ORLANDO — The final numbers are simply staggering: 42, 213, 4 and 6.
That’s 42 carries on 213 yards with 4 touchdowns—Glades Day freshmen tailback Kelvin Taylor’s output Friday afternoon. The 6? The state championships that the Gators now have won after their 27-20 overtime victory against Warner Christian (South Daytona) in the Class 1B state football championship game at the Citrus Bowl.
Watching Taylor, a shifty back with unreal athleticism, balance, feet and speed for a back his size, it was hard not to conjure up images of another back who wore No. 21 for the Gators back in the 1990s. While Fred Taylor donned the Orange and Blue and did most of his damage in Gainesville, at one time he was a prep star on the south side of Lake Okeechobee as well, being recruited by numerous colleges around the country. While the Gators that Kelvin Taylor stars for wear green and yellow, the Glades Day star is well on his way to becoming a big-time recruit in his own right – even though he is only just a high school freshman.
“He’s a great running back – a great competitor,” Glades Day head coach Pete Walker said of Taylor in the aftermath of the Gators’ 27-20 overtime victory in the Class 1B final over Warner Christian on Friday afternoon. “He was the difference in the game today.”
“Difference,” might be a bit of an understatement. The young man they call “Bay-Bay” logged 42 carries (to tie a FHSAA championship game record) and he was simply on another level from every other player on the field. At 5-11 and 205 pounds, the freshman back possesses physical skills that just don’t come around too often. Clearly, this is a special player in the making.
“If he continues to work hard, and keep that great attitude that he has, I think the sky is the limit for him,” Walker said following the victory.
It’s been an incredible season for young Kelvin Taylor. He finishes the year with 294 carries, 2,605 yards and 47 touchdowns – one of the great seasons in Florida high school history for a running back. He is on pace to break every major rushing record in the high school record book, and this is only just the beginning. If Taylor feels the weight of the world on his shoulders for having to follow the example his father set, he sure doesn’t show it.
“I can’t just follow in his footsteps – I’ve got my own running style,” Taylor said following the game. Although Fred Taylor made an attempt to come down and watch his first-born son play for a state championship, the schematics simply couldn’t be worked out due to his commitments with the New England Patriots, where his team is in the midst of a playoff run. While questions about his father came quickly, the tough one eventually came for Kelvin. Who is faster – father or son?
Surprisingly, Kelvin’s answer was quick and without hesitation.
“I promise you he is,” Taylor said with a laugh.
Naturally, it stands to reason that a big-time college program or two has probably sniffed around Belle Glade, in hopes of showing some early interest in a prospect who could turn out to be one of the best in the country before it’s all said and done. When the question was posed to Walker, it seemed too obvious, however.
“Of course they are,” Walker said in response. “Wouldn’t you? Look at that cat over there.”
Taylor himself mentioned “Tennessee and Florida” as the two teams who have shown a lot of interest in the talented back early on. With more performances like the one he put together in Orlando on Friday afternoon, there are sure to be a whole bunch more going after the talented running back before he decides on where he will play his college football at the next level.
For now, it’s all about savoring a victory, however. Recruiting will come with time. For now, it’s all about enjoying the spoils of a championship victory and looking ahead to next season. A sophomore season at that for the football prodigy who hails from one of the most talent-laden regions in the country.
The saying “like father, like son” applies here more than ever.
CLASS 1A GAME STORY: Click below
FHSAA STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
The results and schedule in the Florida High School Athletic Association state football playoff series:
STATE SEMIFINALS
Friday, Dec. 11
Class 6A
DeLand 20, Apopka 7
Miramar 21, Miami Central 14
Class 5A
Plant (Tampa) 20, Lakeland 0
Manatee (Bradenton) 28, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 20
Class 4A
Niceville 30, Edgewater (Orlando) 7
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) 41, Armwood (Seffner) 15
Class 3A
Pensacola 20, Jefferson (Tampa) 0
Belen Jesuit Prep (Miami) 21, Lake Wales 14
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Friday, Dec. 11
Class 1B at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Glades Day (Belle Glade) 27, Warner Christian (South Daytona) 20, OT
Class 1A at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
American Heritage (Delray Beach) 30, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 20
Saturday, Dec. 12
Class 2B at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Tampa Catholic (12-1) vs. Bolles School (Jacksonville) (12-1), 1 p.m.
Class 2A at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Glades Central (Belle Glade) (13-0) vs. Cocoa (13-0), 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 18
Class 3A at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Pensacola (13-1) vs. Belen Jesuit Prep (Miami) (11-3) , 1 p.m.
Class 5A at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Plant (Tampa) (13-1) vs. Manatee (Bradenton) (13-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Class 4A at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Niceville (13-0) vs. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) (13-1), 1 p.m.
Class 6A at Citrus Bowl, Orlando
DeLand (13-1) vs. Miramar (13-1), 7 p.m.