ORANGE PARK - Orange Park High quarterback Gabe Taylor looked sharp as a cucumber in a Thursday passing scrimmage with visiting Bishop Snyder at Orange Park High.

"We had a good plan of plays and wanted to see if we could go long and go short," said Taylor, the returning starter from last season's 4-6 season. "I was able to throw to a lot of different guys and just made plays inside and out."
With track speed from senior Daniel Richardson offering a short pass and green grass additions, the Raider attack looked formidable against a game Bishop Snyder with one incoming freshman looking better on the vertical routes. Senior Ryder Fulmer had some sideline passes for gains including one that broke for a 25-yard score.
On the defense, Orange Park snagged two interceptions in the end zone as Snyder stayed inside the hashmarks with quick hitters to move downfield, but could not go overtop with success.
Orange Park recently placed second to Spruce Creek in a two day passing tournament in Orlando that saw the multi-plexed offense make the same big games.
"We had one bad play that cost us the final game in that one," said Raider coach Coby Hayslett. "Coach Wimberly has the team almost where we want them to be mentally and physically and that is going to give us a good shot at a better season. We've seen the growth of the locker room mentality and the love of the team for each other and that's a big step."
Hayslett noted that the history of Raider football is something that he and head coach Marcus Wimberly want to see come back to the Raider turf.
"This was the program that everyone knew about years ago, but with new schools and transfers and all that, the kids kind of got away from playing just for being a Raider," said Hayslett. "We're close and getting that back."