DOWNTOWN – What a 48 hours it has been for Flagler Palm Coast.
Two days ago, head coach Travis Roland was putting his team through another typical gauntlet of intense summer physical workouts, that is until the phone rang.
“I told my wife a few months ago don’t let me forget to sign up for the Jags tourney, but by the time I remembered to sign up they were already full,” Roland stated. “He (Marcus Pollard) hit me up on Monday and said were in after a team had dropped out.”
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Had he known they were in, he may have not worked them so hard during workouts.
“My guys had just run 36 110’s (110 yard timed sprints),” Roland said. “I was very concerned, we had some tired legs.”
If they were tired at all they didn’t show it as the Bulldogs capped a perfect day going 6-0 to win the 5th Annual Jaguars 7-on-7 tournament at the Jaguars Practice Field.
Bad weather forced the finale to be moved to the brand new air conditioned indoor practice facility. The change didn’t bother the Bulldogs at all as they had little trouble with Mandarin winning the title easily 31-14 to claim the enormous trophy.
Palm Coast accepting the trophy after winning the 5th Annual Jags 7-on-7 tourney pic.twitter.com/5gA0IZDJGn
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 20, 2018
The all day annual even attracted 15 teams from around North Florida from as far as Tallahassee to South as Ocala for the prestigious event.
The day began with a full day of 7-on-7 games as well as a lineman challenge. Palm Coast nearly pulled off the double title before falling to Vanguard in the championship round of the bigman challenge.
Lineman challenge champs Vanguard Knights @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/51RbtZXaLF
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 20, 2018
Quite a run considering if not for two injuries to both of their quarterbacks in a 7-on-7 tourney days ago, which forced Hilton Head, SC to drop out of the Jags tourney; Palm Coast wouldn’t have even been in the tourney.
Palm Coast made the most of their opportunity cruising through Teal Pool Play with wins over Ribault 40-37, Wakulla 34-14 and Stanton 41-7 to clinch the top seed and first round bye in the Knockout Round.
Battling a 103 heat index and a high of 93, the kids showed great resilience dealing with the unbearable weather conditions.
As the quarterfinals began, the temperature on and off the field got even hotter.
One of the more highly anticipated games of the day was between rivals Lee and Raines in the quarterfinals round. The Generals knocked the defending Class 4A state champions out of the tourney with a 41-28 win.
Give that man six points, touchdown !!! Lee beats Raines in quarterfinals. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/5tCQiXhQrA
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 20, 2018
Mandarin avenged an earlier loss to arch-rival Sandalwood with a 24-21 win in the quarters, Bartram Trail handled Vanguard 48-21 and Palm Coast throttled Ribault again 35-10 to all advance to the semifinals.
Palm Coast and Mandarin advanced to the finals with wins over Lee and defending champion Bartram Trail to ensure for the fifth straight year a new tourney champion would be crowned.
After battling high temperatures all day, a storm came across the facility forcing officials to move the title game indoors.
Bad weather brings the title game between district rivals Palm Coast and Mandarin indoors. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/1vvmNqHMLN
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 20, 2018
The new location and multi million dollar facility didn’t phase the Bulldogs at all.
Like they did throughout the day, the defense picked apart the Mustangs offense and the offense scored with ease.
Mandarin trying to punch it in for a score @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/iW5Ql1well
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 21, 2018
Palm Coast defense comes up big on the goal line knocking the ball away. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/E0kAeaJWNs
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) June 21, 2018
Not a bad days work for a team who barely made it in the tourney and entered the tourney to only scout its future opponents.
“We only entered the tourney to get a better look at both Sandalwood and Mandarin who are both in our district,” Roland stated. “Yet anytime you can compete against teams like Lee and Ribault you get better.”
Its been a solid spring and summer for Palm Coast already and it only continues keep getting better.
“We lost in the Final Four at the UCF tourney, lost in the second round at the USF tourney and finally brought home a trophy,” Roland said. “That’s what this is about right now playing for trophies, hopefully we can win a district trophy, regional trophy and a state title trophy.”
Jags 7-on-7 Tourney
Teal Pool
Palm Coast (3-0)
Ribault (2-1)
Wakulla (1-2)
Stanton (0-3)
Black Pool
Vanguard (3-0)
Raines (2-1)
Westside (1-2)
Fleming Island (0-3)
White Pool
Bartram Trail (2-0)
Lee (1-1)
Englewood (0-2)
Bold Pool
Sandalwood (3-0)
Mandarin (2-1)
Lincoln (1-2)
Christ Church (0-3)
First Round
Byes: Sandalwood, Palm Coast, Vanguard
Ribault 41, Englewood 24
Vanguard 37, Christ’s Church 0
Bartram Trail 28, Lincoln 21
Raines 24, Wakulla 17
Lee 27, Fleming Island 7
Mandarin 31, Westside 28
Quarterfinals
Flagler Palm Coast 35, Ribault 10
Lee 41, Raines 28
Bartram Trail 48, Vanguard 21
Mandarin 24, Sandalwood 21
Semi-finals
Mandarin 28, Bartram Trail 21
Palm Coast over Lee
Championship
Palm Coast 31, Mandarin 14
