Coconut Creek, FL- Mandarin has been billed as the top team in Northeast Florida since the preseason. Already possessing some of the top talent in the nation last year whom came back in 2023, another reason for their predicted prominence was the addition of a new player that came over from Oakleaf High School. Hylton Drake Stubbs, a 247-sports 4-star rated 2025 safety was a major piece to potential championship puzzle for Mandarin.
Not many times can a single player who doesn’t touch the ball on a regular basis, make a major impact in the ultimate team sport of football. Yet Friday night against Monarch, Hylton Drake Stubbs showed why he is worth the price of admission, as he helped Mandarin punch their ticket to the State championship game.
Mandarin would come to within one point of Monarch when FSU commit Tramell Jones Jr tossed a 13-yard touchdown to Ethan Sherman to make the score 7-6. The Mustang offense has been clicking on all cylinders in the playoffs and a major reason for that has been the leadership of Jones.
#FSU QB commit Tramell Jones throws a dime to the end zone for a short TD.
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) December 2, 2023
7-6 Monarch up on Mandarin in the 1st quarter.https://t.co/N22YXdcQEO x @TramellJonesJr pic.twitter.com/UeJhSUZsd7
Now it was time for Mandarin’s defense to make a play and Stubbs took to the air to make the first of his game changing turnovers. After a Jackson Copeland sack which put the Knights behind the sticks, Stubbs would cover lots of ground on a deep pass by Monarch intercepting the football in the first half. A field goal gave Mandarin a 9-6 first half lead.
4⭐️ 2025 safety Hylton Stubbs is DIFFERENT.
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) December 2, 2023
Covers a TON of ground to pick this ball off.
It’s easy to see why #FSU, #Florida and a bunch of other programs want him.https://t.co/N22YXdcQEO x @Drakestubbs1 pic.twitter.com/ooOAEF18nB
In the third quarter, Tiant Wyche would give Mandarin a 24-21 advantage over Monarch on a nice touchdown run following the blocks of big offensive tackle Deryc Plazz. Defenders seemed to move out of the way of the 3-star Miami commit, as Wyche wedged in behind the big man for the score.
Mandarin TD Tiant Wyche 7-yard run
— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) December 2, 2023
Conversion good
4:17, 3rd
Mandarin 24, Monarch 21@jr_tiant @Mandarin_HS_FB @CFreemanJAX pic.twitter.com/jcjE1TYeas
The touchdown was set up by you guessed it, Drake Stubbs, who seized the moment to make another outstanding play on defense. Stubbs broke on a slant and made a diving interception deep inside Knight territory. His two turnovers in the game up to this led to offensive points for the Mustangs.
This INT by Mandarin S Drake Stubbs set up the last Mustangs TD. 2nd INT of the night for Stubbs @Drakestubbs1 @Mandarin_HS_FB @CFreemanJAX pic.twitter.com/ehSeOI3m6s
— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) December 2, 2023
Mandarin would increase their lead to 44-21 thanks to a touchdown run by Deshard Wescott and two more touchdown runs by Wyche. Wyche rushed for159-yards and 3 touchdowns against Monarch, including a 45-yarder to break the game open. A tremendous effort by the senior running back.
He now has 1,709 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns this year. 8 touchdowns in the playoffs. An interception by Penn State commit Jon Mitchell set up one of the touchdowns as Mandarin’s secondary feasted on the Knights passing attack.
Mandarin TD: Tiant Wyche 3 yard run
— Jon Santucci (@JonSantucci) December 2, 2023
3rd TD of the half for Wyche
Kick good
5:12, 4th
Kick blocked
Mandarin 44. Monarch 21@jr_tiant @Mandarin_HS_FB @CFreemanJAX pic.twitter.com/k8ZpGbd1Wd
Fittingly, it would be Stubbs who cleaned up and ate last for Mandarin. Late in the game, Stubbs would close on a lateral behind the line of scrimmage by Monarch, scoop the ball effortlessly in stride and take the pigskin all the way back for a Mustang touchdown. His three turnovers and a touchdown put an exclamation point on an outstanding effort by the entire team.
A disaster on this play for Monarch. Mandarin’s Drake Stubbs picks up this errant lateral and houses it. 85 yards. Mandarin 50-21 over Monarch 2:33 left in the game. pic.twitter.com/Q7YvI17MQ8
— Andre Fernandez (@FernandezAndreC) December 2, 2023
With the 51-21 win over Monarch (11-3), Mandarin at 11-3 now sets their sights on a 2018 rematch with Columbus (12-2). The Explorers dealt Plant a 27-7 loss in the state semifinals to move on to play Mandarin in Tallahassee, Florida at Bragg Memorial Stadium home of the Florida A&M Rattlers. The Class 3M Final is set for Friday, December, 8th at 4pm.
