Derwin James named to Sporting News Freshman All-America Team

 

Florida State safety Derwin James (Haines City alum) has been named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America team. This is the latest recognition for James who was also named a USA Today Freshman All-American.

James appeared in all 12 games this season and started the last seven. He finished second on the team in total tackles (77), tackles for a loss (7.5), sacks (3.5), forced fumbles (2) and fumble recoveries (2). James led the team in total solo tackles with 43.

For a complete list of the team click here.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Derwin James earns USA Today Freshman All-American honors

 

Florida State safety Derwin James (Haines City alum) became the latest Seminoles true freshman to be named to USA Today’s Freshman All-American team when he received the honor on Thursday.

Despite only starting the last 7 games of the season, James finished second on the team in total tackles (77), tackles for a loss (7.5), sacks (3.5), forced fumbles (2) and fumble recoveries (2). James led the team in total solo tackles with 43.

James was the only Seminole named to the Freshman All-American team. For a complete list of the team click here.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Derwin James earns ACC Player of the Week honors

 

Florida State freshman safety Derwin James (Haines City alum) was named the Week 11 ACC Defensive Back of the Week following his performance in the Seminoles’ 34-17 victory over NC State last Saturday.

James tallied a game-high 10 tackles, one sack, one QB hurry and recovered a fumble.

This is the first ACC honor of James’ career and this latest recognition continues to push the name of the freshman on the national map. Earlier in the season James was named the top college football freshman by Pro Football Focus.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Utah linebacker Gionni Paul earns Week 10 National Player of the Week honors

 

Link: Walter Camp Football Foundation

Link: Athlon Sports


Week 10 of the college football season saw Utah senior linebacker Gionni Paul (Kathleen alum) walk away with a few National Player of the Week honors.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation and Athlon Sports named Gionni Paul the National FBS Defensive Player of the Week for his performance on Saturday against Washington.

Paul recorded nine tackles (two for a loss), two quarterback sacks, one interception and recovered a fumble and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown to help 12th ranked Utah defeat Washington, 34-23.

Paul joins two other Utah players (DB Eric Weddle, Sept. 24, 2006 and DE Derrick Shelby, Oct. 16, 2011) to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004.

Athlon Sports considered Paul one of the 15 Best College Football Players No One is Talking About in 2015 prior to Week 10. Paul’s play on Saturday and throughout the season (team leading 84 tackles and 12.0 tackles for a loss) is at least not going unnoticed by one national outlet.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Florida State Defensive Back Derwin James named Top College Football Freshman

 

Link: Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus recently released their mid-season report on the nation’s best true freshman and earning the top spot was Florida State defensive back Derwin James (Haines City alum).

Pro Football Focus had this to say about James performance so far this season:

“One of the hottest players in the country, James has been a force on the FSU defense since taking over as starter in Week 6. His +17.0 overall grade ranks third among all safeties, including a +7.4 mark against the run that ranks 10th and a strong +2.8 grade against the run. James has also been a menace when rushing the passer, picking up two sacks, two hits, and six hurries on only 15 rushes.”

Through 8 games this season, James currently ranks third on the team in total tackles (39), third in pass break-ups (3) and is tied for first in forced fumbles (2). Against Syracuse (James’ third consecutive start of the season) on Oct 31, James led the team in tackles with 12 with a career high in solo tackles (7) and unassisted tackles (5).

2015 SSAC All-Conference Teams Announced

 

Link: Sunshine State Athletic Conference

The 2015 SSAC All-Conference football teams were announced on Saturday, Oct 31 and headlining the Coral League was Santa Fe Catholic head coach Billy Dickerson who was honored as Coach of the Year. Dickerson and his staff helped lead the Crimson Hawks to their first undefeated season in school history. The Crimson Hawks finished the regular season at 8-0 and outscored their regular season opponents 288-36.

Congratulations to the Coral League Coach of the Year: Santa Fe Catholic Head Coach Billy Dickerson! SFC is 9-0! @SFCHawks @SSACFootball

— SSAC Athletics (@SSACFootball) October 31, 2015

The following list includes All-Conference First and Second Team players and Honorable Mention players from Santa Fe Catholic.

Coach of the Year - Coral League
Billy Dickerson (Santa Fe Catholic)

First Team
Henry Perry IV - Cornerbacks
Tyree Rodman - Punt Returner/Kick Returner

Second Team
Henry Perry IV - Wide Receivers
John Littlejohn - Defensive Line
Walker Richards - Safeties

Honorable Mention
David Tomkow
JJ Stone
John Kromer
John McIntire
Kenard King
Demario Vanover
Tyler Hancock

Scoreboard - Week 10, 2015 Season

Week 10 of the 2015 Season is in the books and here are the final scores from games involving Polk County teams.

Lakeland 35, Kathleen 13 (Friday #GOWPolk)

Victory Christian 49, Cornerstone Charter 0

Lake Gibson 24, Sebring 20

Auburndale 42, Lake Wales 21

Winter Haven 14, Bartow 0

Santa Fe Catholic 56, Orangewood Christian 13

Tampa Catholic 25, Lakeland Christian 14

Bishop Verot 34, Tenoroc 33

Mulberry 41, Gateway Charter 15

Ridge Community 2, Haines City 0 (Haines City Forfeit)

Kissimmee Osceola 46, George Jenkins 9

Fort Meade 34, Frostproof 0

Baveon Johnson to play in 2016 Under Armour All-American Game

 

Link: USA TODAY High School Sports

Link: Polk Preps

Link: ESPN

Lake Gibson senior offensive lineman Baveon Johnson is officially an Under Armour All-American Game participant. The game will be held on Jan. 2 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Johnson, a Florida State commit, was surrounded by family, friends, faculty, coaches and teammates during his jersey ceremony on Tuesday at the Lake Gibson High School cafeteria.

Johnson, rated the No. 1 center and 38th-ranked player overall in the ESPN 300, was also chosen to play in the U.S. Army All-American game, but ultimately decided to commit to the Under Armour game.

Johnson joins a growing list of Polk County players to participate in the national all-star game sponsored by Under Armour. The rest of the list includes the following players:

2008 - Carlton Thomas (Frostproof) - RB

2008 - Ricky Barnum (Lake Gibson) - OL

2008 - T.J. Lawrence (Kathleen) - WR

2011 - Brandon Fulse (Fort Meade) - TE

2011 - Karlos Williams (Ridge Community) - DB

2015 - Derwin James Jr. (Haines City) - DB

FACA District 13 Small School Player, Coach of the Year

 

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 13 football meeting for player and coach of the year for small schools was held last week, and here are the results that were voted on by the coaches in attendance. The following list includes All-District First and Second Team for small schools, overall player and coach of the year and classification players and coaches of the year.

District MVP (Small Schools): Tyler King, 2016 (Fort Meade)
District Coach of the Year (Small Schools): Jemalle Cornelius (Fort Meade)

Player of the Year
Class 1A: Tyler King, 2016 (Fort Meade)
Class 2A: Deondre Pride (Victory Christian)
Class 3A: RB Marlow (Lakeland Christian)
Class 4A: Keyon Walters (Tenoroc)

Coach of the Year
Class 1A: Jemalle Cornelius (Fort Meade)
Class 2A: William Dickerson (Santa Fe Catholic)
Class 3A: Wayne Peace (Lakeland Christian)
Class 4A: Chris Davidson (Tenoroc)

2015 All-District Team (Small School)

First Team Offense
QB: Walker Richards, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
RB: Tyler King, 2016 (Fort Meade)
RB: Benjamin Sirmons (Lakeland Christian)
WR: RB Marlow, 2016 (Lakeland Christian)
WR: Jordan Holder, 2016 (Tenoroc)
TE: Kahari Love, 2016 (Mulberry)
OL: John Kromer, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
OL: Bryce Nelson, 2017 (Fort Meade)
OL: Mike Smith, 2016 (Frostproof)
OL: Reed McKown, 2016 (Lakeland Christian)
OL: Kris Bozeman, 2016 (Tenoroc)
K: Josue Blanco, 2016 (Lakeland Christian)
ATH: Larenz Deshazor, 2017 (Lakeland Christian)

First Team Defense
DL: Darrion Gardner, 2016 (Fort Meade)
DL: Gerald Poleon, 2016 (Victory Christian)
DL: Reed McKown, 2016 (Lakeland Christian)
DL: Kahari Love, 2016 (Mulberry)
LB: Bryce Smith, 2016 (Frostproof)
LB: Deondre Pride, 2016 (Victory Christian)
LB: Brendan Terkay, 2016 (Tenoroc)
DB: Walker Richards, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
DB: Jy'Quez Wright, 2018 (Fort Meade)
DB: Cory Larkin, 2016 (Frostproof)
DB: Nick Montina, 2017 (Tenoroc)
P: Peyton Whitehead, 2016 (Tenoroc)

Second Team Offense
QB: Jessie Henson, 2016 (Fort Meade)
RB: DeMario Vanover, 2017 (Santa Fe Catholic)
RB: Josh Herrington, 2016 (Victory Christian)
WR: Henry Perry IV, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
WR:Keyon Walters, 2016 (Tenoroc)
TE: Garrett Steele, 2018 (Tenoroc)
OL: Jon McIntire, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
OL: Sam Billante, 2016 (Frostproof)
OL: Tavonte Rhodes, 2016 (Victory Christian)
OL: Darrell Burnside, 2016 (Tenoroc)
OL: Gerald Poleon, 2016 (Victory Christian)
K: Edgar Gonzalez, 2018 (Fort Meade)
ATH: Keyon Walters, 2016 (Tenoroc)

Second Team Defense
DL: Tyler Hancock, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
DL: Mike Smith, 2016 (Frostproof)
DL: Sam Billante, 2016 (Frostproof)
DL: Keiyaunte Lowery, 2016 (Tenoroc)
LB: Austin Castillo, 2017 (Fort Meade)
LB: Ricky McFarlane, 2018 (Frostproof)
LB: Logan Mason, 2018 (Lakeland Christian)
DB: Henry Perry IV, 2016 (Santa Fe Catholic)
DB: Anfernee Clark, 2018 (Fort Meade)
DB: Josh Hayes, 2017 (Victory Christian)
DB: Jordan Devine, 2016 (Mulberry)
P: Jessie Henson, 2016 (Fort Meade)

FACA District 13 Large School Player, Coach of the Year

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 13 football meeting for player and coach of the year for large schools was held last week, and here are the results that were voted on by the coaches in attendance. The following list includes All-District First and Second Team for large schools, overall player and coach of the year and classification players and coaches of the year.

District MVP (Large Schools): Baveon Johnson, 2016 (Lake Gibson)
District Coach of the Year (Large Schools): Irving Strickland (Kathleen)

Player of the Year
Class 6A: Baveon Johnson, 2016 (Lake Gibson)
Class 7A: Anthony Davis, 2017 (Lakeland)
Class 8A: Ke'Andre Griner, 2016 (Ridge Community)

Coach of the Year
Class 6A: Keith Demyer (Lake Gibson)
Class 7A: Irving Strickland (Kathleen)
Class 8A: Russ Rogers (Ridge Community)

2015 All-District Team (Large School)

First Team Offense
QB: William Tate, 2017 (Winter Haven)
RB: Anthony Davis, 2017 (Lakeland)
RB: Keandre Griner, 2016 (Ridge Community)
WR: Marquis Zimmerman, 2016 (Kathleen)
WR: James Robinson, 2017 (Lakeland)
TE: Chayce Armbruster, 2016 (Winter Haven)
OL: Baveon Johnson, 2016 (Lake Gibson)
OL: Michael Wiggs, 2016 (Lake Gibson)
OL: Logan MacDonald, 2016 (Ridge Community)
OL: Jadavien Williams, 2016 (Ridge Community)
OL: Joe Issacs, 2016 (Winter Haven)
K: Ben Rice, 2016 (George Jenkins)
ATH: Xavier Gaines, 2016 (Lake Wales)

First Team Defense
DL: Justin Andrews, 2016 (Kathleen)
DL: Jordan Domineck, 2018 (George Jenkins)
DL: Keyshon Camp, 2016 (Lakeland)
DL: Keyshon Camp, 2016 (Lake Gibson)
LB: Ventrell Miller, 2017 (Kathleen)
LB: AJ Deshazor, 2017 (Lake Gibson)
LB: Josh Dunn, 2016 (Lake Wales)
DB: Taurence Wilson, 2016 (Kathleen)
DB: Mustafa Majeed, 2016 (Lake Wales)
DB: Ohaji Hawkins, 2016 (Winter Haven)
DB: Javonte Arius, 2016 (Winter Haven)
P: LJ Cummings, 2017 (Bartow)

Second Team Offense
QB: Jules St. Ge (Kathleen)
RB: Xavier Smith, 2016 (Haines City)
RB: Travell Jones, 2018 (Lake Gibson)
WR: Tariq Young, 2016 (Lakeland)
WR:Terrance Anglin, 2018 (Winter Haven)
TE: Horace Boswell, 2016 (Ridge Community)
OL: Austin Plaisted, 2016 (George Jenkins)
OL: Jake Flath, 2016 (Lakeland)
OL: Seth Roy, 2016 (Lakeland)
OL: Noah Zintel, 2016 (Lakeland)
OL: Ean Biancardi, 2016 (Lake Wales)
K: Christian Ramirez, 2017 (Bartow)
ATH: Hunter Orem, 2016 (Lake Gibson)

Second Team Defense
DL: Francisco Nelson, 2016 (Kathleen)
DL: Hunter More, 2016 (Bartow)
DL: Chonsey Christian, 2016 (Lake Wales)
DL: Demetrius Perry, 2016 (Winter Haven)
LB: Tobias Larry, 2017 (Kathleen)
LB: Chris Jones, 2017 (Bartow)
LB: Danquarius Longs, 2017 (Lakeland)
LB: Kelvin Broome, 2016 (Lakeland)
DB: Ron Robinson, 2016 (Bartow)
DB: Anthony Tyler, 2016 (Lake Region)
DB: Torrian Hampton, 2016 (Lakeland)
DB: Derrien Bomar, 2016 (Lake Gibson)
P: Kasey Maldonado, 2016 (Lake Wales)

Kathleen at Lakeland gets BHSN Game of the Week Coverage

 

Bright House Sports Network updated their 2015 Game of the Week Football schedule on Monday and on Oct. 30 will be bringing coverage back to the Polk County area to broadcast the pivotal district match up between the Kathleen Red Devils and Lakeland Dreadnaughts at Bryant Stadium.

Kathleen (8-0) and ranked No. 4 in Class 7A has a road contest against South Fork (7-1) this Friday night before their annual end of the season rivalry game against No. 13 Lakeland (5-2) next week. 

Kathleen can clinch the district title outright with a win over Lakeland. Lakeland will clinch the title with a win over Kathleen and a Winter Haven win over Bartow. However, if Lakeland wins and Bartow wins, a three-way tiebreaker contest will take place since all three teams would finish with a 2-1 district record.

2015 Season, Week 08 Scoreboard

 

2015 Season, Week 08 Scoreboard

Friday
Lakeland 14, Winter Haven 13 #GOWPolk Friday
Tenoroc 46, Gateway Charter 9
Foundation Academy 34, Victory Christian 28
Sante Fe Catholic 41, All Saints' 6
Lake Gibson 20, Auburndale 14
Pahokee 30, Frostproof 14
Tampa Catholic 50, Ridge Community 25
First Baptist 63, Landmark Christian 0
Lake Wales 25, Lake Region 10
George Jenkins 45, Haines City 26
Kathleen 24, Bartow 0
Bishop Verot 34, Mulberry 21

Thursday
Lakeland Christian 27, Berkeley Prep 26 #GOWPolk Thursday
Windermere Prep 47, Jordan Christian 8

Karlos Williams up for Rookie of the Week award

Link: NFL.com

Karlos Williams (Ridge Community alumni) performance against the Miami Dolphins during Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season (110 yards on 12 carries, one touchdown) earned him recognition as one of five finalist for the NFL's Pepsi Rookie of the Week award.

Williams has scored a rushing touchdown in the first three games of his NFL career becoming the first rookie to achieve this feat since Robert Edwards of New England achieved the same feat in his first six games in 1998.

Auburndale's Pierce selected for Blue-Grey All-American Bowl

Link: TheLedger.com

Auburndale running back Artavis Pierce was presented with his jersey for the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl that will be played Jan. 9, 2016 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Oregon State commit was picked by Sean Ceglinsky, Blue-Grey Football media/player personnel director, after participating at the Blue-Grey Southeast Super Combine held in Daytona, FL on June 13 and 14.