ORANGE PARK - Cross your fingers and hope to land on a football field somewhere in Clay County and the start of football is about to happen as area teams ramp up practice to start knocking pads with someone else this week.

“It’s all about preparation and conditioning, but this week it’s anticipation to hit someone else,” said Orange Park coach Tom Macpherson. “The kids here, and everywhere, have waited for this week and this Friday through a long hot summer.”

Tops on the list though is an away contest with Oakleaf traveling to play at Bolles in a preseason opener that will reveal a lot of new faces for the Knights.

A graduating class that saw the talents of four year quarterback Walter Simmons, an elusive wide receiver in Terrance Anthony and some monster linebacker play from Marcus Anthony and Chrystian Sellers and some pass stealing by secondary ace Larry Smith.

“Terrance Anthony and Cobie Bates (both wide receivers) were both special athletes for us last year that we will have to replace,” said Garis. “We don’t ask anybody to replace shoes of anybody else, just go out, be yourself and give us everything you have.”

Garis top concern, quarterback, becomes the aspiration of former kicker Drew Ammon. Ammon has been taking top reps through the summer at 7 v 7s and has shown a remarkable patience and arm strength from a pocket that is protected by five very large bodies, led by the smallest one, at center, senior Garion Ray, who weighs in at just 205 pounds, but has the keys to the Knights’ offensive engine.

“He’s one of our smaller guys (205 lbs.), but everything starts with him making calls after he sees what the defense puts in front of him,” said Garis. “Before anything happens on any play, Garion makes the calls.”

Bolles gets to revamp their offensive style with the return of all state running back Kade Frew, a product of Lakeside Junior High School, ironically, but a guy with No. 8 worth watching on Friday.

The storied Bolles team, with 11 state titles in their history, was 10-3 last year under coach Matt Toblin and assistant Joshua Hoekstra, both former head coaches at Clay High School. The Bulldogs finished as Class 4A runnerups to Cardinal Gibbons.

Next biggie is the visit to Green Cove Springs of St. Augustine to play the Clay High Blue Devils and the start of coach Kyle Kennard’s encore season after a magnificent first year that saw Kennard bull his way to a near unbeaten season, 9-1 with season ending loss to Oakleaf, and two region playoff games.

St. Augustine, a perennial Class 6A powerhouse, was 11-3 last year with Clay 11-2 and this should be a doozy. Power on Power. St. Augustine lost to eventual 6A runnerup Lake Minneola in triple overtime in the state semifinal.

Mention power and two things; Q and Train Depot.

Clay senior running back Al’Querious Ray goes, Clay goes, Train Depot, Clay offensive line led by three returners; Desiron Gantt the ringleader, holds the cards for Blue Devil success.

“Our approach changes from year to year with a new set of kids, but, obviously, we got it turned around pretty quickly,” said Kennard. “Now, everybody knows we can play at little bit and now we are the hunted, not the hunter. We played with a chip on our shoulder last year.”

Of course, Kennard’s worries might, just maybe, have him peeking down the street for a look at Fleming Island as that rivalry clash is what awaits the Blue Devils in the season opener.

“State Final Four team, then Fleming Island, that’s a challenge, but we take one game at a time,” said Kennard.

So let’s see what up down the road on U.S. 17 as Fleming Island plays their preseason contest against Westside High out of Jacksonville and led by former OPHS and SJCDS coach Rodney Dubose, who has some Amari Dubose on his wing and former Orange Park wide receiver great William White. Both Duboses and White have a knack of liking big play football with the speed athletes normally affiliated with Westside football of which Amari Dubose is a former quarterback.

Springs does have one “Ace-in-the-Hole” in junior running back Sam Singleton.

“He is the only kid in the county to be named to an All American list; one of the top 100 players in the country to play in an All America Bowl in San Antonio in January,” said Springs, noting Singleton’s 274 yard effort against Atlantic Coast as his best game last year en route to 921 yards and seven touchdowns. “On defense, Joe Stephens at defensive back is a lead returner with Ricky Joseph on the defensive line and Hunter Williams at defensive end both senior returners. The team is a whole bunch of new faces.”

Beyond Singleton, Springs has implemented a new plan with new coaching faces; some familiar in alums Dante Roberts (QB, standout at Glenville State), Johnathan Jean (DL, an all region DL at Catawba) and Ian Silberman (OL, an NFL player drafted by 49ers) as wells as one of the first players to put on a Fleming Island uniform Gio Portobanco (a 1995 teamer coaching wide receivers).

“It’s great to have the alums come back and put their time in out there,” said Springs. “The kids get to see what hard work and heart can bring as all the alums have had special careers.”

The playmaker on defense could very well be defensive end Hunter Williams who comes in lean and mean after an outstanding wrestling season; third in state, and after an amazing 31 sacks last year. Williams disrupts and that may make the brand new secondary’s job a bit easier with hurried quarterbacks throwing weakened passes that could find the likes of Joe Stephens or Dedric Walker lurking.

One advantage Springs has with his secondary is at coach where former Jacksonville Jaguar Jamaal Fudge, an Ed White High grad, is the teacher.

Another guy Springs tapped as a playmaker is Walker Whiddon, who will be carrying the legacy of Wes Whiddon back to the field with Heath Whiddon, another brother, graduated a few years ago after his outstanding career.

“Walker is the scrappy guy out there not afraid to put his nose in the pile,” said Springs. “Him and Jhoel Robinson, and Abram Wright make the linebacker crew very athletic.”

Westside finished at 6-4 last year with a first round 28-20 region loss to Raines. Dubose graduates one quarterback of 1000 yards and eight scores, but retains a second that had 850 yards and seven scores, so expect some fireworks in the air.

Same with catching the ball; graduate a 52 catch guy and a 70 catch guy and retain a 43 catch guy; senior Kaloun Walker.

Orange Park with the 1-2 punch of Roderick Kearney at tackle and running back JoJo Restall will be pounding the rock on either side of the ball; Kearney very versatile, against a revamped Bishop Kenny squad. Kenny coach Tim Krause has had back to back 1-8 finishes and had a regular season loss, 38-35, against Orange Park last year.

The Raiders may have some space to flex some muscle here in anticipation of their Bold City Showcase opener on Sat., Aug. 28 against Oakleaf at Bolles and on local TV.

“We’re going to show little against Bishop Kenny,” said Orange Park coach Tom Macpherson. “The guys want to hit other people, but we’re looking for solid execution and a good effort from everyone.”

Ridgeview, under new coach Bryan Arnette, has had some personnel upheaval with some key player losses, but Arnette is confident that those who stayed the summer will prevail. Ridgeview travels to Keystone Heights for their preseason classic.

“Any time you have a new coach takes over a program and establishes a new culture, you are going to have those that want to be in and those that don’t,” said Arnette. “I’m comfortable with the guys we have here now and I’m willing place my trust in the guys we have here to get this program to grow.”

Arnette has a good combination of quarterbacks at his behest with Ben Gardiner, a four year Panther, and the probable starter, and Durrionte Myrick, a former Orange Park Raider, coming in as a second set of hands.

“They both bring different options to the offense; Ben a bit more cerebral because he’s been in the system, Bo (Myrick) adds his dynamic running ability,” said Arnette. “We have the same at wide receiver with Miles Burris and Chris Baptiste battling for passes.”

Gardiner is confident of the offense and the versatility around him to get the ball downfield.

“We got Chris (Baptiste), Isaiah (Gamble), Kayden Zamor, and a new guy, Miles (Burris) out there,” said Gardiner. “We’re confident we have the scheme and personnel to move the ball downfield and score points.”

Baptiste had a stellar intrasquad scrimmage effort with seven catches and three scores and a de-cleat of a secondary tackler.

“He’s the kid that epitomizes my program; not the biggest guy out there, but the guy you can count on, on and off the field,” said Arnette.

On defense, massive, although slightly slimmed defensive tackle Derrick Mosley is the clogger. Mosley’s size and range will keep most plays trying to avoid him although Keystone Heights’ offense is predicated on moving people up front and crashing in with hard-running ball carriers.

“On the ball carry front, senior Dalton Hollingsworth may be the crew chief with Kade Sanders, Logan “Rodeo” Williams and Tyler Jenkins the other members of the pounding crew.

“Any one of us is going to hit you and try to run you over,” said Hollingsworth. “Our mentality is try and stop us. You can’t slow us down because we can interchange the guys to keep fresh legs coming down the line. Kade and I can break away, Logan is the main blocker and Tyler looks like his going be the quarterback start point, but he can run hard also.”

Senior offensive tackle Mason Dicks reiterated that the guys up front, as well as the potential tacklers, all know that impact is forthcoming.

“We have to move our guys and make the hole because those four guys will run right up our back,” said Dicks. “We don’t have to hold blocks for very long to get them downfield.”

At Middleburg, the Padgett and Wolfe show gets a chance to show off some offense against a lively Fort White team that traditionally offers a high-octane offense and some fast moving defense, but Fort White lost long-time coach Demetric Jackson, who returned to his alma mater Columbia Lake City High.

So far, Middleburg has erased the past and Wolfe has ushered in a new wave of enthusiasm and energy on the Bronco sideline with Padgett his point man.

“Luke is as an Alpha player as I’ve ever been with,” said Wolfe. “He’s as good as I’ve ever had. You know a quarterback when you see one. When Luke walks into a room, the room stops.”

With just three scores on the season in 2020 and eight interceptions, Padgett is already feeling confident for the 2021 Broncos.

“There is definitely a different vibe,” said Padgett. “The team is held to a higher standard and execution is the big word from coach Wolfe.”

Senior offensive lineman Tanner Peery is a massive 280 pounder with quick feet while Caleb Freytag is a scary fast pass catcher.

One guy on Middleburg’s sideline is NFL standout Gary Barnidge, a former Bronco All stater, who comes back to coach tight ends.

And, finally, at St. Johns Country Day School, coach Rocky Bantag opens a second season of 8-man football with a better understanding of the shrunk game with hopes of improving on Spartan football. The Spartans host Merritt Island Christian Academy.