It’s Bowl season in college football, and playoff season in both college and pro football. So in keeping with the season, we’re creating three bowl games in which you get to vote for the winners!
We’re the only plaform to cover all middle school football championship games in Northeast Florida. So we’re able to provide first hand break downs of each team and how they became champions. Although we won’t be able to see them play each other on the field, they will be able to face-off on DuvalSports.com.
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In the middle school playoff round, we saw two thrilling upsets. First, the #2 ranked Baker County Bobcats fell to the #3 ranked Gamble Rogers Stingrays in the First Coast Bowl. It was a high scoring affair between the two champions, as the Stingrays used every offensive weapon, including trick plays to advance. In the end, it was Gamble Rogers advancing to the Championship game.
They awaited the winner of the #1 seeded Lake Shore Warriors versus the #4 seed University Christian Christians. This game was a much lower scoring affair, as UC kept the Lake Shore offense off the field by grounding it out with their wespons in the run game.
So the championship game will feature #3. Gamble Rogers vs #4 University Christian. Ironically, these two teams have met before and we covered the game in 2017.
So let’s recap both teams and how they arrived here in 2022.
#3. Gamble Rogers (9-0) SJMSAA Champions
Gamble Rogers, winners of three SJMSAA championships won their fourth in 2022 defeating Murray 28-16, but this time under new head coach Ron Evans. Evans, a former collegiate football player (NC A&T) and long time defensive coordinator at Gamble Rogers, was now in his second year of leading the Stingrays as head coach. “Always earned, never given” was his motto for the team, and they followed this lead all years to and undefeated season.
The Stingrays featured the most phyisical 1-2 punch in Northeast Florida with runningback’s Mason Beane and Mason Lynch. They were unstoppable on the ground all year, moving the chains at will in a menacing ground and pound attack. However, the Stingrays could go up top as well with quarterback Cash Downey who was an incredible play-maker through the air and with his legs. Bean and Lynch were mainstays on defense at linebacker as well.
#4. University Christian (5-0)
The pennacle of private schools and Nassau county middle school football was University Christian Middle. They took down Callahan, Fernandina, Hilliard, and capped it off with wins over Duval powers Trinity and Bolles. Coach Travis Hodge and company completed an impressive resume of victories on their way to an undefeated season.
At quarterback was one of the most unstoppable players in all of Northeast Floida in Cory Matthews. Mathews combined size with speed to make plays for his team. One of his favorite targets was receiver Chris Barnes Jr, who also locked down receivers on defense. Yet what made University Christian explosive was their ability to break off explosive plays courtesy of running back KYREE WILSON. With a duel threat quarterback, duel position playmaker, and diference maker in the backfield, you see why this entire team went unblemished all year.
So now it’s time to vote! Who wins the Duval Bowl crowning the areas Middle School Football Champion? University Christian or Gamble Rogers?
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