In a game that went down to the bitter end, the Twin Lakes Timberwolves defeated the Matthew Gilbert Panthers 22-16 to advance to the Duval County Middle School Championship.
With 1:22 to play in the game, Gilbert had the ball down by 5 points but could not make the plays needed to win the game. The Panthers were in unfamiliar territory all night being behind for most of the game. Twin Lakes came out confident and motivated and it showed in the way they played.
#23 48yd run Wolves 1st and Goal from 5 pic.twitter.com/rocB4AfLZn
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) November 12, 2015
Coach Gamble deployed an aggressive running attack that featured #7 Walter Cox. Cox would score from three yards out to put Twin Lakes on the board first 6-0. It would be only the second time this season that a team would score first on the Panthers.
TwinLakes #7 3yd td run. Wolves up 6-0 mid 2nd @DuvalSports @duvalpreps pic.twitter.com/0z4SKR8rU6 — PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) November 12, 2015
Yet Gilbert would respond with a score of their own. After a stale mate first quarter, and falling behind in the mid second, Gilbert began their drive for the endzone in the late 2nd quarter. Quarterback Tyrone Williams would lead his team down the field to the redzone.
Then it was Christal Smith time, the female phenom that has led the short yardage game for the Panthers all year. She punched it in from three yards out to tie the game. The conversion was good and Gilbert led 8-6 at half time.
@DuvalSports @dreamkingfilmz Gilbert scores and completes the PAT to take a 8-6 lead with 57 seconds left in the 2 pic.twitter.com/EnVwu3K8Hr
— Q-Duval Sports (@QCarr75) November 12, 2015
Gilbert #20 3yd td run. Wolves next possession #20 65yd catch. Gilbert D holds true. Gilbert 8-6 half @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/Um6F0zd494 — PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) November 12, 2015
After regaining the lead the Panthers attempted to put on the pressure, but the Timberwolves were not fazed. 
Just before the half, Gamble dialed up a deep pass when 7th grade Quarterback Josh Strobble completed a 45 yard pass to his wide receiver to swing the field position. The Panther defense would hold and the half would end at 8-6 in favor of Gilbert, but the damage was already done. Twin Lakes had shown that they would come out fast, not quit if they got down, and be optimally prepared for any situation. The willingness to get the ball to the receivers such as Isaiah Green and Jerome Jolly was key to forcing Gilbert’s stout defense to cover the entire field. It would be a key factor in the Timberwolve’s 2nd half game plan.
In the second half Twin Lakes would once again come out aggressive driving the length of the field and scoring with #23 Ronnie West, the captain of the team. Twin Lakes would take a 14-8 lead.
@DuvalSports @dreamkingfilmz @DCPSMS Twin Lakes open the 2nd half by driving the field for a TD
— Q-Duval Sports (@QCarr75) November 12, 2015
@DuvalSports @dreamkingfilmz @DCPSMS At the end of the 3rd quarter Twin Lakes lead Gilbert 14-8 pic.twitter.com/5vYXYFXe5e — Q-Duval Sports (@QCarr75) November 13, 2015
Twin Lakes would gain key stops on defense frustrating a Panther offense that began to press seemingly due to being in the unfamiliar situation of trailing late in the 3rd quarter. Cox would hold down the defensive front while West covered the secondary.
They were able to get the ball back into the offense’s hands when the Timber-wolf coaching staff called a end-around play. The play was successful and Twin Lakes went up 22-8 in the fourth quarter. It was Wilcox second TD on the day!
@DuvalSports @dreamkingfilmz @DCPSMS Twin Lakes scores on a 27 yard end around. PAT is good. Twin Lakes lead 22-8 with 5:21 left
— Q-Duval Sports (@QCarr75) November 13, 2015
Pressed for playmakers, Coach Dorsey called for one of his talented players to make a play. And they did when his team returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown! The emotional shifts of the game made it extremely exciting for fans in attendance and the ones following the game on DuvalSports and Twitter. At the Fletcher versus Stilwell game, the announcers read the score to the game Gilbert vs Twin Lakes game and the crowd gasped in astonishment. With only one quarter to go Gilbert was down 22-14.
@DuvalSports @dreamkingfilmz @DCPSMS Gilbert takes the kickoff back 55 yards to score — Q-Duval Sports (@QCarr75) November 13, 2015
However the Timberwolve’s defense came to play and play hard. Forced to throw the ball, Gilbert made critical mistakes all game. Most of the mistakes were due to a ball the hawking defense that harassed the offensive playmakers. Even with the tremendous effort by Twin Lakes the Panthers still had a chance to win the game at the end.
