PINE FOREST(11-0) AT ORANGE PARK(10-2)
Orange Park has ridden it's wing-T attack to 10 wins this season. New head coach Danny Green has turned around a 1-9 team in just one year. Demetre Baker, C.J. Stallworth, and Albrey Felder are the three ball carriers who have run all over competition this season(each with 700+ yards). Orange Park stunned Mainland last week in Daytona Beach and this is the type of team that tends to do well in the playoffs. The defense is feisty and capable of putting together a great game.
After seeing the results last Friday night one thing was clear, it is difficult to beat a quality team twice in the same season. Pine Forest did just that last week beating a great Niceville team for the second time. Both games were epic battles. Quarterback David Lawrence is a capable signal caller with plenty of play-makers around him. Running back's Shawn Morris and Jamarius Green pace a talented attack, while Victor Brown can make plays as a wide receiver. Pine Forest will rely on a stellar defense that has been great all season. They will have their work cut out for them against the wing-T of Orange Park.
PREDICTION: Pine Forest makes enough plays on defense and the offense comes through with a big play or two.
Pine Forest 28 Orange Park 17
CHAMBERLAIN(11-1) AT LAKELAND(12-0)
Lakeland continues to just win football games. Head coach Billy Castle is one of the all-time greats in the state of Florida. Junior quarterback Jared Haggins is a super athlete with passing skills on the run, while running back's Aaron Truedell and Rodney Watson are typical Dreadnaught backs: tough, fast, and versatile. Javares McRoy is the leading receiver and a big play specialist who is moved around the field to find space. The Dreadnaught defense has handled a difficult schedule and is very seasoned at this point in the year. Jordan Jones, Wil Lucas, and Quayshawn Nealy consistently find the ball and make plays. Deonate' Gary registered eight sacks and is one of the most active defensive linemen in the state. T.J. Denson is a ball-hawk in the secondary. The team has uncharacteristically struggled with mistakes, if they learn to stop making them, this team will be downright scary.
Chamberlain quarterback Dontae Aycock has put together one of the finest dual threat seasons in recent memory. The senior has over 1300 yards both rushing and passing. Kenny Allen is the starting tailback and has close to 1300 yards rushing as well. The third part of the dynamic trio is senior WR Anthony Williams who is a physical presence on the outside and a difficult match up for smaller corners. Williams has over 800 yards receiving and is averaging more than 22 yards per catch. Like Lakeland, this defense brings it's hard hat and flies to the football. Senior DT Dontavious Pyron is a real force with his quick first step and powerful build. Sophomore LB James Wilder has 135 tackles and is one to keep an eye on.
PREDICTION: Internet message board's have been abuzz all year predicting this game and it is finally here. The defenses are close so the winner will be the team who gets more big plays from their play-makers. It is real tough to go against Aycock, but the game is at Lakeland, and it is hard to go against the state's top team this decade.
Lakeland 28 Chamberlain 27
CHARLOTTE(11-1) AT LARGO(11-1)
This game should be called the 'under the radar' bowl. Neither team has generated much 'buzz', but all they have done is win football games.
Largo was a state semi-finalist last year before succumbing to St. Thomas. Dual threat QB Ryan Eppes leads the way with great athleticism and he protects the ball in an opportunistic passing game. He'll be looking for his two big play wideout's: senior Mike Lang and junior Myrick Glenn. Lang had an impressive season with 25 catches for 724 yards. Marcel Durham is leading ball carrier and he registered 10 touchdowns on the year. Eppes is a threat here, while Sean Holte and Jason Wine are solid depth. Senior LB Mike Marry is the headliner on defense with 75 tackles and seven sacks. Lucas Kelly chipped in nine sacks.
Charlotte relies on their two big play specialist's at running back: sophomore Mike Bellamy and senior Troy McClary. Both can fly with the football and are shifty in tight spaces. Bellamy has 1859 yards and is truly one of the fastest players at running back in the state. Quarterback Kyle Midgett has been steady, but he is capable of doing more with a live arm and plenty of experience. Sophomore WR Alex Mut has been a real find this year hauling in 36 passes with sure hands. Markese Brantley is capable of making big plays on the other side. There are some concerns with the Charlotte defense, but the team has rallied around a tragedy that occurred and appears to have righted the ship last week vs. Venice. There is plenty of talent on defense, but one key man is senior LB Brandon Ross. He flashes all the tools and makes plenty of plays, consistency is the key, particularly against the disciplined attack of Largo. Antwan Allen is another player who will need a big game in the middle of the defensive line.
PREDICTION: The Charlotte defense comes to play and the corners stop the big passing plays of Largo. Bellamy has a few signature runs and Midgett continues to progress on the big stage.
Charlotte 31 Largo 21
South Fork(9-3) at St. Thomas(12-0)
St. Thomas is considered the top team in the COUNTRY right now and they continue to live up to those expectations. Besides an out of state trip to Elder(OH), where they were short on practices plus the obvious travel issue, they have not been tested this season. They have rolled behind a powerful offense that is littered with D-1 prospects. Running backs Gio Bernard and James White are just juniors, but play like seasoned veterans. Dwayne Difton and Duron Carter are phenomenal wide receiver's and could do much more if asked to, instead they simply make the most of their opportunities. What makes the whole offense click however is the consistent play from a stellar offensive line and a quarterback who just does not make mistakes(Ryan Becker). There is so much depth here that the 2nd team offense might be a top 15 unit in the state. Is the defense vulnerable? Think again, as good as the offense has been(35+ in every game), the defense has arguably been better. No one from Florida has more than 10 points against the unit. Senior LB Conor O'Neill is a great football player who makes play after play. Cody Riggs and Brian Robinson headline a ball-hawking secondary.
South Fork is going to try and counter with pounding the ball behind senior FB Willie Walker(182-1059). The 230 pounder is a horse to bring down and wears down the defense. He can soften up a defense and allow QB Ronnie Nelson to do his thing. Nelson has an impressive completion percentage and a big play target in 6'4 WR Jason Thompson(38-694). Zack Fisher is another running back who has gone over 1000 yards(141-1287). With a point differential of only 329-281 on the season, this team has their work cut out for them, especially the defense who appears over-matched. What they have shown is the ability to win close games and make key plays. So the game-plan is simple: withstand the initial onslaught that St. Thomas throws at you, create some turnovers, and get this game into the 4th quarter where the pressure will be on St. Thomas.
PREDICTION: On paper this appears to be another St. Thomas easy victory. Something about South Fork makes me think they give the Raiders their toughest test to date. In the end, it is not enough.
St. Thomas 41 South Fork 21