The Hawthorne Hornets came up just short of a three-peat in 2024.
The Hornets, who won football championships in 2022 and 2023, made a late rally against Madison County in the Rural Classification State Title game last December, coming up just short of the tying score in a 21-14 setback.
As the 2025 high school football season gets underway, the Hawthorne coach, Cornelius Ingram, believes a trip to a sixth straight state title game may be in the cards.
“These kids all spend a lot of time with each other and all like each other, and that’s where it starts,” Ingram said. “I’m excited because these guys have played a lot of football for us, despite being young.”
First off, the Hornets must replace graduated quarterback Adrian Curtis and running back Keenon Johnson. Curtis threw for 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions in his only season at Hawthorne after transferring from Eastside, and Johnson was one of the leading rushers in the state, running for 1,764 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging nearly 8 yards per carry and 147 yards per game.
Sophomore quarterback Richard Roundtree saw plenty of playing time spelling Curtis during his freshman season in 2024. Roundtree threw for 548 yards and five touchdowns, including a game-winning Hail Mary pass against Class 6A Oakleaf (Orange Park). The quarterback job is now Roundtree’s coming into this season.
“We are going to work hard every day and take it game-by-game, and obviously our main goal is to win state,” Roundtree said.
Hawthorne lost 15 seniors from last season, but Ingram believes a freshman may be the Hornets’ best player.
“I told someone this ninth-grade kid (guard Micah Williams) has the potential to be our best player,” Ingram said. “I need to give a shoutout to another ninth grader as well in Alshon Strickland. He was penciled in as a starter, but broke his foot and will not play this season. So, I was about to start two freshmen and two sophomores along with a senior on the offensive line.”
Hawthorne’s defense was once again strong in 2024, allowing only 187 points in 12 games. The Hornets must replace Naziy Gent and Leland Johnson, who combined for 205 tackles, and also Jaheim Darby, who rolled up 88 tackles and five sacks. Ethan Thomas led Hawthorne with seven sacks and 45 tackles and has moved on as well.
Senior Kyler Ingram will be asked to lead the defense and will move back to linebacker. Ingram amassed 44 tackles and two interceptions last year.
“We’re young, but we’re working hard to get better every day,” Kyler said. “Our goal is to make it back to the state championship.”
Junior defensive back/wide receiver Nathan Jennings will also be counted on the defensive side of the ball.
“I love it. Next man up, be there and work hard every day,” Jennings said. “We have speed and we have power. We are young, but the young guys work hard every day to get better.”
In 2024, Jennings piled up 43 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
“Nathan Jennings is probably the best athlete at the school, and he probably was two years ago, too,” Cornelius said. “We played him at cornerback and because we had such good receivers, he didn’t have to play there, but we are adding him to the offense this year.”
The schedule for the Hornets has been a struggle to make. As this goes to press, Hawthorne only has seven regular-season games, with only three games at home. The Hornets have a tough Kickoff Classic assignment at Baker County (Glen St. Mary) on Aug. 15 before opening the season at home against Discovery (Lake Alfred) on Aug. 22.
Hawthorne then travels to Newberry on Aug. 29 for a rematch of last year’s overtime thriller, before returning home for a revenge game against Florida High (Tallahassee). Florida High handed the Hornets their first loss in three seasons last year in Tallahassee, 41-28.
“For me, Florida High is the game I am looking forward to because I didn’t play in the game last year,” Kyler said.
Cornelius, Kyler’s father, also missed the game in Tallahassee last year due to a health issue from the Newberry game the week before.
Three of Hawthorne’s last four scheduled games for now are on the road — at Oakleaf, University Christian (Jacksonville) and Dunnellon. The only home game in that stretch is against Bayshore (Bradenton). Cornelius hopes to add two more games before the season starts.
“People think we have transfers, or we are this powerhouse program,” Ingram said. “We are building our kids here, and when you win some, people may not like it. And then it gets harder sometimes to find [teams] to play.
Cornelius is now only doing single duty, as he stepped down as head coach of the Hawthorne girls basketball team during the summer. With two football state titles and two girls basketball championships, he is feeling rested and excited about the 2025 season.
“In my 11 years (as football coach), this ranks up there with one of the best offseasons, and I’ve had some really good offseasons. These young men hold themselves accountable, and we can do something with that.”
Hawthorne Hornets
2024 final record: 10-2
2024 playoffs (final game of the season): lost to Madison County 21-14 in Rural State Championship Game
Head coach: Cornelius Ingram
Years as head coach: 11th season
Classification: Rural
Players to watch:
Richard Roundtree (QB, Soph.)
Kyler Ingram (LB, Sr.)
Nathan Jennings (DB/WR, Jr.)
Micah Williams (OL, Fresh.)
Key games:
Aug. 29 at Newberry
Sept. 5 vs. Florida High (Tallahassee)
Sept. 12 at Oakleaf (Orange Park)
Oct. 10 at University Christian (Jacksonville)
Oct. 16 at Dunnellon