For the next 20 days, Bright House Sports Network will release one team per day in a preseason countdown of the Top 20 football teams in Central Florida.
The countdown continues today with No. 14.
No. 14 South Sumter Raiders
Head Coach: Inman Sherman
2013 Record: 12-1 (lost to St. Pete Lakewood 27-21 in 5A region finals)
Key Returners: DL Devin Papinheim, RB Anderson Faulk, OL Colton Skipper, RB J.T. Taylor, OL James Daniel, LB Brice Hatcher, OL Caleb Simmons
Key Losses: QB Levi Sapp, RB P.J. Brown, WR Ladovick Gibson, DL Elijah English, DB Xavier Story, DB Brandon Anderson
Kickoff Classic: vs. Dunnellon, 7:30 (Aug. 21)
Team Outlook: The Raiders return 15 starters off a team that went 10-0 in the regular season for the second consecutive year. Sapp’s graduation leaves a void at quarterback but running backs Faulk and Taylor, who combined for 36 touchdowns last year, should make for a smooth transition. A veteran offensive line should also pave the way for that unit to put up big numbers once again. Defensively, a core led by Hatcher, Simmons and Ceballos projects to be strong. All three of those players recorded at least 90 tackles in 2013.