2021 Should Be A Special Year For Fletcher Football

There isn’t much that head coach <strong>Bobby Raulerson</strong> has to tell his football team after falling short in 2020. While Neptune Beach Fletcher could use the Covid pandemic as a valid excuse, it really wouldn’t hold water. This program played really well at times. Good enough to advance further than they did, and that’s the frustrating part of last season. As the returning players look at the season-ending 47-21 playoff loss to Jacksonville Atlantic Coast, there are no fingers to point. Just the knowledge that if you work harder, that obstacle will disappear the next time around. The Senators’ only other loss this past season came to a solid Fleming Island (Orange Park) squad in the regular season, 28-20. As wins over Jacksonville Terry Parker (23-0), Flagler Palm Coast (13-0), Jacksonville Ribault (28-12), Jacksonville First Coast (42-6), Jacksonville Mandarin (28-13) and that same Atlantic Coast squad during the regular season, 24-14, will motivate this team, a lot was learned in 2020 that this loaded rising senior (2022) class is ready for. Among those gifted athletes coming back to lead and provide experience include versatile star-rated FSU DE/RB commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50015" first="Aaron" last="Hester"]</strong>, an ultra-talented 6-3, 230-pounder, who can play this game with the best – and also get it done in the classroom – where he holds down a 4.0 GPA). In addition to Hester, the Senators feature prospects such as <strong>Aiden Heilmann (</strong>TE/DT, 6-3, 225 – 4.1 GPA), <strong>Caelen Lavender</strong> (OL, 6-4, 275), <strong>Max Pasko</strong> (LB, 6-0, 185 – 4.4 GPA), <strong>Tariq Riley</strong> (CB/WR, 5-9, 160 – 3.6 GPA), <strong>Merritt Reynolds</strong> (FS/WR, 6-2, 185 – 4.5 GPA), <strong>Trey Rose</strong> (TE/WR/OLB, 6-4, 205 – 3.6 GPA), <strong>Jackson Schrock</strong> (DB/RB, 6-2, 185 – 3.7 GPA) and gifted quarterback prospect <strong>Keely Watson</strong> (6-1, 180 – 3.8 GPA) There’s no getting around how much the Class of 2022 will be a huge impact this coming spring, summer and into the season, there are some underclassmen, who figure to help boost the team as well with 2023 standouts <strong>Eli Durden</strong> (SS/OLB, 6-1, 180), <strong>Tajon Heath</strong> (WR/Athlete, 5-10, 190) and <strong>Toby Matson</strong> (OL/DL, 6-3, 290) – and promising Class of 2024 rising prospect <strong>Brayden Weets</strong> (WR, 5-7, 150 – 3.73 GPA). While this program can look back at the disappointing way 2020 ended, there is plenty of optimism rolling around the Jacksonville area for this program – once again stacked with play-makers. <strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF FLETCHER HIGH FOOTBALL</strong> <strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>