STUART – We have reached near the midpoint of the fall season, and we have seen some strides with the South Fork Bulldogs.
In their 34-6 road win over the Okeechobee Brahmans this past Thursday (Sept. 14), a host of individual breakthrough moments occurred.
Let us start with Bulldogs linebacker Jonas Barros (‘24). The team’s unquestioned leader posted the following statistics in Week 4:
•12 tackles
•1 forced fumble
•1 blocked punt
12 tackles, forced fumble, and a blocked punt😁 Ill say it was a good night last night pic.twitter.com/lfQDThxpLI
— Jonas Barros (@Jonas_Barros5) September 16, 2023
We love jet sweeps around here😂 pic.twitter.com/Yb4viI87Wm
— Jonas Barros (@Jonas_Barros5) September 16, 2023
Barros spoke on his overall performance against Okeechobee.
“Watching film all week really helped me figure out what Okeechobee was going to do,” the 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker said. “And when they came out, I knew how to stop it. I just did my job and flew around the field. Everyone on defense was flying to the ball and putting me in a position to make tackles.”
As a result of his efforts, Barros was voted as our Defensive Player of Week 4 on the Treasure Coast.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF WEEK 4: 772@Jonas_Barros5 @coach_blatch @SFHS_FB @JaxonBryant2007 @MightySmcgrath3 @TradPrepfb @OmariKinsler @SagetVlad @bornbred09 @WeAreTCoast @KevinPollock11 @VBFootball @VBHSNation
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) September 17, 2023
Meanwhile, fellow linebacker Kade Thomas (‘24) had a great performance of his own against Okeechobee. Our Lineman of Week 4 on the Treasure Coast posted the following statistics:
•8 tackles
•3 tackles for loss
•1 sack
8 tackles 1 sack 3 TFL WEEK 4https://t.co/mEnrt1lYMH
— Kade Thomas (@kade2622) September 16, 2023
LINEMAN OF WEEK 4: 772@jamarion42 @MikeW_FPC @FPCFootball @Jahari99Grant @SagetVlad @bornbred09 @WeAreTCoast @Chase___74 @VBFootball @VBHSNation @kade2622 @coach_blatch @SFHS_FB @alisonvilela0
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) September 17, 2023
“Kade did great, constantly putting pressure on the quarterback and not allowing for him to make his reads or get out of the pocket,” Barros said of Thomas.
Our Breakout Player of Week 4 on the Treasure Coast is Bulldogs defensive lineman Santiago Millan (‘24).
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF WEEK 4: 772@JonnyAhern @Mikiem13 @CoachBerry247 @caffeyjbhs @JensenFootball @drindansm @MightySmcgrath3 @TradPrepfb @santiago0t7 @coach_blatch @SFHS_FB @DonquaillW @VBFootball @VBHSNation
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) September 17, 2023
Barros on the 6-foot, 205-pound rising star:
“Santi was all over the field,” Barros said. “He led the team in sacks and had a couple tackles for loss too. He was a problem for Okeechobee in short-yard situations.”
Our fourth Week 4 superlative winner for South Fork was in the special teams category.
As you will see, freshman kicking sensation Parker Goldstein was nominated for Special Teams Player of Week 4. But as it turns out, Goldstein has been out for the past two weeks due to injury.
In Goldstein’s place is kicker/linebacker Lincoln Snell (‘25). He had four successful extra points against Okeechobee.
“Lincoln is a dog on special teams,” Barros said. “On punt and kickoff, he’s the first one getting down there making tackles. He’s been perfect on extra points so far.”
As a result of Snell’s special teams achievement for South Fork, we saw our first three-way tie in any superlative category we have put out.
You can see this below for yourself.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF WEEK 4: 772@813_mannyy @SagetVlad @bornbred09 @WeAreTCoast @GoldieP84 @coach_blatch @SFHS_FB @GavinHarte2 @CoachBerry247 @caffeyjbhs @JensenFootball @Braydenmarz @VBFootball @VBHSNation
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) September 17, 2023
We got a fifth Week 4 superlative nomination for Bulldogs running back Omar Mejia (‘25). The MVP of Week 4 candidate posted the following statistics against Okeechobee:
•100+ total yards
•1 rushing touchdown
100+ Yards 1TD last night,God got me💪🙏 pic.twitter.com/zM9M1yOtk8
— Omar Mejia (@Omar_Mejia8) September 16, 2023
“Omar balled out too,” Barros said. “He was running hard. It took multiple players to tackle him every play.”
South Fork (2-2) won its first regular season game on the field last week with its rushing attack, which resulted in all five of its scores on the ground. Mejia scored once, while athletes Tony Jefferson (‘25) and Jannaro Sumpter (‘27) scored two rushing touchdown each in the 28-point margin of victory over Okeechobee (3-1).
love being doubted really make me flip dat switch on💯💯😒 pic.twitter.com/MSz617KZxF
— Tony “Tj” Jefferson ll (@Tony_jefferson2) September 17, 2023
“We had a big bounce back week,” Barros said.
PHOTO CREDITS: Kate Cannon, Brylie Cuevas, and Michelle Jacobs