ROUND 1 PLAYOFFS: The Best Step Up

The playoffs are now under way – and like we have done since back in early September – we continue to keep an eye on the top football prospects in the state of Florida. With the teams narrowing down the field – you will start to see some amazing performances as all eyes will start to focus in on what’s going on here in Florida. <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-70427" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/11/OntheSideline-Logo-7-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" />Today, we give you a look at more game-changing performances from the opening round of the playoffs. Port Orange Atlantic quarterback <strong>John Killingsworth</strong> tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver <strong>Mason Tandy </strong>in the first overtime to give the Sharks a 6-3 win over Lake Weir. Four turnovers and a 33-yard field goal by <strong>K.J. McCabe</strong> made just enough of a difference to push Daytona Beach Mainland past Gainesville High, 24-21. <strong>Amir Brown </strong>ran for 155 yards and a TD gave Daytona Beach Seabreeze a 21-20 win over Gulf Breeze. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32771" first="Aaron" last="Manning"]</strong> had 258 total yards and two touchdowns, <strong>Javon Ross</strong> finished with 121 receiving yards and a score, and the DeLand defense stifled University from the start as the Bulldogs shutout the Titans, 35-0. <strong>Noah Cundiff’s</strong> 65-yard touchdown reception with 2.4 seconds left in the first half stood as Matanzas, who waited 15 years to host a high school football playoff game, edge New Smyrna Beach, 7-6. <strong>D.J. Curtis</strong> intercepted a pass and quarterback <strong>Creed Whittemore</strong> hit <strong>Quan Smith</strong> on a screen pass in the middle of the field for a touchdown as Gainesville Buchholz dominated St. Johns Creekside and advanced to the regional quarterfinals with an easy 46-13 victory. Tailbacks <strong>Dre Lawrence</strong> (45 yards) and <strong>Brian James</strong> (41 yards) each scored two touchdowns, while athlete <strong>Johnquavis Jones</strong> ran for another and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50159" first="Chaz" last="Mackey"]</strong> was 7 of 12 for 144 yards to lead Hawthorne to a 40-0 win over Chiefland. <strong>Dominic Larry</strong> accounted for three scores as Tallahassee Lincoln won the first playoff victory for rookie head coach <strong>B.J. Daniels</strong>, 42-8 over Jacksonville First Coast. <strong>Henry Williams</strong> and <strong>Dayon Rawls</strong> each rushed for two touchdowns to break open a close game as Jacksonville Lee rolled to a 41-6 win against Fort Walton Beach. Five-star cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49983" first="Jaheim" last="Singletary"]</strong> set up a touchdown with an interception. <strong>Tray Tolliver</strong> scored on the opening kickoff and caught a touchdown pass from <strong>Marcus Peterson</strong> as Lake City Columbia beat Ponte Vedra, 14-0. Defending state 6A runner up Pensacola Escambia used a three-touchdown pass from <strong>Rennie Prim</strong> in a 44-0 win over Middleburg. <strong>Ty Baxter</strong> finished with 155 yards on 23 carries and St. Augustine opened its state playoff run with a 38-24 win over Lynn Haven Mosley. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32818" first="Dequan" last="Stanley"]</strong> finished with six catches for 85 yards and interception. <strong>Martranius Mack</strong> dashed for 186 yards and two touchdowns to lead Jacksonville Ribault to a 38-33 win over Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee. <strong>Santana Jackson</strong> passed for 207 yards and three scores. <strong>Duane Graham</strong> ran for 165 yards and 2 TDs as Menendez beat Mount Dora. <strong>Al’Querious Ray</strong> rushed for three touchdowns, and <strong>Tre Griner</strong> and <strong>Gavin Rossow</strong> also ran for scores as Green Cove Springs Clay beat Leesburg 43-0. Sophomore<strong> JoJo Restall </strong>rushed for two scores, <strong>Maliek Carter</strong> caught a 65-yard touchdown pass – and <strong>CJ Jackson</strong> and <strong>Britton Roberts</strong> got two sacks each as Orange Park rolled over Citrus, 20-7. <strong>Max Monroe</strong> threw touchdowns to <strong>Spencer Calise</strong> and <strong>Josh Dorsainvil </strong>- and <strong>Miika Tuisano</strong> picked off a pass and rushed for the go-ahead as Orange Park Ridgeview beat Tavares 38-20. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50210" first="Kade" last="Frew"]</strong> rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns, quarterback <strong>Gunner Boree</strong> rushed for a score, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50204" first="Keaton" last="Thomas"]</strong> caught a touchdown pass as Jacksonville Bolles beat The Villages, 44-14. <strong>Erric Smith</strong> pounded out 210 yards on 26 carries and freshman QB <strong>Dae’Jon Shanks</strong> rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown, and passed for 124 yards and two more scores as Starke Bradford County beat Keystone Heights, 40-14. <strong>Khamari Barksdale</strong> ran for three scores, including the game-winner with 41 seconds left as Fernandina Beach beat West Nassau for the first playoff win in school history. <strong>Ershod Jasey</strong> and <strong>Kirk Reed</strong> rushed for two touchdowns apiece, and <strong>Tucker Tomberlin</strong> completed TD passes to <strong>Jack Bogan</strong> and <strong>Corey Scott</strong> as Jacksonville Episcopal beat Interlachen, 41-19. <strong>Ja’Won Grey</strong> opened the game with an interception return for a touchdown and a 60-yard scoring reception from <strong>Desirrio Riles</strong> as Jacksonville University Christian beat Aucilla Christian, 41-16. <strong>Tyler Jefferson</strong> threw a scoring pass to <strong>Darren Clark</strong> as Fort White upset Branford, 21-20. <strong>Jason Sheffield</strong> caught the game-winning two-point conversion from <strong>Lyle Bennett </strong>and the defense used strong performances from <strong>DJ Blake, Cam Chavarria, Carson Newkirk, Lane Beasley </strong>and <strong>Huntley Moore</strong>, who had sacks as Hilliard remained unbeaten, 22-21, over Mayo Lafayette. St. Petersburg Lakewood senior quarterback <strong>Jack Smitherman</strong> hit sophomore <strong>Aviyon Mack</strong> in stride on a perfect skinny post that became a 68-yard dash to the house running backs <strong>Zyon Jerger</strong> (12 carries for 94 yards), <strong>Jeremiah Wise</strong> (nine carries, 51 yards) and <strong>Joe Jackson</strong> (seven carries, 35 yards) all chipped in during a win over Titusville Astronaut. Junior quarterback <strong>Tyler Huff</strong> connected with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50211" first="Jayden" last="Gibson"]</strong> on a 27-yard touchdown and fired two more scores as Winter Garden West Orange rolled over Ocoee. Huff finished 8-for-16 for 143 yards. Quarterback <strong>Canaan Mobley</strong> accounted for five touchdowns to propel Edgewater to a 47-14 win against Ocala Forest. Two long touchdown passes by Mobley — a 56-yarder to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32624" first="Christian" last="Leary"]</strong> and a 40-yarder to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32649" first="Tommi" last="Hill"]</strong> — made it a 40-7 ballgame in the fourth quarter. Mobley completed 12 of his 16 pass attempts, including three TDs. He also ran for two scores. <strong>Ayron Rodriguez</strong> ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and<strong> Jaden Machules</strong> passed for 151 yards and another score as Winter Park got past East Ridge. St. Petersburg Lakewood senior QB <strong>Jack Smitherman</strong> completed seven passes for 218 yards and 3 TDs in a win. Tampa Bay Tech QB <strong>David Wright</strong> threw for 335 yards and five TDs in win over Bartow. Wright has now thrown for a combined 17 TDs in his last four games. <strong><em>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <a href="mailto:Foridakids1@aol.com">Foridakids1@aol.com</a>. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>