Big Bend High School football media day takeaways, where do teams stand ahead of kickoff

The first floor of the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center was the hub of Big Bend football Tuesday afternoon as 14 area programs spoke at the annual 4QuartersOnline Media Day .

With area programs hitting the fields on Monday, July 29 for the first official practice of the fall season, football is well and truly in the air in the Big Bend. Starting the preseason with media day appearances, area coaches have set the expectations for their teams this fall.

Here are our takeaways from the media day press conferences.

This will be the first set of takeaways from the event, with another takeaways article to be published Thursday morning.

Leon ready to continue growth under new head coach William Mosely

Leon football had its best start to a season in decades last year, going 5-0 to start the season.

Things seemed to be at an all-time high for the Lions, but a string of injuries and four losses on the bounce showed the team it still had some growing pains to work through ahead of the final game of the season vs. New Symrna Beach. In what turned out to be coach Tyrone McGriff's last game, the Lions won 45-41 to reach six wins on the season and the first winning season since 2016.

With McGriff leaving the program in May , William Mosely was named head coach of the Lions after taking a role on McGriff's coaching staff in January.

Mosely said his transition to the leading role has been smooth, and he's excited about what Leon has in store for the fall, starting with Rickards in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 16 and a regular season opener against JPII on Aug. 23.

"We had a good offseason, working very hard and together with good teamwork," Mosley said. "We've been to colleges, played 7-on-7, and did a lot of competition. We call it stacking days, we have a good day, we don't want a bad day the next day, we want a good one."

Last-second wins over Mosely and St. John Paul II propelled Leon in the early weeks, and quarterback Kemp Peoples wants the Lions to make those winning plays more consistently this season, saying they've learned from last season's experiences.

Peoples felt those big moments in the wins helped the Lions continue to gain momentum, and he wants the team to continue to make those big plays all season.

"We just want to make more of those plays," Peoples said. "Those were some very high highs, and we always want to get back to those highs."

After first playoff win in 30 years, Aucilla Christian is hungry for more

The Warriors had one of the program's best seasons in 2023, and Aucilla Christian is ready for more success in 2024.

Going 9-2 last season, the Warriors went on the road to face Wewahitchka in the first round of the FHSAA 1R playoffs, beating the Gators to claim the program's first playoff win in decades.

"We've been blessed to make the playoffs in the last five out of the six years, but this past season we won the first playoff game in 30 years and just the second in school history," Aucilla Christian head coach Colby Roberts said. "It was great to see our kids who came through the middle school program and got so close to achieving that goal of winning a playoff game and finally getting over that hump."

Roberts said the 31 kids on the football team this season is the most he's had as head coach of the program and he thinks it's a testament to the work that has been put in to grow the program and the school. He said the added numbers will help his team stay fresh during games and not rely too much on iron-man football.

"It definitely helps in regards to rest and making sure our guys are ready for the second half of the game," Roberts said. "But those same qualities we used to teach the kids of being the most conditioned and physically sound team on the field, we are still preaching those qualities and pushing the kids just as hard."

Josh Agner was a jack-of-all-trades for the Warriors last season, taking a lot of snaps at running back and wide receiver on offensive and playing linebacker.

He hopes to carry over his success from last year into the new one and help Aucilla Christian compete in the playoffs again, and he thinks the team's chemistry will be the key to a strong season.

"I want to have an improvement on last season, toward the end, I got a little injury, so I'm looking to bounce back this year," Agner said. "A big part of me playing good is my quarterback playing well and my o-line, we have a good team chemistry... it's easy for us to connect with each other."

Taylor County ready to showcase improvement under new coach Jesse Braswell

A new era is underway in Perry as Taylor County alumni Jesse Braswell returns home to lead the Bulldogs as head coach.

Returning to Florida for his first head coaching job after spending time with North Forsyth High School in Georgia as a strength coach.

It's been a tough stretch of seasons for the Bulldogs, including a 2-8 finish in 2023, but Braswell is excited to showcase what Taylor County has in store for the fall and the improvements in his squad.

"It's about us and our preparation and how we attack each day, and the aggression and grit we have in our work," Braswell said. "We're excited, any time you get to play ball and strap it up, you're excited. I think that's the biggest thing, having the opportunity to showcase the work we've been putting in."

One of the key philosophies of Braswell's approach is attacking the weight room. A strength coach for the 2018 state title-winning North Florida Christian and spending the last few years in Georgia as a strength coach Braswell is happy with the progress the Bulldogs have made in the weight room.

Braswell said Taylor County has about 65 players on it's roster this season , showcasing the growth the program has had since his arrival.

Quarterback Rhyan Hamilton says the new staff has made a good impression on the team and he's ready to get on the field and start the Braswell era.

"We got a great coaching staff in the weight room," Hamilton said. "Coach Braswell has helped out with me learning the new playbook, and he's made it easy for me."

"He's been great for all of us as a team."

FAMU DRS ready to establish new identity under coach Patrick Wise

The Baby Rattlers are ready to strike.

While head coach Patrick Wise was unable to attend media day, assistant coaches Nick Parker, Corey Roberson and Ed Rodgers spoke on FAMU DRS's new identity under the new coaching staff.

Historically one of the most competitive teams in the area, FAMU DRS has experienced a period of struggle that Roberson says will come to an end under the new coaching staff. The staff have implemented a one percent better mentality and Roberson thinks the Big Bend will see a new Baby Rattlers team this season.

"I met with some of the guys and I saw the excitement in their eyes, they are ready to win. This is a new FAMU DRS football season you are going to see," Roberson said. "We are going to win some football games... we are ready to get it in and get it done."

Wise was appointed at the end of May and he quickly assembled his coaching staff to fulfill his commitment to turning around the program.

Senior defensive back Jamin Bryant feels there is a lot of confidence in this year's team and he want's to keep building momentum as the season nears.

"We are very excited, we try to work hard in building confidence. We keep the competition going in practice so when it comes to the game we can be ready for it," Bryant said. "Our player committee, we've been working on things we can do for the team... trying to keep that momentum going and build up that confidence and excitement."

New Godby football coach John Holston excited to get Cougars going

Godby football has had its share of unfavorable finishes over the years and hasn’t finished with a .500 record or above since 2020.

However, first-year Cougars head coach John Holston isn’t his new gig as a rebuild.

Holston, promoted from an assistant in January, looks at his inaugural Godby team optimistically.

The Cougars return many players and have attracted transfers to the program under Holston’s leadership. Holston will make his coaching debut at Godby when it opens the 2024 football season versus crosstown rivals Rickards on Aug. 23.

“It’s not a rebuilding team. It’s more so just getting it going,” said Holston, who replaces Demario Jones as Godby’s head coach. “Godby’s known for all the talent that we locally have. It’s the first year I know that we’ve kept all our guys.”

Of Godby’s transfers is a familiar face to Cougars football.

After spending his first two high school years at Godby, defensive back RJ Perryman transferred away to play for the Lincoln Trojans during the 2023 football season. Perryman, now a senior, has returned home to Godby.

His mission is to help the Cougars return to the former glory that has seen them accrue four state championships and two runner-up finishes.

Perryman says he’s been speaking with his cousin Kajuan Banks , a former Godby player who’s now a defensive back for the South Florida Bulls, about his move back to Godby. Perryman and Banks were teammates at Godby during the 2021 season.

“Growing up, watching Godby since I was knee high long, I’ve wanted to lead this team to a good start,” Perryman said. "Taking the leadership role at Godby was meant for me. Let’s turn Godby around.”

Excitement building for Rickards 2024 football season

Rickards football is never satisfied.

So, the Raiders aren’t getting too overzealous over the excitement accompanying their 2024 season.

Rickards had an impressive showing at the 2024 Leon County Spring Football Jamboree.

However, Raiders head coach Quintin Lewis has adopted the mantra of “not getting full off of yesterday’s meal."

It’s a mantra he’s reminded his team during the summer circuit of workouts, camps, and 7-on-7 games.

“We talk about growth every day. I don’t care what happened to you yesterday. You can’t be full off of it,” Lewis said.

“This group, at times, showed it ― at times this summer where we’ll have a good 7-on-7 showing then lose five straight. We took some uncharacteristic losses in 7-on-7s that woke those guys up.

“As they got through the summer, they got better and better. Now, I don’t have a problem with them coming to work, getting things done, and being disciplined.”

Rickards ushers in a relatively young team that features 23 non-seniors on its 37-man roster listed on MaxPreps as of Tuesday.

However, the 14 seniors are galvanizing their young teammates to help Rickards materialize its material for the 2024 season.

“We’re just making sure they keep working hard. Sometimes, they’ll drop the ball and put their head down,” said Benjamin Henry , Rickards starting quarterback. “But, we’ll just tell them to keep going, don’t give up, and don’t doubt yourself.”

Lewis says the most significant growing point of his current squad is their way of holding each other accountable. He compared it to his 2020 team that reached the 5A state title game .

“It’s not easy to get a guy to be a leader and guys to follow. That’s what makes great teams,” Lewis said. “Last time we had it like this, we played in Doak Campbell. Hopefully, we can keep getting that thing done.”

Rickards opens its season against Leon on Aug. 16.

John Paul II eyes being one of the top Big Bend football programs

Last season, John Paul II football made a playoff run, falling in the 1S Regional Finals to North Florida Christian.

The John Paull II Panthers are trying to catch another wind led by their new breed of seniors.

“The Class of 2025 are the new leaders. Big shoes to follow. We’re just going to build on that,” said John Paul II assistant coach Jarrod Acoff, who sat in place of Panthers head coach Tremaine Hughes .

This season, John Paul II will play 11 regular season games. Eight of those games will be against local opponents, starting with the Panthers' season opener at the Chiles Timberwolves on Aug. 16.

“We make the schedule intentionally to face these people because we may be a smaller school, but we feel like we’re the same kids and can take on anybody in the city,” Acoff said.

“Be ready for us. Because we’re coming.”

A key game for the Panthers is their second game of the season at the Leon Lions on Aug. 23.

In 2023, Leon defeated John Paul II on a game-winning touchdown pass in the contest’s final seconds.

The Panthers still remember.

“This is the hungriest we’ve ever been,” said John Paul II defensive lineman Christian Williams . “We got a lot of revenge games of teams we lost to that we shouldn’t have."

"8/23 is going to be a movie.”

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamroone y

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Big Bend High School football media day takeaways, where do teams stand ahead of kickoff