2A
BOLLES(12-0) AT MADISON COUNTY(11-0)
This is a battle of undefeated teams and two of the state's premier programs. Bolles leads the state in overall state titles(8), games won, and tournaments participated in. Madison County is defending state champion. The venue is one of the state's best atmospheres: Boot Hill Stadium.
Bolles has simply rolled through their schedule averaging a whopping 53 points per game. When the defense surrenders less than 10 points per game, you have the makings of a truly dominant team. One issue is that they simply have not been tested since they beat Archbishop Carroll(42-32) and American Heritage(21-13) in week's one and two. Both of those teams were 2A playoff teams, but lost to Gulliver who is in the other state semi-final.
Hard to believe that Madison County's average of 48.9 points per game would be less than any opponent, but it is in this one. They surrender 12 points per game. Madison had a test last week against Pensacola Catholic and that sometimes is a wake up call for a team who rolled through the schedule. Madison has a real solid win over Godby(50-33) which is a team hoping to make their own run. Bolles will have to deal with Jacobbi McDaniel who is a disruptive on the defensive line.
PREDICTION: The defenses step up and keep the point totals under 30.
Madison County 28 Bolles 24
GULLIVER(10-1) AT TAMPA CATHOLIC(9-3)
Gulliver revenged their only defeat on the year with a 47-30 win over rival Archbishop Carroll. The offense has been consistently potent behind solid talent's: QB Michael Strauss(2,817 yards, 29 td), RB Darian Mallary(1,602 yards, 14 td), WR Conner Vernon(60-1140, 10 td), and WR Daniel Rodriguez(50-738, 9 td). The defense needs to tighten up as they have allowed 24, 35, and 30 points in their last three. There is plenty of talent on that side of the ball, starting with linebacker Frankie Telfort.
Tampa Catholic has a great defense, it has pitched four shutouts this year and held four other teams under 10 points. The offense is led by one of the state's top play-makers, QB Christian Green. The dual threat quarterback has 14 passing touchdowns and another six on the ground. Running back Henry McCloud is a workhorse with 225 carries on the year.
PREDICTION: Gulliver has too much firepower.
Gulliver 31 Tampa Catholic 24
2B
TRINITY CATHOLIC-OCALA(11-1) AT FLORIDA HIGH(11-1)
Trinity's lone loss is to 5A power Daytona Beach Mainland. This is yet another offense that is explosive. Quarterback Rob Henry and a junior sensation, wide receiver Kadron Boone, are a treat to watch. Running back Kedrick Rhodes adds balance. The defense has been solid, but will need a great effort in this one.
Florida High is explosive and balanced. Quarterback Kyle Stewart has thrown for 1,776 yards and 16 touchdowns, while running for 467. Running back Jeremy Brown averaged over 10 yards per carry and has run for 1,497 yards. Kelvin Farmer chipped in 614 yards. Derrick Demps and Javaris Johnson are the leading targets for Stewart. Perhaps the best player on the field is defensive end Brandon Jenkins. The FSU commit is a terror off the edge. Overall, the defense seems to have recovered from a tough three game stretch mid-season where they allowed 81 points. In the other nine games, they have allowed just 47 points.
PREDICTION: Florida High has too much on both sides of the ball.
Florida High 38 Trinity Catholic 30
PAHOKEE(10-3) AT FROSTPROOF(11-1)
Pahokee ended Frostproof's season last year.
Pahokee is battle tested, they have played two great out of state teams(Olive Branch and Byrnes), several big schools in Palm Beach County, and the annual 'Muck Bowl' with Glades Central. Quarterback play has hurt them as the rest of the pieces are in place. Running back Vincent Smith and wide receiver's Nu'keese Richardson and DeJoshua Johnson are the headliners. Smith is a battle tested proven producer, while Richardson has played QB for much of the season. The defense is stout with guys who fly to the football and is capable of carrying them to a state title.
Frostproof also has a dominating defense yielding only 10 points per game. The offense's low output for the season is 22 points and has 50+ twice. Nickell Robey is the main man and is a game changer with the ball in his hands, he will also need to be a defensive stopper on the speed that Pahokee has outside.
PREDICTION: The defenses come to play, there are some big plays, but Pahokee has too much talent in the end. Expect at least one special teams score, perhaps by the winner.
Pahokee 28 Frostproof 24