6A
DOES MIAMI CENTRAL HAVE ENOUGH TO UNSEAT NORTHWESTERN?
Last year they split games with Northwestern winning the more important playoff game. These two teams are almost certain pre-season top 5 teams, they are rivals, and they are in the same district. Jeff Godfrey vs. Teddy Bridgewater at QB. A host of skill position talent in Michael Lee Harris, Corvin Lamb, Joshua Reese, Charles Gaines, and Brandon Gainer. Quite simply, the top game in the state. Fans might be lucky enough to get it twice.
WHO COMES OUT OF THE NORTH?
The Orlando Area has controlled this spot seven of the last eight years. Boone, Dr. Phillips, Lake Brantley and Apopka would once again be the leading contenders. Daytona Beach Mainland is now 6A and might have the firepower to make some noise. Delray Beach Atlantic makes a similar move in District 8, technically the 'North', but Palm Beach County. With QB Leal, RB Kirkwood, and WR Louis they could have an explosive offense.
5A
CAN ANYONE BEAT ST. THOMAS?
On paper, they have a strong case for top team in the state. The three losses to Lakeland in a row are a distant memory after back to back titles. Largo is no longer 5A, one thing we know is that they will face a different team in the state semi's. Perhaps Trey Burton's Venice team or Brion Carnes Manatee team could put it together. They figure to get team's best shot all year.
WILL LAKELAND REBOUND? PLANT IS NOW 5A
Lakeland does not get beat like that, not in a State Title game. It happened and after beating St. Thomas five times in title games, they are the team that must rebound. With Jared Haggins, Javares and Ben McRoy, and Steward Butler the offense has all the tools. Defensively, the LB's Quayshawn Nealy and Wil Lucas are the state's top tandem. 4A State Champion Tampa Plant (won 2 of 3) joins 5A and have yet another top flight QB to build a team around(Phillip Ely).
4A
HOW WIDE OPEN IS THIS CLASS?
Very wide. Teams like Pine Forest, Niceville, Lincoln, Gainesville, Edgewater all figure to field great teams in the North. There are a host of others who have plenty of talent.
In the South, you have Armwood who is one of the state's toughest 'outs'. Hillsborough is in their District. Largo has been a State semi-finalist in 5A and drops to 4A. Charlotte made a quarterfinal run in 5A, drops to 4A, and returns almost all their skill position talent. Cape Coral is loaded with speed and play-makers, the sophomores who took them to the quarters in '07 are now seniors(and that was 5A). Dwyer and Palm Bay are two more programs that can field State Championship teams. This is the most competitive 'half' in the state.
3A
CAN ANYONE STOP THE TORNADOES?
Booker T. Washington should be the favorite in the South- the depth of talent might be too much for teams to match up with. They will encounter plenty of resistance however, Booker and Southeast are programs rich in history and talent abounds at both. Naples has been a constant playoff threat in this class and has a highly touted group of juniors to work with.
St. Augustine and Nease have been getting it done this decade. Both programs lost State Title games in 2007(Nease also lost in 2006). They are in District's 3 and 4 however, so that will be a first/second round game. Arnold and Andrew Jackson both put together undefeated regular seasons in 2008 and both return their key play-makers (Owens and Wade for Jackson, Hester for Arnold). Pasco went to the semi's last year.
Tommorrow SunStateFootball.com preview's 2A, 2B, 1A, 1B