Mandarin, powerhouse Venice and Cocoa this season.
Ex-Jags at Atlantic Coast
Two former Jaguars returned to a familiar spot on Tuesday.
Atlantic Coast promoted Tony Gilbert to head coach replace Step Durham after spring practice. Gilbert played five seasons for the Jaguars and then returned to serve as an assistant linebackers coach under Doug Marrone, Urban Meyer and Doug Pederson across four seasons.
Gilbert is also very familiar with his Atlantic Coast defensive line coach, Reggie Hayward. Reggie played nine seasons in the NFL, including the final five of those with the Jaguars.
Reggie’s son, 6-4, 210-pound edge, Israel Hayward, said there’s no such thing as special treatment on the field.
“We definitely separate it,” Israel said of their relationship. “I don’t act like he’s my dad on the field.”
Gilbert said that the growth of Israel and fellow edge Desmond Malpress should make things easier for the Atlantic Coast secondary in breaking on pass attempts. Malpress is committed to Clemson and is the top-rated local prospect in the Class of 2027.
Added Reggie: “As a father it’s been a joy and pleasure coaching my kids. Second of all, I don’t hold back on ‘em.”
Speaking of Jaguars …
Providence head coach Maurice Williams is entering his fifth season leading the Stallions. A second-round pick of the Jaguars in 2001, he started 100 games for the franchise over his nine-year career. He’s got some help from some former Jaguars players, too.
Ex-Jaguars safety Donovin Darius joined Williams’ staff this year. He joins former Jaguars OT Chris Ziemann and defensive tackle Roy Miller on the Providence staff.
At Creekside, Aaron Lynch spent the final season of his NFL career with the Jaguars in 2020 before retiring following a seven-year career. He’s been with Creekside in an assistant coaching role since 2023. Head coach Sean McIntyre elevated Lynch to the defensive coordinator position this year, and said he’s thrilled to see what Lynch does in that role.
Big things ahead for Hilliard, Alderman?
Hilliard has one of the most explosive returning players in running back DJ Alderman. The senior jumped from 373 rushing yards (three TDs) to a staggering 1,790 and 21 TDs. That included a pair of seven-TD rushing games and a career-high of 477 rushing yards in a 49-48 loss to St. Joseph.
Hilliard head coach Will Dyal said the big thing for the Red Flashes he’s confident that Alderman will continue to ascend even with eight- and nine-man fronts the norm. The challenge this year is about the system around facing the challenges and growing.
“Our offensive line has worked tirelessly this season. … That’s been a big focus for us, taking our offensive line to the next level,” Dyal said.
Paxon still in SSAA football league
Paxon head coach Steve Brown said that the Golden Eagles remain a member of the Sunshine State Athletic Association in football for another season. The Florida High School Athletic Association announced last week the teams that were joining the new independent league, but Brown said that wasn’t accurate. The FHSAA was forced to address the deluge of schools leaving for the SSAA and did that by launching the Independent Series. It consists of nearly 70 schools. Locally, those include four teams – Cornerstone Classical, Englewood, Hilliard and Providence.
Paxon has one of the best returning teams in Brown’s 13-year tenure, including RB KJ Palmer. The senior is coming off a spectacular season where he rushed for 2,272 yards and 19 TDs.
First Coast Christian makes big jump up
After more than a decade playing six-, seven- and eight-man football, First Coast Christian is making the move up from eight-man to full-on 11-man football this season. One player said the move is equivalent from going from Upward-level youth sports to college in an offseason. The smaller football of six-, seven- and eight-man are made to accommodate smaller schools and smaller roster sizes.
Quotable
“If you’re not shooting for a state title, you’re playing for snow cones, and you can get a snow cone at the gas station.” – Mandarin head coach Toby Bullock on the expectations entering 2026.
“They pay their coaches.” - Englewood head coach Randy Grace on the differences being a coach in Georgia and Florida. Grace coached in Georgia from 1996 until coming to the area in 2023. The head coaching football supplement in Duval County Public Schools is $4,699 a year. It hasn’t been raised in more than three decades.
“We’re not just here to show up and be everyone’s homecoming.” – Wolfson head coach Dennis Bettinger, whose Blue Devils finished 5-6 and lost to West Nassau in the opening round of the SSAA playoffs.
“Change for the sake of change is foolishness. That’s what we’re doing right now.” - St. Augustine head coach Brian Braddock on the yearly playoff changes in Florida.
“Football is all about the journey. The joy is in the journey. We’re going to try and enjoy that journey every day.” – Justin Sirmon, Christ’s Church Academy head coach.
“We want to put a good product, a knowledgeable product on the field. … Our goals are no different than any other player or program.” – Westside head coach Michael Burns on the Wolverines’ mindset. Westside is coming off an 0-9 season, but the outlook is good due to young and fast players.