All Area: Hawthorne, Newberry dominate small school offense

There is a saying that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.

Hawthorne had both in winning its second straight Class 1R state title.

The Hornets (13-0), who defeated Madison County, 22-13, in the state championship game, lead the way with four players on the 2023 Bosshardt Realty All Area small school offensive football team.

Headlining the list is the Class 1R Player of the Year C.J. Ingram, who helped lead an offense that averaged 40.1 points per team.

“C.J. is a proven winner and a great leader,” said Hawthorne offensive coordinator Greg Bowie. “He pays attention to detail, and he has a relentless competitive nature. As a dual-threat QB he was able to manipulate a lot of defenses with his arm and legs.”

This past season Ingram threw for 2,618 yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, and he also carried the ball 62 times for 333 yards, an average of 5.4 yards per carry, with six scores.

“Every time I go back and watch film of C.J., he looks a lot like LSU’s QB Jayden Daniels,” Bowie said. “Over 2,600 yards passing with 38 touchdowns shows you what he’s capable of. I’m anxious to see what kind of numbers he’ll put up next year.”

His backfield mate, junior Keenon Johnson, joined him on the first team after rushing for 1,594 yards (7.5 ypc) and 16 touchdowns.

“Keenon is a tough runner,” said Hawthorne offensive coordinator Greg Bowie. “Once he gets downhill, not many defenders want to stand in front of him. He’s in great physical shape and gets stronger as the game goes on.”

But when the game was on the line, Johnson delivered, as evidenced by his clock-eating carries. Against Madison County in the 1R state championship game, Johnson carried the ball eight times for 33 yards on their final drive against the Cowboys as the Hornets burned 5 minutes, 53 seconds off the fourth quarter clock.

“It’s a luxury to have an every down back that can run in between the tackles, or outside,” Bowie said. “He can also catch it out of the backfield. He has the potential to be a 2,000-yard rusher next year.”

Sophomore Kaleb Woods of Newberry, who rushed for 1,279 yards (7.6 ypc) with 16 touchdowns and seven 100+ yard games, joins him in the backfield.

Woods, who also had 11 catches for 271 yards (24.6 average) and four touchdowns, helped lead the Panthers (9-3) to a regional semifinal appearance.

“As dynamic as they come from the running back position,” said Newberry coach Ed Johnson. “Big, physical, fast with great vision. Not only is he a great runner, but he can catch passes when needed. Can’t wait to see his progression over the next two years.”

USF signee Alvon Isaac is one of two wide receivers named first team All Area.

He led the Hornets with 47 receptions for 974 yards (20.7) and 17 touchdowns.

“Alvon is a versatile athlete that possesses a combination of traits such as agility, quickness, strength, vision, body control, soft hands and toughness,” Bowie said. “He’s a threat anywhere on the field. On offense, we moved him around a lot because most teams tried to bracket him. He still delivered a lot of exciting plays. He’s also a dangerous return man.”

He is joined by Newberry’s Hayden Moore, who also just missed a 1,000-yard season. The sophomore had a team-leading 44 catches for 940 yards (21.4 avg.) and 12 TDs.

“An absolute pleasure to coach and be around on a daily basis,” Johnson said. “Hayden creates separation as good as anyone and makes contested catches regularly. As he continues to develop, he will be one of the best wide receivers in the state.”

Fort White’s Dakota Fisher made the team as an athlete.

He excelled in several phases of the game, rushing for 1,235 yards and 19 touchdowns, including six 100-plus yard outings in 11 games.

The senior finished with 1,924 yards all-purpose yards (174.9 ypg), averaging 36.7 yards per kickoff return and 26.7 yards per punt return, including a long of 90 yards. He also tallied one punt return for a score and three kickoff returns for touchdowns.

The Hornets and the Panthers each placed a player on the offensive line.

Jaheim Darby (6’, 275) helped anchor an O-line that averaged 377.2 total yards per game.

“Jaheim could have very well been one of our most productive defensive linemen but he’s one of those unselfish guys that is willing to help wherever he’s needed,” Bowie said. “He sacrificed some reps on the D-Line to help us protect the QB’s blindside. We also moved him to guard on some run plays. He’s a tough player with great technique.”

Sophomore Je’Kai Dawson (6’2, 250) of Newberry helped lead a Panthers’ offense that averaged 390.7 ypg.

“Young, physical, talented and coachable,” Johnson said. “He is focused on developing and getting better, grew so much his sophomore year and will continue to get better.”

Rounding out the offensive line are senior Wyatt Woodford (6’, 250) of Williston, senior Robert McIntyre (6’2, 275) of Fort White and junior Maddox Wheeler (5’10, 230) of Union County (Lake Butler).

Williston senior Eddie De La Cruz was named first team All Area as a kicker, while Newberry junior Zane Spires of Newberry made the team as the punter.

De La Cruz was 3-for-3 on field goals and he made 50 of his 52 extra points.

Spires, who had 12 touchbacks on kicks, averaged 35.3 yards per punt.

“A much-needed weapon and option for us this season,” Johnson said of Spires. “He has grown and developed into a player that we all have faith in to get the job done on Friday nights.”

Small school offense

QB – C.J. Ingram, Hawthorne (Jr.)

RB – Kaleb Woods, Newberry (So.)

RB – Keenon Johnson, Hawthorne (Jr.)

WR – Alvon Isaac, Hawthorne (Sr.)

WR – Hayden Moore, Newberry (So.)

ATH – Dakota Fisher, Fort White (Sr.)

OL – Jaheim Darby, Hawthorne (Sr.)

OL – Wyatt Woodford, Williston (Sr.)

OL – Robert McIntyre, Fort White (Sr.)

OL – Je’Kai Dawson, Newberry (So.)

OL – Maddox Wheeler, Union County (Jr.)

K – Eddie De La Cruz, Williston (Sr.)

P – Zane Spires, Newberry (Jr.)

Honorable mentions

Bell – Landin Williams (RB, Fr.), Isaac Johnson (ATH, Jr.), Lucas Stapp (OL, Sr.), Elijah Vega (OL, Jr.)

Branford – Austin Malaguti (WR, Sr.), Trevor Maddox (RB, Jr.), Tate Dampier (OL, Sr.), Thomas Sikes (QB, So.)

Chiefland – Osten Jones (RB, Jr.), Zachary Dumas (OL, Sr.), Nathaniel Dumas (OL, Sr.), Brody Ellis (OL, Sr.), Jon Adams (ATH, So.), Thomas Pettigrew (P, Sr.)

Dixie County (Cross City) – Darius Cook (RB, Sr.), Carter Hodge (QB, Sr.), William Six (OL, Sr.)

Fort White – Jayden Jackson (QB, So.), Garrett Brady (WR, Sr.), Najeeb Smith (WR, Sr.), Colten Patterson (K, Sr.)

Hawthorne – Caleb Rollerson (WR, Sr.), Matthew McKinley-Daniels (WR, Sr.), Torance Myers (OL, Sr.), Sam Carroll (K, Jr.), Josues Knapp (OL, So.)

Newberry – Keil McGriff (QB, So.), Zane Spires (P, Jr.), Amarion Cason (RB, Sr.), David Schmidt (WR, Sr.), Jayden Holcombe (WR, Sr.), Jaxson Ridgeway (OL, Fr.)

Oak Hall – Dakota Brower (QB, Jr.), Briggs Copeland (RB, Jr.), Abram Jerkins (RB, Sr.), Christopher Davis (OL, Sr.), Aidan Jerkins (OL, Jr.), Aaron Akins (ATH, So.)

P.K. Yonge – Lawrence Wright Jr. (QB, Sr.), Corinthian Graham (WR, Jr.), Calvin Thomas (ATH, Jr.), Devin Johnson (RB, Jr.), Markus Lewis (OL, Sr.), Jovani Lopez (OL, Sr.)

St. Francis Catholic Academy— Nash Lantinen (ATH, Sr.), Devin Rollins (ATH, Sr.), Pedro Viana (RB, Sr.), Alejandro J Delgado Morales (WR, Jr.)

Trenton – Jackson Gentry (QB, So.), Tavin Brown (RB, Sr.), Jon Furst (RB, Sr.), Brant Bivens (WR, Fr.), Rogelio Juarez (OL, Sr.), Burt Corbin (OL, Sr.)

Union County (Lake Butler) – Jonathan Edwards (K, Sr.), Tucker Baynard (OL, Sr.), Trenton Klein (QB, Jr.), Ras Woodall (ATH, Sr.), Thomas Williams (RB, Sr.), Drew Simmons (RB, Fr.), Gavin Jenkins (WR, Jr.), Dylan Lane (OL, Sr.)

Williston – Shamon Coleman (QB, Sr.), Jharez Williams (RB, Sr.), Jace McDonald (RB, Sr.), Tranard Roberts (RB, Fr.), Ja’mez Jamison (RB, Sr.), Jamari Williams (RB, Jr.), Matthew Merjave (OL, Sr.), Carter Benton (OL, Sr.), Cain O’Neal (OL, Sr.)