All Area: Hawthorne trio leads small school defensive team

If it seems like we are all living in the Hawthorne Hornets world, that might not be very far from the truth.

Hawthorne won its second consecutive 1R state title in December, with a 13-0 record that was capped by a 22-13 win over Madison County at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee.

The Hornets finished the season on a 25-game winning streak dating back to a 13-12 loss to Madison County in the 1A state title game in 2021.

And not surprisingly Hawthorne lands the most representatives on the 2023 Bosshardt Realty All Area small school defensive football team.

Three Hornets were named to the team, led by senior linebacker Andrew Zock. Zock, a Navy commit who transferred to Hawthorne from North Marion (Citra), led the Hornets with 143 tackles, including 20 for loss, and added five and a half sacks, one interception and three fumble recoveries.

“He (Zock) has the ultimate motor and physical leader for our team,” Hawthorne defensive coordinator Dustin Adkins said. “He did everything that was called of him. He doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to play the entire field. He was unblockable all year and is a great athlete and even better person.”

Zock is joined by two teammates, junior linebacker Naziy Gent and freshman defensive back Nathan Jennings.

Gent had 100 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and five sacks along with one interception.

Jennings had 32 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions for a Hawthorne defense that allowed only 103 points in 13 games.

“(Gent) has loads of potential and is just getting started athletically,” Adkins said. “He is always in the right place at the right time. He was a first-year starter but improved each week and always seemed to make a big play when it was needed.

“(Jennings) is just a freshman but someone who was thrust into a starting spot due to injuries and excelled,” Adkins said. “He has the best ball skills on the team and isn’t afraid to tackle as a ninth grader. He accepts coaching and is only going to get better.”

Newberry placed two players on the All Area defense. The Panthers were 9-3 and were eliminated in the regional semifinals by Hawthorne, 27-7. Senior defensive tackle Jarquez Carter, who has offers from Georgia, Florida, FSU and Ohio State among others, had 67 tackles, including 37 tackles for loss, and nine sacks.

“He’s (Carter) as good as advertised, big, strong, physical, and explosive,” Newberry coach Ed Johnson said. “He faced double and sometimes triple teams all season and was still able to put together an impressive season.”

Carter is joined by Newberry junior defensive lineman Logan McCloud. McCloud had 73 tackles, including 21 for loss, along with six sacks and two interceptions.

“He (McCloud) is our personal Swiss Army knife,” Johnson said. “He rushed the passer when needed, filled gaps from the second level and was very consistent in coverage when asked. He’s a really good all-around football player and leader.”

Union County and Fort White both have two representatives.

The Tigers were 8-4 and advanced to the Region 3-1R Final and are represented by junior linebacker Trenton Klein and senior defensive back Dayquan Diston.

Diston had six interceptions and Klein led Union County with 85 tackles, 25 for loss, and six sacks.

Fort White, who went 9-2 and lost in the Region 3-1R Semifinals, 17-10, to Union County, featured junior linebacker Lecosta Byrd and defensive back Najeeb Smith.

Byrd led the Indians with 97 tackles and added two interceptions.

Byrd is joined by Fort White teammate Najeeb Smith in the secondary. Smith intercepted four passes to go along with 29 tackles and eight passes broken up.

Sophomore defensive lineman Timothy Taylor represents the Williston Red Devils. For the second year in a row, Williston had an undefeated regular season but was knocked out in the Region 4-1R Final, 34-16, by Hawthorne.

Taylor had 48 tackles and led the team with 12 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Both Chiefland and Branford had one player apiece selected. Chiefland, who finished with a 4-7 record and were beaten in the opening round of the 1R playoffs, 49-16, by Newberry, is represented by sophomore defensive end Jon Adams.

Adams piled up 92 tackles, 20½ for loss, and led the Indians with 10 sacks.

The final player on the All Area defensive unit is senior Kyshaun Veasey of Branford in the secondary. Branford finished with a 7-3 record but lost in the Region 3-1R quarterfinal at Lafayette (Mayo).

Veasey led the Bucs with six interceptions. He also had 15 pass breakups, 84 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Small School Defense

DL – Jon Adams, Chiefland (So.)

DL – Jarquez Carter, Newberry (Jr.)

DL –Logan McCloud, Newberry (Jr.)

DL –Timothy Taylor, Williston (So.)

LB –Andrew Zock, Hawthorne (Sr.)

LB – Lecosta Byrd, Fort White (Jr.)

LB – Naziy Gent, Hawthorne (Jr.)

LB – Trenton Klein, Union County (Jr.)

Secondary – Dayquan Diston, Union County (Sr.)

Secondary – Kyshaun Veasey, Branford (Sr.)

Secondary – Najeeb Smith, Fort White (Sr.)

Secondary – Nathan Jennings, Hawthorne (Fr.)

Small school defense

Bell – Isaac Johnson (DB, Jr.), Cole Rarey (LB, Jr.), Lucas Stapp (DL, Sr.), Manny Rodriguez (DL, So.), Jorge Gonzalez (LB, Jr.)

Branford – Dre Maysonet (LB, Jr.), Austin Malaguti (DB, Sr.), Trevor Maddox (LB, Jr.), Haiden Ward (DB, Sr.), Colby Carver (DB, Sr.), Thomas Raulerson (DL, Jr.), Cole Peyton (DL, Jr.)

Bronson – Jakob Tyler (DL, Sr.)

Chiefland – Wykel Howard (DL, So.), Reggie Adams (DL, Jr.), Lawrence Rivers (LB, Sr.), Jolan Doty (DB, So.), Jamarion White (DB, Jr.), Anthony Blackman (DB, Sr.), Trent Bright (LB, Jr.)

Dixie County (Cross City) – Darius Cook (LB, Sr.), Jaheim Taylor (DB, Jr.), Mister Williams (DL, Jr.), Karmron Ozment (DL, So.), Carter Hodge (DB, Sr.)

Fort White – Jaden McCray (DL, Fr.), Maliki Clark (DB, Sr.), Christopher Smith (DL, Jr.), Gavin Heaten (DB, Sr.), Tafari Moe (DB, Jr.), Hayden Adams (LB, Sr.)

Hawthorne – Jordin Fluellen (DB, Sr.), Zion Johnson (DB, Jr.), Earick Williams (LB, Sr.), Leland Johnson (LB, Sr.), Kyler Ingram (DL, So.), Demetri Perry (DL, Sr.), Jamarion Davenport (DB, Sr.)

Newberry – Jonathan Powers (LB, Sr.), Mykah Newton (DL, Jr.), Wyatt Hester (LB, Sr.), Ian Hubbert (DB, Sr.), La’Harry Debose (DB, So.), Jayden Holcombe (DB, Sr.)

Oak Hall – Aidan Jerkins (DB, Jr.), Abram Jerkins (DL, Sr.), Jake Quigley (DB, Sr.), Bear Wooley (DB, Jr.), Dakota Brower (DB, Jr.), Gary Francis (LB, Sr.)

P.K. Yonge – Corinthian Graham (DB, Jr.), Calvin Thomas (DB., Jr.), Markus Lewis (DL, Sr.)

St. Francis Catholic Academy—Devin Rollins (LB, Sr.), Pedro Viana (DL, Sr.), Alejandro J Delgado Morales (DB, Jr.), Gabe Long (DB, Fr.)

Trenton – Jon Furst (DL, Sr.), Nick Dicpetris (LB, Sr.), Brant Bivens (DB, Fr.), J’Dyen Manneh (DB, So.), Tavin Brown (LB, Sr.)

Union County (Lake Butler) – Erich Seager (DL, Sr.), Johnte Nichols (LB, Sr.) Jacob Jenkins (DL, Sr.), Thomas Williams (LB, Sr.), Gavin Jenkins (DB, Jr.), Connor Bresee (DL, Jr.), Blake McCoy (DB, Sr.)

Williston – Ida Warren (DL, Jr.), Javon Brown (DB, Sr.), Charles Howard (LB, Sr.), Ryan Donald (DB, Sr.), Jonathan Moxley (LB, Sr.), Omarian Walker (DB, So.), Elijah Jackson (DL, Sr.)