OAKLEAF - With a request for a Super Bowl LIX prediction in game between Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs plus the top three keys for success of the winners, and with 58 responses before kickoff, it was Middleburg High football dad Larry Leclair, whose son Cole was a standout offensive lineman at Middleburg, at Valdosta State and at McNeese State, who picked a 40-35 win for the Eagles as the Eagles demolished the Chiefs 44-20 in a defensive showcase by the Eagles and an MVP performance by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Of the 58, 33 were for the Eagles to win; 25 for the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Hurts winning the MVP was a direct cause of running back Saquon Barkley being the primary target of the Chiefs defense; only 57 yards rushing, but also opening up the Chiefs defense to Hurts' expertise on finding his other weapons to score a 34-6 game into the fourth quarter. Hurts was 221 Yds passing, 2TDs, 72 Yds rushing, 1TD, (5 passes over 20 yards; a 46 yard score to Devonta Smith) and a 119.7 QB Rating.
Leclair was the only pick that gave the Eagles 40 points for the game with the Chiefs behind 40-6 until late in the fourth quarter when the Eagles started celebrating with three minutes left and Kansas City scoring twice on touchdown passes.
For Leclair, his three keys to success were 1. Contain Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, 2. Pressure Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and 3. No penalties.
Kelce was irrelevant; four catches 39 Yds, no scores and Taylor Swift got boo-ed out of stadium, Mahomes had a 94.5 QB Rating (AWFUL), a pick six interception and 3 touchdowns all in the second half; two in final three minutes.
The Eagles defense had six sacks on Mahomes and a handful of QB hurries along the way. Mahomes worst game as a pro.
FloridaHSFootball.com director Josh Wilson came up with a nearly perfect score with his 38-20 prediction, plus the best three keys of the night.
For Wilson, also a Middleburg High graduate, and the guy who provides the most extensive insight on high school football in Florida, his score was a 38-20 prediction.
Wilson analysis included naming Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, a Williston High grad, as the key secondary guy to force Mahomes to use half the field to throw the ball where Cooper DeJean snagged his interception returned for a score.
Oakleaf Athletic Director Rodney Dubose was light on the score with a 31-25 Eagles win but his keys were spot on; Ball control with Hurts and Saquon, Win the turnover battle and Pressure Mahomes with four linemen; All executed throughout the game despite Barkley only at 57 yards.
Others who got close were Clay retired swim coach Carol McDougall at 35-28; Oakleaf lift coach Shay Mensie also at 35-28, Dreadnaughts football grandpa Larry Oreol at 34-28 and Suwannee High Hall of Fame wrestling coach David Laxton just saying "Don't be surprised if the underdogs blow them out.LOL"
On the Chiefs side, where football predictions centered around Mahomes pulling a rabbit out of his hat in the fourth quarter, one of the best keys was Fleming Island Athletic Director Travis Cunningham who had Chiefs selling out to Saquon and making Hurts beat them (He did!); Orange Park basketball coach John Conley had Chiefs' 31-27 (Chiefs force Hurts to throw.LOL); former Ridgeview, Orange Park football coach, and recent defensive coach at Bishop Kenny, now Fleming Island football coach Tom Macpherson (Chiefs 31-24) with "Kelce involved" (Not) and "no turnovers" (Not).
Best football lines came from Clay soccer coach Stephanie Waugh (Eagles 35-31) "I just go for whoever by dad's going for" and Clay High defensive coach Craig Nosse (Chiefs win big) "Kelce 3TDs, Taylor Swift will go ape" with Clay girls basketball coach Doug Deters (Chiefs 31-28) "Never would pick against Mahomes and Chiefs always win when Taylor Swift at game."