In 2024, the Newberry football team did some things that had not been done in nearly 20 years.
The Panthers (10-3) won double-digit games and their first district title since finishing 13-1 as Class 2B state runners-up in 2007. They also advanced to the 2A-Region 2 Final, where they lost on the road to eventual state champion Cocoa.
“It was a blessing,” said Newberry coach Ed Johnson, who enters his seventh season. “That’s probably the best word. We went through some adversity early in the year and found a way to come together and run off some good wins, some big wins and a district championship. And we got some valuable experience, getting deep in the playoffs, and these kids can take it into this year.”
They have two Division-I players on the offensive side of the ball in senior running back Kaleb Woods (6’, 195) and senior wide receiver Hayden Moore (6’2, 200).
Woods, who has offers from Wisconsin, USF, and Pittsburgh, among 15 others, rushed for 1,090 yards and 13 touchdowns last year as a junior, along with five 100-plus yard games.
“Kaleb’s taken a growth in maturity,” Johnson said. “I think that’s the biggest thing this summer is he’s locked in. He’s so special. We’re going to move him around a lot this year, so he’s going to play more than running back. We’re going to find ways to get him the ball. He’s so electric and I can’t wait to see. He’s going to have another 1,000-yard year out of the backfield, though.”
Moore, who had 44 catches for 940 yards and 12 TDs as a sophomore, still finished with 982 yards and 12 TDs on 51 catches as a junior despite being injured early in the year and missing two games.
He also had a punt return and a kick return for scores.
“He’s a great kid,” Johnson said. “All the accolades you can say about him. He works hard. He’s coachable, he’s a great teammate to everybody in the locker room. And he’s a really, really good ball player on top of it. Big, physical. He’s another guy we’re going to move around a lot and find ways to give him the ball as much as we can because we have to.”
The Minnesota commit, who has been working with a professional trainer to get stronger and faster, is optimistic about this year’s team.
“This year’s team is going to be really good,” Moore said. “We have a lot of young guys, but honestly we’re just going to put the pieces together, keep putting in work, and we’re just going to build up from there.”
Johnson’s son, Kobe (5’8, 160), will be under center this year following the graduation of Collin Dunmore, who signed with St. Thomas University after throwing for 1,493 yards and 18 touchdowns.
“He knows the system, he knows my expectations, and he’s a leader,” Ed Johnson said. “And the teammates believe in him. We had a competition in the spring, just to see kind of how that would go, and he won it, and they rallied around him, and we’re excited.”
The rising senior did get some reps under center last year with 15 completions in 24 attempts for 186 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 53 yards on just nine carries.
“I’m very excited for this role,” said Johnson, whose older brother Makai also played quarterback for the Panthers. “Last year, I sat behind Collin Dunmore, and he actually taught me a lot. I’m really grateful for Collin. He made sure I was really prepared. My coaches made sure I was prepared, and my teammates believe in me, so I’m very confident stepping into this role.”
Senior Jekai Dawson (6’3, 280), who has 30 career starts at left tackle and only one sack given up last season, will anchor the offensive line.
Defensively, the Panthers must replace Ohio State signee Jarquez Carter (84 tackles, 48 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks), University of Miami signee Mykah Newton (67 tackles, 23 TFL, nine sacks), and Logan McCloud (110 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 interceptions), who signed with Wofford.
“We can’t replace them, but I like where we’re at,” Ed Johnson said. “Our depth is better than it was last year and guys like Luke Bennett (6’2, 210) and La’Harry Debose (6’, 160), they were in the mix last year. They got valuable reps, and they’re taking charge. So, I like where we’re at defensively. I think our secondary is going to be really, really good this year.”
Debose (38 tackles, 11 pass breakups), who has an offer from Wofford, had five of the Panthers’ 14 interceptions last season as a junior.
“We’ve got a great defense this year,” he said. “We’re ready to work. We always compete.”
The one area of concern is kicker and the loss of Zane Spires, the Gainesville Quarterback Club’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, who was 31-of-33 on extra points, 8-of-13 on field goal kicks, including two 49-yard field goals, and 24 touchbacks.
Who will replace the Benedict College signee?
“Question mark, we don’t know,” Ed Johnson said. “And I get a lot of questions about replacing Jarquez, but I’m more worried about Zane, right? Zane was a three-year starter for us and kicked it at a really high clip, so he’s irreplaceable as well. So, we got to figure that out here quick, fast, in a hurry, and we’ll see.”
In addition to the 2A-District 5 schedule, which includes Bradford (Starke), Palatka, Keystone Heights, and Santa Fe (Alachua), the Panthers will play Class 1A regional finalist University Christian (Jacksonville), Rural state runner-up Hawthorne and 4A regional finalist Vanguard (Ocala) in consecutive weeks to start the season.
It’s the type of schedule that will get you ready for the postseason.
“Got to, and that’s the plan,” Ed Johnson said. “That’s why we schedule like that with our non-district games. If you want to get in the playoffs, you’re going to play a lot of teams like Vanguard and Hawthorne when you get there.”
Newberry Panthers
2024 record: 10-3
2024 playoffs: Lost at Cocoa, 40-3, in 2A-Region 2 Final
Head coach: Ed Johnson
Years as head coach: 7th year
District assignment: Class 2A-District 5
Players to watch:
Hayden Moore (WR, Sr.)
Kaleb Woods (RB, Sr.)
La’Harry Debose (DB, Sr.)
Luke Bennett (DE, Sr.)
Kobe Johnson (QB, Sr.)
Key games:
Aug. 29 vs. Hawthorne
Sept. 5 vs. Vanguard (Ocala)
Oct. 3 at Santa Fe (Alachua)
Oct. 10 at Bradford (Starke)
Oct. 24 vs. Williston