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Marjory Stoneman Douglas Competes in Playoffs for 3rd Straight Season — Marjory Stoneman Douglas football. {Athletics}

By: Matt Rothman

For a third straight season, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas football team made the postseason. However, they are still looking for that first win after falling in the opening round to Western High School 43-7 Friday night.

After winning back-to-back District Championships in Head Coach Quentin Short’s first two years, MSD finished the season strong but played the top team in the bracket.

The Eagles began the season 2-0, but after losing multiple players to injuries and having a game canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests, MSD lost their next three games.

However, they still managed to make the postseason, winning their final four games, including the Pig Bowl against Coral Springs High and another against Coral Glades.

‘There are definitely valuable life lessons learned this season on how to handle adversity and to overcome tough situations,” said Head Coach Quentin Short. “We replaced 15 starters from the 2020 team, and we were able to get into the playoffs in a much tougher district than the previous two seasons.”

Junior running back Matthew Wilson had a tremendous first season with MSD and ran for over 900 yards. Both quarterbacks, Ryan Spallina and Hunter Rose, combined for over 1,000 passing yards, while Hervin Louis, Christian Spencer, and Clayton Cannon II recorded at least ten receptions for over 180 yards.

Defensively, Gabriel Lenamon, Anthony Perillo, Traejon Roberts, and Jose Taboada III were the leading tacklers.

MSD is set to have nearly a third of their team graduate this year but will still return some key players for the 2022 season. They also hope to get contributions from several players who competed on the junior varsity team this year.

“We are still building this program, and as we continue to keep winning and make the playoffs,” Coach Short added. “Hopefully, people see that we have a winning culture and that kids want to stay and play at Douglas and not go to private schools.”

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.