Another state championship run, another area-leading number of selections on the 2025 Bosshardt Realty All Area small school offensive football team.
Hawthorne, which won its third state title in the past four years, placed four players on the first team.
The FHSAA Rural state champion Hornets (11-1) averaged 34 points per game and were led by All Area quarterback Richard Roundtree Jr., the Florida Dairy Farmers Rural Player of the Year.
The sophomore completed 65.4% of his passes for 2,581 yards and 30 touchdowns.
“Richard is a true field general who consistently thrived in pressure situations,” said Hawthorne offensive coordinator Greg Bowie. “Beyond his pocket presence and ability to make every throw, he’s a smart, poised quarterback who understands the game at a high level and plays his best when the moment is biggest.”
Joining his teammate on the first team is sophomore running back Derryek Gillins, who finished with 1,016 yards rushing on 187 carries (5.4 yards per carry) with 14 touchdowns.
“Derryek is a tough, downhill runner who brings a physical edge to our offense,” Bowie said. “He was extremely durable all season and continued to get better each week as the year went on. He finished as a 1,000-yard rusher, and his carries increased tremendously during the playoffs, where he embraced the workload and delivered consistently when we needed him most.”
Chiefland running back Demorri Sweet joins Gillins in the backfield after rushing for 1,556 yards.
The senior averaged 10 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns for the Indians (11-2), who lost at Hawthorne in the Rural state semifinals.
Senior wide receivers Darian Bowie of Hawthorne and Maurice Vought of Branford both had over 1,000 yards receiving this past year.
Bowie snagged 66 passes for 967 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Darian was the engine of our passing game,” Bowie said of his son. “He led us in both receptions and receiving yards and finished just 33 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season, all while playing only eight regular-season games. He has over 100 career receptions, blocked on the perimeter, worked the middle of the field, and consistently made tough catches in traffic. He was especially dependable on third down and always came up big in critical moments.”
Vought had 58 catches for 1,142 yards and 13 TDs for the Bucs (7-4), who lost at Hawthorne in the first round of the Rural state playoffs.
“Maurice was a phenomenal playmaker for us, but an even better leader, teammate, and role model for our underclassmen,” said Branford coach Tim Clark. “He is an extremely high-character young man, and that, combined with his work ethic, made him the player he is.”
Two athletes who made the first team – Jayden Jackson of Fort White and Darius Medley of Oak Hall – led their team to a championship.
Jackson, a Georgia Southern signee, finished with 1,859 yards and 35 touchdowns passing, rushing, and receiving for the FHSAA Rural Florida Invitational Tournament champions.
The dual-threat quarterback threw for 723 yards with 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions, rushed for 602 yards on 60 carries (10 ypc) with 19 touchdowns, and caught 44 passes for 534 yards and five receiving scores for the Indians (8-4).
And that was just on offense. On defense, Jackson had 37 tackles and led the team with eight passes defensed, four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
“They’re (Georgia Southern) getting a playmaker,” said his dad and Fort White head coach Demetric Jackson. “I’m anxious to see what he can do when all he has to do is play one side of the ball, and talking to Coach (Clay) Hilton, there’s a chance that he may play both sides of the ball up at Georgia Southern…I live with that kid, so people don’t know the stuff that I put him through. I’m not the easiest dad and coach to get along with, especially after a loss, but he takes it in stride.”
Oak Hall School had its own dynamic playmaker in Medley, who helped lead the Eagles (9-4) to the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) 3A championship.
“Darius had a phenomenal year leading the team in rushing with 1,148 yards rushing, 16 rushing TDs and 362 yards receiving and five receiving TDs for a total of 21 touchdowns,” said Oak Hall coach R.J. Fuhr. “Darius also led the team in tackles with 59, and had eight TFLs, one sack, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He had an 80-yard TD run against Cambridge Christian in our SSAA 3A Championship game that cemented the win.”
His teammate, junior offensive lineman Andrew Akins, is also first-team All Area.
“Andrew was instrumental in anchoring our O-line and helped us to gain 3,000 yards as a team in rushing yards,” Fuhr said. “He had 12 pancake blocks. He was also our starting nose guard (42 tackles, 8 sacks and 9 TFLs) and never came off the field.”
Offensive lineman Zaraun Sesler is the fourth player from Hawthorne who made the first team offense.
“Zaraun played center for us and was the leader of our offensive line,” Bowie said. “He understood not only his role, but what every other lineman was responsible for, and he made all the calls up front. His football IQ, toughness, and consistency were critical to our success, and he set the tone for the entire unit.”
Joining Akins and Sesler on the offensive line were juniors Tate Brogdon of Chiefland and Jaxson Ridgeway of Williston and senior Trent Patterson of Trenton. All five helped lead their team to the playoffs.
Ridgeway anchored an offensive line that rushed for 3,214 yards (8.3 ypc) and 50 touchdowns for the Rural region finalist Red Devils (10-2).
“Ridgeway plays the game with violence and that edge rubs off on his teammates,” said Williston football coach Robby Pruitt, who recently left the Red Devils to take the Union County job in Lake Butler. “He works extremely hard and cares about team success, not just his own.”
Meanwhile, Patterson was a huge part of a rushing offense that averaged 229.3 yards per game for the Tigers (7-4).
“Trent is a strong and reliable leader, on and off the field,” said first-year Trenton coach Bryant Frye. “His attention to detail and willingness to be a team player shows in practice and during games. He has a great understanding of his role as a leader and also is humble to his teammates.”
Rounding out the first team is freshman kicker Giovanni De La Cruz of Williston, who was perfect (58-for-58) on extra points and made his only field goal attempt (29 yards).
“DLC is one of the best freshman kickers that I have ever had,” Pruitt said. “He attacks the weightroom and works very hard on his craft year-round. He takes a lot of pride in his performance.”
Small School Offense (Rural – 1A)
QB – Richard Roundtree Jr., Hawthorne (So.)
RB – Demorri Sweet, Chiefland (Sr.)
RB – Derryek Gillins, Hawthorne (So.)
WR – Darian Bowie, Hawthorne (Sr.)
WR – Maurice Vought, Branford (Sr.)
ATH – Jayden Jackson, Fort White (Sr.)
ATH – Darius Medley, Oak Hall School (Jr.)
OL – Tate Brogdon, Chiefland (Jr.)
OL – Jaxson Ridgeway, Williston (Jr.)
OL – Andrew Akins, Oak Hall School (Jr.)
OL – Zaraun Sesler, Hawthorne (Sr.)
OL – Trent Patterson, Trenton (Sr.)
K/P – Giovanni De La Cruz, Williston (Fr.)
Honorable mentions
Bell – Jordan Spears (WR, Sr.), Landin Williams (RB, Jr.), RJ Leffler (ATH, Jr.), Clayton Hancock (OL, Jr.), Corbin Abarca (OL, Jr.)
Branford – TC Smith (WR, Sr.), Tripp Schultz (RB, Sr.), Jesse Norris (OL, Jr.), David Lopez (OL, Jr.), Trent Land (QB, So.), JC Cerrato (K, So.), Ollie James (RB, Fr.)
Chiefland – Matt Goodale (ATH, Sr.), Jonathan Adams (ATH, Sr.), Jolan Doty (WR, Sr.), Sammy Little (OL, Sr.), Luis Galicia (K, Sr.), Justin Conn (OL, Jr.), Ty Jackson (WR, So.)
Dixie County (Cross City) – Keydran Teague (QB, Jr.), James Harshley (WR, Jr.), Iyon Teague (ATH, So.)
Fort White – Desean Lally (WR, Sr.), John Lawson (RB, Jr.), Caiden Campbell (OL, Jr.), Bo Jones (OL, Jr.), X’Zaevion Gibson (WR, Jr.), Ethan Shaw (OL, So.), Ezekiel Powell (RB, So.)
Hawthorne – Dominick Harvey (WR, Jr.), Karsin Mency (OL, Jr.), Nathan Jennings (WR, Jr.), Raheem Moore (WR, Jr.), Micah Williams (OL, Fr.)
Oak Hall – Aaron Akins (QB, Sr.), John Michael Roscow (OL, Sr.), Ronnie Wehbe (OL, Sr.), Tyler Peera (RB, Jr.), BJ Johnson (WR, Jr.), Jeremiah Taylor (RB, Fr.)
Saint Francis Catholic Academy – Gabe Long (RB, Jr.), Jake Long (QB, Jr.), Carson Long (RB, Fr.)
Trenton – Alexzander Henry (RB, Sr.), Wyatt Vanlandingham (RB, Jr.), Zayne Braswell (RB, Jr.), Brant Bivens (ATH, Jr.)
Union County (Lake Butler) – Caleb Hall (RB, Sr.), Jeffrey Brugh (ATH, Sr.), Edward Durant (OL, Jr.), Matthew Rogers (OL, Jr.)
Williston – Kameryn Manneh (RB, Sr.), Omarian Walker (ATH, Sr.), Jyden Manneh (RB, Sr.), Bryson Willis (RB, Sr.), Jaxon Zonin (OL, Jr.), Steve Jennings (OL, Jr.)
Complete stats and/or coach nominations were not available for Bronson, Countryside Christian or P.K. Yonge