Could This Finally Be The Year For The Pace Patriots?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moments after a second-round state playoff game against Gainesville Buchholz, 34-24, the attention quickly turned to the 2025 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While that setback stung for this Pace football team, that ride back west across the Panhandle gave this team an opportunity to reflect on a banner season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The loss in Gainesville broke a nine-game winning streak for a program that cruised to the District 1-6A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember, the season was so dominant for the Patriots that there was a feeling that this was a team that had the talent to reach Miami, outscoring the opposition, 452-195.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As spring began and with the summer on the horizon, there is a feeling that the talent coming back and coming in could be the right formula for first year head coach <strong>Vance Smith</strong> and his program to finish off the job this coming season. Smith looks to fill the rather large shoes left by his father, Kent, who retired in November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aiden Carter, TE/LB, 6'1, 225.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16386222/Aiden-Carter</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braiden Cheshire, DB, 6'0, 170 – 4.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/6625337/Braiden-Cheshire</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1192454' first='Caleb' last='Curry'], Athlete, 6'1, 180 – 3.2 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18041322/Caleb-Curry</a><br>Darren Duquette, DB/WR, 6'0, 175 – 3.2 GPA. 19 ACT.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18041337/Darren-Duquette</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bowen Iorg, LB, 6'0, 180 – 4.0 GPA. 28 ACT.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16615023/Bowen-Iorg</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1143156' first='Mason' last='Mathis'], OL, 6'6, 310 – 4.0 GPA. 25 ACT.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/15601385/Mason-Mathis</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Taylor, CB, 5'10, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18159677/Jordan-Taylor</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247430' first='Grant' last='Wise'], OL, 6'4, 310 – 4.7 GPA. Weightlifting.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16688148/66fe0e898854542dc288c276</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dawson Miller, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Declan Muncy, RB, 5'10, 190 – 3.5 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter Powers, FB/LS, 5'10, 205</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cameron Boudreaux, DB/WR, 5'11, 185 – 4.1 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20272464/675dbfbccf70e3fc302de0c2</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>James Formosa, RB/Athlete, 5'9, 165. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/20004508/James-Formosa</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1682763' first='Charles' last='Leach'], DL/OL, 6'4, 245 – 3.99 GPA. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19868353/6798dcce7028f0ad1a415e8d</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Terrance Moultry Jr. DB, 6'1, 180 – 3.8 GPA. 3-Sport Athlete.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19813251/67b4c6a4ac4772f2076a9897</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1692887' first='Isaiah' last='Purifoy'], LB/S, 6'1, 190 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19813251/67b4c6a4ac4772f2076a9897</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brooks Washington, Athlete, 5'10, 150 - 4.3 GPA. Basketball. Baseball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19811233/Brooks-Washington</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263710' first='Makael' last='Williams'], RB, 5'10, 180 – 3.2 GPA. 3-Sport Athlete.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16536434/Makael-Williams</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1697099' first='Kayden' last='Batchelor'], DB/WR, 6'0, 150 – 3.1 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Connor Rae, K/P/WR, 6'3, 130</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tanner Russell, TE, 6'1, 170 – 4.0 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Samuel Aquino, DL, 5'10, 190.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/23455537/Samuel-Aquino</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>De'andre Eleby, WR/CB, 6'0, 175.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/20615723/Deandre-Eleby</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Devin McNeal, OL, 5'8, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/23317137/Devin-McNeal</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brady Aguilar, WR, 5'5, 125</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley Allison, RB, 5'10, 160 – 3.8 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dimitrios Gotsis, DL/OL, 6'0, 250</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dominic Iacobellis, LB, 5'8, 165</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Landon Irwin, LS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cullen Kennedy, RB,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lucas Nezbeth, RB/DB, 5'8, 140</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kellan Shaffer, WR - 3.8 GPA. Basketball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caden Shoemaker, LB/RB, 6'0, 205 – 3.6 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlie Smith, OL, 6'0, 205</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ty Stinson, LB/S, 5'11, 155 – 4.0 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braxton Wells, DB, 5'10, 130 – 3.0 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker Whiten, LB, 5'6, 145</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF PACE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></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! Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->