Can Pensacola Catholic Finish The Job?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the Pensacola Catholic football team left the 2023 season, losing a heart-wrenching 22-21 overtime state semifinal road game at Starke Bradford County, there was a feeling that 2024 would be different.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With an off-season commitment, last year was a season that the Crusaders felt the corner was turned after winning seven of eight regular season games and capturing the 1-2A District title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoffs, like the year before, started off with a win over Tallahassee St. John Paul II and a rematch with a DeFuniak Springs Walton team they had easily beaten in a district matchup, 52-16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rematch with Walton was to be a formality as they had their eye on finishing off what they hadn't the year before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What happened to this program in that rematch game was an unexpected loss and the end of the season once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As head coach <strong>Bobby Clayton</strong> and this team turn the page toward 2025, it is that sour taste from the past two years that would drive them as they prepare yet another run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If this team is to finish off the job and reach Miami in December, the potent 2026 (rising senior) class that will have to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at some of those talented prospects:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1161710' first='Bailey' last='Brazell'], OL, 6-4, 255 – 3.4 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <u><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16474774/Bailey-Brazell">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16474774/Bailey-Brazell</a></u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Robert Brown, OL, 5-11, 345 – 2.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18171853/robert-brown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18171853/robert-brown</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noah Hamlin, OLB, 6-1, 205 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18166835/Noah-Hamlin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18166835/Noah-Hamlin</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266690' first='Trenton' last='Henderson'], DE/OLB, 6-5, 225 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18178538/Trenton-Henderson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18178538/Trenton-Henderson</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Jasso, WR, 5-6, 165 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18018390/Caden-Jasso" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18018390/Caden-Jasso</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaleb Johnson, LB, 5-11, 195 – 3.6 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18199046/Kaleb-Johnson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18199046/Kaleb-Johnson</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632474' first='Gavin' last='Lashley'], DB, 6-0, 185 – 3.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18018489/Gavin-Lashley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18018489/Gavin-Lashley</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Justin Weatherall, WR/DB, 5-11, 180 – 3.2 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19307018/Justin-Weatherall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19307018/Justin-Weatherall</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2027 HOLDS THE KEY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the rising seniors have the talent, experience and leadership, the group of rising juniors in the Class of 2027 will also have the playmakers to help this program finish off the job:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kintrell Brookins, CB, 5-11, 160 – 3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23552330/Kintrell-Brookins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23552330/Kintrell-Brookins</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1317521' first='Jaylin' last='Brown'], QB, 6-1, 170 – 3.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19866198/Jaylin-Brown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19866198/Jaylin-Brown</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Geno Cunningham, WR, 5-8, 165.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19836970/Geno-Cunningham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19836970/Geno-Cunningham</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Donnelle Gulley, WR, 6-1, 170 – 3.8 GPA. Basketball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16464099/Donnelle-Gulley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16464099/Donnelle-Gulley</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zion Heard, WR/DB, 5-10, 170 – 3.2 GPA. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20046792/Zion-Heard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20046792/Zion-Heard</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1114953' first='Caden' last='Osborn'], QB, 6-2, 190 – 3.85 GPA - Honors.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15952336/Caden-Osborn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/15952336/Caden-Osborn</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zach Wassil, OL, 6-4, 275 – 4.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19850279/Zach-Wassil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19850279/Zach-Wassil</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb Willoughby, RB, 5-10 175 – 3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20097729/Caleb-Willoughby">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20097729/Caleb-Willoughby</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF PENSACOLA CATHOLIC FOOTBALL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: </strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about!</strong> <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->