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.”
Senior right side and defensive specialist Rowan Kage has seen plenty of volleyball matches inside the Gainesville High gym, but last week’s senior night win over rival Buchholz will be one she never forgets.
The Hurricanes rallied from two sets down for a reverse sweep in front of a packed crowd, a night Kage called “super loud and super energetic.” It was the kind of performance that she’ll remember forever as she had 19 digs, 16 kills and 5 blocks to avenge an earlier loss this season and earn Kage this week’s UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the week.
The Bell Bulldogs didn’t start the 2025 football season the way they hoped, dropping their first four games. But after picking up their first win against OPCA, they strung together their best performance of the year in a 42-point outburst against Dixie County.
Junior running back Landin Williams scored four touchdowns in the victory, earning UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week honors.
