Last year the Newberry football team won nine games and advanced to the second round of the Class 1R state playoffs.

The Panthers (9-3) lost to eventual state champion Hawthorne, 27-7, in the 1R-Region 4 Semifinals, their second loss of the season to the Hornets (13-0).

Their only other defeat came with less than a minute to play in a 24-22 loss at home against Williston, which finished the regular season undefeated.

“I think we made a step last year,” said Newberry football coach Ed Johnson, who enters his sixth season. “That was the biggest thing, finding a way to get better as a program. Those three losses were to two really good teams, and one of them was close, so we felt like we were in those games, and we’ve just got to find a way to get better.”

Most of their key players return in 2024, including recent D-I commitments in defensive tackle Jarquez Carter (6’2, 280), defensive end Mykah Newton (6’3, 260), and linebacker/tight end Logan McCloud (6’1, 220), who will anchor a defense that pitched four shutouts last year.

“Obviously, we’ve got those big three on defense coming back, but Kaleb Woods is also back, Hayden Moore is back, and three out of our five O-linemen are back from last year,” Johnson said. “It all starts up front so as long as those guys continue to get better, we should have a good year.”

Woods, who had 868 yards rushing as a freshman, finished his sophomore season with 1,279 yards on 168 carries (7.6 yards per carry) and he caught 11 passes for 271 yards with a total of 20 touchdowns last year.

The first team All Area selection, who already holds offers from Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Boston College, among others, has the potential to be among the best backs in the Sunshine State.

“I agree, I think he definitely could be,” Johnson said. “He’s got two years to kind of figure that part out and be one of the best running backs in the state and the country, like he’s that talented. He can do a bunch of things. He can tote it. He can catch it. We’re working on the blocking part of it, but he’s definitely a difference maker.”

Quarterback Keil McGriff transferred to Buchholz, but dual-threat QB Collin Dunmore (6’5, 225) transferred in from the Bobcats.

“I can beat you with my legs or through the air,” said the rising senior, who currently holds an offer from Bethune Cookman. “It’s really pick your poison. I didn’t get touched in the spring game. Shout out to my offensive line. They kept my jersey clean.”

Dunmore had touchdown passes of 4, 80, and 60 yards in the spring game against North Marion (Citra), plus a 59-yard rushing touchdown, in only one half of action.

“Collin, he was a godsend,” Johnson said. “He stepped in, and he looks the part. He has the frame but he’s also talented and he’s embracing the grind and work ethic part of it. He’s had a really good summer for us.”

Moore also had a breakout season and joined Woods on the All Area first team as a wide receiver after hauling in 44 catches for 940 yards (85.5 yards per game) and 12 TDs as a sophomore.

Defensively the Panthers should be able to dominate with their front seven and make teams one dimensional.

It all starts up front with Carter, who committed to Ohio State.

“He’s a generational talent, I think, just all the way around,” Johnson said. “Obviously he’s blessed physically to be that size and that strong, but his work ethic is what separates him. He studies the film more than any high school kid I’ve been around. He wants to get better, and he works the part every single day.”

Carter, who is the No. 61 overall player in Florida according to 247Sports, had 67 total tackles, a team-leading 37 tackles for a loss, and nine sacks as a junior.

“I feel like I’ve gotten stronger, I’ve got more of a push back,” he said. “I’ve been able to bend more and been able to turn my toes to the quarterback. Those are the things that I’ve been improving on to help my team out and help us get to where we need to get to.”

Newton is a 3-star edge rusher who committed to North Carolina State on July 18 but announced on Friday evening on X that he was flipping his commitment to the University of Miami.

“I’ve seen the growth and the progress in him,” Johnson said. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He’s a mismatch. You can’t double team both of them (him and Carter), and those long arms, his explosive get off, he’s a nightmare for O-linemen.”

As a junior, he finished with 62 total tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, and he led the Panthers with 13 sacks.

“The defense to me is very electrifying,” Newton said. “We fly around everywhere and make sure we make plays on the ball. We’re very relentless…we’re leaders now, we’re seniors, so we play a big role on our team, and we have to bring everybody together. It’s a brotherhood.”

McCloud tallied 73 total tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, six sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles as a junior.

“Logan is kind of our Swiss army knife,” Johnson said. “We’re going to put him a little bit of everywhere. He’s going to play special teams, he’s going to play tight end, he’s going to play some fullback, and he’s definitely going to play some linebacker, and defensive end when we need him to. He’s definitely a leader in the locker room and somebody who should have a big year.”

The Panthers will compete in Class 2A-District 5 this season with Class 2S state runner-up Bradford (Starke), Keystone Heights, and Palatka, all of whom made the FHSAA state playoffs last year, and Santa Fe (Alachua).

They will also travel to defending 1R state champion Hawthorne, Class 3S state semifinalist Vanguard (Ocala), 1R regional finalist Williston, and 1S state runner-up Trinity Catholic (Ocala).

“It’s loaded,” Johnson said of the schedule. “It’s a gantlet, but we’re excited. If you’re a competitor, you want to compete. We’ve got a state champion, two state runners-up, a bunch of playoff teams on there, so we’re excited.”

Newberry will open the season at home on Aug. 23 against University Christian (Jacksonville).