Fletcher Middle- It took about ten months for everyone to get the matchup they wanted to see last year in the 2015 Duval County Middle School Championship. Unfortunately, this year we were not afforded the evenly matched contest many believed we would’ve seen last year had these two teams faced on another. No this year’s Gilbert Panthers are a determined team, looking to avenge their playoff loss to Twin Lakes from a year ago, and they got off to a great start Tuesday against the defending middle school football champions Fletcher Middle.
4x city champs are here @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/trMpY61yRT
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Fletcher making their way to the field.. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/fPLPyLFkcx
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Senators last minute preparations for the Gilbert Panthers @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/wAf8yc8His
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Captains @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/XmIF0kg1Lf
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Gilbert defeated Fletcher 30-0 with a combination of speed, power, running, and receiving. All phases of the game were clicking for the Panthers. They would score first on a 55yd touchdown pass by new Quarterback #17 Bryce Thompkins to #5 Chris Johnson to go up 8-0.
#17 Bryce Tomkins hits #5Chris Johnson for 55yd TD pass,on 1st play for Gilbert. Gilbert 8-0 1st @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/UsgYmFhllD
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Fletcher was down early but had several opportunities to get back into the game. Gilbert committed several turnovers on offense as the wet conditions made it a sloppy game. Yet Fletcher could not overcome the turnover bug themselves as they also committed several fumbles. One of their fumbles cost them points when Gilbert’s Michael Johnson recovered the Fletcher fumble and returned it 10yds for a touchdown. The turnover all but signaled the end of the competitive phase of the game, now it was Kevonte Doles time. The talented Gilbert runningback closed out the contest with a 45 yard touchdown run, his second of the day, running his Panthers to 1-0 on the 2016 season.
#1Kevonte Doles 55yd TD run. #9Michael Johnson 10yd fumble return for TD. Gilbert 22-0 half @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/vxCfwZzzdJ
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Kevonte Doles closes out Fletcher with 45yd TD run. Panthers 30-0. 1-0 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/14C60qh87J
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) September 13, 2016
Fletcher starts the season 0-1, one more loss than they suffered all of last year. It may not be the start that the players wanted but it is what the Coaches were prepared for. Said Fletcher Head Coach Marty McCaulsin before the game; “Its the first game of the season and we lost a lot of good players last year so we want to see what we have this year, and we get to see against a very good team in Gilbert”. Win or lose both team’s coaches knew their squads would be better after the experience. Said Gilbert’s Head Coach Charon Dorsey before the game, “Gilbert vs Fletcher is not only good for both teams but it is good for middle school football as well. I know we can only get better after playing them”.
You can bet this is not the last time these teams will see each other this season, so better is what both teams will aim to get as the 2016 season gets underway.
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