The green and gold and Panther pride was at its peak on October 23rd, as Nease beat its longest and toughest rival, St. Augustine, in overtime. It would be St. Augustine coach Joey Wiles’ last game with the Jackets, which made it all the sweeter for Panther fans, having not beaten St. Augustine since the Tim Tebow years.
Senior QB Leighton Alley, who led the overtime charge, must bring that momentum into this season.
Alley, who is also a prolific baseball pitcher, will have the opportunity to chuck the pigskin to juniors Ashton Wood and Zach Sheffer. They have the opportunity to be the best WR duo in the area.
Nease will have several holes to fill on both sides of the ball. They’re losing WR Michael Cotter, RB Kendric Harris, and defenders Maurkee Ragin and Jordan Willis, among several others.
Nease did something last year that few teams in the area get to do: go undefeated in their district. With their average points for at 25.9 and points against at 20.7, it’s easy to see why they were able to do so.
The Panthers did benefit from an easy schedule last year. Five of their seven wins came over teams below .500, and two of those teams didn’t win a game all year. Their schedule this year is similar, with should-be wins coming over Creekside, Menendez, Ed White, Middleburg and Englewood. Ponte Vedra, Nease’s newest and most passionate rival, will likely give the Panthers a fight. The other St. Johns County schools, St. Augustine and Bartram Trail, are going to be tough games as well.
Head Coach Tim Krause is heading into his third year at Nease, after previously being the offensive coordinator at Bishop Kenny. Having stability at the coaching position has always benefitted Nease.
Allen D. Nease Panthers
Nease Hopes To Continue Momentum
Written by Kim Hoy
Photo by Jeff Heinemann
