September 6, 2012

FV Staff
FlaVarsity.com

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GAME 3 -North-Central Showdown					The Skinny: Columbia and Gainesville battle on a Thursday night at Citizens Field. Both teams are coming off impressive 50 point offensive outputs. It will be a test of the Gainesville multiple-attack offense vs. a Columbia defense that was stellar in its opener against Baker County. it also could be a pre-cursor of a 6A semi-final matchup. Gainesville is ranked 16th in the latest FlaVarsityTop 25. A win by the Tigers puts them in the poll.
		vs
COLUMBIA			GAINESVILLE		Prediction: GAINESVILLE

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Lake City-Columbia; QB Jayce Barber, OL Laremy Tunsil, WR Nate Ayers, DE Javere Smith, TE Shaquille Johnson, LB Felix Woods, DB Trey Marshall, RB Rakeem Battle

Gainesville: WR Chris Thompson, LB Keith Kelsy Jr., RB Raphael Webb, QB Marquis Robins-Cato, LB Keon Jenkins , RB Tony James, WR Kenric Young, DB Juan Jenkins

THE OUTLOOK: The play of Gainesville QB Marc Cato has come along tremendously under second-year coach James Thomson. Cato has embraced the new system put in by Thomson and his staff - and the results speak for themselves. A state quarter-finalist last year, the Purple Hurricanes look to factor once again in the 6A playoff race. Cato has a great weapon in Florida-bound Chris Thompson. He's the go-to receiver/slot back that makes the offense hum. When Thompson isn't open (often drawing double coverage), Buchholz transfer Tony James usually is. The running game is solid with Raphael Webb and company.

For Columbia, the offense revolves around Rivals.com100 no. 9 player Laremy Tunsil. Barber, a Jacksonville State commit, runs the offense well from the QB position, and like his counterpart Cato - is grasping the offensive attack of head coach Brian Allen. Battle, Ayres and Johnson provide a one-two punch from the ground and through the air. Defensively the play of the linebackers, led by Woods, will be the key to stopping the Purple Hurricanes.

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