My Money's Worth

[DarterBlue2]

After last night's big disappointment, I got to see 4.5 quarters of good, competitive football. The Jamboree was played among Boone (the host), Bishop Moore and Wekiva. In the first half I saw, Bishop Moore, which started slowly, beat Boone 14-0. The score was about right. Boone had the better of the first 8 minutes of the first quarter. After that Bishop Moore had the better of play. Their second touchdown was set up by a bobbled one handed grab by their tight end, number 14, who after securing the ball took it down to the Boone five. No 14, 1 and 11 for Bishop Moore are really good football players. I think number 1 will play college ball at a big time program. 

The second game ended when Wekiva's QB over threw the end zone on fourth and goal from the Bishop Moore 12. Two plays earlier he had been sacked for a loss and on the next to last play, the BM corner made a big play to tip the ball out of the hands of the Wekiva receiver. In the only score of this game, BM's touchdown came on a long, grinding 85 yard drive in the second quarter. Wekiva is a good team and its offense has a shot at being better than last year's offense. However, the defense is young and way behind last year's defense at this stage. From what I saw of Edgewater in video against Osceola, and my knowledge of who they return, at this stage I am going with Edgewater to be the best 7A team in the Orlando area. In the final half of football, Boone, after picking up a nice fist down to get up to midfield, gave up a pick six and on the next Wekiva drive, the QB Preston, found a wide open receiver for a long touchdown pass. I figured at that stage that Boone was not coming back, so I left before the end of the quarter.

Thoughts on the three teams. Bishop Moore is very solid. They and Jones should be in a battle royal for 5A, District 7. At this stage I am agnostic as to which one wins the district, as Jones literally had no competition last evening while BM was in four hard fought quarters. So, it is difficult for me to assess just how good Jones is at this stage. 

Wekiva is still a strong, likely playoff team. But the defense is not as good as it was the prior two seasons and without transfers in, I don't think it will improve enough this year to get to that level. Their QB Preston continues to develop nicely and he, too, should play college ball at a solid program, though I am not sure what his position will be. 

Boone is not a bad team. They used two QB running back combinations and to be honest, I preferred the fist featuring numbers 18 and 27. However, they were removed late in the first quarter against BM and had not returned when I left midway though the first quarter against Wekiva. 

I see BM having a shot at going deep in 5A if they can get past Jones which is a big hurdle. Wekiva should make the playoffs and it will come down to draw as to how far they progress. Regarding Boone, I think they will be better than last year. At this stage, I am not sure about their playoff chances.