After no shortage of veterans over the last few seasons for Buchholz, Bobcats head coach Mark Whittemore heads into the second season of his second stint with a new reason to be excited for his program.

Coming off its fourth straight state semifinal appearance, Buchholz is experiencing a youth movement sprinkled in with its returning players.

“I’m super excited about the dynamic of having a really robust 2028 class,” he said. “So these young kids coming up and I mean, our leadership with our senior class is phenomenal, like it’s hands down, just as good, if not better than we’ve had, but it’s that ‘28 class that’s a pretty talented class of rising sophomores that I think is kind of the dynamic that’ll be a little bit different for us this year.”

Leading the way for that group of sophomores is quarterback Andrew Whittemore, the fourth Whittemore son to don a Bobcat jersey, who takes over the starting position after the sudden transfer of Trace Johnson in March to Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.)

“Unforeseen circumstance that makes him the probable starter here,” Whittemore said. “So I’ve really seen a very steely resolve on his part to make the transition from receiver to QB. He’s bought in, hook, line and sinker. I think that the excitement that he has for the game has intensified substantially.”

Andrew, with only two career completions on seven attempts, will have substantial veteran help, though, even with his head coach emphasizing the young talent on the team.

He’ll have one of the top receiver trios in the entire state in seniors Keil McGriff, DJ Hicks and Justin Williams, a Florida commit.

Williams will look to cap off one of the best high school careers in state history after back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns receiving while also becoming the first player in the state since Devin Hester in 2002 to record 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving in one season.

“What makes him unique, honestly, is his approach to the game. He’s a pretty selfless player, and he is willing to go to great lengths to see the Bobcats win,” Whittemore said.

While the receivers are the stars of the show, Whittemore emphasized the talent on the Bobcats’ offensive line, which is considered one of the best in the area, headlined by senior Anthony Barr.

“Having the young QB puts a lot more emphasis on the offensive line, to be exact, in their protections,” he said. “I think we’re, as a coaching staff, extremely excited. The known quantity is our receiver room, but that offensive line, who has played so well over the past few years, is set to maybe have an even better year this year.”

Defensively, the Bobcats are looking to improve after last season’s 41-35 loss to Osceola in the 6A state semifinals, where the Kowboys rushed for 326 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior defensive end Evan Walker believes that the Bobcats’ shortcomings in stopping the run last year will be the team’s strength in 2025.

“Our intensity running to the football,” Walker said. “Definitely, we need all 11 guys running to the football, because last year, the running back (Taevion Swint) killed us, and we couldn’t tackle him one-on-one. For us to be a state championship team, we need all 11 guys to run the football.”

Like Andrew Whittemore on offense, Walker steps into his own leadership role on defense, following in the footsteps of recent Buchholz defensive ends such as Gavin Hill, Kendall Jackson and Nick Clayton, all of whom signed with Power-Four schools as recruits. 

Whittemore is confident Walker will be the next great defender to come out of Buchholz.

“I have seen very few players in my 30 years that are as relentless as he is,” he said. “He’s scary relentless. He’s kind of like one of those hunting dogs that, if you don’t stop them, they will literally die. He has to be corralled and stopped because there is no stop.”

While the talent and experience are there for Buchholz to make another run to the state semifinals, the Bobcats will endure another gauntlet of a schedule with 5A state semifinalist Manatee, which beat Buchholz last season, 34-27, on the schedule again alongside district rivals Nease, Tocoi Creek and Bartram Trail.

The Bobcats will also travel to 1A state semifinalist Cardinal Newman and will host Richmond Hill (Ga.).

“Being somewhere four years in a row creates a thirst and hunger. I think this team might be a little hungrier,” Whittemore said. “That would be natural. We’ve been there four years straight, so my hope is that hunger will translate into excellence.”

Buchholz Bobcats

2024 record: 10-4

2024 playoffs: Lost vs. Osceola, 41-35, in 6A state semifinals

Head coach: Mark Whittemore

Years as head coach: 11 years in first stint (2012-2022). Second year in second stint

District assignment: 6A-District 3

Players to watch: Justin Williams (WR, Sr.), Evan Walker (DE, Sr.), Keil McGriff (WR, Sr.), Caleb Young (DB, Sr.), Anthony Barr (OL, Sr.), Andrew Whittemore (QB, So.)

Key Games:

Sept. 12 at Manatee (Bradenton)

Sept. 26 vs. Nease (Ponte Vedra)

Oct. 10 at Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine)

Oct. 23 vs. Bartram Trail (St. Johns)

Oct. 31 at Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach)