The Hawthorne Train Continues To Roll

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back on Oct. 25^th of this past football season when Hawthorne beat Melbourne Central Catholic, 34-16, something special happened for head coach <strong>Cornelius Ingram</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Someone who had long been used to the spotlight as a superior athlete in his hometown of Hawthorne – just to the east of Gainesville – the one-time football and basketball star who had long been considered one of the best athletes to come out of this region of the state, won his 100^th game as a football coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While that mark may pale in comparison to some of the coaching greats in the state, it meant everything to the small community in Alachua County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While his success had long been measured by what he had done at the University of Florida (two-time national champion) and later in the NFL, Ingram stayed home to raise his family and install character in the same community that gave him his values – away from the athletic arena.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What he has done since taking over the football program and mentoring so many young lives was what he was all about. Even when he won his 100^th game, it was his brother, Ingram's brother, offensive coordinator and boys basketball coach <strong>Greg Bowie</strong>, who let him know about the milestone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After his team beat previously unbeaten Blountstown to win another Rural state title, 24-8, for the school's third state crown under his direction, it gave him an amazing 104-22 record, losing just four times since 2020!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACH INGRAM THROUGH THE YEARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 (11-1, State Champs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 (10-2, State Runner Up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 (13-0, State Champs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2022 (12-0, State Champs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2021 (10-1, State Runner Up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2020 (10-3, State Runner Up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2019 (8-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2018 (12-1, State Runner Up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2017 (7-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2016 (6-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2015 (5-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE HORNETS?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While several players move on from this team and an amazing four-year run, the program is far from finished. Players who have long grown up around the success are ready to be a part of one of the great stories in the Sunshine State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While transfers and new faces always surround athletics in Florida, you can expect there to be a number of prospects who will be added over the next eight months, but as we start 2026, here is what the roster should be based on – with some quality talent returning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2027 rising senior will feature players such as <strong>Corey Carter</strong> (WR), <strong>Messiah Gent </strong>(S – 3.0 GPA), <strong>Dominick Harvey </strong>(WR – 3.5 GPA. Basketball), <strong>Ced Hicks</strong> (DB – 3.2 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2044081' first='Nathan' last='Jennings'] </strong>(Athlete), <strong>Karsin Mency</strong> (OL), <strong>Ryheem Moore</strong> (Athlete – 3.5 GPA. Basketball), <strong>Demeion Rutledge </strong>(DL – 3.0 GPA), <strong>Byron Starke </strong>(OL), <strong>Cequan Weekes </strong>(DL – 3.86 GPA) and defensive back <strong>Javontae Williams</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the juniors expected back include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656497' first='Derryek' last='Gillins']</strong> (RB/LB – 3.7 GPA), <strong>Leveon Harris </strong>(WR/CB – 3.5 GPA), <strong>Jacari Lockhart </strong>(DL – 3.6 GPA), nationally rated [player_tooltip player_id='866837' first='Dracen' last='Martin'] (DE), <strong>Richard Roundtree Jr.</strong> (QB – 3.9 GPA), <strong>Willie Sutton </strong>(WR/DB – 4.3 GPA), <strong>Dakari Wiggins</strong> (Athlete) and offensive lineman <strong>Keondrae Wilcox </strong>(3.4 GPA).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even rising standouts <strong>Aiden Chambers </strong>(OL) and <strong>Micah Williams</strong> (OL) gave the 2029 class something to build from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HAWTHORNE HORNETS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Alfred Discovery, W 42-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newberry, W 32-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Florida High, W 33-27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orange Park Oakleaf, L 35-26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradenton Bayshore, W 41-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville University Christian, W 42-29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melbourne Central Catholic, W 34-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Branford, W 42-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williston, W 30-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chiefland, W 36-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blountstown, W 24-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 PREP REDZONE FLORIDA STOCK UP EVENT. <u><a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida">https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida</a></u></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! <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->