SPARR, FL - Updated Post:

The North Marion Colts wanted to work on some things in their regular season finale against 7A St Cloud and they did, early and often. The Colts scored on their first three possessions and never looked back enroute to a 48-14 win to close the regular season at 8-2.

Jamie Gilmore rushed for 146 yards and 2 TDs in the first quarter and finished with 169 yards for the game. Latroy Pittman and Sean Price each caught two touchdowns, Freshmen kicker David Hatcher kicked two field goals and senior fullback Ryan VanWagner was rewarded for his key blocking and ripped off a 24-yard touchdown run on the evening.

The Colts have been a yo-yo team of sorts this season even when winning so a strong showing was needed.

"I like how the guys responded after a good week of practice, it showed tonight", Colts head coach Craig Damon said afterwards.

Reggie Wilkerson(INT), Ben Poole(FR), Aaron Pringle (sack), Jabari Bothwell(5 tck) and Javon Alexander (sack) were the standouts on a sound North Marion defensive effort on the evening.

For the talented senior-led team the table has been set for a run to Orlando for a shot at the 5A state title, the only thing missing on the North Marion resume in the Craig Damon era.

"I told the guys it's right there for them, they just have to practice hard and play Colt football", Damon said. The Colts will be at home through the state quarterfinals provided they keep winning with the state semifinal game on the road before the neutral site state title game.



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The North Marion Colts are District Champions for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons, including a current streak of 9 in a row. Craig Damon has been the head football coach all 12 seasons.

Talent abounds with stand out ballplayers like Latroy Pittman, Jamie Gillmore, Sean Price and Jabarai Bothwell. The OL is anchored pretty well and has shown growth since getting tossed around in an 8-2 loss to rival Vanguard and getting whipped pretty good at Bolles in a 35-7 loss. However, is the line merely gaining experience? Zach Panitzke and the rest of the OL crew are young, sophs and juniors. The Colts have put up 35 or more points in 4 games, all wins, this season and went undefeated in District 5A-5.

Jabarai Bothwell and Ben Poole are among the team leaders in tackles on the defensive side. The secondary has multiple players than can make plays from Brian McIntosh to Dyvone McNair.

St. Cloud has made the Class 7A playoffs with sound play in their district games going 4-1. The draw, the No.1 team Lakeland in the first round. Phillip Steinmetz and Eric Pfeifer have put points on the board and moved the ball this season. Jeffery Spelman is hawking with over a 100 plus tackles leading the defense. Ian Nigel Mckenzie has been known to snatch a few interceptions and defend some passes...yet the defense is giving up almost 25 points a game.

St. Cloud Bulldogs at North Marion Colts and it's the Colts homecoming.