Games of the week- the Super 13
1) Pensacola Pine Forest(6-0) at Niceville(7-0): Huge District 1- 5A matchup of 2 top 10 teams in the state: Niceville is #5 and Pine Forest is #6 . Niceville has gotten a good year thus far from QB Rick Whiddon (986 yards), mainly throwing to WR Kody Williams (25-593). RB Roy Finch is the equalizer with 78 carries for 806 yards (and 18 receptions). He gets plenty of help from Stephan Haynes. RB's Jamarius Green (610 yards) and Shawn Morris (774 yards) have just run over everyone thus far for Pine Forest.
2) Venice(6-0) at Charlotte(6-0): 2 of the 3 playoff calibur teams in District 11-5A with perenial powerhouse Bradenton Manatee. Currently Venice is #7 and Charlotte #9. Charlotte went on the road and beat Manatee 2 weeks ago and can punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win here. Charlotte is led by Mike 'speedy' Bellamy, a sophomore who has earned the nickname with 946 yards on 104 carries. Senior RB Troy Mcclary has an even higher yards per carry with 474 yards on 35 carries (13.5). However, junior QB Kyle Midgett figures to be the key for Charlotte and must be on top of his game this week. This is the first of back to back showdowns for Venice who hosts Manatee on Halloween night next Friday. Venice is led by junior QB and UF commit Trey Burton who can do it all. Burton has a host of weapons on the offensive side of the ball led by RB Dri 'lightning' Archer, TE Beckett Wales, and WR Josh Boyle.
3) Fleming Island(7-0) at Orange Park(5-1): This is a District 3- 5A matchup. Fleming Island is #8. Fleming Island is led by 2 powerful Offensive linemen in senior Cory White (Miami) and junior Ian Silberman (UF). QB Rookie Gunn is enjoying a fine season with over 1000 yards passing a 7 TD's. Robert Boswell, Austin Sweatt, Dee Frieson, and Malcolm Jones are 4 offensive players with big play capability. Head Coach Danny Green (formerly at Lake City Columbia) has installed his run heavy offense and turned around Orange Park who was 1-9 in 2007 in his first year.
4) Ridge(6-0) at Lake Wales(7-0): Distict 10- 3A matchup of undefeateds. Ridge is #8 and Lake Wales is #4. Ridge is led by Mike James (miami) who is a power runner with enough speed to break long runs. Lake Wales counters with RB James Norwood and WR Jonathon Feagin.
5) Coral Gables(6-0) at Miami Christopher Columbus(5-0) (Thursday): District 14- 6A matchup of unbeatens. Columbus is currently ranked #4 and Coral Gables is getting votes. Columbus is led by junior RB Jakhori Gore and senior DT Antwan Lowery. Columbus was 12-1 last year with their only loss coming to eventual state champion MNW in the playoffs. Coral Gables counters with RB Jarvis Bridge and QB Patrick Mccain.
6) Madison County(5-0) at Ft White(6-1): This is a district 2- 2A showdown. Madison County is defending state champions. Madison County is #1 and Ft White is #4 in 2A. Madison County features RB Chris Thompson (FSU) and FB Cory Akins along with national recruit DT Jacobbi Mcdaniel (FSU). Thompson is electric with the ball in his hands and is a threat to take it the distance every time. Ft White counters with RB Xavier Blake and WR Alexis Blake. Ft White has won 6 in a row after losing their first game by 1 point.
7) Dr. Phillips (5-1) at Orlando Freedom(5-2): District 5- 6A matchup. Dr. Phillips is #11 in 5A. Dr. Phillips is led by QB Nico Ranierl who has 1230 passing yards, mainly to junior WR Ricardo Miller (michigan commit) and junior WR Kenny Shaw. Sophomore RB Demetrius Hart is another player to watch. They are perhaps a year away. Freedom has won 5 straight and is trying to work their way into the playoffs. Defending state runner up Boone is also in this district. Calvin Burnett and Jordan Mays lead the rushing attack.
8) Armwood(7-0) at Hillsborough(5-2): Armwood is considered one of the top 5 teams in the state and is #1 in 4A. Hillsborough is #8. This is a District 11- 4A matchup of the two top teams. Armwood is led by senior QB Mywan Jackson who has 15 passing TD's and 10 rushing TD's. Through 7 games, Armwood has given up 18 TOTAL points and have shutouts in 4 of the last 5. Hillsbourough will need huge games from its 3 headed monster: junior QB Tarean Austin(1246 yards, 13 TD), sophomore WR Charles Lovett (565 yards, 6 TD), and senior RB Lindsey Lamar (995 yards, 15 TD).
9) Tampa Chamberlain(7-0) at Tampa Alonso(6-1): District 6- 5A matchup of 2 top teams. Chamberlain is #3 in 5A. Chamberlain is led by QB Dontae Aycock and WR Anthony Williams. Aycock is a dual threat QB with 700 yards rushing and 871 yards passing. Williams is a big, physical WR with 7 TD. Alonso likes to throw it all over the field behind QB C.J. Bennett. The leading receivers are Jesse Anaya, Kory Strassberg, and Justin Davis.
10) Riverdale(5-2) at South Ft Myers(5-1) (Thursday): Both teams have lost district games to Ft Myers Dunbar and this game figures to be for the second playoff spot in District 13-3A. South Ft Myers is led by sophomore QB Dallas Crawford and super athlete Broderick Jenkins. Jenkins can score from anywhere on the field and has 3 interceptions on defense. Riverdale has been a pleasant surprise this year. They are led by junior RB Garrett Greenwell (son of former red sox player Mike) and his cousin, senior WR/TE Dustin Greenwell.
11) Everglades(6-0) at Miramar(5-1): Huge District 11- 6A matchup. Everglades is #7 and Miramar is #9 in 6A. These 2 with Cypress Bay are competing for the 2 playoff spots. QB Geno Smith leads Miramar and is one of the top QB's in the country. His top targets are senior Stedmon Bailey, junior Ivan Mccartney, and senior Terence Gourdine. Key players for Everglades are WR Rodney Rumph, QB Courtney Thompson, and RB Damien Fortner.
12) Ft Lauderdale Dillard(5-2) at Coconut Creek(4-2): District 15- 5A matchup. Dillard is led by senior RB Trabis Ward, junior QB Craig Weaver, and sophomore RB Otis Wright. Coconut Creek counters with RB Justin Williams (504 yards) and WR Jordan Fowler. Coconut Creek has beaten the other district contender, Ely, so this game would seal the deal for a playoff spot.
13) Tallahassee Lincoln(4-3) at Lynn Haven Mosley(5-1). This is a district 3- 4A matchup. Lincoln has a district loss already and cant afford another. As usual Lincoln has a lot of talent, but thus far have not been able to put it together on the field. S Jawanza Starling is the headliner with CB Deandre Byrd and OL Shantez Bruce. The Lincoln defense will be put to the test against the run, run, run offense of the Dolphins. RB Justin Broxton has 716 yards and RB Triston McCathern has 696 yards. They are very efficient in the passing game with 367 yards on only 18 completions (10 TD's).