Youth football: SWFL FBU 7th-graders claim state title

NAPLES — The season ended for both SWFL Football University all-star teams on Saturday.

For the 7th grade team, the season ended with a Sunshine State championship as they beat the east coast-based South all-stars 28-12 for the second straight week.

The SWFL 8th grade team wasn’t as fortunate. Its season ended in heartbreak, losing 13-6 in the final minutes to Central Florida in a rugged contest.

Both games were played at Fleischmann Park in Naples.

Just as he did last week, E’Quann Dorris had a huge game for the SWFL seventh-graders. The Dunbar Middle School student rushed for 198 yards on five carries and two touchdowns.

“I couldn’t have done it without my line,” Dorris said.

With two minutes gone by in the second quarter and the game scoreless, Dorris took a handoff from quarterback Isiah Crawford and dashed 97 yards up the right sideline to open up the scoring.

After allowing a South Florida touchdown, SWFL struck again on a big play when Crawford hit receiver Gino Martinez for a 73-yard touchdown.

It was another scoring pass that put SWFL up 22-6 late in the third quarter when running back Marlon Gaymon faked a run and tossed a 33-yard score to a wide open Zhantavious Jackson.

Dorris capped the SWFL victory with a 48-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

“We did a pretty good job considering we had just one day of practice this week,” SWFL 7th grade coach Anthony Perkins said. “Today showed Southwest Florida can play with anybody in the state.”

Tristan Sonthonax, a student at Marco Island Charter, had two interceptions for SWFL.

The 8th grade game was knotted 6-6 with under two minutes to play in the game. Central Florida, which drew players from Tampa, Orlando and the Daytona Beach area, took a 6-0 lead into halftime and held it until just under three minutes remained in the third.

Central was driving deep in SWFL territory when Tyler Byrd, who attends Gulfview Middle School, intercepted a pass and returned it 87 yards to tie the game.

But Central, with an offensive line that averaged 260 pounds, controlled the clock with an 18-play drive that lasted nearly 11 minutes. It was capped with a 2-yard run by quarterback Gerald Taylor with 1:44 left.

SWFL was unable to advance the ball after returning the ensuing kickoff to the 50-yard line. Central took control after an interception on a fourth-and-15 and ran out the clock.

“We played a subpar game,” said Dan McGee, SWFL regional director. “But I still see it as a success for us. The only way is up for us. I’ve got to give it to our kids for a great effort.

“Central was excellent tonight. They dominated the clock. I wish them luck the rest of the way.”

Central Florida advanced in the national tournament and will play next week against the winner of teams from Jacksonville and Charlotte, N.C.