It’s never easy winning playoff games in high school football, but you can seemingly pencil the Buchholz Bobcats in at least the state semifinals every year.

Buchholz advanced to the state semifinals for the fifth straight year in 2025, and while they lost a tough 24-17 game to West Broward (Pembroke Pines), the Bobcats had another successful 12-2 season for coach Mark Whittemore.

And Buchholz once again leads the way with five players on the 2025 Bosshardt Realty All Area big school offensive team.

Senior wide receiver and University of Florida signee Justin Williams once again led the Bobcats offense. While Williams didn’t go over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving as he did in his junior season in 2024, he had 67 receptions for 1,117 yards receiving with a team-high 12 touchdowns while rushing for 547 yards and nine more scores. He also played some quarterback and even joined the defense in the secondary late in the regular season and in the postseason for Buchholz.

“Justin is simply one of the best players in the entire state for the second year in a row,” Whittemore said. “The amount of time our opponents had to dedicate to preparing for him was a huge part of our success. He always finds a way to dramatically affect the outcome of the game. He is the ultimate football player in all three phases.”

With quarterback Trace Johnson transferring from Buchholz to a school in California last summer, sophomore Andrew Whittemore stepped in and excelled as the Bobcats signal-caller.

After a slow start, Whittemore ended up throwing for 2,116 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for another 401 yards and eight scores.

“Andrew (Whittemore) grew up this year and was able to become a championship player by game five or six,” Mark Whittemore said. “He showed toughness as a runner, which added a big dimension to our offense. I’m excited about his future.”

Senior offensive linemen Brady Baughtman and Michael Edwards helped lead a Buchholz running game that averaged 173 yards per game.

“On an offensive line that gave up five sacks, he (Baughtman) gave up zero,” Mark Whittemore said. “He had the right tackle position completely under control.”

Buchholz’s second lineman was also huge for the Bobcats.

“At 6’6″ and 350 pounds, he (Edwards) was the ultimate road grader,” Mark Whittemore said.

The fifth and final Buchholz representative is senior kicker Jay Giunta. Giunta had another impressive season for the Bobcats, converting 15 of 19 field goals and 50 of 55 extra points for 95 points. He also averaged 33.6 yards per punt with a long of 85 yards.

“He (Giunta) wins games through flipping the field, putting the kickoff in the end zone, and making every kick,” Mark Whittemore said. “We won a lot of games because of his leg.”

Against a brutal schedule, Newberry made it back to the playoffs with a 5-5 record before suffering a first-round exit in the 2A regional quarterfinals at Cocoa. The Panthers place two players on the big school offense.

Senior Kaleb Woods was chosen as an athlete. Woods led Newberry in rushing with 882 yards, with seven yards a carry, five 100-yard games and seven touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 241 yards and two more scores.

“A true down-everything RB that showcased speed, power, vision and reliable hands out of the backfield,” Newberry coach Ed Johnson said. “Kaleb stepped up more as the season went on and carried the load for our offense.  We all looked to and expected big plays from him every Friday night.” 

Joining Woods on the All Area squad is a teammate who helped clear the way for him to be successful as a runner, senior offensive lineman Jekai Dawson.

“The definition of consistency, Jekai has started every game the last four years for us on the offensive line,” Johnson said. “This season, he became more of a vocal leader for the entire offense.  Quick feet with violent hands and a drive to finish blocks made him so effective throughout the season.” 

It was quite a turnaround season for the Santa Fe Raiders in 2025. After going 2-37 over the previous four seasons, Santa Fe improved to 7-4 and made the 2A playoffs in their first season under head coach and former UF and Tampa Bay Bucs standout Earnest Graham.

One of the main reasons for the Raiders’ turnaround was junior running back Jasiah Powell. Powell led Santa Fe in rushing with 1,353 yards, averaging 123 yards on the ground per game with a long run of 83 yards, seven 100-yard rushing games and 18 touchdowns.

The Columbia Tigers went 9-3 in 2025 and advanced back to the 4A playoffs, where they lost a tough road game in the region semifinal 27-20 at Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach). The Tigers representative on the All Area offense is junior wide receiver Kyren Caldwell.

Caldwell caught 48 passes for 701 yards and eight touchdowns for the Tigers.

“Kyren is a very hard-working athlete on and off the field,” Columbia head coach Brian Allen said. “He strives to be the best in everything he does. Extremely good route runner and has big-play potential every time the ball is in his hands. He is a very good blocker and has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Bradford is represented by junior offensive lineman Bryce Daniels. Daniels helped the Tornadoes rush for 2,000 yards on the season as they finished 11-2 and advanced to the region final of the 2A playoffs.

In his fourth year as Eastside head coach, Harold “Gator” Hoskins again led the Rams to the postseason as they finished 9-3, won a district title, and advanced to the second round of the 3A playoffs.

Eastside’s offense was led by sophomore running back Javaris Gardner. Gardner rushed for 1,183 yards, 8.8 yards a carry and 13 touchdowns with six 100-yard rushing games for the Rams.

“Man, that kid right there is probably pound-for-pound the strongest guy on the team,” Hoskins said. “He has a lot of heart. He’s gonna give it everything that he has. Hard runner. He’s just a natural football player. The word football, that’s him right beside it.”

The final player on the big school offensive team is sophomore offensive lineman Trezon Richardson. Even though Gainesville finished with a 2-8 record, Richardson helped lead the Hurricanes’ offense to 138.5 yards rushing per game.

Big School Offense (2A-6A)

QB – Andrew Whittemore, Buchholz (So.)

RB – Jasiah Powell, Santa Fe (Jr.)

RB – Javaris Gardner, Eastside (So.)

WR – Justin Williams, Buchholz (Sr.)

WR – Kyren Caldwell, Columbia (Jr.)

ATH – Kaleb Woods, Newberry (Sr.)

OL – Michael Edwards, Buchholz (Sr.)

OL – Trezon Richardson, GHS (So.)

OL – Jekai Dawson, Newberry (Sr.)

OL – Bryce Daniels, Bradford (Jr.)

OL – Brady Baughtman, Buchholz (Sr.)

K/P – Jay Giunta, Buchholz (Sr.)

Honorable mentions

Bradford (Starke) – Kyren Green (OL, Sr.), Kemontae Nixon (WR, Sr.), Iyen Addison (RB, Jr.), Jarrell Harris (RB, Jr.), Jordan Cason (WR, Jr.), Chase Phillips (WR, Jr.), Cy Cubbedge (QB, So.)

Bucholz – Anthony Barr (OL, Sr.), Chris Johnson (RB, Sr.), Nick Siple (OL, Jr.), Ibrahem Shaer (OL, Jr.), Josh Menefee (RB, So.), Marquel Brooks (WR, So.), Ashton Norris (ATH, So.)

Columbia (Lake City) – Henry Camiel III (OK, Sr.), Xavier Collins (QB, Jr.), Drew Simmons (RB, Jr.), Tacori Allen (ATH, Jr.), Antonio Days (WR, Jr.), Jerome Horne (RB, So.)   

Eastside – Nelson Tambling (QB, Sr.), Deavion McBride (OL, Sr.), Marcus Coefield (WR, Sr.), Kaleb McKinnon (WR, Sr.), David Bradford (OL, Sr.), Elijah Dressell (K, Sr.), Kameron Phillips (OL, Jr.)

Gainesville – Jashawn Sanford (QB, Sr.), Dwight Jenkins (RB, Sr.), Aric Welch (WR, Sr.), Trey Calhoun (OL, Jr.), Keihonest Perry (RB, So.)

Newberry – Hayden Moore (WR, Sr.), Kobe Johnson (QB, Sr.), Jamarcus Wimberly (RB, Jr.),  Elijah Scott (OL, Jr.), Zaden Wilcox (ATH, Fr.)

Santa Fe (Alachua) – Sam Lopez (OL, Sr.), Keimarion Neal (ATH, Sr.), Zach Perez (OL, Sr.), Dantre Little (ATH, Jr.), Mayer Steen (K/P, Jr.)

Suwannee (Live Oak) – Thomas Sikes (QB, Sr.), LJ Smith (RB, Sr.), Ty Moses (WR, Sr.), Reese Bronson (OL, Sr.), Jamarcus Cherry (WR, Jr.), Travon Fead (RB, Fr.)

Complete stats and/or coach nominations were not available for Keystone Heights