Wide receiver Tristan Stevenson scored two touchdowns in limited action Saturday as Fleming Island tuned up for the 2025 season with a controlled scrimmage at Fleming Island High on Aug. 9.

The Golden Eagles must replace 14 of 22 starters from last year’s District 3-5A championship team. If the scrimmage was any indication, Stevenson is ready to fill part of the void left by the departures of star quarterback Sibastian Broughton (now playing at Akron), leading rusher Demhir Jackson (now playing at Minot State) and leading receiver Trace Burney, who transferred to Oakleaf.

New faces, but returners nonetheless in the Golden Eagle lineup will be quarterback Eric Gentry and running back Zion Longmire, here with an exchange in Saturday scrimmage at Fleming Island High.

On the second possession of the scrimmage, Stevenson hauled in a pass on a short hook route, turned upfield, faked out a safety and sprinted 57 yards to the end zone. Later, the junior adjusted to a high pass to make a leaping grab while covered tightly, staying inbounds as he landed to complete an eight yard score. He finished with 80 yards on three receptions.

“Stevenson is a burner,” said Fleming Island head coach Tom MacPherson, who himself only became the head coach on July 13. “He brings experience, he brings athletic ability and obviously with Trace Burney gone he becomes a guy that we have to count on as a big-time player.”

The Golden Eagles worked more on the passing game than the running game, with four quarterbacks combining to complete 16 of 25 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. After missing on four of his first five attempts, starter Eric Gentry completed six of his final eight passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Backup Grayson Creech looked capable of filling in, completing three of six throws for 36 yards. Despite its youth, MacPherson believes the receiving corps, which will consist of Stevenson, returning starter Oliver Piechota, and several underclassmen, can be a strength.

Fleming Island senior safety and athlete Sebastian Cruz will be tapped for many different roles for Golden Eagles with his speed — safety, wide receiver, running back, kick returner, maybe Wildcat quarterback.

“We have some really good receivers,” said MacPherson. “Tristan Stevenson and Olie Piechota, Gavin Boyson, Dajohn Ously, Jalen Counts and Jace Thrift. We have got to get them the ball.”

Protecting Gentry in the pocket will be critical to getting the ball to the playmakers. Easton Isbell and Cade Starcher return on the offensive line, and senior transfer Corbin Yarbrough will start at right guard.

The rushing attack was led by Cedric Neal, a transfer from Trinity Christian. Neal ran for 43 yards on five carries, flashing good speed on a 25 yard run around the right side on the initial possession. Junior Zion Longmire and freshmen V.J. Bryant and Amani Blount ran hard and should be capable of giving Neal a rest. Bryant ended the scrimmage with a 60 yard touchdown run around left end. Brady Digman, who saw time at running back last season, will be welcomed back from a foot laceration in time for the regular season.

The offense may have to produce because the defense is dotted with question marks. On the bright side, the four starters who do return are all above average. Defensive end Jarious Rodgers, who is committed to play at Syracuse next year, has great quickness off the edge. Sebastian Cruz, who is committed to Rutgers, and fellow returner David Fuentes form a formidable safety duo.

“Our safeties are probably our best players,” MacPherson said. “That is going to be a big strength for us.”

Sean Donaldson, who batted several passes away on Saturday, returns at one corner. MacPherson believes that even with all of the youth, the defense can succeed.

“Defense, we know Jarious Rodgers has to be a dude, Sebastian Cruz has to be a dude,” he said. “And then we have to play around them. The talent is there, but the work ethic has to match the talent.”

If the Golden Eagles can keep games close, they may have an edge with senior kicker/punter Parker Sirdevan. A three-year starter, Sirdevan has improved his range each season and is drawing attention from Division I recruiters. He consistently put kickoffs into the end zone on Saturday. He may contribute at tight end as well this season.

MacPherson clearly enjoys coaching, and is happy to have landed at a school that provides some advantages.

“It is awesome,” MacPherson said. “They have got a good community here. You’ve got the Fleming Island Dreadnaughts a block away. At some of my other stops I did not have the same type of youth program. I can tap into those guys and get those kids here and make it a neighborhood school. I love the kids that are here. I love the neighborhood kids; those are the kids that I want.”

Due to the recency of the coaching change and practice delays due to weather, MacPherson is concerned about whether the Golden Eagles will be able to run his sideline signal-based, no-huddle offense in time for the season opener, and is also wary of the Golden Eagles’ conditioning.

The Golden Eagles will be in a three-team District 3-5A with Beachside and Middleburg. They host Westside in a preseason kickoff classic on August 15, and then welcome rival Clay to The Rock for the season opener on Aug. 22.

“Last year’s coaching staff got the program back to where it should be,” MacPherson said. “it is my job to keep it there.”