Five things we learned this week - playoff edition
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Five tidbits and thoughts entering the second week of he FHSAA state football playoffs...
One of the most impressive statistics in championship history is the seven consecutive title games reached by Belle Glade Glades Day between 1982 and 1988. The lengthiest current run belongs to Tampa Plant, which is hoping to make it five straight this year.
Speaking of Plant, in a week chock full of intriguing matchups, it could be playing in one of the two most anticipated. In addition to the clash of unbeatens between Delray Beach American Heritage and Fort Lauderdale's University School that many have argued is the de facto Class 3A championship game, the Panthers will visit an Orlando Dr. Phillips team that has yet to allow more than 18 points in any game all season. No doubt the rest of the teams in the 8A playoffs will be curious to find out this result once their games are completed.
Ocala Trinity Catholic (8-3) added a new wrinkle to its offense in last week's 56-12 defeat of Melbourne Central Catholic. The Celtics went no-huddle much of the contest, and the results were impressive. Junior quarterback Reid Carlton, one of the state's best passers in the Class of 2014, opened 10-for-11 with the single incompletion being a drop when his receiver started going downfield before finishing the catch. Senior do-it-all Jamonte Jones also had a touchdown on a reception, a kickoff return and might have had a third on an interception, had he and a teammate not collided after a 46-yard return. Trinity, 2-0 against 3A teams this year, will visit Orlando First Academy (11-0) on Friday night.
One of the state's best stories in recent years has been the improvement of Trenton football. The Tigers are 11-0 entering this week's game with Lafayette (9-2), but check out the growth of the program. The 2011 team finished 11-1, 2010 went 7-3, while the 2008 and '09 Tigers were both 2-8. Trenton boasts one of the state's most unheralded very good players in Cedric Stokes. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound two-way senior enters the postseason with 1,464 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards, 41 passing yards, 27 combined touchdowns (also includes a kickoff return), 51 tackles, four interceptions and four passes defended.
Folks who witnessed Seffner Armwood's 10-6 victory at Largo last Friday no doubt figured they had had seen the lowest-scoring game of the weekend (same goes for those at Gainesville Buchholz's 10-7 overtime defeat of Jacksonville First Coast). Nope. And it really wasn't close, as David Campbell kicked a 25-yard field goal late in the first quarter proved to be the only points in Miramar's 3-0 victory at South Plantation. The game was played in a driving rainstorm, but it did prove to be a nice time for the Patriots (7-4) to record their second shutout of the season. Miramar will visit Weston Cypress Bay (9-2) on Friday night in a rematch of a 17-13 victory by the Lightning on Sept. 28 at Miramar.