JACKSONVILLE-Revenge is a dish best served cold. So fittingly Matthew Gilbert would saved one of their finest performances of the season for the coldest night of the season, against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs a year ago and ended their record 71 game winning streak.
The Panthers remembered their first round defeat at the hands of Twin Lakes Timberwolves last year and looked to avenge that loss at home.
Twin Lakes was the defending city runner ups and they were 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.
The team makes adjustments better than any other team in the city. They pulled away from many teams this year and ended Gilbert’s 71 game winning streak last year by making crucial second half adjustments.
They looked forward to the same outcome this year against the Panthers, but unfortunately for them it would not be the case. Yet early on Twin Lakes looked like they would be in business.
Gilbert came into the playoffs undefeated averaging 30 points per game, and that’s exactly what they put up on the night.
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. There was no way Twin Lakes would keep them off the board for long.
The offensive explosion for Gilbert in the first half put Twin Lakes in an uncomfortable position. They are normally very good at making second half adjustment but usually the deficit was not that big. Down 24-0, they were forced into making crucial turnovers that stopped their attempts to get back into the game.
Finally this year’s Jacksonville Heisman winner Kevonte Doles put the icing on the cake with a 65 yard touchdown run to put the game away for Gilbert in a 30-0 win over Twin Lakes.
Gilbert now sets their sights on the defending champions Fletcher, which will be a rematch of the 2014 Middle School Championship game in which Gilbert won that contest.
