First Thoughts: Round 2 Playoff Game-Changers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Thoughts: Round 2 Playoff Game-Changers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malik Morris | LB | 2026 | Lakeland | @MalikMoriss43_</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris is a man amongst boys on both sides of the ball. Despite being behind the most dominant defender on the field, he delivered two rushing touchdowns and a game-changing 42-yard fumble recovery for a score, flipping momentum entirely in Lakeland's favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158090' first='Logan' last='Flaherty'] | QB | 2027 | Port Charlotte | @Lflahertyqb17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flaherty's stock is soaring, and it's performances like this that show why. With five total touchdowns, he led Port Charlotte to a huge upset over Jesuit in Round 2, proving he's one of the most promising young QBs in Florida by outperforming a nationally ranked counterpart.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Thomas | RB | 2025 | Lake Mary | @IsaiahThomas128</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas was unstoppable, scoring four total touchdowns to power Lake Mary's offense. As the engine of this Rams' team, his bruising style and leadership make him one of the best backs in the state and a rallying point for his offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402800' first='Amar'e' last='Johnson'] | RB | 2026 | Bishop Moore | @AmareJ21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson had a monster game against a tough Dunnellon defense, racking up 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His ability to take over games like this shows why he's one of Florida's premier young backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249091' first='Jaelen' last='Waters'] | DB | 2026 | Armwood | @Waters_Jaelen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waters came up clutch with a pivotal fourth-quarter interception to give Armwood the ball back while trailing by three. The Florida Gators commit is emerging as one of the top defensive backs in the country, thriving under playoff pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>O'Lontae Dean | ATH | 2025 | Armwood | @OlontaeDean</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dean made the game-winning touchdown catch, showcasing his versatility and clutch gene. As a player his teammates rally around, his all-around game and leadership are critical to Armwood's postseason success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1322350' first='Kane' last='Lafortune'] | QB | 2025 | Niceville | @kane_lafortune</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafortune stepped up when it mattered most, leading Niceville to a tight 21-20 win in the region semifinals. His poise and precision in the air were key to advancing to the region finals, where his leadership will be needed again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142239' first='Chad' last='Williams'] | QB | 2026 | Lakeland | @ChadWqb12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams has emerged as the starting QB for powerhouse Lakeland, showcasing his arm talent and field-stretching ability. While Lakeland leans on their run game, Williams is proving to be a rising leader with the tools to keep defenses honest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1251761' first='Trenton' last='Gummer'] | DB | 2026 | Bishop Moore | @trentongummer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gummer locked down the Dunnellon offense, allowing zero catches and recording two tackles. His 70-yard pick-six was a game-changing moment in Bishop Moore's 38-15 win, showing why he's one of the smartest ball hawks in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Robert Stith | ATH | 2026 | Niceville | @RobertStith2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stith's connection with his senior QB was flawless in Niceville's nail-biting win over Lincoln. With two touchdown receptions, he proved to be a reliable playmaker when the stakes were highest, and Niceville will look to him again in the next round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->