Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” There are ten teams that have not only made excellence a habit this season, they are chasing perfection as well. Before last week’s losses by Sunlake and Fort Meade, there were twelve teams that were in pursuit of undefeated seasons. The Miners were seeking their fourth since 1951, while the Seahawks soaring in search of their first-ever 10-0 season.
Six of the remaining ten teams are still in-line for their first undefeated regular seasons in their respective histories with just two weeks left. Three teams–Cambridge Christian, Kathleen and Clearwater Central Catholic can closeout their campaigns this week, while the rest will continue to push through one-practice, one-game, one-week-at-a-time until the job is finished.
Here is a closer look at the teams chasing perfection–while achieving excellence this season thus far.
Nature Coast Tech (8-0)
remaining games: at Hernando (3-6), at Groveland-South Lake (2-5)
–Hernando County has never had an undefeated season achieved by one of its programs, but the Sharks smell blood in the water and have two winnable games left to make it happen. Deshawn Smith is also on-pace to break the county’s all-time rushing record within the next two weeks as well.
River Ridge (8-0)
remaining games: at Wesley Chapel (2-7), vs. Sunlake (7-1)
–The Royal Knights have secured back-to-back district championships for the first time in school history, and now they’re after their first undefeated regular season in program history. Their game with Sunlake looms large.
Northside Christian (8-0)
remaining games: vs. Admiral Farragut (7-1), at Zephyrhills Christian (4-4)
–The Mustangs have been playing football since 1973, and they’ve never finished the regular season undefeated. They’ll put their perfection to the test in front of a televised audience vs. Farragut this Thursday.
Clearwater Central Catholic (9-0)
remaining game: vs. Cardinal Mooney (2-6)
–In a moment of–WOW, the Marauders have never finished the regular season undefeated since their inception in 1963. They’ve got a very good chance to re-write the books after the final whistle this Friday.
Braden River (8-0)
remaining games: at Sarasota (4-4), vs. Gibbs (5-3)
–The Pirates have only been playing since 2006, but they’re going for back-to-back undefeated seasons after finishing with just two wins in 2012.
Cambridge Christian (9-0)
remaining games: at Carrollwood Day (6-2)
Not only are the Lancers trying to win their first district championship in school history, they’re trying to double-down with the schools’ first unblemished regular season in its history.
Armwood (8-0)
remaining games: at Hillsborough (4-5), vs. Sickles (7-1)
–The Hawks are no strangers to this. Armwood is in search of their third-consecutive undefeated regular season, and their sixth since 2000.
Kathleen (9-0)
remaining game: at Lakeland (6-2)
–The Red Devils are winning close games, and they’re winning by blowout this season. The test-of-all-tests comes this week versus their hated city-rivals at Bryant Stadium. They’re seeking just their third undefeated season since 1951.
Lakeland Christian (8-0)
remaining games: at Tampa Catholic (7-1), vs. Agape Christian Academy (1-7)
–The Vikings can complete their conquest with victories over TC and Agape. If they do so, it will be the first time they’ve gone undefeated in school history since they began in 2005.
Jesuit (8-0)
remaining games: vs. Spoto (2-7), vs. Tampa Catholic (7-1)
–The Tigers are looking to pounce on their first undefeated season since 2010. That year they finished 11-1 bowing out in the second round to Robinson, 21-7.