Two years ago, Keystone Heights hit the lowest of lows winning just two football games.
Quite a shock for a program that in the 1990s was a consistent playoff contender and has been a consistent winning program ever since.
Longtime head coach Chuck Dickinson quickly turned things back around last season and had the Indians (7-3) one win away from another playoff appearance.
During the abysmal down year, Dickinson started 9-10 sophomores and those guys are now seniors and hungry for a district title and playoff appearance.
Dickinson is back for his eighteenth season at Keystone and expects another playoff run this year with all those young guys now older and veterans.
Quarterback Wyatt Harvin (538 yards, 7 TDs) and Ray Trimble (1,625 yards, 16 TDs) have graduated and must be replaced.
Among those returning are three year starting senior lineman Matt White, Noah Dickinson and Nolan Robertson, two year starters juniors Fletcher Teague (RB/DB) and Rian Prieto (TE/DB).
Sophomore Trevor Rogers, junior Alex Cruz and senior Justin Raysin are competing to fill the spot of Trimble while Preito (61 tackles, 6 INTs), Raysin (73 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries) are back to lead the defense.
The schedule is definitely winnable with non-district games against Belleview, Hilliard, Bishop Snyder, Fernandina Beach, Villages and Hawthorne.
To make the playoffs again the Indians will have to get through at PK Yonge (Sept. 30), arch-rival Bradford (Oct. 14), at rival Interlachen (Oct. 21) and state semifinalist Santa Fe (Oct. 28).
Realistically, the playoffs will come down to the three week stretch of Bradford, Interlachen and Santa Fe, the Indians have to go at least 2-1 with a win over Bradford or Santa Fe needed to wrap up a spot.
Keystone Heights Indians
Indians Aim For Another Playoff Run
Written by Corey Davis
Photo by Perry Knotts
