Team Tampa Steals Adidas East Coast Invitational Title, 23-20 in Overtime

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Posted on March 2, 2019 by Marcus Benjamin
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Marcus Benjamin

Team Tampa failed to convert on a two-point conversion that would have tied the game with 15 seconds left.  The South Florida Express (SFE) second team exploded in jubilation after the play assuming that they were claiming the Adidas 7-on-7 tournament held at Ives Estate Park in Miami.  All SFE needed to do was convert a first down or run out the clock and the title was theirs. On three consecutive plays, SFE failed to do just that and turned the ball over on downs giving Team Tampa two points to tie the game on the last play of regulation.  

“We knew if we played good defense, the defense was going to win the game,” said DJ Taylor of Team Tampa and Tampa Catholic.    

On the first possession of overtime, it was Taylor caught an errant throw for the championship-sealing interception.  It was his sixth of the tournament.

“I told my coach I was going to get us a pick to win this game and that’s what happened.”  

It was Team Tampa’s second victory over a South Florida Express team during bracket play on a sweltering afternoon.  They would defeat the SFE 1st team also on the final play of the game in the quarterfinals. Quarterback Hunter Helton (Wiregrass Ranch) was efficient for the entire tournament and did get most of the reps over Camron Ransom (Armwood).  Helton threw a dart to Charles Montgomery for the score and was faced with the decision to go for the tie with the extra point or the win with a two-point conversion.

Team Tampa went for the win.

Helton threw another quick dart, this one to Willie Daniels III (Tampa Bay Tech) for the game-winning score.  

“We did whatever we could to win this tournament.  We balled out.”

Helton spread the ball around to a bevy of playmakers on the Team Tampa team.  Agiye Hall (Armwood), Deon Silas (Steinbrenner), Noah Biglow (Wiregrass Ranch) and TJ Tampa (Lakewood) were all tough covers and instrumental in Team Tampa’s regional championship title.  

 

Other Stand-Out Performers

Despite the losses, SFE still has plenty of D-1 prospects that impressed Saturday.  Florida commit Leonard Manuel (Vanguard) was a near impossible cover. At 6’4 200 pounds, the 2020 wide receiver was an easy choice to add to the SFE roster.  

The Manuel addition will continue to pay dividends as well as the addition of 2021 Jake Harrington (Cardinal Gibbons). Harrington simply gets open adds YAC when needed.

Also looking great for SFE was 2020 Miami commit Marcus Fleming, 2021 Malik Rutherford (Champagnat), 2023 Brandon Innis (University School, Davie), and 2020 Baron Grant (Miami Central).  Grant caught a game-winning go route against Unsigned Preps in bracket play.

Nick Vattiato (University School, Davie) took most of the reps with the first team over Katravis Marsh (Miami Central) and Michael Pratt (Boca).

LSU commit TJ Finley continues to look impressive for EPS Blaze out of Louisiana.  

Air 5 from the Bradenton area also had a strong showing winning all three games in pool play.  They would also succumb to defeat to Team Tampa in the semifinal round.

About Marcus Benjamin

Marcus Benjamin works as the senior writer and editor for FootballHotbed.com. He attended Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University completing a bachelors degree in communications in 2010. He's covered high school football in the South Florida area since 2010 for the Miami Herald, Miami Sports Tribune and ShawSports.net. He is married and lives in Fort, Lauderdale, FL.
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