It’s go time. We’re down to the finals in the small classes, and state semis in the larger ones. There’s no time for fluff, no time for extra “stuff.” It’s now personal, not business. You make it to this point in the season, it’s hard for people to call you a fluke. We don’t need any frills on this airline. Strap in your seat belts, turn off your portable electronic devices and pay attention to the flight attendants. They’ve go some important information regarding your trip to Orlando. Now, let’s back this bird from the gate and go get into the queue for departure. It’s time to make it happen people…
2A
What We’re Working With…
North Florida Christian (12-0) vs. Admiral Farragut (12-1)
The Business…
Any team that blows the doors off of Glades Central (the reigning 1A State Champions) like Farragut did should now gain (if they haven’t already) the statewide attention they so deserve. If you had read the papers from the Palm Beach Area and anywhere between you would have seen that many did not even think there was football in Pinellas County. The Gators had all of the appeal with Fred Taylor’s Son Kelvin lined-up in the backfield and the good folks were making this a foregone conclusion. The Jackets thoroughly cemented themselves as the team to beat however in the entire 2A Classification with a 42-16 romp over Glades Day. The other half of the bracket saw the consensus prediction come to fruition with North Florida Christian romping over Warner Christian 54-16.
The Great Beyond…
The two teams will play for the 2A State Championship on Friday at 1:00pm in the Citrus Bowl. North Florida Christian will be the home team while Farragut will be on the East side of the stadium as the visitors.
The Future Says…
I’ve got about a bajillion more things to look at regarding this game, but the early indications and background knowledge I already have of NFC show that this is a classic in the making. I see this game going very similar to the CDS game with Farragut getting down early, realizing that the team on the other side is simply playing football just like them, and then proceed to bring back a state title to our brothers in pigskin across the water. I see a blue Christmas for NFC provided by the Blue Jackets.
State Title Prediction…
Admiral Farragut 41 North Florida Christian 38
3A
What We’re Working With…
American Heritage (11-1) vs. Madison Co. (12-1)
The Business…
Predictions made with the heart not the head can hurt more than ever and this was the case down in Delray on Friday Night. The Stallions were able to take advantage of Nelson Agholor’s absence and grind out the Bucs 17-9. I said on the BHSN Roundtable I wanted to pick Berkeley in the worst way to get to Orlando, but the gauntlet of 3A South was just slightly too much. Those teams in the lower half of that side were 28-1 coming into the playoffs. It didn’t matter who Berkeley drew it was going to be tough, but the Buccaneers have ABSOLUTELY NO SHAME in what they provided for us fans here in the Tampa Bay Area this season. We’re proud of our boys from Town & Country. They left it all on the field. On the other side, the consensus prediction held again as Madison County used the 2nd Quarter to get all the points they needed with a 14-0 grinder over Trinity Catholic knocking out the 2B State Champions.
The Great Beyond…
American Heritage and MadCo will play at 1:00 on Saturday in what should be a ground and pound/defensive lovers dream come true. Heritage’s newly offered by Alabama RB Greg Bryant will be on display for the Stallions while the Cowboys will undoubtedly look to put a new bit and bridle on the equines with the Wing-T and suffocating defense that even the big schools would have issues with. This one is worth the price of admission on Saturday along with Bolles (12-1) vs. Booker T. Washington (12-1) at 7pm.
The Future Says…
If you’re stuck doing anything other than headed to Orlando on Saturday I’m really sorry. You’ve got American Heritage vs. Madison County and Bolles vs. Booker T. Washington at 7pm in the 4A Finals. Do I need to go any further? I’ll give you a bogo on this one. First, I think Madison County (as if they needed one) got the blueprint from Berkeley. Heritage is stacked, but Madison County is one of those programs that if they’re playing at this time of year you’re a fool for going against them. I’ll take the Kerr Dawgs from the Big Bend over the boys from the big concrete of Broward. In the other final (too good NOT to comment on) I’ll take the Tornadoes to Jim Cantore the Bulldogs from Duuuuval. Booker T. is back to being Booker T. which means plenty of you know without me having to spend anymore time to explain. Bolles is another Wing-T ground and pound and will need to play keep away or else they’ll be ringless once again this season.
3A/4A Finals Predictions…
Madison County 21 American Heritage 14
Booker T. Washington 20 Bolles 17
5A
What We’re Working With….
Pasco (13-0) at Wakulla (10-3)
Norland (13-0) at Palmetto (12-1)
The Business…
Alright. Show of hands that had Pasco vs. Wakulla in the Final Four. *Waits* *STILL WAITING* Anybody? Well, if you live in Dade City I can see your arms about to disconnect from your rotator cuffs or like the elementary student that knows all the answers trying to get noticed like “Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me! I picked them!” I doubt even the majority of folks in the Tallahassee Area had the War Eagles beating Godby once, much less twice, much less playing for the right to be the Big Bend’s 4th representative (along with Chipley. Jefferson Co. & Madison Co. the others) in this year’s edition of the Finals. Pasco thoroughly dominated Jesuit in every facet to earn the right to hit the hornets nest in the sinks this Friday while Wakulla Jacques Cousteau’d the upstart Sharks of Ponte Vedra 20-6.
In the South, it was Palmetto putting the rest of those that simply refused to acknowledge a team other than Manatee reppin’ the 941 on notice. The Tigers went into Immokalee and straight pimp-caned the Indians in the Glades 42-21 and it wasn’t even that close. Norland went into Belle Glade and acted like the Norsemen who invaded England back in the day. The folks in the muck looked like the Britons headed for the Welsh Highlands when the Duke of Dade County (Duke Johnson) gave Glades the business with over 200 yards on the ground for the Vikings in a 29-13 victory.
The Great Beyond…
Plain and simple. Winner of these games packs their bags for the Land of Mickey and Minnie. The game will be played on Friday the 16th at 1:00pm. For now, it’s Pasco headed to the sticks of Crawfordville while Norland brings its band of pillagers and plunderers to Manatee County this Friday. Both games scheduled for 7:30.
The Future Says…
Any team that can go on the road, handle a North Marion team, then come back and handle Jesuit in the fashion they did gets all of the respect in the world from me. They can’t use that chip on their shoulder any longer since Wakulla wears the same one. The one thing that gives the Pirates the advantage is that they already have been galvanized by a against-all-odds roadtrip this playoff season and to me that’s the biggest intangible. If you can believe it, you can achieve it at this time of the season if you’re 13-0 regardless of your resume.
I’m smitten with Palmetto and would love to see them represent this region like no other, but I’m going to learn my lesson from the Berkeley Prep prediction. I wouldn’t have taken Norland FROM DAY ONE even knowing that they had to go to the Glades since if there was ever a team equipped to win in THAT environment it’s them. Seeing is how Norland’s section of Miami is the background for half of the First 48 Episodes, I doubt they’ll be any less impressed by the City of Palmetto than they were with Belle Glade. Try some reverse psychology. Kill them with kindness. They won’t know what hit them. Just a thought. Would probably throw their entire world upside down. I took Norland to play Jesuit in the finals at the beginning so I can’t back away from the Vikings now. It’s a close one though.
State Semifinals Predictions…
Pasco 28 Wakulla 24
Norland 21 Palmetto 20
6A
What We’re Working With…
Bartram Trail (12-1) at Armwood (13-0)
Mainland (12-1) at Central (13-0)
The Business…
Got a scare last week if you’re an Armwood Fan. Some of you Hawk Haters nearly got your Christmas, Father’s Day, New Year’s, and birthday rolled into one. It depends on how you look at it. I don’t think you noticed or not, but it wasn’t the State Semis or State Finals which means it’s not time for Armwood to lose regardless of the way they looked. Here’s the deal. Would someone please just swallow their pride and throw the damn ball at L3? I wasn’t at the game, but I can almost assure you that Leon was once again bored by the 2nd Quarter. The Hawks survived injuries, inconsistency, and an inspired Gainesville team 17-14.
In the south, I told you that the winner of Mainland-Winter Haven should be considered armed and dangerous. And they should still be. In fact if you think that I’m going to sit here and back down from my Volusia Brethren going down and sending some Rockets to the Moon then you’ve got me bent like the grass on the greens at TPC Sawgrass. Mainland handled Naples 27-16 in a team that looks EERILY similar to their 2002 State Championship Team.
The Great Beyond…
Winners advance to Orlando for the 6A State Championship to be played on Saturday the 17th at 1:00pm.
The Future Says…
SAT Analogy time. Norland is to Glades as Mainland is to? Central. If you think that Mainland hasn’t seen the folks at Traz Powell or is somehow intimidated by that Carnivale atmosphere then you and I are going to have it out in the front yard. They’re not impressed and honestly half of them have family from Dade anyways. The Buccaneers about to go and handle their business. Yep. Don’t ask me again. Team of destiny. And if you think this is pride, then so be it.Their defense is one of the best in the state without question. Maybe even #2 just behind the Hawks.
Armwood welcomes Tennessee QB Commit Nathan Peterman and his absolutely gaudy numbers. Let’s be honest. The Bears are here because St. Augustine got eliminated in the 1st. Round. I can remember when there was no Bartram Trail High School. I was living on the First Coast when they built it. The kids that are there now are the little brothers that would have gone to Nease and they’ve never beaten St. Auggie. To my point. Armwood most likely wins this one going away (I know, I know) because they think they can throw on the Hawks. The ‘Wood gets healthy on defense and gets the offense 14 points at least this week. That should help. I had Armwood and Central at the beginning of the season, but I’m going to pull a not-so-fast-my-friends and hit Central with a “HOLD ON PLAYA!”
State Semifinals Predictions…
Armwood 28 Bartram Trail 10
Mainland 20 Miami Central 19
7A
What We’re Working With…
Lakeland (13-0) at First Coast (12-0)
Dwyer (12-1) at Manatee (11-2)
The Business…
Lakeland is who we thought they were. Problem is we didn’t know who they were and I’m quite convinced we still don’t know. This may be Coach Castle’s best job yet though and that’s something we should set in stone. They dispatched the Gaither Cowboys in deciding fashion while First Coast jumped on East Ridge and wouldn’t allow the Knights to get any closer than 8 points the entire 2nd Half. Dwyer was able to score a 2nd Half TD late to defeat the defending 5A Champions St. Thomas Aquinas 6-3. Manatee needed the same margin defeat Fort Pierce Central (whom I correctly predicted would give Manatee the biggest scare of the playoffs) 13-10.
The Great Beyond…
Winner plays in the State Finals on Friday December 16th at 7pm.
The Future Says…
I had Manatee vs. Lincoln in the finals at the beginning so I’m obviously going to stick with the ‘Canes. Every team has ONE ROUND of absolute struggle and both them and Dwyer just had that. We could anticipate the Panthers struggle because it’s Aquinas. I think many people saw a team from Fort Pierce and thought it was all good. Coach Kinnan will show us why he’s one of the best in the nation. This one won’t be about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. I put it on the Joe’s (Coach Kinnan) and the Jack’s (as in Dwyer HC Jack Daniels.) Advantage Coach Kinnan over Dwyer and this year’s stellar crop of players that Dwyer fields every year.
Lakeland at First Coast is a tough one, but it’s just as tough to go against Lakeland since they’re not having to play Plant in the Semis. First Coast bears the entire weight of Duval County Public Schools hopes and dreams on their shoulders. They’re strong enough to support Oceanway and the majority of Jacksonville, but can they hold up to the pressure of the eyes and ears of every one in Northeast Florida? This one’s a coin toss. Literally.
State Semifinals Predictions
Lakeland 30 First Coast 27
Manatee 17 Dwyer 14
8A
What We’re Working With…
Fletcher (11-2) at Plant (12-1)
Columbus (10-2) at Miramar (12-0)
The Business…
That rush of air was the cold front created by the collective sigh of relief from the Plant Faithful as they survived East Lake in Overtime 28-21. Fletcher flashed the Road Warriors Collectible Pins by defeating Tmber Creek 31-27. The Senators have now defeated Lake Brantley, DeLand, and Timber Creek on the road. That’s also three of the longest road trips you can possibly make in consecutive weeks within the region. Columbus (as expected) had some early issues with Southridge but the Explorers showed their class and managed to pull away 28-7 while Miramar after a few tense moments in the 1st Half got the job done over Palm Beach Gardens also pulling away 35-7.
The Great Beyond…
Winners play in Orlando on the 17th of December at 7:00pm.
The Future Says…
Jamari Smith is good. That’s what the present says at least. That’s the starting tailback for Fletcher who happened to be running around middle school intramural fields the last time I saw him up in Neptune. That’s how far this team and him (literally) have come. I know I made mention of First Coast carrying the hopes and dreams of Duval County on their backs and that still rings true. The Beaches are a different universe compared with the rest of the county so consider this a team carrying the hopes and dreams of the “First Coast” ironically.
Miramar’s trip to Orlando is one-week closer to reality and they’ve got very few (if any) visible weaknesses at the moment. They’ll be tested by Columbus, but they’ve already got the answers to the test in my opinion.
State Semifinals Predictions…
Plant 31 Fletcher 24
Miramar 35 Columbus 21
So….HOW DID IT GO Doug?
Last Week’s Record: 20-4 (Overall 130-28)
1A-4A: 5-3 (Overall 46-10)
5A-8A: 15-1 (Overall 84-28)
Classification Breakdown (Overall Record in Parenthesis)
1A: 0-2 (10-4)
2A: 2-0 (13-1)
3A: 1-1 (10-4)
4A: 2-0 (13-1)
5A: 3-1 (20-8)
6A: 4-0 (20-8)
7A: 4-0 (22-6)
8A: 4-0 (22-6)