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High school football is back — at least for a few weeks.
The spring football season is less than a month away with games taking place May 16 through 23.
The football landscape is ever-changing in Southwest Florida with the coaching carousel, reloading of rosters, and impact transfers. Here are some of the main storylines to follow as we head into spring football.
More: The 2024 SW Florida Sports Awards Fall All-Region Teams
Naples was the last Southwest Florida team standing last season as the Golden Eagles reached the Final Four for the first time since 2018. That group will face an immediate test in their May 21 game as they host perennial powerhouse and Class 7A champion Venice. Lely and Riverdale were two breakout teams last season and will face each other at Riverdale High School on May 22. Dunbar hosting Lakewood on May 23 will also be an intriguing contest to watch, as both squads made the playoffs.
With Carter Smith now enrolled in Madison, Wisconsin for the Badgers, Verot's got its successor of the future in Austan Cristiaan waiting in the wings, poised to be a three-year starter. As a freshman, Cristiaan saw time in the wake of Smith's absence due to a shoulder injury, completing 21 of 41 passes for 280 yards with a touchdown against three interceptions. Cristiaan's pinpoint accuracy is often raved about, and it's something that'll be on display against Archbishop McCarthy less than a month from now in the spring game.
Having Deshon Jenkins in the backfield will only help with Cristiaan's transition, as the bruiser ran for 1,786 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior against two state champions in West Boca Raton and Venice, and a pair of Final Four teams in Cardinal Mooney (twice) and First Baptist. Cristiaan's receiving corps is poised to return, with Ayden Gonzalez, Bryce Schell, Jadrien Carmo, and perhaps more poised to make impacts this season.
A handful of new head coaches are poised to make their debuts this season, with a handful in Collier County poised to chart their own paths forward. St. John Neumann hired former Super Bowl Champion and Philadelphia Eagle Chris Maragos to lead the football program, while Barron Collier hired Brannon Tidwell, an alumnus of the school. At Community School, Jonah Dubinski took over for Mike Stannard after two seasons, while First Baptist looks to replace longtime head coach Billy Sparacio. Golden Gate brought back Nick Bigica to lead the program after Nick Citro resigned after one season.
In neighboring Lee County, Ida Baker hired ex-Gateway coach Cullen O'Brien, while Tyran Jones made the switch from Island Coast to Mariner. Steve Howard made the move from Ida Baker to East Lee County, while Herbans Paul went from East Lee to St. Petersburg Gibbs.
The Golden Eagles are undoubtedly an area powerhouse, but a regional championship had eluded the team for nearly a decade. However, Naples got the monkey off their back with a 17-10 road win against Port Charlotte to reach the Final Four, where they eventually fell to Orlando Jones. Don't expect Rick Martin's squad to take a step back as the deep Naples roster will be gearing up this spring, which includes a backfield of Jamar Jerome and Sam Sparacio.
On the defensive side of the football, Tariq Arbyummi is slated to return after a 70-tackle, 5-sack season, alongside defensive backs Eli Chery and Andre Ferdinand. Alijah Molina played a relatively clean season at quarterback as a junior and will aim to build off a 707 passing yard season where he threw for 8 touchdowns against a single interception. With James LaChance (21 receptions, 478 yards, 7 TD) out wide again, Naples can really start to balance out their attack if they want to.
Mock NFL Draft: Where would SW FL high school football stars be selected in 2025 first round?
The departure of talent across the board has been quite the surprise this season, with a handful opting to transfer. Look no further than North Fort Myers, which saw 4-star defensive lineman James Johnson transfer to Miami Northwestern to play for Teddy Bridgewater. It's unclear as to whether or not Johnson will be the lone area product headed to play for the Bulls, or if more will join.
First Baptist, which is expected to see a mass exodus following the departure of head football coach Billy Sparacio. Sam Sparacio and Andres DiGrigoli transferred to Naples, while the destinations of 4-star wide receiver Jayden Petit and rising sophomore quarterback Brady Quinn are yet to be determined. The same goes for Micah Fils-Aime, who is expected to be on the move as well among other impact players on the Lions' roster last season.
Bishop Verot saw a pair of departures in Ira and Irell Dale, who left the program to transfer to Venice, while Jyden German transferred into Bishop Verot from Fort Myers. St. John Neumann got multiple transfers, headlined by First-Team linebacker Luke Tallstrom (Gulf Coast), wide receiver Rony Raposo (Golden Gate), and offensive lineman Zane Keric (Aubrey Rogers). Rising junior Landon Wolny transferred from Fort Myers to CSN, looking to make a splash with the Seahawks in their receiver room.
Expect more transfers to become official come Monday or after the spring season, when school gets out, including some big names across both Lee and Collier counties. Count on The News-Press and the Naples Daily News to bring you that information as it becomes available.
Friday, May 16
Barron Collier at Charlotte
Lake Wales, Port Charlotte at Fort Myers
Tuesday, May 20
Venice at Naples
Wednesday, May 21
Archbishop McCarthy at Bishop Verot
Golden Gate at Aubrey Rogers
Gulf Coast at Manatee
Palmetto Ridge at Gateway
Thursday, May 22
Lely at Riverdale
South Fort Myers, Immokalee at East Lee County
Bonita Springs at SFCA
Canterbury at Ida Baker
Gateway Charter at Coral Springs Charter
Mariner at Braden River
St. John Neumann at Ransom Everglades
North Port at Island Coast
LaBelle, Evangelical Christian at Clewiston
Friday, May 23
Gadsden County at Community School
Lakewood at Dunbar
North Fort Myers at Estero
Lehigh at Cypress Lake
Oasis, Bayshore at Cape Coral
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 2025 SW FL Spring Football: Here are five storylines to watch
Continue reading...
The spring football season is less than a month away with games taking place May 16 through 23.
The football landscape is ever-changing in Southwest Florida with the coaching carousel, reloading of rosters, and impact transfers. Here are some of the main storylines to follow as we head into spring football.
More: The 2024 SW Florida Sports Awards Fall All-Region Teams
Exciting spring games scheduled
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Naples was the last Southwest Florida team standing last season as the Golden Eagles reached the Final Four for the first time since 2018. That group will face an immediate test in their May 21 game as they host perennial powerhouse and Class 7A champion Venice. Lely and Riverdale were two breakout teams last season and will face each other at Riverdale High School on May 22. Dunbar hosting Lakewood on May 23 will also be an intriguing contest to watch, as both squads made the playoffs.
Bishop Verot entering a new era at quarterback
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With Carter Smith now enrolled in Madison, Wisconsin for the Badgers, Verot's got its successor of the future in Austan Cristiaan waiting in the wings, poised to be a three-year starter. As a freshman, Cristiaan saw time in the wake of Smith's absence due to a shoulder injury, completing 21 of 41 passes for 280 yards with a touchdown against three interceptions. Cristiaan's pinpoint accuracy is often raved about, and it's something that'll be on display against Archbishop McCarthy less than a month from now in the spring game.
Having Deshon Jenkins in the backfield will only help with Cristiaan's transition, as the bruiser ran for 1,786 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior against two state champions in West Boca Raton and Venice, and a pair of Final Four teams in Cardinal Mooney (twice) and First Baptist. Cristiaan's receiving corps is poised to return, with Ayden Gonzalez, Bryce Schell, Jadrien Carmo, and perhaps more poised to make impacts this season.
New head coaches
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A handful of new head coaches are poised to make their debuts this season, with a handful in Collier County poised to chart their own paths forward. St. John Neumann hired former Super Bowl Champion and Philadelphia Eagle Chris Maragos to lead the football program, while Barron Collier hired Brannon Tidwell, an alumnus of the school. At Community School, Jonah Dubinski took over for Mike Stannard after two seasons, while First Baptist looks to replace longtime head coach Billy Sparacio. Golden Gate brought back Nick Bigica to lead the program after Nick Citro resigned after one season.
In neighboring Lee County, Ida Baker hired ex-Gateway coach Cullen O'Brien, while Tyran Jones made the switch from Island Coast to Mariner. Steve Howard made the move from Ida Baker to East Lee County, while Herbans Paul went from East Lee to St. Petersburg Gibbs.
Naples building on special season
The Golden Eagles are undoubtedly an area powerhouse, but a regional championship had eluded the team for nearly a decade. However, Naples got the monkey off their back with a 17-10 road win against Port Charlotte to reach the Final Four, where they eventually fell to Orlando Jones. Don't expect Rick Martin's squad to take a step back as the deep Naples roster will be gearing up this spring, which includes a backfield of Jamar Jerome and Sam Sparacio.
On the defensive side of the football, Tariq Arbyummi is slated to return after a 70-tackle, 5-sack season, alongside defensive backs Eli Chery and Andre Ferdinand. Alijah Molina played a relatively clean season at quarterback as a junior and will aim to build off a 707 passing yard season where he threw for 8 touchdowns against a single interception. With James LaChance (21 receptions, 478 yards, 7 TD) out wide again, Naples can really start to balance out their attack if they want to.
Mock NFL Draft: Where would SW FL high school football stars be selected in 2025 first round?
Exodus of high-end talent
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The departure of talent across the board has been quite the surprise this season, with a handful opting to transfer. Look no further than North Fort Myers, which saw 4-star defensive lineman James Johnson transfer to Miami Northwestern to play for Teddy Bridgewater. It's unclear as to whether or not Johnson will be the lone area product headed to play for the Bulls, or if more will join.
First Baptist, which is expected to see a mass exodus following the departure of head football coach Billy Sparacio. Sam Sparacio and Andres DiGrigoli transferred to Naples, while the destinations of 4-star wide receiver Jayden Petit and rising sophomore quarterback Brady Quinn are yet to be determined. The same goes for Micah Fils-Aime, who is expected to be on the move as well among other impact players on the Lions' roster last season.
Bishop Verot saw a pair of departures in Ira and Irell Dale, who left the program to transfer to Venice, while Jyden German transferred into Bishop Verot from Fort Myers. St. John Neumann got multiple transfers, headlined by First-Team linebacker Luke Tallstrom (Gulf Coast), wide receiver Rony Raposo (Golden Gate), and offensive lineman Zane Keric (Aubrey Rogers). Rising junior Landon Wolny transferred from Fort Myers to CSN, looking to make a splash with the Seahawks in their receiver room.
Expect more transfers to become official come Monday or after the spring season, when school gets out, including some big names across both Lee and Collier counties. Count on The News-Press and the Naples Daily News to bring you that information as it becomes available.
2025 SW FL Spring Football Schedule
Friday, May 16
Barron Collier at Charlotte
Lake Wales, Port Charlotte at Fort Myers
Tuesday, May 20
Venice at Naples
Wednesday, May 21
Archbishop McCarthy at Bishop Verot
Golden Gate at Aubrey Rogers
Gulf Coast at Manatee
Palmetto Ridge at Gateway
Thursday, May 22
Lely at Riverdale
South Fort Myers, Immokalee at East Lee County
Bonita Springs at SFCA
Canterbury at Ida Baker
Gateway Charter at Coral Springs Charter
Mariner at Braden River
St. John Neumann at Ransom Everglades
North Port at Island Coast
LaBelle, Evangelical Christian at Clewiston
Friday, May 23
Gadsden County at Community School
Lakewood at Dunbar
North Fort Myers at Estero
Lehigh at Cypress Lake
Oasis, Bayshore at Cape Coral
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 2025 SW FL Spring Football: Here are five storylines to watch
Continue reading...
