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Fort Lauderdale, FL – Preseason hype is just hype until teams get on the field and actually play football. On a sweltering Saturday on the home field of Cardinal Gibbons High School, Broward teams participated in a referee training jamboree. The idea is to get referees some on the field training before full games start next week. Refs get training, we get football. Each team played two quarters of football against their respected opponent to see where they stand before the start of the 2019 season. Here were the three biggest takeaways from today’s jamboree.
Deerfield Beach (8A) Has An Elite Quarterback Problem
Too many quarterbacks is a great problem to have and adding an elite quarterback talent is a clear indication that Deerfield has positioned themselves to win their first state championship in school history. Tulane commit Micheal Pratt transferred from Boca High this summer and has significantly upgraded the quarterback room. Southern Miss commit Derohn King is more than a capable quarterback that led Deerfield to the state semifinals last season.
(Center) Derohn King, QB, Deerfield Beach
Today both displayed precision passing and escapability to lead drives down the field for touchdowns against the defending 5A state champion Cardinal Gibbons.
You probably didn’t know that @michaelpratt930 could make people miss in the open field. Visual evidence here. @FootballHotbed @DB_BucksFB pic.twitter.com/5IslfTe2xH
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 10, 2019
King scored for the bucks on a touchdown pass to Miami commit Xavier Restrepo (Restrepo also played defensive back on the day) and Pratt scored on a quarterback sneak to extend the Bucks lead to 14-0 which would hold as the final score.
Easy pitch and catch from @KingDerohn to @XavierRestrepo1. @DB_BucksFB take early 7-0 lead on Cardinal Gibbons in jamboree. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/otUd5glZht
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 10, 2019
Both quarterbacks are going into their senior year so it is assumed that both will get significant playing time.
Post Game Interview: New @DB_BucksFB QB @michaelpratt930 says the competition between himself and @KingDerohn will make both quarterbacks better and says the intensity at his new school is much different. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/vTJbfzFC6X
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 10, 2019
“We are going to compete every single day,” said Pratt. “Whoever it is [that gives us the best chance] to win, that’s who it’s going to be. Whether it’s back and forth or one person at a time, we’ll just have to find out. We’re just going to compete against each other and make each other better and grind.”
Three of their top offensive players (Florida State commit Jaylan Knighton, Maryland commit Deajuan McDougle and Georgia Tech commit Bryce Gowdy) did not play in today’s jamboree. Deerfield travels to Delray for an exhibition game next Thursday at Altantic.
Which Way Did George Go!
Anytime spectators observed the two quarters played by Plantation (8A) and the defending 3A state champions Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), Jacolby George was making a play. The 2021 Miami commit scored all three touchdowns for the Colonels in a 24-14 win over the Lions.
On his first score, Tennessee-Martin commit Gerard Nesbitt had all day to throw and found George over the middle for a touchdown just inside the red zone. Unfortunately, the play was called back due to a holding penalty but the duo connected again on the following play as Nesbitt found the sneaky fast George in the corner of the endzone for a score.
.@CanesFootball commit @Jaco1byg catches this one from @G_Nesbitt1 for the @PHSColonelsFB touchdown at preseason jamboree. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/PxQ3lwZNSs
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 10, 2019
George caught his second touchdown catching the ball on the sideline, cutting across the middle of the field and using his speed to get him over the goal line for about a 70-yard touchdown. His third score was probably the most surprising. As Nesbitt was about to be taken down, he was able to shovel the ball over to George on the near sideline and George did the rest. George streaked down the field for another touchdown for the Colonels to cap off a stellar day.
Jacolby George, WR, Plantation
The junior also punted the very ball well and will be used on punt returns this season.
Western’s Defensive Side Is The Best Side
The combination of junior James Williams and senior Justin Hodges seemed unfair at times as they defeated Monarch 14-0. On the first series for Monarch, Williams located the airborne football, made the catch and strode toward the goal line for the game’s first score.
.@WHSFball makes big statement scoring first at jamboree against Monarch as @Begreat_20 takes it 55 yards for the pick 6! @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/C69vQy2LOa
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 10, 2019
Hodges recorded an interception rejecting a Monarch attempt to score at his own goal line. The Miami commit also forced a fumble on the day in which Western recovered. Hodges credits the new additions to his defensive backfield as the reasons he is able to make plays.
Post Game Interview: @CanesFootball commit @Jhodges_02 forced a fumble and registered an interception in just two quarters of football at today’s jamboree. He remains solid with his childhood favorite school and says @WHSFball is coming for it all this year. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/Q6ceDbF3cA
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 10, 2019
“It’s helping me a lot, I feel like I can trust my safeties this year,” said Hodges. “Every week whoever we line up against better be ready.”
(Center) Justin Hodges, DB, Western
The Wildcat offense, however, failed to really get it going. There were several instances where they could not get the play going as the Center/QB exchange was not up to par. The Wildcats get a big test next week as they host Miami Palmetto in an exhibition game Thursday night at 7:00 PM.
A full preseason slate of games start next week and the following week officially starts the regular season when games start to count.
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