PAHOKEE – It’s a great time right now to be a Pahokee Blue Devil.

The dominating efforts of senior team leaders Tamarick Best (defensive end and FIU verbal commit) and Latarie Kinsler (hybrid defensive end/linebacker and Syracuse verbal commit) helped to lead their team to last week’s 32-27 win over Chiefland in the Class 1A – Region 4 final.

Let’s start with Best.

The FIU verbal commit had perhaps his best game of the season, as he rallied eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery against Chiefland. But it was really about Best being in place on the defensive line, which galvanized the team more than anything else.

“He was a man amongst boys,” Pahokee head coach D.J. Boldin said of Best. “His presence was everything for us.”

Best had a lot to say about his role in Pahokee’s win over Chiefland.

“Everything happened because of my teammates,” Best said. “Those eight tackles, that forced fumble and the recovery is theirs too. We got together and made a game plan for the quarterback, Ty Corbin. We didn’t want him to be successful on his feet. A lot of this came from Coach Boldin. And God was on our side the whole night.”

Best had even more to say about last week’s home win, which was ultimately made possible by Kinsler’s game-ending sack at the final buzzer.

“Latarie’s sacks really helped the team out when we really needed them,” Best said of Kinsler, who had at least three sacks in the game against Chiefland. “Like on the last play of the game, that strip sack he got secured the win for us, and now we in the semifinals. I love being on the same defense with Latarie Kerry Mullins (co-Breakthrough Player of Week 14), Frankie [Burgess] (MVP of Week 13), Jaylon [Williams] and Octavious Bouie because right now I feel like we’re unstoppable.”

Kinsler spoke on his own epic performance against Chiefland.

“It felt great to make that game-winning play,” Kinsler said. “I embrace moments like this. That’s what I work for. I knew it was going to be a pass play, so I tilted my heels back to come and make that play.”

Kinsler has played in just three games this season due to an injury he suffered back in the summer. But in these past three games, he has registered at least four sacks and has steadily shown that he is the best team leader in Palm Beach County.

“It felt great,” Kinsler said of his remarkable recovery. “Me coming off an injury and having the faith, I feel like myself all over again. Thanks to Coach [Boldin] for pushing me and pushing our team. The mission is to get to state and win it. That’s our goal. We got to get there.”

Best spoke on Kinsler’s level of leadership.

“His leadership is amazing,” Best said of Kinsler. “Because when something bad happens in the game, he would tell everybody including the coaches, “we still got this”, and we buy into what he say and go out there and fix our mistakes. He’s also a leader off the field.”

And now for the game Best, Kinsler, and crew have been waiting for all season long: Madison County in the 1A state semifinals for the third time in four years.

How does Pahokee pull off the state’s biggest upset win of the year over 28-point favorite Madison County tomorrow night in North Florida?

“I work hard for everything I want,” Best said. “I don’t like things being handed to me because that’s the easy way out. Madison kicked me out two years ago. Now it’s our time to put them out.”

How special would it be to Best on Friday night?

“That will be big on Coach Boldin’s behalf because this year is his first time coaching in Pahokee,” Best said. “And for the seniors we played them once and they took the title from us. So now it’s time to show them that’s where we belong.”

Pahokee and Madison County are tied at 1-1 against each other in recent memory.

In 2016, the Blue Devils had an exhilarating 21-19 home win over Madison County to reach the 1A title game. This was both Best’s and Kinsler’s respective freshman seasons.

But in 2017, Madison County returned the favor by ending Pahokee’s season with a 28-10 home victory of its own.

The Pahokee-Madison County winner went on to win the 1A state title game in both years.

It’s now the rubber match for Pahokee and two-time 1A defending state champion Madison County.

“We need to get it tomorrow so we can be 2-1 against them,” Best said. “And if we meet up with Baker, then we going to beat them again!”

NOTE: Pahokee scored a 34-21 win over Baker to capture the 1A state title on Dec. 8, 2016.