The FHSAA regular season starts Friday, Aug. 21. And to prepare for the 2026 high school football season, the Herald-Tribune is previewing District 3A-12.
Some 3A-12 teams have open spots in their schedule after district member Booker announced it will not field a varsity football team on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
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Here are the team previews for Bayshore, Braden River, Cardinal Mooney, Southeast and Wellen Park.
Bayshore
Coach: Ace Sanders (third season)
Last season: 5-7
Overview: After winning one game in 2024 and going 5-7 season in 2025, head coach Ace Sanders is continuing to build Bayshore's program. The Bruins will be led by receiver/defensive back Camdon Stancil, who had 751 yards and eight touchdowns
behind 51 catches last season. Senior Jayden Gibson, — who finished with 800 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns in 2025 — and junior lineman Braylon Smith will also be pivotal for Bayshore this season. On Friday, Bayshore fell 50-13 to St. John Neumann. Freshman quarterback Jake Carr went 7-of-17 for 37 yards and two interceptions. Despite the score, Bayshore's defense had some positives, recording three sacks and three tackles for loss. The Bruins were plagued by penalties, which they'll hope to clean up against Sarasota in Week 1.
Schedule: Aug. 21 at Sarasota; Aug. 28 at Sunlake; Sept. 4 Parrish Community; Sept. 11 Southeast; Sept. 18 Hawthorne; Sept. 25 at Wellen Park; Oct. 2 Wesley Chapel; Oct. 9 at Cardinal Mooney; Oct. 16 OPEN; Oct. 23 at Braden River; Oct. 30 IMG Jr. National
Braden River
Coach: Rick Farmer (first season)
Last season: 4-6
Overview: When head coach Rick Farmer was promoted to be head coach in the spring, he made some changes. "I started focusing on a lot of the smaller things," Farmer said. "And since they know me, and obviously stepping into a different role, it's kind of changed a little bit of how they view things." After serving as defensive coordinator for two seasons, Farmer wanted Braden River to become a better team, but he also recognizes that starts with building better habits. Farmer is a self-described stickler. He wants his players to run off the field and keep the locker room clean. "I believe those little things take care of the big things," Farmer said. "I'm seeing the seniors are stepping into that role where I don't necessarily have to say something because they're already saying it." The Pirates will be upperclassmen-heavy this season with 17 seniors. Farmer hopes that Braden River can have its first winning season since 2021 behind quarterback senior Louisen Desinor, who threw for 1,614 yards and 10 touchdowns, completing 55.7 percent of his passes last season. The Pirates also will look to senior Maddox Hale, defensive lineman Freedom McDaniel and senior defensive end David Louis.
Schedule: Aug. 21 Pasco; Aug. 28 at Fivay; Sept. 4 Lakewood Ranch; Sept. 10 OPEN; Sept. 18 at North Port; Sept. 25 at Cardinal Mooney; Oct. 2 BYE; Oct. 9 Southeast; Oct. 16 Wellen Park; Oct. 23 Bayshore; Oct. 30
Cardinal Mooney
Coach: Jared Clark (seventh season)
Last season: 14-1
Overview: Following its championship run in 2025, Cardinal Mooney is looking to return for its second straight title and third in four years. But head coach Jared Clark acknowledges that his 2026 squad is different than last year's team after graduating several pieces. "We've got an entirely new receiver crew," Clark said in early August. "We added three new offensive linemen. So, offensively, we had a lot of holes to feel." And Mooney's offense is still working out those kinks following its 49-0 preseason loss to St. Thomas Aquinas — the No. 1 team in the state — on Friday, Aug. 14. Senior quarterback Davin Davidson (Florida commit) had an uncharacteristic night, going 3-for-22 with 19 yards and a pair of interceptions. And while their offense struggled, the Cougars defense had some positives. Safety Marvon Harris caught an interception, and held Aquinas to a field goal. Defensive back Jordan Sanders also had a pick. Linebacker Travion Lester also had a good night in the middle, while defensive lineman Kaleb Exume (Boston College commit) also showed out. "Every year's entirely different new identity," Clark said. "And I'll tell you this much, these guys care. They care about each other. They want to be good. They want to do it the right way. I love how hard they work. We have a bunch of positive energy at practice. Guys are giving incredible effort. I think it's going to turn out that we're replacing a lot from last year."
Schedule: Aug. 21 Berkeley Prep; Aug. 28 Cardinal Newman; Sept. 4 at True North Classical Academy; Sept. 10 Wellen Park; Sept. 18 BYE; Sept. 25 Braden River; Oct. 2 Clearwater Central Catholic; Oct. 9 Bayshore; Oct. 16 at Southeast; Oct. 23 OPEN
Southeast
Coach: Curt Bradley (third season)
Last season: 8-2
Overview: After only losing two games in 2025, head coach Curt Bradley has continued to build Southeast's program. During the offseason, Bradley said his team got in great shape and lifted well. The Seminoles have six transfers and an additional six that regained their eligibility. "We're going to be a little different team in August than we were in May," Bradley said, later adding, "The unity we have within the walls of our program, we're excited about." Southeast will be led by senior linebacker Barron Baldwin, junior linebacker Kahleb Crawford and sophomore receiver Ronnie Bundrage. Crawford had 62 total tackles, 43 solo tackles and four tackles for loss. He also recovered two fumbles, forced one fumble and added two pass deflections.
Schedule: Aug. 21 Wesley Chapel; Aug. 28 at Hillsborough; Sept. 4 Charlotte; Sept. 11 at Bayshore; Sept. 18 BYE; Sept. 25 at Gadsden County; Oct. 2 Osceola; Oct. 9 at Braden River; Oct. 16 Cardinal Mooney; Oct. 23 Wellen Park; Oct. 30 Manatee
Wellen Park
Coach: Sascha Hyer
Overview: During its preseason game in its first-ever matchup, Wellen Park dominated North Port 45-7. Sophomore quarterback Noah Wireman completed seven of his 14 passes, throwing for 191 yards and one touchdown. The running clock started midway through the third quarter, and Wellen Park had 100 more yards in total offense. Leading up to the season, head coach Sascha Hyer — who was a former assistant at Venice — has been clear about his first-year mission: be competitive. Hyer has a "no frills" approach, knowing that he and his team have "to earn every little bit." On Friday, the Eagles were certainly competitive, and it looks like they will continue to be as they had into the regular season.
Schedule: Aug. 21 at Mariner; Aug. 28 Gateway; Sept. 3 DeSoto County; Sept. 10 at Cardinal Mooney; Sept. 18 BYE; Sept. 25 Bayshore; Oct. 2 at Lemon Bay; Oct. 9 Clewiston; Oct. 16 at Braden River; Oct. 23 at Southeast; Oct. 30 at East Lee County
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: District 3A-12 Football Previews: Mooney, Southeast, Bayshore and more
