KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - After a recent visit to Fleming Island High School for his Keystone Heights football team, Indians coach Steve Reynolds is seeing a bit of maturity and toughness emerging from the football team as 2024 approaches.
"I want to let them see the size, speed and power of the bigger schools in the area to give them confidence for the season," said Reynolds who invited Clay High to his practice field last week for a little 7 v 7 passing action against a very fast Blue Devil secondary. "When they see that they can play and be competitive against the best teams in Clay County which we have great football in our county, then it works to get them motivated to prepare themselves at a higher level. It's a win-win for both teams, I think."
Reynolds, who will have one of the best 1-2 offensive tandems in the area; quarterback Baylor Ford and wide receiver Jackson Parmeter, to morph the usually rugged Keystone Heights run game; holstered behind the power running of Zane Leger and Colton Hollingsworth, with a potent passing game.
"We get six yards on first downs and then we got a whole playbook to choose the next two plays," said Ken Mudge, Keystone Height offensive coordinator, who has mentored Ford into his junior season. "I think our offense will be very tough and keep moving the chains behind both aspects. It's exciting for everyone."
With wideout Tallon Campbell having a solid summer with a productive spring game a month ago and Taylor Sapp both emerging with key roles as the second targets for Ford, Mudge likes the choices his offenses will make opposing defenses face.
"We should be able to spread it around," said Mudge. "Baylor has gotten better with his reads and progressions and should be making good decisions."
For Clay, coach Kyle Kennard has often commented that Blue Devil football is more forward running with power than occasional vertical passes and saw his two young quarterbacks; Landon Martin and Landon Chadwick, both take shots downfield with success though the first series of plays proved empty with some dropped passes.
"That's correctable," said Kennard. "We got guys open today and the ball got there. It's up to them to catch the ball and we'll be working on that."
Clay had Antonio Thomas again as a top target with Ryder Thomas getting some touches to keep the Indians' secondary on their heels.
On defense, with Keystone Heights looking to hit the center of the field with their passes, dropback knockdowns from linebackers Cade Williamson and Javaris Roberts were often with both showing excellent coverage skills on short patterns.
"Both of those guys will be keys for us because we are going to have a good defensive front; Omar Goosby and Aaron Stacy on the defensive line, and we are hoping quarterbacks won't have a lot of time to throw," said Clay defensive coach Craig Nosse. "We have good athletes deeper in the secondary with Javon Cobbert, Vonte Burke and Gavin Bailey covering deep."
Clay will travel to Webber International for a full team, contact camp later this week.