We tell you everything you need to know about the 2024 Nease High School football team in this preview, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Panthers this season.
2023 Stats
- Overall Record: 7-4
- Points Scored: 330
- Points Allowed: 317
Key Losses
Quarterback Bryce Frick, who won the starting job in the second half of last season and led the team to a 5-2 finish, will be missed, according to head coach Collin Drafts.
“He (Frick) won us a district championship last year,” Drafts said.
Frick ended up with 1,896 yards passing with 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also rushed for 343 yards with three TDs.
Another key player who will be missed is the man in the middle of the offensive line, center Demarco Blackmon, who served as team captain.
“Demarco was the leader of our offensive line, and it’s going to be difficult to replace him,” Drafts said.
Blackmon will continue his football career at Warner University.
Who’s Back
Nease returns its entire receiving corps from 2023, starting with leading receiver Maddox Spencer. As a junior last year, Spencer had 1,373 receiving yards on 70 receptions with 16 TDs.
Also returning is junior Brayden Felder. He had 670 yards on 48 receptions as a sophomore in 2023.
Senior receivers Fletcher Reston and Tyler Ghazanfari are also back, giving the Panthers a solid group of receivers for the 2024 season.
On defense, the team welcomes back linebackers Noah Hodge and Charly Lodato, while Joe Miracle III returns to his spot at linebacker after missing the 2023 season.
Junior Jacob Curry returns to his safety position this year after being selected as the team’s defensive MVP last year. He has an offer from Vanderbilt.
Senior cornerback and kick returner Elisha Luckett III led the team in interceptions last season, and the Panthers welcome him back for 2024.
What to Expect
Drafts has given Nease fans reason to believe in their team. He led them to a seven-win season in 2023 and their first district title in eight years.
Now, heading into his sixth year as head coach, Drafts has a ton of talent returning to work with – and not just players. Robert Garth returns as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator after coaching college football at New Mexico State.
The bar has definitely been raised at Nease under Drafts after the team had failed to make the playoffs in a decade prior to his arrival. He took the Panthers to the postseason in his third season and again last year. Now, the head coach wants it to become a regular occurrence.
“We expect to make the playoffs, period,” he said. “That’s the goal.”
Prediction
Nease makes the playoffs and finishes with a 9-4 overall record.
Game to Watch
The district-opener versus Buchholz on Sept. 27 will be a big test for Nease.
