Over the past five years, there have been several Alachua County football programs that have had a father serve as head coach and whose son was the starting quarterback.
As a senior in 2020, quarterback Makai Johnson threw for over 1,000 yards for Newberry and his dad, Panthers’ head coach Ed Johnson.
Two years ago, Mark Whittemore was the head coach for Buchholz while his son Creed Whittemore was the starting QB for the Bobcats.
In his senior year, Creed was named the 2022 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football. He led Buchholz (10-3) to its second straight state semifinal appearance by completing 179-of-305 passes for 2,693 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 1,285 yards (8.29 yards per carry) and 17 TDs.
Last year as a junior, quarterback C.J. Ingram led Hawthorne to its second straight state football title under his dad and Hornets’ head coach Cornelius Ingram.
This fall, there is another father-son duo within the county limits as Randy Brower steps in as head coach at Oak Hall following the departure of R.J. Fuhr to Union County (Lake Butler).
His son, Dakota, is the starting quarterback for the Eagles.
“He’s a great kid to coach,” Randy Brower said. “He’s a great athlete, incredible competitor. You talk about a game day guy…it’s fun to have him on our side.”
As a junior, Dakota (5’11, 188) threw for 1,215 yards and 12 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
He also ran for 515 yards and 10 TDs.
“With R.J. gone, one advantage is that the offense will be able to open up a little more because he (Fuhr) would grind the ball more so now we can throw the ball more and have an air raid, so that will be nice,” Dakota said.
Last year’s offense was explosive and averaged 45.3 points per game, including 52 or more points four times.
In game three of the season (Friday, Sept. 8), the Eagles set a school scoring record with a 70-14 win against Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto).
Brower only threw three passes and completed all three for 77 yards and a score, along with 98 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on the ground in the record-setting win.
Three weeks later, he topped that performance as the Eagles broke their scoring record with a 74-32 win at home against Eagle’s View (Jacksonville).
Brower, who finished with 267 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in just one half of football, earned Athlete of the Week honors for his performance.
Dakota is a true athlete with a laundry list of accomplishments.
He went to the FHSAA tennis state tournament as an 8th-grader, was the No. 1 kicker/punter in the nation in middle school, an All-State selection in three events in track and field, and an All-State selection in six positions in football.
“When we played Master’s Academy (Oviedo), and the coach there (offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek) used to be a former NFL quarterback, he said, ‘Does he sell tickets too?’ and I said, ‘Well yes he actually does because he’s fun to watch,’ so yeah he’s an incredible athlete,” Randy Brower said.
The rising senior has made strides since last season.
“I’ll probably be like 10-15 pounds heavier, my speed will be better, and also we’ve been throwing a lot in practice so hopefully my arm will be better as well for the season,” he said.
That athleticism is something that is attracting college scouts and he already has offers from Air Force, Navy and Bryant University.
“It’s been pretty cool going on visits and talking to schools,” said Dakota, who expects to fit in as a wide receiver/athlete at the next level. “It’s pretty fun and I really enjoy it.”
But first, he is excited for his senior season at OHS as the Eagles return nine starters on offense from a team that finished 7-2 in 2023 and made the Sunshine State Athletic Association state playoffs.
“I think we’ll be better in a different way,” he said. “Last year we had a lot more running but this year since we lost some of our big linemen. I think this year we will be more explosive in the sense that there will be more passing and more excitement.”