Nease Hires Former NFL QB Shane Matthews as Head Coach

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Two days after Tim Tebow's NFL season came to an end, a new chapter opened at his high school.

Former NFL quarterback Shane Matthews has been named the new head coach at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida.

Matthews, who played with several teams including the Chicago Bears during a 14-year NFL career, takes over for Danny Cowgill after he wasn't brought back after a 4-6 season in 2011.

This will be the former University of Florida star's first head coaching position in high school.

Last year, another former NFL QB, Gus Frerotte took-over the reigns of John Burroughs in Missouri.  Frerotte led his school to a runner-up finish in Class 3.

Don Beebe, the former Buffalo Bill and Green Bay Packer, led Aurora Christian to an Illinois Class 3A state title in 2011.

Click here to listen to my interview with both Beebe and Fererotte on the December 1st High School Football America radio show.

Boca Raton Removes for NFLer Keith Byars as Head Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Keith Byars is no longer Boca Raton High School's head football coach.

The 13-year NFL veteran has been removed as the school's head coach after allegedly shoving his junior quarterback Kevin Anderson during last Friday's 26-19 loss to Jupiter.

Taking over for Byars is the school's athletic director Lewis Burnham, who's been on the coaching staff since 2007.

The Bobcats have a bye this week, returning to action next week against Glades Central.

Boca Raton's Keith Byars Job May be in Jeopardy

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

The Palm Beach Post his reporting that Boca Raton head football coach Keith Byars is on the hot seat.

Writer Jeff Greer says a decision could be made Tuesday night on whether Byars will be reprimanded for allegedly shoving a player during Friday's game against Jupiter.

Byars, who was an All-America at Ohio State, played in the NFL with four teams in 13 seasons.  He took over as the Boca Raton program three years ago.  His record is 14-11 after Friday night's loss to Jupiter.

Click here to read the full story from the Palm Beach Post.

St. Thomas Aquinas' Rocco Casullo Talks About 2011 Season on NHSCA Sports Hour

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Rocco Casullo has big shoes to fill, and he talked about that on Sunday's NHSCA Sports Hour.

Spring practice began Monday for Casullo, who is getting ready for his first season as the head coach of national power St. Thomas Aquinas.  He talked about following in the footsteps of the legendary George Smith, who resigned earlier this year after leading the Raiders to six state titles and two "mythical" national titles.

The real test for Casullo will come in the first three weeks of the season when the Raiders play Alabama-power Prattville, Cypress Bay (2010 Florida semifinalist) and De La Salle (2010 California Champ) on back-to-back-to-back weekends.

My interview with Casullo will be posted later this week at www.artistfirst.com/nhsca.htm.

Here's a look at the 2011 St. Thomas Aquinas schedule...

8/27 - @ Prattville (AL)
9/9 - Cypress Bay
9/23 - De La Salle (CA)
9/30 - @ McArthur
10/6 - Miramar
10/14 - South Broward
10/21 - Nova
10/28 - @ Plantation
11/4 - Cooper City
11/11 - @Deerfield Beach

St. Thomas Aquinas and De La Salle Set to Meet on ESPN

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

They've been two of the best high school football programs in their respective states for a long time...now De La Salle (Concord, CA) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) will square-off on the field for bragging rights.  And, ESPN will be there to capture the action and give a national audience a look at the California/Florida bragging rights battle.

ESPN officials have announced they will televise the September 23rd match-up live on one of their networks.  Last year STA won Florida's 5A championship; De La Salle, which is riding a 25-game win streak, won California's Open Division title.

Of course that 25-game win streak doesn't hold a candle to the Spartans' national record 151-game win streak that was set between 1992-2003.

Maybe the only disappointment about the game is that long-time Raider head coach George Smith won't be guiding his team.  Smith announced earlier this year that he had decided to retire.  If the legendary Smith, who led Aquinas to six state titles, hadn't stepped-down, the game would have matched two of high school football's best.  De La Salle's Bob Ladouceur owns a 372-23-3 record since he took over in Concord in 1979.

"Playing a great program like St. Thomas Aquinas is a positive opportunity. Win or lose, they'll make us a better team. It should be an exciting game," said Ladouceur in a news release.

Former defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo will take over for Smith, but it was the former coach who spoke about the match-up in the ESPN news release saying "To have the chance to play a program like De La Salle is a great challenge for our program and to us a great thing for high school football in both states. It should be an outstanding game for both schools, both states and fans of high school football nationwide."

George Smith Retires as St. Thomas Aquinas Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

The man who built St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale) into a Florida and national high school football power is stepping down after 34 years of coaching.

George Smith's number are mind boggling...a career record of 361-66 for an incredible winning percentage of .845, six state championships and two "mythical" national championships.  Then there are the hundred of kids he sent into the college ranks, plus 30 former players who made it to the NFL.

The school has announced that defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo is the Raiders new head coach.

Florida - 2011 National Signing Day

Louis Addazio (Buchholz, TE) - Syracuse
Johnathan Aiken (Chaminade, DB) - Rutgers
Javorious Allen (Lincoln, RB) - USC
Mauro Bondi (West Boca Raton, K) - Nebraska
Keith Bowers (Dwyer, DL) - Maryland
Trey Braun (Leon, OL) - Georgia Tech
Isaiah Bruce (Providence, LB) - West Virginia
Andrew Buie (Trinity Christian, RB) - West Virginia
Harvello Bule (Armwood, LB) - New Mexico
Quenton Bundrage (Mantee, WR) - Iowa St.
Jamie Byrd (Pasco, S) - TCU
Juwan Caesar (Miami Coral Park, WR) - Michigan St.
Jeremy Cash (Plantation, DB) - Ohio St.
Dante Campbell (East Ridge, WR) - West Virginia
Torrey Campbell (Barron Collier, DB) - Iowa
Tyree Clark (Alonso, CB) - Connecticut
Undray Clark (Felix Varela, DB) - Maryland
Max Chapman (Nease, DL) - Northwestern
Thieren Cockran (Homestead, DE) - Minnesota
Ritchy Desir (North Miami Beach, DB) - Syracuse
Makinton Dorleant (Lely, DB) - Maryland
Justin DuVernois (St. Thomas Aquinas, P) - Illinois
Durell Eskridge (Miami Central, DB) - Syracuse
Wedley Estime (Atlantic, DE/LB) - Virginia Tech
Curtric Evans (Chaminade Madonna, WR) - Boston College
Terrance Floyd (Santaluces, DB) - Wisconsin
Lukas Foreman (Naples, DB) - Maryland
Devin Gaulden (University School, DB) - Wisconsin
Anthony Harrell (Jesuit, LB) - Georgia Tech
Jeff Heuerman (Barron Collier, TE) - Ohio St.
Desmond Hollin (Southridge, DL) - New Mexico
Marcus Jackson (Vero Beach, OL) - Tennessee
Russell Haughton-James (American Heritage, OL) - West Virginia
Errin Joe (Lake Gibson, OL) - Georgia Tech
Kaleb Johnson (Edward H. White, OL) - Rutgers
Ronald Jones (Fort Meade, WR) - Pitt
Marlin Lane (Mainland, RB) - Tennessee
Robert Lockhart (West Boca Raton, WR) - Virginia Tech
Marquis Lucas (Miami Central, OL) - West Virginia
Luther Maddy (Atlantic, DL) - Virginia Tech
Curt Maggitt (Dwyer, DE) - Tennessee
Jesphete Matilus (Atlantic, LB) - Minnesota
Nick Menocal (Belen Jesuit Prep, LB) - Georgia Tech
Steven Montgomery (Miramar, DB) - Minnesota
Tyler Moore (Countryside, OL) - Nebraska
K.J. Myers (First Coast, WR) - West Virginia
DeVondrick Nealy (Jefferson County, RB) - Iowa St.
Tevin Newman (Robinson, LB) - New Mexico
Tony Posada (Plant, OL) - Michigan
Adarius Rayner (Largo, DL) - Indiana
Bobby Richardson (Plant, DL) - Indiana
Sam Richardson (Winter Park, QB) - Iowa St.
Dillon Romine (Braden River, OL) - New Mexico
Matt Roth (Nease, DE) - Virginia Tech
Jake Rudock (St. Thomas Aquinas, QB) - Iowa
Rockerick Ryles (Dr. Phillips, DB) - Pitt
Trevarris Saulsberry (Gainesville, DL) - Tennessee
Ryan Shazler (Plantation, OLB, DE) - Ohio St.
Donald Smith (Spoto, LB) - Iowa St.
LaQuentin Smith (Dr. Phillips, LB) - Pitt
Tom Smith (Apopka, RB) - Tennessee
Eaton Spence (Glades Day, DB) - Illinois
Alex Watson (Creekside, DL) - Lafayette
Derrick Wells (Lehigh, DB) - Minnesota
Jordan Williams (Gainesville, DL) - Tennessee
Oliver Vigille (Miami Central, LB) - Syracuse
Pierre Youngblood-Ary (Lake Brantley, WR) - Northwestern

Florida High School Football Associated Press Pre-Season Rankings Released

Class 6A
Record Pts.
1. Miami Northwestern (2) 0-0 106
2. Miami Central (9) 0-0 94
3. Miramar (1) 0-0 88
4. Apopka 0-0 71
5. Dr. Phillips 0-0 68
6. DeLand 0-0 66
7. Miami Southridge 0-0 36
8. Mainland 0-0 23
8. (tie) Plantation 0-0 23
10. Olympia 0-0 16
Others receiving votes: Miami Krop 12, Miami Carol City 8, Park Vista 8, Winter Park 7, Orange Park 7, Treasure Coast 4, Christopher Columbus Catholic 4, South Dade 3, Vero Beach 3, Palm Beach Gardens 3, Atlantic 3, Boca Raton 3, Homestead 2, Lake Brantley 1, Hialeah 1.

Class 5A
Record Pts.
1. Plant (12) 0-0 120
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (1) 0-0 111
3. Manatee 0-0 102
4. Lakeland 0-0 85
5. Boyd Anderson 0-0 57
6. Blanche Ely 0-0 53
7. St. Petersburg 0-0 41
8. Countryside 0-0 36
9. Seabreeze 0-0 18
10. Fleming Island 0-0 13
Others receiving votes: Bayside 12, South Broward 11, Tampa Bay Tech 9, Evans 9, First Coast 8, Lake Howell 7, Winter Springs 6, Seminole 5, Oviedo 4, Palm Harbor University 3, Kissimmee Osceola 3, Melbourne 1, West Boca Raton 1.

Class 4A
Record Pts.
1. Dwyer (12) 0-0 128
2. Armwood (1) 0-0 104
3. Kathleen 0-0 78
4. Edgewater 0-0 67
5. Charlotte 0-0 57
6. Niceville 0-0 54
7. Lincoln 0-0 49
7. (tie) New Smyrna Beach 0-0 49
9. Gainesville 0-0 31
10. Pine Forest 0-0 23
Others receiving votes: Palm Bay 18, Columbia 9, King 8, Tarpon Springs 6, Navarre 6, Lake Gibson 6, Haines City 5, Hollywood Hills 5, Okeechobee 3, Palm Beach Lakes 2, Largo 2, Fort Pierce Central 2, Stranahan 2, Cape Coral 1. 

Class 3A
Record Pts.
1. Jefferson (1) 0-0 105
2. Lake Wales (6) 0-0 100
3. Pensacola (5) 0-0 88
4. St. Augustine 0-0 78
5. Miami Washington 0-0 60
6. Miami Belen Jesuit Prep 0-0 50
7. North Marion 0-0 49
8. Fort Pierce Westwood 0-0 29
9. Winter Haven 0-0 22
10. Miami Jackson 0-0 20
Others receiving votes: South Fort Myers 15, Miami Norland 12, Bartram Trail 10, Southeast 10, Eau Gallie 9, Hallandale 8, Fort Myers 7, Merritt Island 7, Pasco 5, Belleview 5, Clay 5, Naples 4, Land O’Lakes 4, Jensen Beach 4, Lehigh 3, Barron Collier 3, Archbishop McCarthy 2, Lakewood 1. 

Class 2A
Record Pts.
1. Glades Central (5) 0-0 113
2. Cocoa (8) 0-0 106
3. Robinson 0-0 85
4. Godby 0-0 74
5. Plantation-American Heritage 0-0 61
Others receiving votes: Astronaut 13, Rickards 13, Jones 13, Bishop Moore 9, Immokalee 8, Suwannee 7, Rockledge 6, Baker County 6, Port Orange Atlantic 6.

Class 2B
Record Pts.
1. Bolles School (6) 0-0 119
2. Pensacola Catholic (5) 0-0 98
3. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (1) 0-0 93
4. Tampa Catholic 0-0 74
5. Ocala Trinity Catholic 0-0 45
Others receiving votes: Cardinal Newman 17, Gulliver Prep 16, Pahokee 15, Monsignor Pace 13, Lake Highland 12, North Broward 6, Florida 6, University Christian 6.

Class 1A
Record Pts.
1. Trinity Christian-Jacksonville (4) 0-0 121
2. Fort Meade (5) 0-0 107
3. American Heritage (3) 0-0 91
4. North Florida Christian 0-0 59
5. Melbourne Central Catholic 0-0 44
Others receiving votes: Port St. Joe 26, Freeport 15, Berkeley Prep 12, Westminster Academy 10, Eagle’s View 8, Bishop Snyder 7, Dade Christian 7, Providence 7, Liberty County 6.

Class 1B
Record Pts.
1. Glades Day (13) 0-0 130
2. Warner Christian 0-0 109
3. Jupiter Christian 0-0 101
4. Jefferson County 0-0 60
5. Florida Air Academy 0-0 48
Others receiving votes: Out-of-Door Academy 27, Victory Christian 26, Hawthorne 19.

Florida High School Football Pre-Season Practice Begins August 10th

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

Welcome to our new look for the 2010 Florida high school football season!

With the first day of practice beginning August 10th, I wanted to take the time to thank all of my readers, who have made this blog successful over the past three years.  I have bigger-and-better things planned this year with more original content.

Also, don't forget to check-out High School Football America for great high school football stories from around the country.  If you have story ideas that I should know about, please feel free to email me.

Here's a look at important dates for the 2010 season...

First Practice - August 10th

Regular Season Begins - August 27th (Classic Games & Jamborees); September 4th (Regular Season)

Playoffs Begin - November 20th

Championships - December 11th-12th (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B); December 18th-19th (5A, 4A, 3A)

Jeff Fisher is Founder/Editor-in-Chief of High School Football America

Flagler Palm Coast HS Football Coach Resigns

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Flagler Palm Coast High has some work in front of it in light of Monday's resignation by head football coach Steve Allen.

The Dayton Beach News-Journal reports that Allen is stepping down after eight seasons for personal reasons.  Allen leaves the school as its winningest coach with a 51-35 record.

Parkway Academy Hit With Record Fine by Florida High School Athletic Associatiion

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

The Florida High School Athletic Association has fined Parkway Academy in Miramar a record $260,800 for 32 rules violations by its Class 1A football team.

Parkway is appealing the ruling, and will get a chance to defend itself at a July 27th hearing.

Reporter Brandt Merritt of The Ledger takes a closer look at the investigation that began during the 2008-09 school year.

Former NFL Quarterback Named Florida Head High School Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Jackson High School has hired former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray as its new head coach.

The Times-Union reports that Gray always wanted to get into coaching when his NFL career ended.  Gray takes-over for Kevin Sullivan, who left to take the head coaching job at Atlantic Coast after back-to-back 11-1 seasons.

In six NFL seasons (5 yrs. with Jacksonville, 1 yr. with Kansas City), Gray started four games, completed 57% of his passes, threw 13 touchdown passes and ran for two others.

O'Neal Leaves Centennial High to Return to Chiefland HS

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

In 1997, Jim O'Neal led Chiefland to the Florida 2A state football championship. Now after 12-seasons at Centennial High in Port St. Lucie, O'Neal is returning to Chiefland as head football coach.

The TCPalm Prep Zone reports that after O'Neal's departure, the school appointed its offensive and defensive coordinators as interim head coaches.

4A Champ Dwyer Reportedly to Play in Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series Against Ohio Power

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Officials of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series are not confirming the report, but the Palm Beach Post is reporting that reigning Florida 4A champ Dwyer will play 2009 Ohio Division I runner-up Glenville in one of four games scheduled September 5th and 6th at Ohio Stadium on the campus of Ohio State.

Also, on Monday, September 6th, four games will be played in Texas at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Two High School Football Coaches to be Inducted into Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Former FAMU football coach Henry Jacobs and the late Fort Myers head coach Sam Sirianni will be inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in April.

Jacobs, who won almost 80% of the games he coached, had nine players who went on to the National Football League. Sirianni won 244 games and in 1992, his team was ranked 6th in the nation by USA Today.

Click here to read the Florida High School Athletic Association news release on the 2010 inductees.

Florida - 2010 National Signing Day

Ricardo Allen (Mainland) CB - Purdue
Richard Ash (Pahokee) DT - Michigan
Demetre Baker (Orange Park) LB - Georgia
Jamaal Bass (Miramar) LB - Northern Illinois
Travis Bell (Belle Glades Central) DB - West Virginia
Brent Benedict (Bolles School) OL - Georgia
Justin Birkenholz (Stoneman Douglass) LB - Central Connecticut St.
Tyrone Bouie (Seminole) DB - Minnesota
Kadron Boone (Trinity Christian) WR - LSU
Mark Boles (Winter Park) LB - Lafayette
Damien Brown (Pembroke Pines) DB - Lehigh
Brion Carnes (Manatee) QB - Nebraska
Dante Chambers (Miramar) WR - West Virginia
C.J. Clifford (Frostproof) DB/LB - Iowa St.
Cliff Coleman (Boyd H. Anderson) DB - Mississippi
Tavares Crawford (Glades Central) DB - Eastern Illinois
Worlson Corriolan (Ft. Pierce Central) LB/DE - Campbellsville
Horace Crenshaw (Ft. Pierce Central) LB/DE - Campbellsville
Akeem Daniels (Osceola) ATH - Northern Illinois
Chevin Davis (Mainland) WR -Purdue
Marc Deas (Osceola) DB - Georgia
Jeremy Deering (Leto) WR - Rutgers
Demar Dorsey (Boyd H. Anderson) DB - Michigan
Jonathan Dowling (Southeast) - Florida
Eric Dungy (Plant) - Oregon
Sam Edwards (Ft. Pierce Central) OL/DL - Campbellsville
Matt Elam (Dwyer) - Florida
Jeremiah George (Clearwater) LB - Iowa St.
Gareef Glashen (Carol City) DB - Rutgers
T.J. Glover (Plant) - South Alabama
Jakhari Gore (Christopher Columbus) RB - LSU
Justin Grant (Venice) DB - Eastern Illinois
Tony Grimes (Hollywood Hills) DB - Mississippi
Normando Harris (Monsignor Pace) DB - Purdue
Gabe Holmes (St. Thomas Aquinas) TE - Purdue
Jawan Jamison (The Bolles School) RB - Rutgers
Peniel Jean (Palm Beach Central) CB - Wisconsin
De'Andre Johnson (Monsignor Pace) RB - Iowa
E.J. Johnson (Cocoa) DB - Purdue
Shontrelle Johnson (Deland) RB - Iowa St.
Daniel Jones (Florida) - Northwestern
Delvin Jones (Palmetto) DL - Mississippi
Roosevelt Juin (Flanagan) WR - Lafayette
Kenneth Kirksey (Mainland) DT - Rutgers
Tahj Kimble (Fernandina Beach) RB - Boston College
Donnell Kirkwood (Atlantic) RB - Minnesota
Rashad Knight (Trinity Christian Academy) DB - Rutgers
Demario Kohn (Ridgeview) WR - Lehigh
Rashad Lawrence (Olympia) WR - Northwestern
Jimmy Lera (Palm Beach Gardens) RB - Eastern Illinois
Jonathan Linkenheimer (Mainland) K/P - Purdue
James Louis (Atlantic) WR - Ohio St.
Will Lucas (Lakeland) LB - Purdue
Jovante Martin (Plant) - Georgia Southern
Brian Maura (Felix Varela) WR - Kansas
T.J. McCullough (North Marion) DB - Iowa St.
Josh McNamara (Cypress Bay) DT - Wisconsin
Djwany Mera (South Broward) DE - Rutgers
Patrick McCain (Coral Gables) QB - Lafayette
Ivan McCartney (Miramar) WR - West Virginia
Mike Mirabella (Plant) - Holy Cross
Quadarias Mireles (Atlantic) WR - Mississippi
Eric Mitchell (Atlantic) WR - Mississippi
Andre Mondor (Plant) - Liberty
Pat Mputu (Winter Park) RB - Lafayette
Quayshawn Nealy (Lakeland) LB - Georgia Tech
Fred Overstreet (Thomas Jefferson) LB - Rutgers
Derek Owens (Andrew Jackson) DB - Georgia
Dentrell Pate (Deland) LB - Iowa St.
Bryan Paull (M. Stoneman Douglas) C - Connecticut
Jonathan Ragoo (Monsignor Pace) OL - Minnesota
Marvin Robinson (Lake Region) S - Michigan
O.J. Ross (Mainland) WR - Purdue
Allen Sampson (Plant) - Hawaii
Jeff Scott (Archbishop Carroll) - RB - Mississippi
Trevor Siemian (Olympia) QB - Northwestern
Sergio Fernandez-Soto (Belen Jesuit) WR - Lehigh
Brandon Steg (JP Taravella) LB - Connecticut
Gilbert Stlouis (Plantation) CB - Connecticut
Antoine Tharp (Coral Springs Charter School) DB - Massachusetts
Courtney Thompson (Everglades) DB - Kansas St.
Marcus Thompson (Boyd Anderson) LB - Rutgers
Casey Turner (Ed White) RB - Rutgers
Edward Saint-Vil (Hollywood Hills) DB - Massachusetts
Beckett Wales (Venice) TE - Syracuse
Jarvis West (Gibbs) WR - Iowa St.
Alex Wethy (Christopher Columbus) OL - Eastern Illinois
James White (St. Thomas Aquinas) RB - Wisconsin
Isaiah Williams ( Monsignor Edward Pace) WR - Wisconsin
Jeremi Wilkes (Tampa Catholic) DB - Syracuse
Ralph Williams (Southridge) LB - Mississippi
Justin Wilson (Western) LB - Michigan St.
Mark Wilson (Lincoln) LB - Illinois
Devon Wright (Taravella) RB - Minnesota
Jameson Wright (Fort Pierce Westwood) CB - Wisconsin

Suwannee High School Looking for New Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Jerry Odom has resigned as head coach of the Suwannee High School football program.

The Suwannee Democrat reports that Odom is leaving to take an assistant coach position at Jacksonville University.

Florida High School Football Scores - Championships

Florida High School Football Scores
Friday & Saturday, December 18-19, 2009

Championships

6A
Miramar 42 DeLand 20

5A
Plant 21 Manatee 14

4A
Dwyer 42 Niceville 14

3A
Pensacola 28 Belen Jesuit 7

Plant Captures Second Straight Florida Football Title

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Plant moved up from 4A to 5A this year, but with the same results.

Coming off its upset last week of defending national champ St. Thomas Aquinas, Plant used the momentum to beat Manatee 21-14.

WTSP-TV reports Plant now owns three Florida high school football championships.

Florida High School Football Scores - Championships

Florida High School Football Scores
Friday & Saturday, December 11-12, 2009

Championships

2A
Cocoa 27 Glades Central 13

2B
Bolles 21 Tampa Catholic 6

1A
American Heritage 30 Trinity Christian 20

1B
Glades Day 27 Warner Christian 20 (OT)