MIDDLEBURG - With less than a week to finish preseason preparations for the upcoming 2023 high school football seasons, area coaches are fine-tuning their troops for the final segment of the summer; the preseason games on Fri., Aug. 18.

"It's all about to start," said Middleburg coach Ryan Wolfe. "These guys are not part of the era where losses happened more than wins. We may not be getting much coverage on what we did, from an 0-10 to 5-5 to a playoff spot. These guys know what they did and want to build on it."

Preseason what it is is a sneak peek at what may happen come August 25 and beyond and some of the matchups for Friday include Orange Park, in a freshly rebuilt football stadium and an incisive look of confidence from second-year coach Marcus Wimberly taking on perennial powerhouse Bolles in their opener.

Bolles, of course, has two former Clay High guys Matt Toblin and Joshua Hoekstra, but neither has a history with Wimberly. That could make the game a little less rivalry-exciting and much more test-driving some new faces and tactics from Wimberly.

"I think the team and I are on the same page now," said Wimberly, who showed some muscle in a tight spring game with Ocoee out of the Orlando area also coached by an NFLer, Sheddrick Gurley, a former Florida Gator and Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well. "We've got some talent spread around and a great attitude."

Bolles ventures into the new Hoyt B. Cotney digs after a 9-5 season that featured yet another Final Four finish (21-14 loss to American Heritage in semi; down 21-0 into the fourth quarter) and a 22nd ranking on the MaxPreps Top 25 teams in Florida.

Wimberly will see a senior quarterback DJ Moore (1101 Yds, 11TD, a Coastal Carolina commit), a junior running back Tyrone Neal (1263 Yds 11/TDs) and a sophomore receiver Naeem Burroughs (36 passes/7TDs) on offense.

On defense, senior linebacker Trent Carter, a Louisville commit, DJ wrapped up 110 guys last year with six sacks.

Top those returners with a history; 11 state championships, only second to St. Thomas Aquinas (14), with the caveat that the Bulldogs haven’t won a title since 2011 (Class 4A) and the last time they were in the big dance was 2020.

Wimberly wants to put a big feather in his cap; preseason or not, this would be a good one to dominate. Let speed out Jermel Brown's fly, and control the box figuring the rest of Bolle's opponents probably won't see much on offensive strategery in a preseason game. If anything, a couple of scores by sophomore quarterback Gabe Taylor, a bomb to Brown and maybe a sack and fumble for a score by Tyler Jackson will give Raider fans momentum for a season opener against Oakleaf.