It has been a banner season for the Bell High School boys soccer program, which wrapped up the regular season this week with a 9-3 record and an undefeated run through district play.
The Bulldogs’ strong performance has positioned them as a regional championship contender, a goal the team set long before the first match of the season.
The UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute Athletic Trainers will be providing Free EKG Screenings for those students in Grades 8-12:
For three straight seasons, the Oak Hall football team saw its year end in the first round of the playoffs. Entering 2025, the Eagles adopted a new mindset, one built on working harder, pushing further and finally breaking through to the championship they believed they could win.
On Saturday, that mission became reality. With a 27–10 victory over Tampa Cambridge Christian, Oak Hall secured its first state championship in program history, validating months of offseason preparation.
For Hawthorne High School, success has become the expectation. After reaching the state championship game in each of the last three seasons, the Hornets entered 2025 focused on another deep postseason run. Their opening-round blowout of Branford showed they’re well on their way.
For the Saint Francis Catholic Academy football team, moving from conventional 11-man football to the 8-man game was a change that came with plenty of uncertainty. But after an early adjustment period, the Wolves have found their rhythm and now find themselves as a legitimate playoff contender with hopes of a state championship run.
Senior linebacker Demarco Daniels entered his final season at Eastside High with a goal of being one of the best linebackers in Florida. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he certainly fits the part, but a groin injury sidelined him for several games and prevented him from matching the eye-popping numbers he posted last year.
Still, Daniels’ mindset never wavered. Now healthy, he’s back leading the Rams’ defense and proving he belongs among the area’s top defensive players.
When you’re the first high school football player in Florida in more than 20 years to record 1,000 yards both receiving and rushing in the same season, you know you’re going to draw some attention.
Buchholz senior Justin Williams entered his final season as a Bobcat expecting defenses to double and triple-team him, doing whatever they could to keep the ball out of his hands. Even so, Williams says the focus this year isn’t about matching last season’s numbers, it’s about winning the last game of the season.
For junior tailback Iyen Addison, growing up in Bradford County came with one clear dream, to one day line up as the starting running back for the Tornadoes. That plan briefly detoured when he chose to play alongside his brother at another school as a freshman, but after a year away, Addison’s return to Bradford has been everything he hoped for and everything the Tornadoes needed.
“This is one of the best teams I’ve ever been on,” Addison said. “The guys have tremendous energy, we play together, we compete, and I love being a part of this group.”
Fitting into a new place isn’t always easy for high school athletes. New teammates, new friends and a new playbook can be a challenge. But for Branford High School senior Maurice Vought, the transition has become something special.
“It felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus,” Vought said. “The players and coaches welcomed me with open arms, and it’s a real brotherhood. I’m so happy to be a part of this amazing program.”
