High school notebook: C.J. Dorsey eyes bright season ahead for Terry Parker football
Parker’s C.J. Dorsey was one of the best players in Northeast Florida last season, but he doesn’t get the love or respect as some of the other top players.
Dorsey had nine interceptions and more than 1,000 yards of total offense for the Braves as they stormed their way through the tail end of 2021 and into the playoffs. He made first team All-First Coast, but hasn’t received the same attention from recruiters and college programs as some of his peers.
At Monday's High School Media Day, supported by Baker's Sports and Jaguars Prep, Dorsey said he felt like he, and the Braves, were underrated.
“We’re very underrated, we’ve got a lot of talented players on our team this year and it’s going to show a lot,” the senior said. “When we started as program, nobody really knew about us because we were losing a lot. Now, we’re starting to win and gain that respect that we have right now.”
The Braves will be a program to watch in 2022 with Dorsey leading the way. The Florida High School Athletic Association reclassified Parker into District 1-3M in the new Metro/Suburban system, alongside Englewood, First Coast and Fletcher.
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White ready to command respect
Ed White is looking to shock the state this year. They’re opening the season with what the Commanders hope will be a tone-setting Westside showdown against Trinity Christian at home on Aug. 26.
The Conquerors were the only team to win a state championship in Northeast Florida last season, and the Commanders are gunning for the top dogs.
White is led by Wake Forest commit Davaughn Patterson, and head coach Lawrence Johnson talked about the leadership of Patterson at Media Day.
“We’ve had great athletes before, the thing that kind of sets him apart is his intelligence,” Johnson said of the senior. “He’s able to diagnose plays on defense and on offense he just knows how to make a play.
“He’s a great athlete, he’s a 4.1 student, he’s in our early college program. Technically he’s been done with high school for a year. He doesn’t even take classes on our campus, he goes to FSCJ. He’s a smart kid and athletic, and that allows him to be in the position to make a lot of plays.”
Patterson’s leadership and success will be key to the type of season the Commanders have in 2022.
Silver season for Bucs' Lee
When Marty Lee first moved over from the baseball diamond to take the helm of First Coast football in 1997, he never envisioned a coaching run that would extend for a quarter-century and counting.
"No, it's funny," he said. "In '97 I come in as a head coach, and here it is, 25 years later and I'm still here."
Still at the Shipyard, with well over 150 wins to his name and a run of 10 consecutive playoff appearances from 2005 to 2014, including a state final appearance in 2011. Only the late James P. Small, who led Stanton for a third of a century, has coached a Duval County public school football team for longer.
First Coast's wins have been harder to come by of late, with seven consecutive sub-.500 seasons. This year, though, Lee is optimistic that the Bucs, who added a junior transfer at quarterback in Rodney Tisdale Jr., can make waves in District 1-3M against Englewood, Fletcher and Parker.
"We're back to a little bit of the swagger that we used to have," he said. "We run around very well, and they play as a team."
Spartans' Pickett earns FACA Hall call
Mike Pickett is heading to the Hall.
The St. Johns Country Day girls soccer coach, 14-time Florida High School Athletic Association state champion, was selected for the 2023 Hall of Fame class for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2023 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.
A St. Johns graduate from the class of 1983, Pickett has coached the Spartans since 1999, winning 502 games as well as FHSAA titles in 2005, 2007, 2009 and every year from 2012 to 2022. The Spartans also earned national championships in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
Also selected for induction are Robert Dupler (Lecanto softball), Tom Fadul (Satellite softball), Earl Garcia (Hillsborough football), Brandt Moser (American Heritage golf) and Mike Posey (Tallahassee North Florida Christian baseball).
Elite eleven: St. Johns Country Day girls soccer wins 11th consecutive state title
McMahon makes big splash
Former Mandarin swimmer Kensey McMahon is returning home with a trio of bronze medals from the USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, Calif.
McMahon began her week by placing third in the women's 1,500-meter freestyle. Bolles graduate Leah DeGeorge took 20th in the same event. McMahon followed up with a third in the 400 free, swimming 4:08.57, and another third in the 800 free.
Last month, she finished 10th in the world open water championships for the 25-kilometer race in Hungary.
Episcopal graduate Cole Crane picked up a third place of his own, in the men's 200 butterfly, and came in first (ninth place overall) in the B final of the 100 fly.
Caeleb Dressel (Clay) and Ryan Murphy (Bolles) did not race in the meet, like many other winners in last month's world championships.
In other notable local pool performances:
Tyler Watson came in ninth in the men's 800 free, third in the B final in the 1,500 free and eighth in the B final of the 400 free.
Former Bartram Trail swimmer Summer Stanfield was fourth in the women's 200 backstroke C final.
Clay graduate Sara Stotler, now at Tennessee, placed third in the C final of the women's 200 butterfly.
Jack VanDeusen, from Bartram Trail, came in sixth in the C final in the men's 400 IM.
FACA football selects BT's Sutherland
It's still nearly five months away, but Bartram Trail coach Darrell Sutherland can begin making his plans for the FACA All-Star Classic.
The veteran Bears football coach was announced as the North team's head coach for the 67th annual event, scheduled for Dec. 21 in Lakeland.
Joining Sutherland on the staff are Mike Bennett (Escambia), John Brantley (Ocala Trinity Catholic), Marcus Edwards (Mayo Lafayette), Andy Johnson (Orlando Boone), Eric Lodge (Sanford Seminole) and Robert Paxia (Flagler Palm Coast).
Sutherland, Bartram Trail's only head coach since opening in 2000, holds a 170-93 record in 22 seasons on the Bear Stadium sidelines, ranking with Foots Brumley (Hastings and St. Augustine) and Joey Wiles (St. Augustine) as the leading winners in St. Johns County football history.
Morales to lead Fleming baseball
The Fleming Island baseball coaching carousel is spinning into overdrive — and now a multiple state champion is the latest lined up for the Golden Eagles' dugout.
The school named Gil Morales as its baseball coach, the third head coach in as many months. Grant Bigilin exited the program after the season, subsequently taking a job on Bartram Trail's staff. Then, in June, Fleming Island's athletic department had announced Andy Toelken as its next coach.
Morales coached this spring at Menendez, where the Falcons compiled a record of 9-15.
Previously, Morales won an area-best four FHSAA championships, three at Eagle's View (2005, 2007 and 2008) and one at Trinity Christian (2015). He also has had stints at Windermere Prep and Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian.
In 19 seasons as a head baseball coach, Morales has a career record of 310-192.
Around the area
Yulee quarterback Chris Turner committed to Valdosta State football. ... Oakleaf outfielder Devin Dizon committed to St. Johns River State College baseball. ... Former White offensive lineman Rashod Hill signed Saturday with the Washington Commanders in the NFC East. ... FACA named Bartram Trail its Class 7A program of the year, with Bolles selected as the best in Class 4A. ... This year's Northwest Classic in football is now scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Raines.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: CJ Dorsey, Terry Parker High School football plan winning 2022
