MIAMI NORTHWESTERN(13-1) VS. SEMINOLE(12-2)
A LOOK AT NORTHWESTERN: Northwestern has four state championships(1995, 1998, 2006, 2007) and lost in the finals once(2001). They won the 'mythical national championship' last year. The key win was on the road in Texas vs. Southlake Carroll. A host of seniors departed off of the back to back state championship teams, including EIGHT who signed national letters of intent with Miami. They dropped the opener this year to California power Poly(Long Beach), but the loss technically does not count for the FHSAA. The team began to 'click' when sophomore Teddy Bridgewater was inserted at quarterback, he has an excellent arm and poise beyond his years. The move allowed former quarterback Wayne Times to move to wide receiver and he has been sensational there. The offense has averaged 36.5 points per game, but again has been stronger the second half of the year with Bridgewater. The defense has yielded 13.3 points per game.
THE SCHEDULE:
GREAT WINS: at Columbus(10-1, 6A) 21-6, at Miami Killian(10-3, 6A) 40-15, at Miramar(11-3, 6A) 42-23.
SOLID WINS: Carol City(8-3, 6A) 14-0, Booker T. Washington(8-4, 4A) 31-29, at Hialeah-Miami Lakes(6-4, 6A) 47-12, Central(8-4, 6A) 38-32.
THE LOSS: Miami Central(8-4, 6A) 27-25.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS:
PASSING
Teddy Bridgewater: 88/142(62%), 1357 yards, 14 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Wayne Times: 26/58(45%), 476 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
RUSHING
Daquan Hargrett: 117-1078(9.2), 17 touchdowns
Tyresse Jones: 99-586(5.9), 15 touchdowns
Israel Linder: 53-309(5.8), 3 touchdowns
Corvin Lamb: 24-203(8.5), 3 touchdowns
Wayne Times: 38-197(5.2), 2 touchdowns
Teddy Bridgewater: 40-186(4.7), 2 touchdowns
RECEIVING
Wayne Times: 33-482(14.6), 5 touchdowns
Michael Harris: 20-426(21.3) 3 touchdowns
Tyrell Lewis: 13-241(18.5) 2 touchdowns
Lorenzo Shinholster: 13-165(12.7), 4 touchdowns
Tyresse Jones: 13-152(11.7)
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
DT Todd Chandler
LB Kenneth Dillard
CB Khalid Marshall
S Tevin McCaskill
A LOOK AT SEMINOLE: This is Seminole's first trip to the state championship game. Seminole suffered their two losses in games three and four and are riding a 10 game winning streak into the state championship. Since the losses, the Seminole defense has improved immensely, they have given up a high of 17 points during the 10 game winning streak. The offense has averaged 33.4 points per game. The defense has yielded 10.5 points per game.
THE SCHEDULE:
GREAT WINS: Apopka(10-3, 6A) 28-7, Boone (11-3, 6A) 21-17.
SOLID WINS: at DeLand(5-6, 6A) 21-6, Lake Brantley(7-4, 6A) 35-14, Winter Springs(7-3, 6A) 34-0, DeLand(5-6, 6A) 38-12, at Spruce Creek(9-3, 6A) 30-13.
THE LOSSES: Spruce Creek(8-3, 6A) 34-13, Dr. Phillips(10-2, 6A) 34-22.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS(regular season):
PASSING
Ray Ray Armstrong: 43/78(55%), 656 yards, 6 touchdowns, 1 interception
Andre Debose: 23/42(55%), 318 yards, 3 touchdowns
RUSHING
Andre Debose: 49-566(11.55), 6 touchdowns
Ray Ray Armstrong: 81-462(5.7), 12 touchdowns
Toby Durham: 24-193(8.0), 2 touchdowns
Zachary Martin: 26-190(7.3), 2 touchdowns
RECEIVING
Ryan Sanford: 14-207(14.8), 1 touchdown
Toby Durham: 12-179(14.9), 2 touchdowns
Zachary Martin: 12-78(6.5)
Andre Debose: 10-270(27.0), 3 touchdowns
DEFENSIVE LEADERS(regular season):
TACKLES
Jarkevis Fields: 96
Serderius Bryant: 72
Dyron Dye: 65
Charles Thacker: 52
SACKS
Serderius Bryant: 5
Dyron Dye: 3.5
INTERCEPTIONS
Eric Farkas: 3
Ray Ray Armstrong: 2
Tyrone Bouie: 2
ANALYSIS: Miami Northwestern is always talented, but this is a surprise that they are here. Flash back to the spring game where North Miami Beach handled them relatively easily. They just replaced so much EXPERIENCED talent that you had to figure it would take some time. They are not only in the game, but arguably find themselves the favorite. A large part of that has been young Teddy Bridgewater. The sky is the limit for this quarterback, he has shown poise beyond his years in this playoff run. They will look to run the ball with Hargrett and Jones while throwing to keep Seminole off balance. Kenneth Dillard was the top linebacker in Dade County and Todd Chandler has returned to form from a knee injury. They are very talented on the defensive side of the ball and are playing their best right now.
Seminole counters with one of the best weapons in the state: Andre Debose. Look for him on special teams and to get the ball a bunch of different ways on offense. Armstrong is equally freakish and he will need a big game, particularly throwing the ball. On defense, the two defensive end's are active and talented. They will need to make some plays for negative yards. The defense overall has been tough over the winning streak and should be up to the challenge on Saturday night.
This is a very interesting game because of the tremendous talent on both sides of the ball for both teams. A ton of speed will be on display. The defenses are top notch. In the end, the balance of Northwestern's offense and more play-makers on both sides of the ball is the difference in the game.
Northwestern 28 Seminole 20