Bay County football: Week 1 power rankings ahead of Friday's season openers

With six high school football teams, each program is vying for the chance to bring home another state championship to Bay County. Each team believes they are the best in Bay County and the News-Herald has set out to rank each team week-by-week based on game results, margin of victory and strength of opponent.

Week 1 Power Rankings for Bay County football

1. Mosley

The Dolphins return the most experienced squad in the county with nine starters returning on the offensive side. Senior Sammy Frietas aims to take the crown as the best quarterback in the Panhandle and lead an offense that averaged 30 points a game a year ago to new heights.

Key offensive weapons include running backs Sammy Chisolm and Will Arboleda along with receivers Carson Griffin, Jack Massey and Adam Land.

The defense returns versatility all over the defense led by Raedyn Bruens (Rutgers) on the offensive line, linebacker Wyatt Fleming and safety Lo'Kavion Jackson (Mississippi State) in the secondary.

2. Bozeman

Bronson Sweatt was named Bozeman's head coach this past offseason which will be his first head coaching gig. The new head coach is the benefactor of the mass exodus of players from North Bay Haven this past offseason. The additions of Lakota Johnson, Kalib Williams, Jayden and Emmanuel Spurlock gave Bozeman the pieces on both sides of the ball that they needed after the key losses from the 12-1 team last year.

The Bucks offense will truly go as far as sophomore quarterback Hayden Gay takes them. Coaches are excited about the signal-caller's development over the past couple of months.

3. Bay

The Tornadoes' 4-6 record came as a surprise, especially after the 8-3 record the season prior. Bay however does return size up front with the offensive line ranging in size from junior Brayden Jamison (6-foot-3, 310 pounds) to sophomore Charles Grubbs (6-foot-5, 315 pounds).

We may see a new starter at quarterback with Chris Noble and last year's starter Zabeyon Morgan battling for the position. Running back Caleb Toombs returns along with receivers Javar Bowden, Onari Johnson, Taurean Hill and transfer Wykien Waters.

Former offensive lineman Jacoby Smith is transitioned to the defensive line and will pair with Zachery Roper and Kenneth Pate. Cavarious Manley and Jemerion Hall patrol the secondary.

4. Rutherford

The Rams return a squad that lost pieces in key positions but head coach Albert Floyd is excited about developing young players who will play a huge part in the team's success. Quarterback Jason Havens Jr. will man the offense with running backs Roman Holmes, Ceveion Black and Chaz'ton Scott doing the dirty work toting the rock.

Edge rushers Scott and Elijah Waldrop lead Rutherford's defense along with freshman linebacker Kingstun Dawson who quarterbacks the middle and senior Eric Olds at defensive back.

5. Arnold

The Marlins are fielding a brand new program starting with head coach Jason Griffin who has the players, coaches and communities believing again. The offensive-minded coach has junior quarterback Will Cotter, a stable of running backs and receiver Truman Parsons to lead the offense.

Transfer defensive lineman Will King bolsters the defense, coming off a 111-tackle, two-sack season last year. Outside linebacker Daelyn Davis and cornerback Darin Elder and safety Konner Tindel reside over the secondary.

6. North Bay Haven

The Buccaneers are in a rebuilding year with the majority of last year's team gone. Thomas Elliott was named head coach only a month before the season and has constructed a team that can be competitive.

Elliott runs a triple-option offense with quarterback Blake Durham joined by running backs Bear Siegal, Melvin Mondes and Connolly Forehand. The North Bay Haven defense is led by Siegal at the linebacker position and cornerbacks Jackson Horne and Ray'von West in the secondary.

Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1 .

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County football: Week 1 power rankings ahead of Friday's season openers