Meet the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Football Offensive Team
It's time to close the book on the 2022 fall season, and introduce the largest Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area team of the bunch.
The area's 24 competing teams produced a memorable high school football season. Mainland reached its first state championship game in 19 years. Bartram Trail ran the table during the regular season, and its only coach in history walked away after one last playoff run. Beachside debuted and came out slinging from the opening week.
PIECES IN PLACEMainland expects return to FHSAA football championships in 2023
More:Seven Daytona area teams make FHSAA football playoffs; Deltona, Tocoi Creek left out
DeLand, under first-year head coach Rick Darlington, celebrated its first district championship in a decade. Flagler Palm Coast and St. Augustine returned to the playoffs as district champs. Creekside traveled into the Panhandle and prevailed in a first-round playoff matchup with Navarre.
So now let's honor the young men responsible for authoring many of those great stories.
The 18 nominees of the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Football Offensive Team are up for Offensive Player of the Year. The winner will be announced at the 2023 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns High School Sports Awards in the spring. The show is produced with support from Halifax Health.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, and the Offensive Player of the Year will be selected. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. More details about the program are coming soon.
The Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns High School Sports Awards is part of the USA TODAY Network, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
As a quick reminder, both the All-Area Defensive Team and the Top Coach award will be revealed tomorrow. Here are the tri-county area's worthy recipients on offense:
Nominees
Damarcus Creecy, QB, Mainland: Chosen as Class 3S Player of the Year, the senior quarterback finished eighth in Mr. Football voting. Creecy completed 69.2% of his passes for 3,420 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and rushed for 555 yards and two scores as the Bucs advanced to the state championship game.
Locklan Hewlett, QB, St. Augustine: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore can spin the football from the pocket, and hit receivers in stride (58.2% completion rate). Hewlett totaled 2,270 passing yards in 11 games, tossing 23 touchdowns against just eight interceptions in his first season as the full-time signal-caller.
Laython Biddle, RB, Bartram Trail: Taking over as the Bears' workhorse after shining down the stretch in 2021, the junior gained 1,515 yards on the ground and found the end zone 30 times. Biddle proved more than a downhill thumper, breaking away for big gains — including a season-long 88-yard scamper at Creekside — and catching 18 passes out of the backfield, good for second-most on the team.
Devonte Lyons, RB, St. Augustine: The junior, who recently added West Virginia to his growing offer list, rushed for a career-high 1,386 yards with 22 touchdowns. Lyons made multiple trips to the end zone in six separate games for the Yellow Jackets, including a four-score performance against lowly Gainesville.
Marcus Mitchell, RB, Flagler Palm Coast: The powerful sophomore topped the century mark on four separate occasions and tallied 1,025 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns for the district champion Bulldogs. Since breaking into the rotation at the tail end of the 2021 season, Mitchell has a career 6.1 yards-per-carry average.
Ajai Harrell, WR, Mainland: The senior did just about everything for the Bucs in their run to Fort Lauderdale, scoring touchdowns on the ground, through the air and in the return game. Harrell caught 81 passes for 1,306 yards, rushed for 650 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns.
Carl Jenkins Jr., WR, St. Augustine: The future looks bright for the 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver, a big-play threat with the ball in his hands. Jenkins hauled in 33 receptions for 667 yards and eight touchdowns as the Jackets won a district championship and returned to the playoffs.
James Randle, WR, Mainland: One of the nation's top receiving recruits for the 2024 class, Randle took 12 of his 60 receptions to the house. He topped the 1,000-yard mark despite battling a shoulder injury for much of the campaign, finishing with 1,105 at an average of 18.4 per reception.
Jacob Akel, OL, Creekside: One of five new starters up front for the Knights, senior Akel (6-3, 230) blossomed into a cornerstone at right tackle. He cleared the path for Nicky Williams and Creekside's other ball-carriers as the Knights churned out 187.9 yards per game and 5.1 per carry.
Jake Guarnera, OL, Ponte Vedra: Though his college future likely lies on the interior, highly touted junior Guarnera comfortably and dominantly protected the edge for the Sharks. Guarnera (6-4, 290) collected more than a dozen D-I offers this year and helped Ponte Vedra rush for nearly 175 yards per game.
Christian Hudson, OL, Mainland: The sophomore could have earned an All-Area first-team slot on either side of the line. Hudson started all 15 games for the Bucs at left guard and was a key piece to their balanced attack, and he registered 22 tackles for loss and three sacks as part of the team's fearsome foursome along the defensive line.
Marcos Ramos, OL, Bartram Trail: The 6-foot-1, 245-pound senior flashed impressive get-off in the run game on film, firing up to the second level and finishing blocks for Biddle, Riley Trujillo and company. The Bears averaged 385.2 total yards per game on their way to a 12-1 record.
Madden Santiago, OL, Mainland: The Bucs loved running behind the 6-foot-5, 320-pound junior tackle, who holds a Western Kentucky offer, and did so to the tune of 138.7 yards per game. Santiago manned the blind side and allowed Creecy to attack down the field, as well.
Elijah Walker, OL, Spruce Creek: The 6-foot-4, 320-pound junior flattened his fair share of defenders when setting the edge at tackle or when pulling at guard. Walker's versatility, tenacity and three-year starting experience have him on the radar of a number of Power Five schools, including Iowa State and Penn State.
TJ Moore, ATH, DeLand: The junior thrived in Rick Darlington's single-wing, holding the distinction of being the only player in the tri-county area to surpass 1,000 yards as a passer (1,246) and as a rusher (1,148). Tennessee Tech and Toledo have verbally offered Moore after a season in which he accounted for 21 total touchdowns.
Javon Ross, ATH, DeLand: The electric junior averaged 9.7 yards from scrimmage per offensive touch, totaling 752 rushing yards and 451 receiving yards. Ross scored 18 touchdowns, factoring in a pick-six against Centennial, during DeLand's first district championship campaign in a decade.
Riley Trujillo, ATH, Bartram Trail: Among the country's most coveted junior dual-threat quarterbacks, Trujillo made a huge leap this fall with 1,910 passing yards, 710 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder holds more than 20 Division I offers, and Duke has made a significant early impression, per 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong.
Ronald Daragjati, K, Creekside: The senior soccer standout ran away with the scoring title among placekickers, converting on 16 of 20 field-goal attempts and all 51 PATs. Daragjati set a school record with five field goals in a 36-7 win over Atlantic Coast, and he nailed a 53-yarder in a crucial district victory over Fleming Island.
Other Athletes of Note
Brick Balcita, QB, Beachside: The sophomore threw for 2,135 touchdowns, 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions in helping the first-year Barracudas win six of their nine games this fall.
Marcus Stokes, QB, Nease: One of the few holdovers from the Panthers' regional finalist squad, the senior totaled 1,824 passing yards, a team-high 582 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns apiece through the air and on the ground.
Malakai Hudson, RB, New Smyrna Beach: The senior had a resurgent year for the 'Cudas and reclaimed the role as focal point of the offense, rushing for 1,059 yards and scoring 15 total touchdowns.
Jackson Oldham, RB, Father Lopez: The Green Wave won four of the five games in which sophomore Oldham surpassed 100 rushing yards; he totaled 1,240 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Region 2-1S semifinalists.
Nicky Williams, RB, Creekside: The junior stepped right in and filled the Knights' enormous backfield void, rushing 249 times for 1,409 yards and 17 touchdowns — five alone in a Week 2 victory over Nease.
Trenton Jones, WR, St. Augustine: Another member of the Jackets' loaded crop of underclassmen pass-catchers, the sophomore secured a team-best 36 receptions for 579 yards and five touchdowns.
Taylor Rhodes, WR, Bartram Trail: The senior was Trujillo's most trusted target in crunch time, leading the Bears in receptions (32), receiving yards (529) and touchdown catches (eight).
Wyatt Rogers, WR, Ponte Vedra: The senior provided the big-play threat in the passing game for the Sharks, hauling in 36 passes for 575 yards and three touchdowns.
Xavier Agatep, OL, Ponte Vedra: In addition to being one of the area's top centers, the senior is an accomplished long snapper. Agatep claimed a PWO offer from Florida A&M following his senior season.
Malcolm Curry, OL, Mainland: The senior co-captain recovered from a Week 1 partial ACL tear to return in late October and strengthen the Bucs' offensive line just in time for their district championship game and eventual Class 3S playoff run.
Aron Hernandez, OL, Spruce Creek: The senior interior lineman, who has seen snaps at center and guard, drew high praise for his strength and tenacity to create running room as the Hawks transitioned into a wing scheme over the course of the season.
Zach Marshall, OL, Bartram Trail: The senior guard lined up next to Ramos to give the Bears a formidable left side, and he delivered some punishing blows at the second level and on double teams.
Steven Mosley, OL, DeLand: Committed to Bethune-Cookman, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound senior was trusted on either side of the line and at both tackle and guard spots to open holes for the Bulldogs' wing-based rushing attack.
Kobe Murphy, OL, Flagler Palm Coast: Regarded as the one of the Bulldogs' strongest, most fiery and competitive players, the senior guard played a key role as FPC gained 229.9 rushing yards per game.
John Killingsworth, ATH, Atlantic: The Sharks' three-year starting quarterback topped the 100-yard rushing mark in eight games, finishing his senior campaign with 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Dennis Murray Jr., ATH, Flagler Palm Coast: The electric junior dual-threat guided FPC back to the playoffs by throwing for 1,516 yards with 15 touchdowns, and rushing for 799 yards and another 13 scores.
Jude Santana, ATH, Deltona: One of Volusia County's most versatile weapons, the senior accounted for 1,629 all-purpose yards (514 rushing, 571 receiving, 544 return) and scored 21 of the Wolves' 57 touchdowns.
Liam Padron, K, Bartram Trail: The junior turned in another terrific season for the Bears, converting 11 of 15 field goals with a long of 48 yards and on 54 of 55 PATs.
Honorable Mention
Atlantic: OL Christian Johnson, ATH Kwasie Kwaku Jr., WR Kentwan Royal
Bartram Trail: TE Jacob Kallner, OL D.A. Manuel
Beachside: WR Cohen Beebe, WR Bryce Gee
Creekside: QB Wilson Edwards, WR Brendon McMillan, WR Ashton Reynolds, WR Hampton Riedl
DeLand: FB/TE Wyatt Darlington, RB Demontay Johnson, OL Zyon McCrae
Deltona: RB Anthony May, QB Isaiah Robinson, OL Aiden Sarvis
Father Lopez: WR Cayden Allen, WR Jonah Ginochetti, OL Joshua Singleton, QB William Tucker
Flagler Palm Coast: OL Drew Droste, K Chase Magee, WR Mikhail Zysek
Halifax: ATH Tola Dixon, QB Karl Nelson
Mainland: WR Clarence McCloud, K Jacob Gettman
Matanzas: QB Dakwon Evans, QB Jackson Lundahl
Menendez: RB Christian Coleman
Nease: WR Gavin Gmeiner, RB Samuel Milton, OL Nick Severt, WR Maddox Spencer
New Smyrna Beach: WR Bryant Siravo
Pine Ridge: WR Chris Boddie, WR Terren Harrison
Ponte Vedra: WR Nathan Bunkosky, QB Ben Burk
St. Augustine: WR Darrell Jenkins, WR Myles Simmons
St. Joseph: ATH Duke Ridley
Seabreeze: RB Denali Campbell, OL Rashard Frazer, ATH Sam Gonzalez
Spruce Creek: OL Jayson Edwards, WR Tony Kinsler, RB Jayden Lungahi
Taylor: QB Wess Henry
Tocoi Creek: RB Wendell Dean, OL Dylan Freet, RB Kaiz Ragland
Trinity Christian: RB Will Manzano
University: RB Rubens Joseph, QB Malachi Walters
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area High School Football Offense 2022
