CLASS 8A Region 2 Semifinals Matchups
Plant at Dr. Phillips – Plant DE/OLB, Mitchell Wright will need to continue his STANDOUT season with another great performance against Dr. Phillips. He will have to be the single most disruptive force on the field to slow down the powerful Dr. Phillips offense.
Vero Beach at East Lake – East Lake secondary will have to put their big boy pants on and allow the Eagle defensive coordinator to get aggressive with some zone and man blitzes. If the secondary can cover and allow the DC to send 5-7 rushers, the Eagles will have a good chance at making Vero an even more one dimensional team.
CLASS 7A Region 2 Semifinals Matchup
Newsome at Durant – Clint Carnell, Newsome and Durant defense. Durant is going to attempt to neutralize Newsome QB Will Worth any way possible, which mean someone else is going to have to make some plays. Enter Newsome ATH Clint Carnell. “Mr. Do it all” will need to have a decent game on offense and have a killer game on special teams. If Durant’s defense CAN neutralize Will Worth, they have now giving themselves a far better chance to win the game.
CLASS 6A Region 2 Semifinals Matchup
Armwood at Hillsborough – Darryl Richardson, Armwood and Dwayne Lawson, Hillsborough. This time around, Hillsborough will get a full dose of Alvin Bailey at QB forcing Darryl Richardson to the receiver spot. If Armwood can get him the ball a few different ways, he can make some plays. Dwayne Lawson, Hillsborough QB will again be the key for the Terriers. Expect Armwood to bring more pressure this game attempting to force Lawson to make young mistakes. If Lawson can continue to stay poised as he has all year, the Terriers will again have a good chance of winning.
CLASS 5A Region 2 Semifinals Matchups
Lakewood at Robinson – Lakewood offensive line is going to need to come up big again. Protection in the pass game and body on body run blocking to give Lakewood a chance to win. If the line can protect QB Tracy Johnson and allow the coaches to be confident in calling run plays, the Spartans can pull the upset. Martin Ruiz, Robinson RB will have to be the workhorse again. Lakewood will attempt to contain Player of the Year candidate Zain Gilmore. If they do, Ruiz will get plenty of inside runs to soften the interior of the Spartan defense and control the flow of the game.
Gainesville Eastside at Pasco – Pretty simple here, Janarion Grant, Pasco ATH. As usual Grant will need to do as much as possible on each side of the ball. He will have to win on isolation plays, create turnovers on defense and establish field position on special teams. Nothing he is not accustomed to doing. But, the competition level has just stepped up and so will Grant.
CLASS 3A Region 3 Finals Matchup
Tampa Catholic at Clearwater Central Catholic – RB Kenny Bryant, Tampa Catholic and LB Ethan Thompson, CCC. Bryant has had a really good year so far and it will need to continue as he will be counted on to chip away at the CCC defense. Trying to chip away at the CCC defense is easier said than done with Ethan Thompson leading the charge. The junior LB has been every where on defense for CCC and will be a one man force Friday night versus Tampa Catholic.
CLASS 2A Region 3 Finals Matchup
Carrollwood Day at Naples First Baptist – None other than RB Robert Davis. Even though First Baptist will put 8 defenders in the box to try and defend Robert Davis, big time players have to make big time plays in big time games. If he is slowed on offense, Davis will need to make a big impact on defense to keep the Patriots post season run alive.