Sunshine State 25: Preseason No. 5 – Jacksonville Trinity Christian

Team: Trinity Christian Conquerors
Sunshine State 25 Preseason Ranking: No. 5
Head Coach: Verlon Dorminey
2014 Record: 12-2

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Look Back On 2014

Trinity Christian was able to capture their fifth state championship in school and going back-to-back in winning state championships for the first time since 2003. The defeated Delray American Heritage, the same team they defeated in 2010 to capture the Class 1A state championship.

Players To Watch

QB Billy Cobb, Sr.; RB Jalin Buie, Sr.; RB Rasheed Martin, Jr.; RB Raynell Killian, Soph.; WR/CB Shaun Wade, Jr.; WR/DB J.C. Flowers, Sr.; LB Dominique Ross, Sr.; WR DJ Matthews, Jr.; FS Derek Smith, Jr.; ATH Dae’Quantae Showers, Jr.; LB Eriq Gilyard, Soph.; LB Reggie Gunn, Sr.; DE Anthony Mitchell, Sr.

The Outlook

Trinity Christian graduated their biggest senior class with the team hitting double-digits in Division I signees. However, not all is lost for the Conquerors.

With the help of some key transfers and returning talent the Conquerors look to go for three straight state championships which is something no Jacksonville school has been able to do (no not even Bolles has been able to win three straight). Things will start with taking a look at the offensive side of the ball.

Billy Cobb is returning as the starting quarterback for the Conquerors and he will have a lot of help surrounding him including transfer DJ Williams (First Coast) who will be a major target for Cobb this season. Running backs Jalin Buie and Rasheed Martin as well as athlete Dae’Quante Showers will be called upon to carry the ball at times as well, but Trinity Christian should be even more decent of a passing team with the arrival of Matthews on to the roster.

Defensively things are looking so much better even after the heavy losses suffered from graduation. With the addition of transfers of Derek Smith (Fleming Island) and Eriq Gilyard (Ed White) and returnees including Shaun Wade, J.C. Flowers, Dominique Ross, Anthony Mitchell and Reggie Gunn will all help the defense be aggressive like the Conquerors have been.

With the schedule as tough as it is for Trinity Christian, there is no doubt this schedule is meant for the team to make another run for a state championship in Orlando come December.

The District

District 3A-1 from last year becomes District 3A-2 as Trinity Christian, Providence and Episcopal all remain with the addition of Duval Charter moving up from Class 2A. As three of the four teams in the district all made the playoffs last year, this district is very strong. However, things could be different this year, but Trinity Christian is the favorite to win the district, with the other three teams looking to battle it out for the second playoff spot.

Three Games To Watch

Friday 9/18 vs. West Orange – This will be a great for both teams as the West Orange Warriors come up from Orlando to take on the defending state champions. Both teams are talented in many different way and it will be fun to see who will come out on top of this one. This game is worth the price of admission.

Friday 10/9 at Godby – Taking on the Class 5A state runner-up is no easy task as the teams have split the last two meetings these past two seasons. Right now on paper, it looks though is the Conquerors lead in talent, but given this is high school football, anything can happen.

Thursday 10/22 at Lincoln – Trinity Christian will be making their second road trip to Tallahassee in less than two weeks and should already know the atmosphere that a game at Gene Cox Stadium will bring. Both teams look like they are evenly matched on paper, but how this game actually goes is how well or how bad Lincoln comes out of the gate at the start of the season. Same thing applies for the Conquerors, but this will be a great to watch nonetheless.

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Previous Sunshine State 25 Countdown Stories
No. 6: Cocoa
No. 7: Booker T. Washington
No. 8: Plantation American Heritage
No. 9: Apopka
N0. 10: Kissimmee Osceola
No. 11: Columbus
No. 12: Oakleaf
No. 13: Dr. Phillips
No. 14: Manatee
No. 15: Armwood
No. 16: Lakeland
No. 17: Niceville
No. 18: Delray American Heritage
No. 19: Dwyer
No. 20: Wakulla
No. 21: Naples
No. 22: Lake Gibson
No. 23: North Marion
No. 24: Palm Bay Heritage
No. 25: Bishop Moore