Preview capsules for Southwest Florida high school football games being played on Aug. 15 and 16. All games are at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. SSAA regular season games include staff predictions.
Thursday
St. Thomas Aquinas at Bishop Verot
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for ― St. Thomas Aquinas: The Raiders are looking to continue their dynasty, entering this season seeking their sixth consecutive state championship. It's a mark no other program has reached statewide, as the Raiders have cemented themselves as the premier program with 12 state titles since 2007. Roger Harriott returns a lot of talent and experience this season, headlined by top 40 prospect Justice Fitzpatrick, Illinois commit Cedric Wyche, Maryland commit Travares Daniels II, East Carolina commit Tavius Horne, USF commit Caleb Harris, Pitt commit Trevor Sommers, and FIU commit Richard Scott III among a host of others. St. Thomas will enter this game as a favorite, but it's unclear how much Roger Harriott and company will show, especially with a nationally televised game against Bishop Gorman on tap for the following week. Bishop Verot: The Vikings are heading into the 2024 season with plenty of momentum from their spring contests and summer work, impressing against Columbus and Sarasota Riverview, which amounted to a combined jamboree score of 56-31. Over the summer, Verot scored on all but five drives in 7-on-7 work, as Michigan quarterback Carter Smith continues to reach new heights entering his senior season. Verot will look to break in a handful of new transfers on the defensive side, including James Little IV, Marquis Young, Eddie Gore, Quinn Enguita, and J.J. Bolz, all of whom started at their previous schools last season. Ira Dale is also expected to switch from offense to defense, giving Verot more speed in the front seven. Verot running back Deshon Jenkins will look to make his mark against an Aquinas defense that allowed just one 100-plus yard rusher last season. This will be the first of many tests for the Vikings, who are taking on six top 100 programs from last season as well as First Baptist, which finished the season ranked 103rd by MaxPreps.
Watch Florida HS football games live on NFHS Network
Island Coast at Bonita Springs
What to watch for ― Island Coast: The Gators enter the second year of the Tyran Jones era, following a 4-6 season that saw the team finish 3-2 during the second half of the season. Island Coast returns a proven 1,000-yard rusher in Gervaris Leaphart but will have to replace both Virdarian Moloy and Kobey Babernitch, who went to Dunbar earlier this year. Keenan Moore, a North Fort Myers transfer, is expected to take the snaps under center at quarterback after catching five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, adding 36 tackles on the defensive side with a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception. Curtis Walton Jr. will anchor a secondary that surrendered fewer than 100 passing yards per game a season ago. Bonita Springs: The Bull Sharks will be breaking in a first-year coach in Kyle Shafer, who previously was an assistant under Rich Dombroski. Shafer will look to get Bonita Springs past a 1-9 season that saw them score 96 points across 10 games. Chase Garcia returns at running back after leading the team with 500 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season, along with Conrad Chowen, who led the defense with 70 tackles (4 for loss), 2 forced fumbles, and a blocked punt. Expect both of these teams to try and build momentum heading into their Week 1 games, which are against Port Charlotte and Ida Baker, respectively.
Preseason Top 10: Bishop Verot, Naples, FBA atop 2024 preseason News-Press/Naples Daily News rankings
Friday
Naples at Gulf Coast
What to watch for ― Naples: The Golden Eagles enter the season with high expectations, and deservedly so, thanks in part to the stable of running backs Rick Martin has at his disposal. Shawn Simeon returns after a 2,000-yard season, along with Jamar Jerome (691 yards, 7 TDs) and Caleb Dume (172 yards, 1 TD). Adding Golden Gate running back Trayvon Jean gives Naples a thunder and lightning-esque combination, similar to the duo of Kendrick Raphael and Isaiah Augustave during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The defense will be anchored by Western Kentucky commit Jordan Bergeron (2 INTs, 37 tackles), Cornell commit Sean Kabengele (44 tackles, 10 TFLs), Vlad Raphael (78 tackles) and Khari Bendolph, who posted 14 sacks a season ago. Gulf Coast: The Sharks have a handful of new pieces this year, including at head coach. Manny Evans will make his second appearance as Gulf Coast’s head coach, having led the program to a dominant 27-6 win against Everglades in the spring. Both the offensive and defensive lines involve a lot of turnover, especially with four starting offensive lineman gone, as well as everyone on the defensive line. The Sharks do have a mobile quarterback in Jace Seyler at their disposal, who threw for 731 yards, ran for 521 more, and accounted for 8 touchdowns last season. Seyler returns his top target in Cayden Daugherty, who caught 16 passes for 408 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Sharks had a solid summer in the weight room, and that strength will be put to the test against a Naples team that enjoys getting physical in the trenches.
SW Florida high school football: Your guide to the 2024 season in Lee, Collier and LaBelle
Barron Collier, Fort Myers at Estero
What to watch for ― Barron Collier: The Cougars finished a respectable 8-3 last season, which saw their losses come against two teams that advanced to a regional semifinal, and a third that went to a regional final. Mark Jackson enters his 10th season at the helm, looking to sustain that success Barron saw a year ago. Offensively, Jackson returns virtually everybody except the running back trio of Jackson Polly, Juan Acuna, and Braden Johnson, who combined for 1,126 yards on the ground with 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Niko Boyce (1,908 passing yards, 629 rushing yards, 31 total TDs) returns, as do Brody Graham (48 receptions, 830 yards, 11 TDs), Caden Hudson (40 receptions, 482 yards, 5 TDs), and Brian Williams (15 receptions, 222 yards, 1 TD). Expect the Cougars to be tested on defense, having lost their top seven tacklers to graduation or transfer. Defensive back Kevin Caidor returns to the program, giving Barron some secondary help after posting 27 tackles and 8 pass breakups last season. Fort Myers: The Green Wave suffered two big positional losses from last season to graduation: three-year starting quarterback Chris McFoley and four starters on the offensive line. How both revamped areas fare in tonight's preseason jamboree will provide valuable insight into Fort Myers' prospects for 2024. The Green Wave do have the luxury of possessing one of the area's best X-factors in senior Madrid Tucker and will likely prioritize getting the ball into his hands in multiple ways. Estero: The Wildcats dealt with a lot of roster turnover last season that occurred on both sides of the ball, losing their top four tacklers to graduation, along with quarterback Matt Wilson and senior athlete Luke Ghannam, who led the team in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, interceptions, and fumble recoveries. The Wildcats will be looking to start either Austin Hill or Maddox Stewart in Wilson's place, with that decision hoping to be finalized before Friday night. Whoever it is will be throwing to a pair of capable receivers in Kegan Kreuscher and Owen Maurizi, who combined for 656 yards and 6 TDs last year. Darren Nelson's teams have often started slow in spring games and kickoff classics but put it together when it matters during the regular season. Don't be surprised if Friday night's classic follows a similar trajectory.
Immokalee at South Fort Myers
What to watch for ― Immokalee: The Indians are looking to keep their momentum rolling despite losing two of last year’s leading producers on offense. Justin Compere (921 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns) and Omarion Carter (294 receiving yards with three touchdowns) have both transferred to Miami Norland, but head coach James Delgado says this year is more balanced than ever across the board. Jayden Mixon is back for his senior campaign after posting nine touchdowns on over five yards per carry last year, and will help first year starting quarterback Chris Germinal find his groove early. It will be a good test for the Immokalee offense, as the Wolfpack held opponents to eight or fewer points five times last year and return plenty of defensive talent. South Fort Myers: The Wolfpack will see their first action under new head coach Matt Holderfield. The team returns running back Victor Jenkins, who rushed for 925 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Junior quarterback Will Bichler will get the start after backing up Chase Enguita last season. On the defensive side, senior linebacker Rashad Taylor is a tackling machine. After graduating three defensive lineman and a talented WR/DB in Justin White, the team will be evaluating those positions against the Indians.
North Fort Myers at Cypress Lake
What to watch for ― North Fort Myers: The Red Knights are eager to put last season's 3-7 finish behind them. North features plenty of weapons on offense, which should present headaches for opposing defenses this season. Junior quarterback Caedon Conn takes over under center for the Red Knights and showed promise in the spring. Defensively, North should be strong up front with four-star junior lineman James Johnson anchoring the front seven. Cypress Lake: The Panthers enter their fourth year under coach Joey Mendes, aiming to move past a 2-8 season that saw them lose eight in a row after starting 2-0. Cypress Lake will be looking for a new quarterback with Tyrese Nelson gone, and Joey Dube-Garrett is set to take over that role. Deveon Simmons and Isaiah Livingstone will lead a committee backfield for the Panthers, as the duo combined for 459 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns a season ago.
Cape Coral at Aubrey Rogers
What to watch for ― Cape Coral: This will be the debut of new Seahawks head coach Tyler Murphy, who officially moved into the position earlier this week. A primary focus this season will be improving a defense that faltered during Cape's six-game losing streak to close out the 2023 season, surrendering 34 or more points in five of the defeats. Senior quarterback Ivan Harvin returns and should see his game boosted by the presence of Murphy, who played the position at both Florida and Boston College. Aubrey Rogers: Last year, the Patriots were mostly first year players still learning the ins-and-outs of football. But now with a full season and offseason completed, Aubrey Rogers has shifted their expectations. Caden Diloreto showed flashes of an efficient varsity quarterback as a freshman and will have a solid complimentary piece in sophom*ore wideout Romeo Sararo to target. Cape Coral has some strengths on defense, so it will be a good test for the young offense. On the other side of the ball, Aubrey Rogers returns most of their key defensive pieces, so keep an eye on how they contain a Seahawks offense led by Isaac Harvin.
Dunbar at Riverdale
What to watch for ― Dunbar: Coming off a second consecutive state semifinal appearance, Tigers return players at key positions including Austin Price at quarterback and Chris Singleton at running back. There is some continuity at receiver with Damari Loggins and Camden Rivera, but the addition of Kalonji Hamilton, who transferred from Cape Coral, should give this group a boost. On the defensive side, the team reloads with defensive lineman Mint Edwards, who led the team in tackles-for-loss. The team graduated a productive linebacker in Kye Garcia, so that will be a position to watch against a run-heavy Riverdale team. Riverdale: The Raiders excelled at running the ball last season, averaging nearly 260 yards per game but showed an inability and reluctance to move it through the air, mustering just two completions and 24 yards each week. Riverdale will look to balance its offensive attack in 2024 while also improving upon a defense that allowed more than 35 points per game. Both efforts should be aided by the presence of former South Fort Myers head coach Willis May, who joined the Raiders as an assistant coach.
St. John Neumann at Evangelical Christian
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for ― St. John Neumann: The Celtics will reveal how they will use Jake Bruni alongside new arrival Peyton Frontino, an out-of-state transfer who has been competing with Bruni for quarterback reps. Head coach Rich Crosby says the competition has been good, and you can expect to see both Bruni and Frontino on the field together for plenty of snaps, all behind a line that has gotten bigger and deeper in the offseason. Logan Bartelt is also back, and will be foundational after St. John Neumann’s first and second leading receivers have graduated. They’ll have their chances against the Sentinels, who had a dominant defense last year but graduated key talent on that side of the ball. Evangelical Christian: The Sentinels lost a number of offensive playmakers from last season but still return plenty of talent on that side of the ball, led by senior Jamarion McElroy who steps in at quarterback and sophom*ore Mack Mitchell, who looks poised to be the team's primary ball carrier. On defense, ECS is young but does return playmaking senior linebacker Derek Washington.
Ida Baker at East Lee County
What to watch for ― Ida Baker: Coming off a winless season that saw them outscored 414-46, the Bulldogs are looking to be more competitive in 2024. Ida Baker had a number of underclassmen earn valuable experience last year which should result in some steadier play as they continue to mature. East Lee County: The Jaguars turned a corner last season, finishing 5-5, the program's first non-losing season since 2016. East Lee has bigger goals this year, namely the second state playoff appearance in its history. Offensively, the Jaguars will lean heavily on senior running back Laz Rogers who set single-season rushing (1,515 yards) and touchdown (19) marks last season. On the other side of the ball, East Lee will need to show its defense can perform against quality opponents. The Jaguars went 0-5 last season against teams that finished with winning records, surrendering an average of nearly 34 points per game.
Gateway at Mariner
What to watch for ― Gateway: The Eagles were a one-win team last year and brought in Charles Powell, the freshman head coach, to replace Cullen O'Brien at the helm of the program. Ty Williams is back at quarterback after starting as a sophom*ore (1,438 yards, 6 touchdowns, 11 interceptions). He will have a pair of enticing targets in 6-foot-3 Chris Davis and 6-foot-7 Andrew Leopold. The secondary returns playmakers in Justin Jean-Louis, Anjay Boyd and Derrique Mytial. The team has new faces in the trenches, including three new starters on the offensive line. Mariner: The Tritons have a new coach in veteran Brian Staats and will have a number of new contributors after losing 15 seniors from last season's 8-3 district champion. Mariner does return some experience on its front lines, which will be led by 6-foot-6, 275-pound offensive tackle Nick Purdy. Senior running back and linebacker Clark Daley and senior wide receiver and defensive back Kaelen Davidson will also be counted on to produce on both sides of the ball. However, for the Tritons to secure a third consecutive winning season, something that hasn't happened since 1995-97, its corps of untested players will need to mature quickly.
Lely at Palmetto Ridge
What to watch for ― Lely: The Trojans come into the second season of the Ben Hammer era, going 5-5 and missing the playoffs last season. Lely got a big piece in quarterback Carter Quinn to lead the offense but lost 3-star lineman Woody Celucien to Miami Central, 3-star athlete Jayce Cora to Community School, and running back Jayvian Tanelus, who followed Cora to CSN. Nino Joseph enters his sophom*ore season after posting 1,100 yards as a freshman with eight touchdowns and should have no problems handling a workload that saw him average upwards of 20 touches a game last season. Lely returns a handful on defense, which should be able to keep them in plenty of games. Palmetto Ridge: The Bears enter the 2024 season in their second season under Zach Yates, who finished 2-8 in his first season leading the program. Palmetto Ridge gets a trio of key pieces back, including Devon Messenger (38 receptions, 434 yards, 5 TDs; 12 rushes, 79 yards, 2 TDs), Steven Rousseau (69 rushes, 315 yards, 2 TDs), and Isaac Garcia (474 all-purpose yards, 2 TDs). The defense struggled against high quality competition, allowing 49 or more points on four separate occasions last year. Seeing a dynamic quarterback in Quinn and a solid running back in Joseph should prepare the team well for their Week 1 contest against Evangelical Christian.
Monsignor Pace at Lehigh
What to watch for ― Monsignor Pace: The Class 2A team from Miami went 7-5 last year, falling to Norland in the playoffs. The Spartans averaged 200 passing yards a game last year and return several receivers who caught more than 30 passes in that offense. Defensively, the team returns linebacker Shawn Smith, who recorded 73 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles last season. Lehigh: With the departures of Dorian Mallary and Terrance Smith Jr., the Lightning lost their starting quarterback, leading rusher and leading receiver, forcing Antwan Dixon to make some adjustments to the offense this summer. Ladarius Ridley will get the nod at quarterback, and, with the entire offensive line returning, the team will plan to lean more on the running game with Johnny Ash slated to make an impact. On defense, Harkym Henry on the line, Landen Rewis at linebacker and Sean Battle at defensive back bring critical experience at different levels of the Lightning defense.
Everglades at Golden Gate
What to watch for ― Everglades: The Gators were a 6-4 team a season ago, but came short of making the postseason in a loaded Class 3M-Region 4 that included Homestead, South Broward, Miromar, Southridge, Hialeah, and others. The program had no problem scoring in their wins last year, averaging 36.3 points per game, but in their losses, only averaged 9 points per contest. Golden Gate: It'll be close to a fresh start for Golden Gate coach Nick Citro, who is being tasked with replacing virtually his entire offense and defense. Of the players who could have returned, 1,600-yard rusher Trayvon Jean transferred to Naples, while Broxson Trophy winner Bradley Martino, SWFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist Micah Fils-Aime, and offensive lineman Christanley Joseph all transferred to First Baptist. Louby Bastien returns on the defensive side for the Titans, and the program added in Lely transfer Osyrus Boykin, who can play both ways. Rony Raposo, a highly touted underclassmen wide receiver, should be a prime target for quarterback Sam Powell.
Foundation Academy at SFCA
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for ― Foundation Academy: The Lions went 7-3 last season, winning their last five consecutive games of the regular season. The team will need to replace key pieces of their offense after their leading running back James Bronaugh graduated and starting quarterback Michael Dove transferred. One area the Lions won’t be lacking is in the secondary – the team grabbed 17 interceptions last season. SFCA: The King’s went 3-7 in their first season under head coach Roy Stabler. The team will look to replace graduated quarterback Eli Moore with a mix of his younger brother Brady Moore and Logan Waldrup. The team returns a standout two-way player in Aiden Matyas, who led the team in receiving and made 41 tackles from the safety position. As a freshman, Craighan Mitchell was a standout at cornerback for the team last year and will be joined by ECS transfer Terrence Simmons Jr. An improved defense will go a long way for a team that gave up 34.5 points a game last year.
Sunshine State Athletic Association
LaBelle at Tradition Prep
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for ― LaBelle: The Cowboys will get their first look at Zach Campbell as a starter at quarterback — and just as important, how much the offensive line has progressed this offseason. The front is very young, and will have a chance to show their growth against a Tradition Prep defense that gave up more than 40 points five times last year. Head coach Maurice McClain says LaBelle has plenty of options in the receiver core this year, so expect the Cowboys to air it out much more than last year’s ground-and-pound playstyle. Tradition Prep: The Pirates are looking to right the ship after giving up 50 or more points in three losses to close out last season. They’ll have Mason Brown back at quarterback after throwing for 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and he’ll test a LaBelle defense that returns just three starters.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: LaBelle 35, Tradition Prep 17
Gateway Charter at Canterbury
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for ― Gateway Charter: The Griffins are looking to right the ship after going 2-7 last year, and start the year with a solid barometer in the Cougars. Gateway Charter returns Juan Ibarra at quarterback and Chance Reeves at running back, and brings in a Lehigh transfer in Preston Garlin at wideout. Keep an eye on how the pieces fit together, as rebuilding cohesion was a point of emphasis for the Griffins in the offseason. Canterbury: The Cougars, the defending SSAA Class 2A champions, are poised to build on last year's 4-6 finish after returning 11 starters and 15 seniors. They also have a new signal-caller in senior JT Huether who is back after sitting out last season. In all, Canterbury has 46 players participating, the most since restarting its 11-man program. This is the third all-time meeting between the Cougars and Gateway Charter. The series is tied 1-1 with the Griffins winning the last meeting 52-0 in 2020.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Canterbury 28, Gateway Charter 24
Oasis at Saint Stephen’s
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for ― Oasis: There are few teams entering their week one matchup with more motivation than the Sharks. In last year’s SSAA 5A Semifinals, Oasis was a field goal away from downing the Falcons in regulation and playing for the 5A championship but fell in overtime - so expect a fiery contest early in this one. The Sharks return most of last year’s production on offense, but lost their top three tacklers from last year’s defense to transfer or graduation. Saint Stephen's: The Falcons are coming off of a strong year, but lost starting quarterback Evan Brown who passed for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions. Brown was also their key option in the run game, and tallied 1,515 yards on the ground with 19 touchdowns. Keep an eye on who steps in to rebalance the offense with Brown’s graduation.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Oasis 28, Saint Stephen's 17
Follow Sports Reporters Alex Martin, Dustin Levy, Dan DeLuca, and Nick Wilson on X: @NP_AlexMartin, @DustinBLevy, @NewsPressDan, @NickWilsonUSAT. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: High School Football: SW FL FHSAA previews and SSAA predictions for Aug. 15-16
