ORANGE PARK – All everything defensive end Kendy Charles and his inside shadow, Jacob Moore, are two top leaders for Orange Park High head football coach Tom Macpherson as summer gets near the …
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ORANGE PARK – All everything defensive end Kendy Charles and his inside shadow, Jacob Moore, are two top leaders for Orange Park High head football coach Tom Macpherson as summer gets near the halfway point for the 2019 football season.
“We’ll be okay, when we have everybody here, we’re solid,” said Macpherson, who looks to return 18-20 senior players. “I think a lot of guys will be going both ways. Our best offensive guys might also be our best defensive guys at this point. They have been working hard everyday, but until we go at football speed with the pads will be the difference.”
Macpherson, who narrowly missed a playoff spot last year within one of the toughest football districts in the area, now has a handful of seniors; Charles, Moore, quarterback Vincent Walker, wideout Stewart Udell, safety Spencer Kirkham, free safety Cameron Broughton, linebacker Hunter Moore, safety/wideout Arlo Wilson and wideout Diego Soto among the names, that have been under is tutelage for his three years at the helm.
“The older guys here; Cameron, Spencer and the rest of the seniors have been here all four years,” said Macpherson. “On the defense we are strong because of that. I thought we would have had a strong group in the secondary, but we lost some guys.”
The guys lost, to Fleming Island High, were safety Isiah Blair and defensive back Shaq Magwood, plus linebacker Deonte Domenick.
“Now, all of a sudden, we have positions that I have to find players, especially at cornerback,” said Macpherson. “Diego is my best receiver, but also plays cornerback. Spencer is a solid returner and can do just about whatever we ask of him back there. The rules are the rules; you can either fight the system or embrace it. I just coach who is here.”
Macpherson will be banking on the defensive front force of Charles and Moore, plus either Julian Moore, Julius McCray and linebacker Hunter Moore to add the pressure in the opponent backfield.
“We’ll definitely get pressure, but, at some point, you have to be able to cover people,” said Macpherson. “Kendy just likes to play, but he’s becoming a more vocal leader.”
One unknown on offense and special teams will be senior track speedster halfback Alex Collier who has been entertaining track scholarship offers since winning the Class 3A 400 meter title and faring well in USA nationals meet throughout the summer. Collier’s almost equally fast track teammate, Sean Dixon, played a prominent role last year as a wide receiver and is slated to return to the gridiron. Carrying the ball, Macpherson has Arlo Wilson returning with Newton Johnson, brother to standout Terrence Johnson, a junior varsity player last year looking to add his genetics to the lineup. Another younger brother may be Marquez Sermon, brother to Zykiem Sermons, also a standout last year.
“Alex is getting offers for track and I respect that,” said Macpherson. “Sean Dixon is another speedster that could be a big play guy. We have some good young kids coming in.”
Macpherson is set to take on his normal district 5-5A foes in Ridgeview, Clay and Menendez with Gainesville Eastside a new target for 2019. Baker County and Palatka are no longer in district 5-5A.
“Clay and Ridgeview have a lot of turnover with both coaches leaving and we’ll see how the team responds,” said Macpherson. “Eastside has a big time quarterback and Menendez graduated a good class.”
One prominent area on Macpherson’s list of openings is offensive line where seniors Silas Little, Cedric Flanders, Brock Turner and James Rhodes will have to be replaced.
“The key is getting the kids here who belong here and keeping them here from ninth grade on,” said Macpherson. “From there, the results are what the results are. You get your ups and downs.”