The Lake Shore Red Raiders have had a lot to prove this season. In the junior pee wee classification they had to prove they belonged in one of the toughest divisions in the city. Playing teams such as the Grandpark Trojans, and the Forestview Steelers, Lake Shore knew they had an uphill climb to earn respect. They started in the off season by bringing in Coach Hamilton from Kooker Park, and equipping Coach Van with the necessary tools to compete with the best. With Coach Hamilton came his son David Hamilton Jr to pair with other studs such as Van Adams Jr, Jataris Pryor Jr, and Pressley Gross III.
Saturday they faced a team that was one of the best in Div III, the Oceanway Blue Bucs(5-1) who came into the game undefeated. But after a schedule of blowing out not so good teams, and playing the best teams extremely close, (losses to Forestview Steelers 14-0 and Grandpark 13-0) the Red Raiders were eager to show the youth football world how good they really were when playing a good team.
Ranked #5 in Division 1, and #1 in the Division III Duval Sports Junior Pee Wee Youth football power rankings respectively, many knew it would be a tough game between the Raiders and Bucs. It was indeed close at the start, as both teams defenses stop the opposing offenses in the first quarter. Both of the big time running backs in this game couldn’t get rolling at first, Christian Ellis for Oceanway, and David Hamilton for Lake Shore. The first quarter ended in a 0-0 tie. At the start of the 2nd quarter, Pressley Gross III hit Van Adams Jr for 25 yard touchdown pass to put Lake Shore up 7-0. Oceanway would connect on a long pass as Reshawn Lattimer hit Trevon Postell at the end of the second quarter to put the ball at the 20 yard line of Lake Shore. Yet time would expire as the Raiders led at the half 7-0.
Lake Shore Red up on Blue Bucs JPW Halftime 7-0 pic.twitter.com/D7Rit2hvty
— DuvalSports (@DuvalSports) October 10, 2015
In the second half the Raiders defense picked up where they left off shutting down the Bucs rushing attack and forcing a fumble. The defense kept Oceanway in bad field position all game, which set up short drives for the Raiders offense. The Buccaneer defense would get two goal-line stands on short drives by Lake Shore, yet their offense could not sustain a drive to allow the defense time to rest. Lanes that were hard to come by in the first half became much easier to come by in the second half as David Hamilton began to do what he does best, pound the rock. Hamilton would score in the second half on a spectacular run where he dodged several defenders to race 65 yards for the touchdown making it 13-0. Jatarvis Pryor would finish the scoring on the afternoon in the fourth quarter with a short touchdown run around the right side to ice the game 19-0.
Coach Vann and the mighty Lake Shore Red Raiders knock off previously undefeated Oceanway Blue Bucs 19-0 JPW pic.twitter.com/XxochVhHXP — DuvalSports (@DuvalSports) October 10, 2015
The defensive effort was the fourth shutout for the Lake Shore Red Raiders, holding a Buccaneer team that averaged 25 ppg to 0 points. It’s a testament to the effort the kids put forth even if the playoffs are not in sight for their team.
“Division one is one of the toughest divisions, we actually have two of the top teams in junior pee wee which is Grand Park and Forest View. Unfortunately we came up short on the playoffs, but we will continue to finish the season strong”. – Coach Van
Lake Shore will take on Mandarin Tigers Orange another undefeated team.
As for Oceanway they’ll look to bounce back against their rival, the always tough Creeks Gold Outlaws who advanced all the way to Nationals last year. But their first round playoff opponent is already set. They face the Westside Wildcats Blue on October 27th.
Check back for the Post Game Interview and Highlights of this game!!
