Our staff writers gaze a bit into the future, offer their thoughts on the players and teams from around our coverage area who will have a big 2014 season:
FEARLESS PREDICTIONS
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Gibbs makes the playoffs.
Hillsborough: Tampa Catholic’s Nate Craig is starting at quarterback by Week 3.
North Suncoast: Pasco beats South Sumter.
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: Countryside will make the playoffs, stealing a spot from Pinellas Park or East Lake.
Hillsborough: Hillsborough will upset Armwood in the 6A region semifinal.
North Suncoast: Wiregrass Ranch will have its first winning season since 2010.
Rodney Page
Pinellas: The county will again have a team playing for a state championship.
Hillsborough: Lennard will win more games (four) than in the past three seasons combined (three).
North Suncoast: Ridgewood makes the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: Clearwater will snap an 11-game skid dating to 2012 and win at least three games.
Hillsborough: For the first time in five seasons, Leto will win a game on the field.
North Suncoast: River Ridge will make the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Ryan Davis, Lakewood
Hillsborough: Deon Cain, Tampa Bay Tech
North Suncoast: Bowman Archibald, Pasco
Rodney Page
Pinellas: Donavan Hale, Largo
Hillsborough: Ray Ray McCloud III, Sickles
North Suncoast: Andrew Ivie, Pasco
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: Ryan Davis, Lakewood
Hillsborough: Ray Ray McCloud III, Sickles
North Suncoast: James Pensyl, Land O’Lakes
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: Jeff Smith, Clearwater Central Catholic
Hillsborough: Ray Ray McCloud III, Sickles
North Suncoast: Christian Pellage, Nature Coast
TOP RUSHER
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Michael Ford, Tarpon Springs
Hillsborough: Patrick Brooks, Plant
North Suncoast: Glass Wilson, Ridgewood
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: Michael Ford, Tarpon Springs
Hillsborough: Ray Ray McCloud III, Sickles
North Suncoast: Nathan Johnson, Sunlake
Rodney Page
Pinellas: Donte Maxson, Pinellas Park
Hillsborough: Ray Ray McCloud III, Sickles
North Suncoast: Glass Wilson, Ridgewood
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: Michael Ford, Tarpon Springs
Hillsborough: Ray Ray McCloud, Sickles
North Suncoast: Nathan Johnson, Sunlake
TOP PASSER
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Tyrie Adams, Dixie Hollins
Hillsborough: Garrett Young, Cambridge Christian
North Suncoast: James Pensyl, Land O’Lakes
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: Ryan Davis, Lakewood
Hillsborough: Dwayne Lawson, Hillsborough
North Suncoast: James Pensyl, Land O’Lakes
Rodney Page
Pinellas: Ryan Davis, Lakewood
Hillsborough: Dwayne Lawson, Hillsborough
North Suncoast: James Pensyl, Land O’Lakes
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: Donavan Hale, Largo
Hillsborough: Garrett Young, Cambridge Christian
North Suncoast: James Pensyl, Land O’Lakes
TOP RECEIVER
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Chris Ryan, Countryside
Hillsborough: Doug Sandberg, Bloomingdale
North Suncoast: Ethan Weilant, Land O’Lakes
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: George Campbell, East Lake
Hillsborough: Jahrvis Davenport, Robinson
North Suncoast: Kamal Wells, Land O’Lakes
Rodney Page
Pinellas: Chris Ryan, Countryside
Hillsborough: Nate Craig, Tampa Catholic
North Suncoast: Ethan Weilant, Land O’Lakes
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: George Campbell, East Lake
Hillsborough: Jordan Reed, Plant
North Suncoast: Ethan Weliant, Land O’Lakes
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Carson Lydon, East Lake
Hillsborough: Nick Mosco, Jesuit
North Suncoast: Andrew Ivie, Pasco
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: Jonathan Crawford, Largo
Hillsborough: Jordan Griffin, Armwood
North Suncoast: Bowman Archibald, Pasco
Rodney Page
Pinellas: Jordan Edwards, Lakewood
Hillsborough: Byron Cowart, Armwood
North Suncoast: Bowman Archibald, Pasco
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: Carson Lydon, East Lake
Hillsborough: Byron Cowart, Armwood
North Suncoast: Jaye Miner, Wiregrass Ranch
SURPRISE TEAM
John C. Cotey
Pinellas: Boca Ciega
Hillsborough: Newsome
North Suncoast: River Ridge
Kelly Parsons
Pinellas: Gibbs
Hillsborough: King
North Suncoast: Gulf
Rodney Page
Pinellas: Dunedin
Hillsborough: Lennard
North Suncoast: River Ridge
Bob Putnam
Pinellas: Clearwater
Hillsborough: Lennard
North Suncoast: Nature Coast