VOTE: Who will be the top football program in Hernando County (FL) in 2022?

Nature Coast, Hernando and Springstead are expected to battle for supremacy

BROOKSVILLE, FL – In a county where playing tough defense and running the football reign supreme still, Hernando County has five public school programs that all are vying to be competitive this summer/fall. Two teams will be entering the 2022 season with new head coaches, as Hernando (John Scargle) and Weeki Wachee (Jon Malandrucco) are the schools featuring new leaders for their respective football programs.

Nature Coast, Hernando and Springstead have been the class of the county the last few years, with Central and Weeki Wachee both rebuilding. We take a look at these top three teams we picked out and invite you to vote on who will be the top team in Hernando County in 2022?

Photo by Alex Walworth

Nature Coast: When have the Sharks, as of recent memory, not been one of Hernando County’s top teams? It’s been a long time since Nature Coast hasn’t been the topic of discussion when it comes to the top club in the county. For good reason as well, especially this fall. The Sharks feature one of the top rushing attacks on the North Suncoast, with returning tailback Christian Cromer being a potential 2,000-yard rusher. Jackson Hoyt, a University of Florida commitment for baseball, will be starting at quarterback and should make the Sharks a threat to throw the ball. Make no doubt about it, Cory Johns has another talented group under his belt.

Hernando: It was just two seasons for Earl Garcia III before he stepped away as the program’s head coach and now the Leopards enter a new era under former Countryside defensive coordinator John Scargle. It’s no secret that the Leopards lost a lot of skill talent on offense when talking about losses from last season. Running backs Brian Smith and Jordan Williams have both graduated, leaving a lot of room for new faces to step up on offense. Enter John Capel III, who is slated to be the starting quarterback on offense for the Leopards.

Springstead: No more flexbone offense? Whoa, whoa, whoa. No so fast there Eagles’ fans, it’s not totally gone. But there will be some change up to the offensive philosophy when it comes to Springstead football this summer/fall, as the Eagles are going to spread it out a little bit with quarterback Ayden Ferguson back at the helm of the offense. Mike Garafano has always had two things during his time at Springstead and that’s a good defense and solid run game. This Eagles’ bunch should be right in the thick of things when talking about top teams in Hernando County.

Photo by Alex Walworth