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Forest football preview

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Forest_WildcatsForest (Ocala) Wildcats (Class 6A-District 5)

2013 Record: 4-6

Head Coach: Skip Austin

Key Players: Adam Deguzman (WR, Sr.), D.J. Gilman (DB, Sr.), Alex Sanchez (DL, Sr.), Dalton Smith (DB, Sr.), Xavier Williams (WR, Sr.), Nick Ambrose (OL, Jr.), Steve Decius (WR, Jr.), Connor Feagle (QB, Jr.), Jaylon Gadson (ATH, Jr.), Malik Jackson (OL, Jr.), Davon’te Jest (DL, Jr.), Micah Pye (DB, Jr.), Colin Lewis (OL, Jr.), Tyree Gillespie (WR, So.), Zack Leeds (OL, Jr.)

Outlook: The Wildcats are going to rely a lot on the bigs up front with Leeds, Ambrose, Lewis, Nick Liverman, and Jackson. There is experience at the quarterback position where Feagle and Gadson will compete for the starting job. Feagle ended up with 589 yards and nine touchdowns despite missing the beginning of the season due to an injury, while Gadson started the season at QB but switched positions. Their skill kids are some of the best around with Williams, Decius, Deguzman, and Gillespie all showing explosive ability. Williams (431 yards rushing/receiving) had 47 yards on 13 carries in a half at the spring game.

On defense, the Wildcats will be led up front by Sanchez and Jest, who led Marion County with nine sacks last season. The secondary will be anchored by Smith, Gilman and Pye (72 tackles, 2 INT).

The team returns several players from last year’s team, which ended the season by winning three of its final four games. They will try and feed off of that momentum, along with playing continual playoff team North Marion close in the spring game.

2014 Football Schedule
Friday, August 22 – vs. Vanguard (Ocala), 7 p.m. (Preseason)
Friday, August 29 – at North Marion (Citra), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 5 – at West Port (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 12 – vs. South Lake (Groveland), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 18 – vs. Citrus (Inverness), 7 p.m.*
Friday, October 3 – at Gainesville, 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 10 – at Leesburg, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17 – vs. Lake Weir (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, October 24 – at Nature Coast (Brooksville), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 31 – at Vanguard (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.*
Friday, November 7 – vs. Belleview, 7:30 p.m.

*District game

Forest High School website

Forest football site

“The Prep Zone” will count down to kick-off with a daily preview of high school football teams in the North Central Florida area. Here are the future release dates:

CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 6
July 28 – Springstead (Spring Hill)

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 3
July 29 – Buchholz (Gainesville)

CLASS 8A-DISTRICT 1
July 30 – West Port (Ocala)

Link to past previews

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