The 2025 season was once again a banner year for Hawthorne Hornets.

The Hornets finished 11-1 and captured their third rural state football title in four years with a 24-8 win over previously unbeaten Blountstown in the Rural State Championship game at The Villages. 

Defense was once again the calling card for Hawthorne, as they allowed only 22 points in four playoff wins over Branford, Williston, Chiefland and Blountstown.

So it only makes sense that five Hornets were selected to the 2025 Bosshardt Realty All Area small school defensive team.

The Hornets, who allowed only 136 points in 12 games, were led by senior linebacker Kyler Ingram, who led Hawthorne with 115 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

“Kyler (Ingram) is a physical downhill backer,” Hawthorne defensive coordinator Cedderick Daniels said. “He was the general of the defense and led the team in tackles. He truly played sideline-to-sideline.”

Ingram was joined at the linebacker position by junior Messiah Gent. Gent had 100 tackles and added a sack and an interception.

“Messiah is a freakishly smart linebacker,” Daniels said. “He transitioned from strong safety to middle backer partway through the season. He is a downhill gap plugging backer.”

Junior Nathan Jennings was a ball hawk in the Hornets’ secondary, leading Hawthorne with seven interceptions and 14 passes defensed while adding 39 tackles.

“Nate is one of the best all-around players I’ve seen in a while,” Daniels said. “He has a nose for the ball and has double-digit interceptions for his career.”

Jennings also added 34 receptions for 336 yards and five touchdowns as a wide receiver for Hawthorne and handled kickoff returns and kicking/punting duties for the Hornets.

Joining Jennings in the secondary is another teammate, sophomore Dakari Wiggins. Wiggins had two interceptions and five passes defensed along with 47 tackles for the Hornets.

“Dakari is one of those guys that can play anywhere,” Daniels said. “He is a phenomenal athlete. He is a hard hitter and a ball hawk.”

The fifth and final Hawthorne player on the All Area defensive team is sophomore defensive lineman Dracen Martin. Martin had 73 tackles and piled up an eye-popping 20 tackles for loss and 12½  sacks to lead the Hornets in both categories.

“Dracen is long, athletic and got better as the season kept going,” Daniels said. “He was a dominating force coming off the edge and was an excellent pass rusher. He finished in the top three in his class in sacks.”

While Chiefland came up short of a state championship game appearance with a 36-6 loss at Hawthorne in the Rural state semifinals, it was an extremely successful 11-2 season for first-year head coach Cliff Harrell.

Chiefland allowed only 182 points in 13 games and placed three players on the All Area defense.

The Indians were led by senior defensive end/linebacker Jon Adams, a Louisville signee. Adams had 53 tackles, 13½ tackles for loss, five sacks, five forced fumbles, four passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

“Jon (Adams) was our general for our defense,” Harrell said. “He is exactly what you want in a leader. He’s the most physical player on the field and one of the smartest football players I’ve ever coached.”

Adams was also Chiefland’s leading receiver on offense, catching 47 passes for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Adams is joined by senior defensive lineman Wykel Howard. Howard led Chiefland with 61 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, and added two sacks and one pass defensed.

“Wykel was a wrecking ball all season,” Harrell said. “He was unblockable this year.”

The third and final Chiefland representative is sophomore defensive back Jontavious Siddo. Siddo led the Indians with six interceptions and forced one fumble while adding 33 tackles.

“Jontavious played physical and smart football for us this year,” Harrell said.

Williston was also knocked out in the postseason by Hawthorne in the Rural Region finals. Coach Robby Pruitt left after the season to take the job at Union County, but not before leading the Red Devils to a 10-2 mark.

Williston also places three players on the All Area defensive team. The Red Devils were led by sophomore strong safety Maverick Jones, who led the area with eight interceptions, while adding five fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles, and was second on the team with 68 tackles.

Senior linebacker Danny Burchett and senior defensive lineman Ramey Webb also represent Williston.

Burchett led the Red Devils with 86 tackles, with four tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

Webb had 41 tackles and a forced fumble and led the team with seven sacks and nine tackles for loss.

The final member of the All Area defense is junior linebacker Fran Kealey from Bell.

Bell started the season 0-4 but won five in a row before losing in the opening round of the SSAA playoffs at Fernandina Beach.

Kealey was one of the area leaders in tackles, amassing 100 along with seven tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Small School Defense (Rural-1A)

DL – Dracen Martin, Hawthorne (So.)

DL – Ramey Webb, Williston (Sr.)

DL – Wykel Howard, Chiefland (Sr.)

DL/LB – Jon Adams, Chiefland (Sr.)

LB – Kyler Ingram, Hawthorne (Sr.)

LB – Fran Kealey, Bell (Jr.)

LB – Messiah Gent, Hawthorne (Jr.)

LB – Danny Burchett, Williston (Sr.)

Secondary – Nathan Jennings, Hawthorne (Jr.)

Secondary – Maverick Jones, Williston (So.)

Secondary – Jontavious Siddo, Chiefland (So.)

Secondary – Dakari Wiggins, Hawthorne (So.)

Honorable mentions

Bell – Jordan Spears (LB, Sr.), Alex McGuigan (DL, Sr.), Eli Vaughn (LB, Sr.), Alex Cave (DL, Sr.), Dean Glass (DB, Jr.), Lane Sheffield (DB, Jr.)

Branford – Wyatt Derringer (LB, Sr.),Tripp Schultz (DB, Sr.), TC Smith (DB, Sr.), Devin Waller (LB, Sr.), Vernon Richards (LB, Jr.), Keaton Brown (DL, Jr.)

Chiefland – Kamron Ozment (LB, Sr.), Demorri Sweet (LB, Sr.), Jolan Doty (DB, Sr.), Andrew Thisse (LB, Jr.), Mike McCommons (DB, Jr.)

Dixie County (Cross City) – Keydran Teague (DB, Jr.), Gavin Godbolt (LB, Jr.), Ju Ju Cotman (LB, Jr.), Caleb Bell (LB, So.), Iyon Teague (DB, So.)

Fort White – Darion Brison (LB, Sr.), Cameron Lumpkin (LB, Sr.), Elijah Gardner (DB, Sr.), Josiah Harmon (DL, Jr.), Teagan Bell (LB, So.)

Hawthorne – Kamari Debose (DB, Sr.), Dameion Rutledge (DL, Jr.), Javontae Williams (DB, Jr.), Willie Sutton (DB, So.), Jacari Lockhart (DL, So.)

Oak Hall – Aaron Akins (DB, Sr.), Tyler Peera (LB, Jr.), Darius Medley (DB, Jr.), Andrew Akins (DL, Jr.), BJ Johnson (DB, Jr.)

St. Francis Catholic Academy – Josue Reyes (DL, Sr.), Gabe Long (LB, Jr.), Andrew Janelle (LB, So.), Isaac Sherrouse (LB, So.), Carson Long (LB, Fr.),

Trenton – Jackson Gentry (LB, Sr.), Trent Patterson (DL, Sr.), Alexzander Henry (DB, Sr.), Wyatt Vanlandingham (DB, Jr.), Zaidon Bon (DL, Jr.), Zayne Braswell (DL, Jr.), Zane McArdle (LB, So.)

Union County (Lake Butler) – Clifton Ivey (LB, Sr.), Parker Parish (DL, Sr.), Wyatt Elixson (LB, Sr.), Alec McClellon (DB, Sr.), Jeremy Webb (DB, Jr.)

Williston – Chris Roush (DB, Sr.), Kyrin Penny (DB, Sr.), Jaxson Ridgeway (DL, Jr.), William Whitehurst Jr. (LB, So.), Chandler Elkins (DB, Fr.)

Complete stats and/or coach nominations were not available for Bronson, Countryside Christian or P.K. Yonge