Jefferson

At a glance

Coach: Joe Midulla, fourth season

Class: 6A, District 10

Last season: 7-2, lost play-in game

Key players: WR Mike Coley, Jr.; QB Jayden Cummings, So.; CB Eric Felder, Sr.; WR LaDainian Ferrell, So.; RB Mikol Mackey, So.; OL Carmine Morton, So.; DT Tyler Pruitt, So.; CB Aloysius Tyson, So. 

Schedule

Aug. 27 at Plant, 7:30

Sept. 3 at Plant City, 7:30

Sept. 10 vs. Chamberlain, 7:30

Sept. 17 at King, 7:30

Sept. 24 at Wharton, 7:30

Oct. 1 vs. Hillsborough, 7:30

Oct. 8 Bye

Oct. 15 vs. Jesuit, 7:30

Oct. 22 vs. Lennard, 7:30

Oct. 29 at Blake, 7:30

Nov. 5 vs. Riverview, 7:30

Outlook

The Dragons were one of the most underrated teams in the area last season. They went 7-2 and their two losses (against Hillsborough in the regular season and Bayside in the playoffs) were by a combined eight points. Better still, there is a talented group of sophomores who figure to have pivotal roles this season and have a chance to develop into an elite group the next three years. The strength of the team is in the secondary. Eric Felder and Aloysius Tyson are both ballhawks who combined to pick off 11 passes last season. Tyler Pruitt has the potential to be a force on the defensive line. On offense, Jefferson lost tight end Gage Wilcox (now a freshman at Florida) and running back Malik Mazion (790 yards, 11 touchdowns), both of whom graduated. But that unit can still be explosive thanks to the return of quarterback Jayden Cummings, who threw for 687 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and receivers LaDanian Farrell and Mike Coley.