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The battle for South Florida supremacy in football is fierce in the Spring as well as the Fall. In the off-season, seven on seven tournaments are where football players sharpen their skills and try to prove how much better they are than their peers. Just like on the gridiron, football is a game of inches, and on Saturday Florida Fire claimed the championship in the Battle at the Bottom Seven on Seven Tournament produced by Tuff Training. Fire went with a combination of James Ferriero Jr. (Piper, Sunrise) and Santino Marucci (Benjamin, West Palm Beach) at quarterback to lead them to their second consecutive title in the annual tournament.
“Both of our quarterbacks that we had out here today tag teamed for a great victory for us,” said Coach DeLaine Powell. “They added another much-needed trophy for us this year.”
Ferriero led the team in the championship game and was precise with his throws. He did just enough to carry his team to victory and Fire feels confident with his arm for future tournaments.
Fire as always has had plenty of firepower and this year’s squad is no different with the likes of Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach), Claude Larkins (Chaminade-Madonna, Hollywood), Joshua Pierre-Louis (Benjamin, West Palm Beach), Miles Friday (Cardinal Gibbons, Ft. Lauderdale) and Xavier Restrepo (St. Thomas Aquinas).
Restrepo would catch the eventual game-winner to put Fire over Team Football Hotbed in the Final.
Check out the fancy footwork by @XavierRestrepo1 of @STA_Football as he helps @coachmarroquin Florida Fire win the Battle At The Bottom #7on7football tournament over @FootballHotbed. @RehmanZack pic.twitter.com/5oVATizytc
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) March 17, 2019
Team Hotbed, which in its first year of existence had a strong showing in the tournament and is rising among the seven on seven landscape. For the first time since its inception, a Hotbed seven on seven team made a championship final. Two new additions are making Hotbed a contender in any tournament in the future. Those additions were Massimo Foerch (Fort Lauderdale) and Damien Alford (McArthur, Hollywood), both of whom joined the team this week.
“Some coaches doubted and said I wasn’t ready for this tournament,” said Alford. “I came out and showed them what I can do and the journey continues.”
.@DamienAlford5 was a huge problem for defenders all day the Battle At The Bottom @RehmanZack #7on7football Tournament today for Team @FootballHotbed. The sky’s the limit for him. @Mcarthur_FB pic.twitter.com/KNHP7AEEe3
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) March 17, 2019
Alford came from Montreal, Canada this week and is already putting the South Florida football world on notice. At 6’6” he made several catches outdueling defenders in the air and was a great concern for any defender trying to cover him deep or across the middle.
“At first I was stressed because I was getting pressed at the line,” said Alford. “After my [Hotbed] coaches told me how to get off the line, I started getting comfortable and it was a done deal after that.”
Alford was mostly fed the ball by Foerch who was one of the most impressive quarterbacks of the entire tournament. Foerch can zip it all over the field and throws a gorgeous deep ball. Hotbed and the Flying L’s should feel confident every time the 2020 QB drops back to pass.
Aside from Alford, Delvontae Bouie (Coral Springs) and Keon Smith, Jr. (Coconut Creek) seem to constantly score touchdowns for Team Hotbed. Defensively Kevin Ross (Miramar) and Keandre Lawrence (Stranahan), Corde St. Louis (Cardinal Gibbons, Ft. Lauderdale) were in on pass breakups and interceptions throughout the tournament.
PJ O’Brien (Deerfield Beach) of Lightning continues to have a strong showing at the defensive back or safety position. He was one of the rare defenders that could contain Alford and is exceptional in press coverage.
Also impressing at quarterback was Jaylon Tolbert (Cypress Bay). The 2021 QB led an impressive run by the 15u Go Get It squad to the semifinals. Tolbert is expected to transfer to Hialeah and compete for the starting position in 2019.
.@TEAMGOGETIT7v7 15u beats @HarveyMartin89 Strong Arm in OT on this bomb from @tolbert_jaylon to @d1china_. They advance in The Battle of the Bottom tournament @RehmanZack @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/xjRcnSx0u7
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) March 16, 2019
Marcus Rosemy (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale) although ousted in the first round of the knockout stage by Team Epic, still looks like the best prospect on the field Saturday. His innate ability to catch the ball in traffic will cause teams to double cover him defensively leaving opportunities for receivers like Restrepo to make plays.
.@rosemy_marcus with the touchdown catch here for @TEAMGOGETIT7v7. @RehmanZack @STA_Football @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/jh2s83Z3MY
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) March 16, 2019
“We had a tough time today against Team Go Get It,” said Powell. “Big time guys stepped up. Restrepo made plays on both sides of the ball. We got guys and its tough out here as always in South Florida.”
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