Saint Stephen's Creneti named Independent Coach of the Year

The dream seasons are continuing for the area’s two state football champions.

Venice High’s John Peacock was named the Coach of the Year and his quarterback Bryce Carpenter was named the Player of the Year in Class 7A by the Florida Dairy Farmers on Wednesday.

Saint Stephen’s Tod Creneti was named the Independent Coach of the Year after leading the Falcons to their second straight Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Creneti, whose Falcons are the only team to win multiple SSAC titles since the conference was created in 2008. “It’s a shared honor with the great staff of coaches that put the needs of the players ahead of themselves.”

Falcons’ quarterback Fred Billy, a senior, was second in the Independent Player of the Year balloting to Satellite’s Noah Mumme.

Peacock guided the Indians to a 14-1 record and their first state title since 2000. Their only loss of the season came to IMG Academy’s star-studded Blue Team. Venice ended the year ranked 25th nationally by MaxPreps and third overall in the state in Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings.

Venice defeated St. John’s Bartram Trail last Saturday in Orlando in the Class 7A state title game. Bartram’s Trail’s Darrell Sutherland took second to Peacock in the Coach of the Year balloting.

Carpenter, a senior, threw for 3,053 yards and 42 touchdowns, and accounted for 1,274 yards and 22 more touchdowns on the ground. He ran for 214 yards and four scores during the state title game.

Finishing second in the Player of the Year voting was Venice wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh. Carpenter and Heiligh are both committed to play at Coastal Carolina next year.

Carpenter is now a finalist for Mr. Football, while Creneti and Peacock are finalists for the state’s overall Coach of the Year award.