Northeast FL- It was a difficult week for the defending Duval County Middle School Football Champions. A 14-8 loss last week at the hands of Mandarin snapped their nearly two year long winning streak. Not only that, Lake Shore lost some key players leading up to the game and in the game that’s made defending the crown a daunting task. However, head coach Joe Delaune wanted to get back to fundamentals this week, his team did that against James Weldon Johnson on Tuesday.
The Raiders drove right down the field on their first drive, with a mix of run and pass. The beautiful drive ended in a touchdown cath and run to put Lake Shore up 8-0 after the 2-point conversion. Said Coach Delaune after the game “we’re starting our third string quarterback who got hurt last week in the Mandarin game, so it was good for him to get back out there and get some experience. He did a great job today“.
@duvalsports Lake Shore!!!! Touchdown Vs James Weldon!
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After several tries going for a Duval County Championship, Coach Joe and his staff achieved the pinnacle of the prize last year winning the title. Now, they are wrestling with the pressures of that title. Every team is going to give them their best every week. Also, there is a new team, with young players who are still learning how to win together.
Lake Shore only has one returning starter on the roster, that’s center Kanye Keith. The rest of his starters are young and learning as they go. “Every moment is a teaching moment for me” said Delaune, “they have to learn alot because we run alot”. Even up 28-0 in the fourth quarter he was observed shouting instructions to his players.
This year Lake Shore has very talented players including quarterback Malachi Goodman who tossed the touchdown, Brian Branch who scored on a run. Also Travis Heard, Julilian Preston, and Ja’Brel Diggs have made big plays all year for the young team, made up of many seventh graders. Lake Shore hopes to get a few players back, including quarterback Ja’Quez Gilyard for a post-season push.
Until then, they have the weapons to get the job done. The final score against James Weldon came late in the fourth quarter. After the defense pitched a shut-out, the offense drove down the field and punched it in on a short touchdown run. In the end, the defense pitched a shut, and the offense put up 34-points. A stark difference from the week before, and a signal tha tthe team in turning a corner in their season.
@duvalsports Lake Shore!!!! Touchdown Vs James Weldon! 🔥🔥🔥
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“I believe it was meant for us to lose that game last week against Mandarin”, said Delaune. “We had to go back to the drawing board as a team, and change up some things, but I have a feeling we’re going to see that team again”. Lake Shore may see Mandarin in the playoffs down the road, but first they must turn the page quickly to prepare for an opponent literally down the road in Baldwin next week.
