Mandarin clinched its fifth consecutive 5A District 2 football title with a 47-6 win over Beachside on Friday, Oct. 16. The Mustangs improved to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in district play, according to MaxPreps.

Coaches credit much of that consistency to senior defensive back Keion "Gater" Herring.

Herring is a fourth-year player and second-year starting DB who has been part of four district championship teams. First-year defensive backs coach Tre Herndon, a former NFL cornerback, said Herring's leadership shows up in small moments during the week, News4Jax reported.

Herndon said he leaned on the senior early in the season while learning the program.

"When I first got here, he was giving me coaching points," Herndon said. "He knew the playbook better than me."

Herndon played cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints before joining Mandarin's staff. He described Herring as "kind of a quiet guy" who knows when to turn it on, and called him "a jack of all trades" for the defense.

Family roots

The Herring name runs deep in Mandarin football. Coach Toby Bullock said the family has been tied to the program for years, with a brother and several cousins playing on both sides of the ball. Bullock credited the family as a big part of the five-year title streak.

Herring said his older brother, Kevean Herring, was a major influence. He said he started playing football around age 3 or 4 and learned the DB position by following Kevean's lead.

Chasing the No. 1 seed

Mandarin has scored 278 points and allowed 109 through eight games. The Mustangs have won four straight since their only loss, 31-13 at Raines on Sept. 18.

Bullock said the team has talked for months about earning the No. 1 playoff seed and the home games that come with it. Two regular-season games remain: Bartram Trail on Friday, Oct. 23, and St. Augustine on Friday, Oct. 30.