BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
A historic 2021 season in which the Keystone Heights High School football team won the program’s first-ever playoff game was followed by a two-win season in 2022 after the graduation of many key players.
With an eye toward turning things around, Head Coach Steve Reynolds said the main goal is for the Indians to compete week in and week out — something he saw better job of in the latter portion of last season.
“Last year, we were young and inexperienced and maybe feeling our way through things a little,” said Reynolds, who’s now the head coach after a stint as an assistant coach. “I saw the emergence of that dog in some of these kids late in the season. I’d really like to see that (this year). You want to see them fight to the end in every game.”
The strength of this year’s team is on the line of scrimmage. When you look at the offensive line, you see, according to Reynolds, “a lot of really good, hard-working kids who got stronger in the offseason and learned the plays better.” The unit includes such players as seniors Jayden Goodman and Clayton Shaw, juniors Tyler Duncan and Brayden Wester, sophomore Luke Bacorn and freshman Bryce Daniels.
Reynolds said it’s a good veteran group, noting that even Daniels, as a freshman, is considered a veteran with the experience he gained last year.
The leaders of the line are the seniors.
“Clayton’s a lead-by-example, steady Eddie work-ethic type,” Reynolds said. “Jayden’s more of the vocal leader, but both of them have their great qualities. Both of them have experience. They’ve been in tough games. They’ve had tough times.”
Goodman has a couple of years of starting experience under his belt, while Reynolds said Shaw got into the mix last year and has progressed greatly.
“He had a great year,” Reynolds said of Shaw. “He was the most improved player on the team last year. Now, he’s whole new bag. He’s a leader.”
The line will pave the way for last year’s leading rusher — senior Cartez Daniels, who had 860 yards and seven touchdowns on 161 carries.
“I like his size,” Reynolds said of the 6-2, 190-pound back. “He’s got deceptive speed. People don’t realize exactly how fast he is. He can get out and go. He’s got good wiggle. — another underrated quality. He’s physical when he needs to be, outruns you when he needs to.”
The backfield will also include such players as seniors Darrion Grady and Ben Ulsch and sophomore Colton Hollingsworth. Ulsch had the highest average yards per rushing attempt last year (6.9) through four games before a season-ending injury.
Sophomore Baylor Ford will start at quarterback. He got most of the playing time at that position last year.
“He had a great summer,” Reynolds said. “His fall camp’s been pretty good.”
Reynolds wants to see his quarterback be more comfortable this year after basically getting thrown into the fire as a freshman in 2022.
“He went from not knowing what position he was going to play to starting quarterback, which is where he was a year ago,” Reynolds said. “I want him to play with more confidence. I want him to take care of the football. I want him to go into games feeling good about the look we’re trying to give him. I want him to grip it and rip it sometimes.”
If Ford lets it rip, he has some potentially dangerous targets in Grady and fellow senior Wyatt Van Zant.
“Those are two of our fastest kids,” Reynolds said, “but their experience is being in the heat of games. Other than that, neither one has a whole lot of receiving experience.”
Reynolds said Grady and Van Zant have great hands and have proven to be good blockers and route runners. The first play in a scrimmage during the team’s Aug. 11 practice, a Van Zant block allowed Grady to turn a 6-yard play into a touchdown.
“Those guys have come a long way,” Reynolds said.
Players such as seniors Andru Siemer and Garrison Teague and sophomore Zane Leger.
Defensively, the Indians have a line that includes Goodman, senior Trey Jeffries, junior Jackson Herman and freshman Wayne Dowling. Reynolds said the group is “explosive, strong and physical.” He and Assistant Coach Jakob Alvarez agreed that Herman is the leader of
that unit.
“We don’t necessarily have a vocal leader, but Jackson Herman gets after it every rep,” Alvarez said. “He leads by example.”
Reynolds added, “He doesn’t get tired. He doesn’t slow down.”
At linebacker, the Indians are waiting for Ulsch to return and be a contributor. Despite the number of games he missed last year, he is the second-leading returning tackler.
Leger, Teague and Kyle Perkins (who started last year as a freshman) are looking to make an impact at linebacker as well.
“There are a lot of kids,” Reynolds said. “We’re just trying to figure out the best combination.”
The secondary boasts a pair of seniors in Grady and Van Zant. Grady was the team leader in interceptions last year with three, while Van Zant led the team with 39 tackles.
Add Hollingsworth to the mix, and Reynolds likes what he’s got.
“Those kids are smart and physical and fast,” Reynolds said, adding, “They make us right. They make sure we’re lined up properly. They make sure that we’re in the right checks, calls and coverages. They’re vital.”
Siemer, junior Tallon Campbell and sophomore Jackson Parmeter will be in the mix as well in the defensive backfield.
Looking at special teams, Reynolds said senior Connor Guy has the potential to be an All-State punter, while at placekicker, he’s got two options in sophomore Tyler Sapp and freshman Ryder Thomas. In the spring jamboree, Sapp made both of his extra-point attempts, while Thomas made his one attempt.
“They’ve been to camps all over the country — some of the most premier kicking camps,” Reynolds said of Sapp and Thomas. “They’re really put in some work. You can see it panning out for them.”
The season begins with a preseason kickoff classic at home against Ridgeview on Friday, Aug. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Keystone’s bye week occurs during week one of the season, so the Indians won’t return to the field until Friday, Sept. 1, when they host Eastside at 7:30 p.m.
Reynolds has a familiar feeling as the first kickoff nears, and his players prepare to do something other than line up against each other in practice.
“It’s the same thing that excites you about every season you go into — the possibilities and the questions,” he said. “What’s going to happen when you do it against somebody else?
“I think we have a lot of potential, but I think we’ve got a lot more work to do. We could use two more weeks of training camp, but we’ve come a long way.”
2023 KHHS Varsity Football Schedule
Aug. 18 Ridgeview (KC) 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1 Eastside 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 Fort White 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 Bell 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 Interlachen 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Bradford 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 Crescent City (HC) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Palatka 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 at Pierson Taylor 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 Joshua Christian (SN) 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 at P.K. Yonge 7 p.m.
KC Preseason Kickoff Classic
HC Homecoming
SN Senior Night
