High school notebook: Continuity a plus for QB James Resar, 2022 Bishop Kenny football

In 2021, Bishop Kenny vaulted from one win to seven. In 2022, who knows?

Continuity, rising junior quarterback James Resar hopes, can help continue the Crusaders' climb.

"With our receivers, everybody's returning, pretty much all of our top guys," said Resar following practice ahead of Bishop Kenny's Friday night kickoff classic at Clay. "So our connection's really good."

The quarterback was among the catalysts for a Crusaders team that had won only one game apiece in 2019 and 2020 but made the big jump last year to 7-4 and a playoff berth. He passed for 1,266 yards and ran for 476 more, including a 180-yard performance in the season opener against Providence.

Resar is drawing attention well beyond the Sunshine State, with Indiana and Iowa among his early offers. If he selects Iowa, he could eventually take snaps from Bishop Kenny graduate Michael Myslinski, now a redshirt freshman with the Hawkeyes who's listed as second-team center on the Big Ten school's depth chart.

Bishop Kenny faces a challenge in the new District 2-2S, reviving its old rivalry against Bolles for the first time since 2018. District opponents also include Episcopal and Wolfson as the Crusaders seek consecutive regional quarterfinal berths for the first time since their run of eight playoffs in a row from 2009-16.

"I think we just learned how to win last year," Resar said. "Now we have that confidence."

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Robinson a rare Columbia gain for UF

Lake City turned out to be the site of Northeast Florida's latest big flip of the summer recruiting season, and like the first one, Florida and head coach Billy Napier were the beneficiaries.

For Columbia football, it's been a long, long time.

Columbia linebacker Jaden Robinson, a Gainesville Sun Super 11 selection, switched his commitment Wednesday night from South Carolina to the Gators. Robinson had been committed to the Gamecocks since July 4.

Robinson adds to the list of major additions for the Gators. Last month, Florida's commitment list also added Nease quarterback Marcus Stokes after he flipped from Penn State, while Trinity Christian running back Treyaun Webb also announced the Gators as his team.

For a high school that plays its games only 40 miles northwest of the Swamp in Gainesville, decisions like Robinson's are surprisingly uncommon.

The last Columbia graduate on record to sign with the Gators out of high school was defensive back Tre Orr, who signed in the 2000 recruiting class.

Three-point title for Scott

St. Johns Country Day's Taliah Scott made her Windy City weekend at the Under Armour Next Girls Elite 24 an experience to remember, complete with a skills competition victory.

The rising senior guard, Florida's leading girls basketball scorer last season with 31.5 points per game, captured the Girls 3-Point Shootout by nailing 19 baskets in Chicago.

In the all-star showcase itself, which included 24 of the nation's top-rated girls hoops prospects, Scott scored nine points with a rebound in 19 minutes of action.

Braves carry flag at Jags game

The high school season is still a few days from formal kickoff, but that didn't stop Parker's football team from taking center stage last Friday.

The Braves carried the flag from the tunnel for ceremonies at TIAA Bank Field before the Jaguars' home preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.

The honor added to a summer to remember for Parker, which placed first in last month's Battle Lines high school line competition organized by the Florida High School 7x7 Association.

Parker placed 7-4 last season, qualifying for the Class 5A playoffs but losing 24-10 to Raines in the regional quarters.

The goal now is building consistency. Parker football hasn't put together consecutive winning seasons since the mid-1990s, but with key ball-handling players like C.J. Dorsey, Devon Sinclair and Darrell Sawyer returning from last fall's team, they're working to challenge Englewood, First Coast and 2021 playoff qualifier Fletcher in the new District 1-3S.

"We have to fulfill the high expectations," Dorsey said.

Around the area

Fleming Island linebacker Jhace Edwards committed Monday night to Albany State football. Edwards, an All-First Coast selection in 2021, recorded 105 tackles, six and a half sacks and seven rushing touchdowns on offense. ... Bishop Snyder rising freshman Cody Boshell announced his commitment to Tennessee baseball, joining the likes of Brayden Harris (Florida State) and Ethan Wheeler (Florida) as local early commitments in the class of 2026. ... Bartram Trail infielder/pitcher Kolt Myers switched his commitment from USF to Florida baseball in the 2024 class. ... Clay pitcher Gabby Ellis committed to Mercer softball. ... Potter's House Christian guard Eden Otshudi committed to New Brunswick men's basketball. ... Ponte Vedra won first place among Florida schools in the MaxPreps Cup standings, ahead of St. Thomas Aquinas and Bolles. ... Former Potter's House Christian wide receiver Shemar Bridges scored a touchdown in preseason for the Baltimore Ravens. ... Preseason competition in fall sports continues throughout the week, including the annual preseason classic Saturday at Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Association with numerous Northeast Florida teams.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bishop Kenny football boost from continuity, connection for 2022 FHSAA season