OPEN DIVISION: DeLand Has To Be In The Conversation

Back on Aug. 28 when DeLand played host to one of the nation's best teams, Baltimore's St. Frances Academy, the Bulldogs were given little or no chance to even give this power a game.   It was to be a contest that veteran head coach Rick Darlington and his coaches wanted to play to give his team a look at what a group of all-stars from all over the country looked like.   After battling Lake Wales (4-1) on the road to open the season, getting out with a 35-34 win, this contest was a game that would be a final tuneup for a run in 6A, where they fell short in the state playoffs against eventual state champion Lake Mary.   As this game progressed, the team that many believed would run away and win comfortably found itself in a dogfight with the Bulldogs. Tied 21-21 at the half, the score made waves statewide and nationally.   Even when they fell behind, 35-29, heading into the fourth quarter, there was a feeling that no matter what the outcome would be, what the Bulldogs did with this impressive team was enough to think that DeLand was indeed one of the top programs in Florida.   While they lost, 49-35, it was by far the closest that anyone has played this unbeaten top three team nationally.   After that setback, the Bulldogs have gone on and have taken care of business, and other than Miami Christopher Columbus and Venice, remain as one of the top large school programs in Florida.   Wins against Lake Mary (35-0) and Deltona (43-0), and a key district matchup on Friday against Port Orange Spruce Creek should keep this team on track to finish 9-1 after a 13-1 season a year ago.   While the schedule is not the toughest in Florida, wins against Lake Wales and Lake Mary, and that 14-point loss to St. Frances should keep them in the conversation.   With the current Max Preps rankings putting the Bulldogs at No. 14 (13 with IMG included and not eligible to play in the Florida state playoffs), it may be tough for them to hurdle those in front. But this is where having actual people who watch games have input may change that computer ranking.   To add to the debate, Lake Wales is ahead of DeLand, which makes little sense, but so are Tampa Bay Tech, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, Seffner Armwood and an Orlando The First Academy team they beat in the spring.   Several teams ahead of them will lose in the coming weeks, but will the computer win out over the fact of losing on the real football field? It appears that way!   If they don't make it into the Open Division's eight teams, they will head into the post season as a huge favorite to win the 6A title – especially with the two “favorites” Columbus and Venice not around.   Here is a look at this senior class that has helped to guide them so far this season with Coach Darlington's comments on each prospect:   Taz Logan, OL/DL, 6'0, 255. Wrestling. “Strongest player I've ever coached.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19831122/Taz-Logan">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19831122/Taz-Logan</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1895271' first='Tucker' last='Wilson'], OL, 6'3, 265 – 3.8 GPA. “Army commitment.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19522818/Tucker-Wilson">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19522818/Tucker-Wilson</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1600144' first='Gardner' last='Nordman'], QB, 6'3, 208. “Very underrated QB.  Also starts at FS.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20319802/Gardner-Nordman">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20319802/Gardner-Nordman</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2247723' first='Jordan' last='Banks'], DT, 6'1, 250 – 3.3 GPA. “Explosive DL.  Leads us in sacks.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22367678/Jordan-Banks">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22367678/Jordan-Banks</a>   Kaveon Jackson, RB, 5'7, 160 – 3.0 GPA. “Runs a 4.28 laser 40.  Squats 475.  Averaging 9.9 yards per carry.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26331356/Kaveon-Jackson">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26331356/Kaveon-Jackson</a>   Nailin Rogers, DB/Athlete, 5'11, 180 – 3.2 GPA. 1310 SAT. 3 Sport Athlete. “He's a dependable three-year starter.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19682907/6937209fea0d31db039402a2">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19682907/6937209fea0d31db039402a2</a>   Ray'mon Hunter, DB/Athlete, 6'1, 170 – 3.5 GPA. “Definitely a D1 safety body!”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/25432821/6912a4172e5cb6150ef0fe02">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/25432821/6912a4172e5cb6150ef0fe02</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2210928' first='Jeremiah' last='Smokes'], DE/DL, 6'0, 230 – 3.1 GPA. “Another dependable three-year starter.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19522823/Jeremiah-Smokes">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19522823/Jeremiah-Smokes</a>   Lane Roberts, LB, 6'3, 212 – 3.9 GPA. Track & Field. “Here is a hard worker who is a four-year starter.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20644469/Lane-Roberts">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20644469/Lane-Roberts</a>   Cristian Baez, K/QB, 5'10, 165. “The school's leading scorer.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19687053/Cristian-Baez">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19687053/Cristian-Baez</a>   Londel Dumas, LB/DB, 5'8, 175 – 3.0 GPA. “Two-year starter in the secondary.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/25621459/Dumas-Londel">https://www.hudl.com/profile/25621459/Dumas-Londel</a>   Justin Burns, OL, 6'4, 325 – 3.35 GPA. “Moves very well for his size.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22375178/Justin-Burns">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22375178/Justin-Burns</a>   Kaveon Jackson, Athlete. “Versatile talent.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26331356/Kaveon-Jackson">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26331356/Kaveon-Jackson</a>   AJ Austin, WLB, 5'9, 175. “Starter who knows football. Dad coaches at Stetson University.”     TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26331367/AJ-Austin">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26331367/AJ-Austin</a>   Cameron “Cam” Gensler, RB, 5'9, 185 – 3.3 GPA. “A versatile H-Back.”   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22363782/69129f0a1e7a4800429c9d0f">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22363782/69129f0a1e7a4800429c9d0f</a>     Leighton Hill, DE, 6'5, 240. “In his first year of playing football, this is a true sleeper.”   Victor Small, OL. “Here is a quality talent that is short, but very strong. A 3-year center.”   UNDERCLASS GIVING THE BULLDOGS SOME BITE   While seniors have been important to this program so far this year, there are also a number of underclassmen that have helped make this program go as well:   CLASS OF 2028   Frederik Edwards, LB/DT, 6'0, 225 – 3.9 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26824066/Frederik-Edwards">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26824066/Frederik-Edwards</a>   Joe Johnson, TE/DE, 6'2, 235.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/24076632/Joe-Johnson">https://www.hudl.com/profile/24076632/Joe-Johnson</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1870925' first='Taihj' last='Moore'], RB/WR, 5'11, 180.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22767408/Taihj-Moore">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22767408/Taihj-Moore</a>   Korion Ross, TE/LB, 6'0, 185.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22897023/Korion-Ross">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22897023/Korion-Ross</a>   Toby Trivett, DE/LS, 6'1, 215 – 3.65 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22740858/Toby-Trivett">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22740858/Toby-Trivett</a>       DELAND BULLDOGS   @Lake Wales, W 35-34   Baltimore St. Francis Academy, L 49-35   Lake Mary, W 33-0   Deltona, W 43-0   9/25 – Port Orange Spruce Creek   10/2 – Port St. Lucie West Centennial   10/9 – Orange City University   10/16 – Tavares   10/23 -  @Daytona Beach Mainland   10/30 – Boca Raton Spanish River     Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.   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.

Back on Aug. 28 when DeLand played host to one of the nation's best teams, Baltimore's St. Frances Academy, the Bulldogs were given little or no chance to even give this power a game.

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OPEN DIVISION: DeLand Has To Be In The Conversation

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