State Champion Hosts 2018 Playoff Teams In Spring Jamboree

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Marcus Benjamin

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Building blocks for a championship football team start in the Spring.  The foundation built in this season can benefit the title achieved in the Winter. Cardinal Gibbons High School in Broward County hosted a jamboree with two playoff teams from last season.  Clearwater Central Catholic (CCC) traveled mid-week from the Florida bay area while Belen Jesuit traveled from southwest Miami-Dade. The all-private jamboree had some explosive moments with each team playing a full game of football playing one half against each team. Cardinal Gibbons and Miami Belen Jesuit left with 1-0-1 records while Clearwater Central left South Florida without a victory going 0-2.

“I think those are two quality teams that will be in the playoffs,” said Head Coach Matt Dubuc of Cardinal Gibbons.  “We haven’t really played teams like this in May the last few years, so this was good, I enjoyed the jamboree.”

At one point 36 college coaches were in attendance to watch the three teams compete.  Some of the schools that were represented by coaches were Buffalo, Cincinnati, FAU, FIU, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, UCF and USF.

Future Cane Ferocious As Wolverine

Also in attendance was Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Dan Enos and running backs coach Erik Hickson.  They witnessed their 2020 commit Don Chaney Jr. take the first hand-off of the jamboree and dash 75 yards for a touchdown for Belen Jesuit.  The four-star running back was used sparingly and seems every bit as deserving to get that fifth star every time he did touch the ball. He would also score on a 12-yard run to lead his team to a victory over CCC 20-7 in one half.  The Wolverines other points would come from 2020 cornerback Nathaniel Payne who scored on a pick-six.

Don Chaney, Jr., RB, Belen Jesuit

Wednesday Night Marauders

The Marauders from Clearwater had four skill players that jumped right off the roster sheet.  Senior Giancarlo Margarejo streaked down the sideline for a big run for a touchdown against Belen Jesuit.  Senior DE/TE Johnny Newton and Canes target Sophomore LB/RB Melvin Jordan continue to turn heads with the number of plays made on both sides of the ball Wednesday night.  Jordan muscled his way in for a one-yard touchdown and also registered a sack against Cardinal Gibbons. Senior running back Jordan Niles would also give the Chiefs defense fits gaining chunks of yardage with every carry.

 

Chiefs Run Show

In a jamboree dominated by the running game, no team was more impressive than the 5A state champs with each rush.  Senior running backs Tajae Davis, Coleman Bennett and Samir English-Brown all scored touchdowns on their home field Wednesday and should be quite the trio coming out of the backfield.  Quarterback Brody Palhegyi also displayed his escapability gain massive amounts of yardage.

“I think we got three or four really really good backs,” said Coach Dubuc.  “[Tajae Davis] is a major division 1 running back. I think Coleman and Samir and the rest of the guys are good. We’ll run the football next year and Brody gives you a little bit of that dimension.”

Palhegyi did not get in a great rhythm passing the football but did hit several different receivers on the night including senior Jackson Marseille on a go route for a touchdown.  

Defensively impressing was sophomore Trayvon Brown, who had a SportsCenter top ten like tackle for loss among his other stops and senior cornerback Michal Antoine had a diving interception in the defensive backfield in game one which ended 28-7 in favor of the home team over CCC.   

“If we were to scheme for both teams it would have been a little bit different,” said Dubuc.  “We’re just running our base stuff keeping it simple. I like the attitude and effort and I think we’re are headed in the right direction.”   

 

Jamboree’s Slow Hault

The final game of the night saw Cardinal Gibbons and Belen Jesuit end in a 7 all tie. Senior Francisco Aguero scored on a catch and run open and close the scoring for the Wolves on the night.  Belen had a chance to seal the victory with 2 seconds left but the Wolverine field goal sailed wide left.

“I think we got comfortable,” said Canes target offensive tackle Gerald Mincey on their performance in game two.  “We’re a young group, I’m expecting the O-Line to be more aggressive [next week] but I’m proud of them. They came out here and really showed everybody that we can win another state championship.”

Mincey says that Miami is changing and he likes the direction Head Coach Manny Diaz is taking the program.  He also appreciates how Offensive Line Coach Butch Barry has NFL experience.

“Miami is changing the whole program around with Coach Barry and Coach Diaz.  You can actually tell it’s the New Miami for real.  You got a coach that’s been there and done that, so they already know what to expect from the young guys.”

Mincey is leaning toward making a decision in the fall and will focus on the Gibbons Red and White Game next week.

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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