You can’t get any better than the Hawthorne Hornets football team the last two years.

Hawthorne won its second consecutive state title in 2023, beating Madison County, 22-13, in Tallahassee last December.

That win also extended Hawthorne’s winning streak overall to 25 games. The Hornets’ last loss came to Madison County, 13-12, in the 1A state championship game in 2021.

It’s been an unprecedented time for the Hawthorne athletic program.

But the Hornets are now looking ahead to this fall, and a possible three-peat.

Head coach Cornelius Ingram’s team did lose wide receiver Alvon Isaac, linebacker Andrew Zock, Jordin Fluellen, Caleb Rollerson and Matthew McKinley-Daniels among those who graduated from last season.

Plus, quarterback C.J. Ingram decided not to play football this fall so he could focus on a promising hoops career and committed to the Florida Gators on Monday.

But Hawthorne returns plenty of talent such as wide receiver Dacari Debose, wide receiver/running back Zion Johnson, and running back Keenon Johnson.

Adrian Curtis, Eastside’s quarterback last year, transferred in late July and will start under center for the Hornets.

“We graduated a bunch of skill guys, but we were able to get guys ready last season,” said Hornets’ defensive coordinator Cedderick Daniels, who filled in for coach Ingram at the North Central Florida Football Media Day. “We’ve got a lot of experience coming back as well.”

Daniels said it’s been quite a run at Hawthorne.

“It’s been a good experience,” he said. “Our guys have particularly bought into what we are doing. It’s always a good thing to have guys prepared to move up.”

Hawthorne’s defense was once again dominant in 2023, allowing only 103 points in 13 games, an average of nearly eight points per contest. The Hornets also pitched three shutouts, including in the state semifinal win over Blountstown.

They allowed less than 10 points in five other games.

“On defense we return some guys,” Daniels said. “We return Leland Johnson, who’s a three-year starter for us. We have Naziy Gent coming back, he had 100 tackles last year playing next to Andrew Zock. We have our field general in the back in Zion Johnson, he’s also a three-year starter. We have a lot of experience in good places.”

Hawthorne will have to replace Zock and his 143 tackles and five and a half sacks from last season. Gent had 100 tackles, including 25 for a loss, five sacks and an interception. Leland Johnson finished last season with 74 tackles, 15 and a half tackles for a loss, six sacks and an interception. Zion Johnson added 33 tackles and an interception for the Hornets a year ago.

If you wonder if Hawthorne is resting on its laurels, think again. They are working as hard as ever.

“As coaches we beg for days off, and the kids call us and want to work out,” Daniels said. “They have been going since January. They were off right after the state championship, but once they came back for school, they have been in the weight room and been on the track. It’s pretty much been like it always is.”

Despite losing their top three receivers in Isaac, Rollerson and McKinley-Daniels, Hawthorne returns running back Keenon Johnson, who rushed for 1,594 yards, 123 yards per game, and 16 touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry and garnering 11 100-yard rushing games.

“It’s tough when you lose your top three receivers, but we have our entire offensive line coming back,” Daniels said. “We will be able to lean on them a bit until we get our young guys experience in the passing game and open it up in time for the playoffs.”

Hawthorne’s schedule is once again pretty challenging, although they only have eight games on it.

“You just have to put together a schedule that will get you enough points to make the playoffs,” Daniels said.

The Hornets open their season on Aug. 23 at 3A Anclote (Holiday), then play their home opener the following week against Newberry, which is now in 2A.

Hawthorne also has road games at 2A Florida High (Tallahassee), 3A South Sumter (Bushnell), 3A Eustis, and IMG Academy White (Bradenton). The Hornets host 6A Oakleaf (Orange Park) and 1A Orlando Christian Prep.

After winning the last two 1R state titles, the FHSAA classifications have moved back to A. Hawthorne will play in the new Rural classification.

“It’s going to be tough,” Daniels said. “This is the schedule you get when you put out a classified ad for opponents. Once again, we won’t play anybody in the 1A (Rural) classification until the playoffs. We play Oakleaf, Aucilla Christian (Monticello), IMG Academy White. We have Newberry again and Orlando Christian Prep. Most of the teams on our schedule made deep playoff runs.”

Ingram returns for his 10^th season as head coach at his alma mater. Not only has Ingram led Hawthorne to the last two football state titles, but he has also coached the Hornets girls basketball team to two straight 1A championships.