PAHOKEE – Jenorris Wilcher is ultra locked in right now.
The Pahokee senior athlete and Western Carolina verbal commit is focused on one thing and one thing only: a state title.
Pahokee (6-4) is the No. 4 seed in tonight’s road matchup with No. 1 seed Williston (10-0) for the FHSAA Class 1R-Region 4 semifinal round tonight (Nov. 17; 7:30 p.m. kickoff).
“I feel that is only motivation to me and my teammates,” Wilcher said. “We are the underdogs, but I know that will only make us work harder. I feel we will succeed on the road tonight, even if I have to get carried off the field tonight.”
Since Pahokee reclassified from the former Class 2B to Class 1A/Class 1R in 2015, it has not won a playoff game on the road. And since then, all of the Blue Devils road games have been in North Florida.
Tonight’s Blue Devils playoff tilt against the Red Devils will be in Williston, which is 232.9 miles – or just over four hours – north of Pahokee.
One must honestly take this long length of distance into consideration. But Wilcher and the Muck’s best team can care less about that.
Pahokee senior defensive back Pierre Fertil has his own take on how he sees tonight’s game turning out in North Florida.
“We come out and dominate like we know we can,” Fertil said. “Despite all the media putting us as underdogs, we shut that out and go play Pahokee ball. We have some of the best coaches in the state. Coach [Pernell] McPhee is our defensive coordinator. He put together a wonderful game plan, and every one knows what Coach Omar [Haugabook] can do as a play caller with guys like Rashon Brown [Pahokee ‘25 RB], Hardley Gilmore [Pahokee ‘24 ATH], and Jenoris Wilcher [Pahokee ‘24 ATH] on the offense.”
Fertil touched on Pahokee’s previous game, which was a 56-0 blowout win at home over Dixie County in the Class 1R-Region 4 quarterfinal round on the night of Nov. 10.
“Our blowout win felt good because we worked all week for it,” Fertil said. “We came out and executed. But we are still hungry and not satisfied until we become state championships.”
Wilcher doubled down on what Pahokee’s mission is, regardless of who or what stands in the way of it.
“What you can expect from my team tonight is to dominate on all phases, win our 1-on-1 battles, and just play Pahokee football,” Wilcher said. “Pahokee has always been undersize throughout the years. Compared to other teams, Pahokee football is playing with your heart and giving it all you got for your brothers, no matter the opponent or size. We’re coming hot and ready to go. We’re going to give every play like it’s our last.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Jamarrion Green and Solitario Visuals
VIDEO CREDITS: Jamarrion Green
