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Marcus Benjamin
It’s tough to beat the same team twice in a season. The losing team of that first battle will always come out with a little more fight than the team that won. The counter punch is usually harder than the first punch and some winners from the first game this season took it on the chin in last week’s playoff games.
Rockets Fire Through Chiefs
Miami Central (10-2) blasted through Miami Carol City (9-3)’s offensive line on several occasions in route to the regional final.
Senior Running Back Lexington Joseph
They say defense wins championships and it was the defense that came up with the game sealing interception with less than two minutes to go. The Rockets failed to capture the district title against the Chiefs in October, but get the win in the playoffs when it counts the most. They face Miami Northwestern (7-5) who will be looking for some vengeance of their own as they lost to the Rockets earlier this season 38-10. The Rockets pulled away in the second half to defeat the defending state titleholders and the Bulls beat Central 24-18 last season in the playoffs in route to the 2017 state title.
Generals Tame Tigers
Lee (Jacksonville) (10-1) got their vengeance against the number one seed Columbia (Lake City) (10-2) in region 1-7A. They lost 42-37 to the Tigers back in September and were able to bounce back with a 31-27 victory Friday night. The loss to Columbia in September still stands as the only loss of the season for the Generals. They were one of 20 teams to get a road victory in the second round of the playoffs this year. The Generals now host Edgewater (Orlando) (11-1) for a chance to make it to the state semifinals.
“Jackboys” comeback with Revenge!! Generals win 31-27 on to Round 3!! pic.twitter.com/wIYCuIN6jQ
— Lee Athletics (@JaxLeeAthletics) November 17, 2018
Bucs Stop Spartans Here
South Dade (Homestead) (10-2) pulled out a hard fought revenge win at Miami Southridge (9-3) Stadium last week 21-13. The Bucs failed to win the district as they lost to both the Spartans and Miami Palmetto (10-2) by a total of five points, but are the last team standing from 16-8A. South Dade will look to continue their run against top seeded Miami Columbus (12-0) Friday at 1:00 PM at Tropical Park. Columbus ousted the Bucs last season from the playoffs in the regional semifinals 28-14.
Senior Quarterback Demetrius Burns
Red Knight Special
North Fort Myers (9-3) also felt vengeful Friday with their 36-20 road win over Charlotte (Punta Gorda) (9-3). The Red Knights matched a sixteen point loss to the Fighting Tarpons back in October and get top seeded Naples (11-1) in the regional final Friday night. Senior running back Shomari Mason earned 256 yards on 28 carries to lead the Knights to their first regional final since 2006.
Regional Championship Finals Bound! pic.twitter.com/MxwJhyhfEE
— North High School (@NorthFtMyersHS) November 17, 2018
“Don’t underestimate the heart of a champion” — Rudy Tomjonovich, Former Houston Rockets Head Coach (Lead Rockets to back to back NBA championships in 94-95)
All eight champions from 2017 are in the regional finals coming up this weekend. At the start of these playoffs, we might have expected Venice (7A) (11-1), Miami Northwestern (6A) (7-5), American Heritage (Plantation) (10-1), Raines (Jacksonville) (10-1), Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (3A) (9-2) and Madison County (1A) (10-1) to all be here at this point. The surprises based on how they performed this season are Dr. Phillips (Orlando) (8A) (7-5) and Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) (2A) (7-5).
Panthers Maul Indians
Dr. Phillips (Orlando) went on the road and took down the undefeated and top seed in region 2-8A Vero Beach (11-1) 19-7. The 6’5” junior quarterback Brenden Cyr leads this Panther team in hopes to win back to back state championships for the first time in its school’s history. This an opportunistic defense once again this season that will have to continue to win on the road as they face Riverview Sarasota (10-3) in the regional final. Dr. Phillips defeated Riverview Sarasota in the regional final last season 28-19 in route to their first ever state title.
Work hard in silence and let success make noise. #HappyThanksgiving #DorsettSZN pic.twitter.com/vbUldC9xGj
— Dr. Phillips (@dphsfootball) November 17, 2018
Lions Wound Terriers
Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) also is reminding opponents they indeed are the defending state champs. The Lions lost their head coach and several players that either transferred or graduated from their 2017 state championship season. Despite the losses, Champagnat defeated Moore Haven (8-2) 29-16 to advance to the regional final for the second straight year. Lions will roam over to the west coast to take on Neuman (Naples) (10-1), a team they also beat last year in route to the state title.
Always get your brothers back! #Lions #GotYourBack #CoopBrothers #Champagnat pic.twitter.com/6GrdbZkALb
— ChampagnatLionsRock (@ChampagnatCS) November 17, 2018
