In a high-octane clash that lived up to the billing in Mount Dora this morning, East Ridge High School emerged as champions of Saturday’s elite 7-on-7 tournament, defeating Bartow High 21-14 in a thrilling final capped by a go-ahead touchdown with just 40 seconds remaining.

The championship game featured fireworks on both sides, with each team landing blows in a back-and-forth battle. But it was 2027 quarterback Karon Palmer who had the final say, leading a surgical late-game drive before delivering the decisive touchdown pass to 2028 standout wide receiver Lamar “Duke” Garrison.

(Bartow QB Ethan Brous had a fantastic tournament. He will be one to keep an eye on for the 2025 season.)

Palmer, a smooth, technically refined signal-caller with a quick release and elite anticipation, was in total command throughout the tournament. His performance in Frank Scott’s offense was nothing short of exceptional and he is showing why he is one of the top quarterbacks in Lake County for 2025.

(East Ridge High’s Lamar Garrison is coming off a huge freshman year with Leesburg High. He transferred to East Ridge High and is looking forward to another big year.)

Garrison, one of the most highly recruited receivers in the 2028 class with offers from major programs like Florida State, LSU, and Nebraska, proved unguardable all day. His battle with Bartow’s electric two-way star Jaiziah “Red” Battle became the centerpiece of the final. Garrison hauled in several contested catches, while Battle countered with lockdown coverage, a key interception earlier in the day, and 10 touchdowns throughout the tournament.

If there was an MVP of the tournament, it was Red. He played both ways and dominated.

Bartow, led by 2026 quarterback Ethan “E9” Brous, was a worthy finalist. Brous showcased poise and command throughout, finishing with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions over the course of the day. His ability to distribute the ball and extend plays was crucial to Bartow’s deep run.

His top targets included Battle and 2027 wide receiver Major McBath, who kept drives alive with clutch catches over the middle.

Defensively, Bartow leaned on 2026 safety Josiah “JoJo” White, a towering 6’3 presence with the versatility to impact the game from multiple spots. White sealed Bartow’s semifinal win over Tavares with a game-clinching interception.

That semifinal showdown saw Tavares ATH Tamauri Collins flash elite burst as a slot receiver, and 2026 DB Artavius “Tay Tay” Riley emerge as a shutdown corner, often left on an island against top-tier talent.

(Tavares defensive back Artavius Riley is a great receiver but he excelled at the defensive back position at the tournament. This is a guy that needs to be monitored this season and is due for a breakout year.)

East Ridge’s path to the title wasn’t easy. They survived a semifinal shootout against Eustis High, led by rising 2028 quarterback Jackson Currie. Currie, showing new command and accuracy in tight formations, gave East Ridge all it could handle in a narrow loss.

Eustis also boasted one of the tournament’s top defenders in 2026 DB Amarian Jackson. He will be one to look out for in 2025 and there’s going to be a lot of interest in this young man this season.

East Ridge’s receiving corps, headlined by Garrison and fellow 2028 playmaker Tony “Dook” Brown, were terrific. Brown, is a twitchy route runner with explosive acceleration and he consistently found space in the defense and showed strong chemistry with Palmer. Both receivers look primed for massive fall seasons in East Ridge High’s Offensive Coordinator Frank Scott’s pass-heavy scheme.

With the win, East Ridge not only took home the championship but firmly stamped itself as one of Florida’s most dangerous passing teams heading into the 2025 season. If East Ridge can give Palmer time in the pocket, it will be similar to Leesburg High’s team last year with now graduated QB Xavier Irizarry when he and Garrison connected many times last year.

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TOURNAMENT HONORS:

• MVP: Jaiziah “Red” Battle, WR/CB, Bartow (2027)

• Top QB: Karon Palmer, East Ridge (2027)

• Top WR Duo: Lamar “Duke” Garrison & Tony “Dook” Brown, East Ridge (2028)

• Top DB: Artavius “Tay Tay” Riley, Tavares (2026)

• Breakout Star: Jackson Currie, QB, Eustis (2028)

• Most Versatile: Josiah “JoJo” White, DB, Bartow (2026)

Statistics and info provided by coach Max Tucker with Bartow. Thank you coach Tucker.