The final four of the Duval County Middle School Football Championships is tonight matching the top teams in each of the four conferences. Matthew Gilbert from the North, Twin Lakes from the South, Fletcher from the East, and Lake Shore from the West. These four teams have proven to be the best of the best in the league and will vie for a chance to play in the championship next week. Check out our playoff preview and picks below.
#1. Gilbert 8-0, 6-0
#2. Lake Shore 8-0, 5-0
#3. Fletcher 7-1, 5-0
#4. Twin Lakes 7-1, 5-0
#1. Gilbert vs #4. Twin Lakes
Gilbert comes into the playoffs undefeated averaging 30 points per game. Their ability to dominate on defense and overpower you on offense is second to none. Wins over Fletcher, Ribault, and Kirby Smith highlighted a season where they went up against the best performed like the best. Now its time for them to do it again in the playoffs. Standout athletes such as Christal Smith, Kevonte Doles, Larry Tould, and Bryce Thompkins make stopping them virtually impossible. Gilbert remembers their first round defeat at the hands of Twin Lakes last year and will look to avenge that loss at home.
Twin Lakes is the defending city runner ups and they are back to finish the job this year. Led by Josh Stroble, Devon Lewis, and John Parkins, Twin Lakes has been incredibly hard to defeat this year. Their only loss coming to Fletcher the last game of the regular season, the Wolves have defeated great teams like Landon and Dupont on their way to the playoffs. This team makes adjustments better than any other team in the city. They pulled away from many teams this year and ended Gilbert’s 70 plus game winning streak last year by making crucial second half adjustments. They’ll look forward to the same outcome this year against the Panthers
Where: Matthew Gilbert
Time: 6pm
Picks:
Andre’- Gilbert
Corey- Gilbert
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Fletcher vs Lake Shore
Lake Shore – One of the most electrifying teams in the playoffs is Lake Shore Middle. Lots of speed, lots of athletic ability, and lots of swagger, this team plays confident and has every reason to be so. An undefeated season this year redeemed them from a late season collapse last year where they missed the playoff completely. However they remember that sour taste in their mouths and added lots of key players from several youth parks to add to their talented group of players. The end result, now you have a team that ran through the Western conference. Good teams like Jeff Davis couldn’t stop Martranius Mack, Chris Freeman, Ernest Ricks and the squad from the Shore. It will be interesting to see if Fletcher can.
#52 DT Joel Rodriguez was a force on the line for Fletcher today, as they defeated Jeff Davis on the road! pic.twitter.com/2v2YoFUTJa
— Andre' R. Ellis (@andreellis55) September 21, 2016
Fletcher- The defending 2015 champions defeated Twin Lakes in their final game of the regular season to have the chance to play Lake Shore, a team I’m sure they wanted to play. Lake Shore has not seen the vaunted Fletcher offense that requires discipline and study to stop. Not many teams did this year as Fletcher also beat big time program Arlington and Jeff Davis. Carlos Mendoza, Jeffrey Davis, Joel Rodriguez, and Colby Smith make life tough for opposing offenses and opposing defenses, because they make the crucial stop when it counts the most. It will certainly come down to one play in this game against Lake Shore, and Fletcher hopes they can make that signature play again just like they’ve done all year.
Where: Ed white HS
Time: 6pm
Picks:
Corey- Lake Shore
Andre- Fletcher
