By Mike Ridaught
@ridaught
If you’ve ever gone to a Keystone Heights football game in the last 20 years, you’ve probably noticed the offense always looked the same.
That’s because the Indians have always been a north-south, downhill power running team under Chuck Dickinson, who enters his 19th season as head coach of the Indians.
That’s about to change.
“We’ll have more of an offset look in the backfield with misdirection,” noted Dickinson, whose team battled injuries and struggled to a 2-7 record in 2016. “We changed the whole offense from what we used to.”
The new-look Indians are expecting to be better in the passing game this year because of the return of quarterback Adrien Ciena, who tore his labrum last summer. The junior had a good spring and looks good early throwing the ball.
Don’t expect Keystone to abandon the run though.
They have three running backs returning, including leading rusher Blake Sanders. The senior rushed for 873 yards in nine games last year.
So it could be the run or the pass that sets the tone.
“We are going to do what is best in the scope of the game to win the game,” said Dickinson. “We have to be able to throw on first down.”
Senior wide receiver Sawyer Maxwell said the team’s strength relies more in their offense.
“We have more returning players there and we did a good job of moving the ball in the spring game (against Interlachen and Crescent City),” he said.
That confidence is carrying over to the other side of the ball too.
““We have a lot of returning players,” said returning senior running back Alex Cruz, who will also play linebacker. “Guys who played as juniors are back this year. We’ve got some speed on defense. I think we’ll be pretty good on defense.”
While the cupboard isn’t bare at the running back spot, there is concern about depth at certain positions.
“It’s going to be a lot like it was 30 years ago with guys playing both ways,” said Dickinson. “We had a lot of injuries last year and we weren’t good at throwing the ball and that hurt.”
With the FHSAA’s new playoff format for Classes 1A-4A, the Indians will have to be one of the top four teams in the new 11-team Class 4A-Region 2 to advance to the state playoffs.
That region consists of: Bradford (Starke), Dunnellon, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Mount Dora, P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), Santa Fe (Alachua), South Sumter (Bushnell), Trenton, Umatilla, and The Villages.
Also, since there are no districts, a conference was formed and whoever wins the most games will win a championship.
“We have seven teams in it – Umatilla, Pierson Taylor, Crescent City, Interlachen, Wildwood & The Villages and Keystone,” noted Dickinson. “That’s six of our games right there, so that made it easy for us to schedule games.”
While the schedule will be tough with five straight road games during the season, there are a total of 15 seniors who are up to the challenge.
“I think we’re going to be solid all around,” said returnee & fellow senior Briar Smith, who will play running back and defensive back. “We’ve got great leadership. I feel like our seniors are going to take charge.”
The expectations are to make the playoffs.
However, in order to have a successful season, with a chance at a state playoff appearance, Dickinson said there is one key ingredient.
“We have 29 players and not all of them are healthy yet,” said Dickinson. “The whole key is we can’t have any injuries. One injury could have a big effect on us.”
It could bring down a whole tribe.
2017 Keystone Heights Football Schedule
Aug. 25 – vs. Fernandina Beach
Sept. 1 – vs. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville)
Sept. 8 – at Bradford (Starke)
Sept. 15 – at Umatlla
Sept. 22 – Off
Sept. 29 – at Hawthorne
Oct. 6 – at Crescent City
Oct. 13 – at Wildwood
Oct. 20 – vs. The Villages
Oct. 27 – vs. Interlachen
Nov. 3 – vs. Taylor (Pierson)
