Can you believe that we are at the halfway point in the regular high school football season? Part of me is sad and part of me is excited to get closer to the playoffs. Part of me feels like I learned so much about who’s good and who’s not and part of me feels like I know nothing.
That’s why we play the games!
Florida teams have been uncharacteristically embarrassed by some out of state opponents this season. Lowndes (GA) handed a loss to its second Florida opponent this season with a 48-21 pounding of Miami Northwestern. The Valdosta Vikings sprinted to a 35-7 lead led by sophomore quarterback Jacurri Brown that the Bulls could not overcome.
Brown ran for 174 yards on 16 carries last Friday. Lowndes also took out Champagnat (Hialeah) 44-14.
Other notable games where Florida came up short against out of state opponents: Miami Central lost to St. Frances (MD) 49-13, Deerfield Beach lost St. Johns (DC) 52-30, Armwood (Seffner) lost to North Gwinnett (GA) 26-23, Cocoa lost to Hoover (AL) 37-23, and American Heritage (Plantation) lost to Gonzaga (DC) 33-14.
Fortunately, it’s in state foes from here on out for most teams.
Chiefs Conquered In Jacksonville
What we do know is that teams will schedule and play anyone these days. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) and Miami Carol City arguably have the two toughest schedules in the state and both naturally faced off against each other last week. Both are contenders in their respective classes of 3A and 4A so this was pinned to be quite the formidable matchup.
The end results, not so much.
The Chiefs went up I-95 to Duval County only to be rudely greeted by the Conquerors with a 42-21 loss. Trinity came out of the gate flying to a 28-0 lead to start things off. On the their first play from scrimmage, junior quarterback Jacory Jordan found senor receiver Jaylen Fowler for a 98-yard touchdown. The Conquerors totaled 449 yards of total offense as Jordan passed for nearly 300 yards with three touchdowns and Ole Miss commit Kyjuan Herndon rushed for 138 yard on 15 carries with two scores of his own.
Champs Chomp Eagles With Late Score
The 3A back-to-back state champions had their backs against the wall in Delray but found away to come out with a ‘W.’ Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) needed some magic down 14-10 to Atlantic after a Bry’yon Jones‘s 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Lions marched 83 yards in 36 seconds led by sophomore quarterback Brady Kelly who completed consecutive passes on the drive including a 30-yarder to Auburn commit Elijah Canion that would get his team to the 4-yard line. Miami Hurricanes commit Thad Franklin, who played much of the game at quarterback finished off the drive with the game-winning touchdown run.
Riser – Noles Clutch Against Bucs
Seminole (Sanford) also had some late game heroics to emerge victorious last Friday. Two-way player Jordan Smith scored from the wildcat formation from two yards out with 1:23 remaining to essentially clinch the win over Mainland (Daytona). The Noles remain undefeated with the win and throw their hat in for a shot at the 8A title.
Faller – Indians Rammed by Riverview
When the season started Venice seemed to be one of those contenders to challenge for a state title with a 49-30 win over Plant (Tampa) in their kickoff classic. We have learned that Plant is not as good as we thought they were and neither is Venice. The Indians fell to two-loss Riverview (Sarasota) 24-21 Friday night and now find themselves at (2-2). Riverview snapped an 11-game losing streak against their Sarasota area rival on a late Dorian Hall 28-yard field goal to win it. The combination of Michael Hayes and Tray Hall combined for 180 yards on the ground in a game the Rams never trailed. Venice’s 50-49 win over Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) still looks pretty good.
Top Performers
Marcus Burke, WR, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) – The 6’3″ junior had five grabs for 192 yards and two scores including an 82-yard touchdown in the win over Carol City.
Brian Taylor, RB, Venice – The 2020 running back had 28 carries for 196 yards and a touchdwon in a loss to Riverview.
Brian Taylor Riverview Sarasota Game Film
Deion Small, ATH, University School (Davie) – The junior had five catches for 24 yards and rushed for 41 yards including two critical touchdowns in the 26-13 win over Champagnat (Hialeah).
Canaan Mobley, QB, Edgewater – The 2021 quarterback had 263 passing yards and four touchdowns in win over Winter Park.
Games To Watch This Week In Florida
(All Game Times Eastern)
#2 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) Vs. Miami Carol City Friday 7:00 PM
#8 Edgewater (Orlando) Vs. Wekiva (Apopka) Friday 7:00 PM
#9 Miami Booker T. Washington At IMG Academy (Bradenton) (#5 National Ranking-USA Today) Friday 7:30 PM
#21 Madison County At Lakewood (St. Petersburg) Friday 7:30 PM
#22 McArthur (Hollywood) Vs. Miramar Friday 7:00 PM
Top 25
1. Lakeland (7A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Hialeah 37-6
This Week: Vs Strawberry Crest (Dover) Friday 7:30 PM
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (7A) (3-0)
Last Week: Defeated Miramar 36-0
This Week: Vs. Miami Carol City Friday 7:00 PM
3. Miami Central (6A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated Miami Edison 44-14
This Week: Vs. Belen Jesuit (Miami) Friday 7:30 PM At Traz Powell Stadium
4. Armwood (Seffner) (7A) (3-1)
Last Week: Defeated Chamberlain (Tampa) 41-21
This Week: Vs. Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) Friday 7:30 PM
5. Miami Northwestern (5A) (3-2)
Last Week: Lost to Lowndes (GA) 48-21
This Week: Bye
6. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (4-0)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: At Gainesville Friday 7:30 PM
7. American Heritage (Plantation) (5A) (3-1)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Vs. North Miami Beach Friday 7:30 PM
8. Edgewater (Orlando) (7A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Winter Park 52-28
This Week: Vs. Wekiva (Apopka) Friday 7:00 PM
9. Miami Booker T. Washington (4A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated North Miami 41-0
This Week: At IMG Academy (Bradenton) Friday 7:30 PM
10. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (4A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated American Heritage (Delray) 33-0
This Week: Bye
11. South Dade (Homestead) (8A) (4-0)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: At Coral Reef Friday 7:30 PM
12. Tampa Bay Tech (7A) (4-0)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Vs. East Bay (Gibsonton) Friday 7:30 PM
13. Cocoa (4A) (3-1)
Last Week: Defeated Heritage (Palm Bay) 30-9
This Week: Vs. Glades Central (Belle Glade) Friday 7:00 PM
14. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (3A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated Atlantic (Delray) 17-14
This Week: Bye
15. Gulliver (Miami) (4A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated King’s Academy (Palm Beach) 49-17
Next Week: Bye
16. Rockledge (5A) (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated Viera 20-6
This Week: At Atlantic (Port Orange) Friday 7:00 PM
17. Jones (Orlando) (5A) (3-1)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: At Leesburg Friday 7:00 PM
18. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated Ed White (Jacksonville) 26-7
This Week: At Sandalwood (Jacksonville) Friday at 6:00 PM
19. Seminole (Sanford) (8A) (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated Mainland (Daytona) 22-20
Next Week: At West Port (Ocala) Friday 7:00 PM
20. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) (6A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale) 26-12
This Week: Vs. Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) Friday 7:00 PM
21. Madison County (1A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Florida State High 37-8
This Week: At Lakewood (St. Petersburg) Friday 7:30 PM
22. McArthur (Hollywood) (7A) (2-1)
Last Week: Defeated South Broward 37-0
This Week: Vs. Miramar Friday 7:00 PM
23. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated St. Augustine 43-40
This Week: Bye
24. University School (Davie) (4A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) 26-13
This Week: Bye
25. Atlantic (Delray) (7A) (2-1)
Last Week: Lost to Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 17-14
This Week: Vs. Olympic Heights (Boca Raton) Thursday 6:30 PM
Others Receiving Votes:
Berkeley Prep (Tampa) (3A) (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated IMG Academy White (Bradenton) 42-7
This Week: Vs. Tampa Catholic Friday 7:00 PM
Cambridge Christian (Tampa) (2A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Bradenton Christian 49-13
This Week: Zephyrhills Christian Friday 7:30 PM
Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) (2A) (3-2)
Last Week: Lost to University School (Davie) 26-13
This Week: At Monsignor Pace (Miami) Friday 7:30 PM
Columbus (Miami) (8A) (2-2)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Vs. Miami High Thursday 5:00 PM
Deerfield Beach (8A) (3-2)
Last Week: Defeated Oak Ridge (Orlando) 42-0
This Week: Vs. Boca Raton Friday 7:00 PM
Dunnellon (5A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Forest (Ocala) 43-3
This Week: At Belleview Friday 7:00 PM
Escambia (Pensacola) (6A) (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated Gulf Breeze 42-0
This Week: At Milton Friday 8:30 PM
Florida State High (Tallahassee) (3A) (4-1)
Last Week: Lost to Madison County 37-8
This Week: Vs. Gadsden County Friday 7:30 PM
Gaither (Tampa) (6A) (4-0)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: Vs. Fivay (Hudson) Friday 7:30 PM
Lake Wales (5A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Clewiston 51-7
This Week: Bye
Lakewood (St. Petersburg) (4A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Braden River 38-20
This Week: Vs. Madison County Friday 7:30 PM
Lee (Jacksonville) (6A) (3-1)
Last Week: Defeated Mandarin (Jacksonville) 33-27
This Week: Vs. Middleburg Friday 6:00 PM
Miami Carol City (4A) (2-3)
Last Week: Lost to Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 42-21
This Week: At St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) Friday 7:00 PM
Miami Palmetto (8A) (4-1)
Last Week: Defeated Miami Southridge 42-8
This Week: Vs. Southwest Miami Thursday 7:00 PM
Miramar (7A) (2-3)
Last Week: Lost to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 36-0
This Week: At McArthur (Hollywood) Friday 7:00 PM
Naples (6A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Lehigh 23-7
This Week: At Barron Collier (Naples) Friday 7:00 PM
Niceville (7A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Lincoln (Tallahassee) 16-13
This Week: At Navarre Friday 8:30 PM
North Marion (Citra) (5A) (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated Gainesville 41-6
This Week: At Vanguard (Ocala) Friday 7:30 PM
Osceola (Kissimmee) (8A) (3-1)
Last Week: Defeated Liberty (Kissimmee) 42-14
This Week: At Cypress Creek (Orlando) Friday 7:00 PM
Palmetto (6A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Largo 44-6
This Week: Vs. Braden River Friday 7:30 PM
Plantation (7A) (4-0)
Last Week: Defeated Everglades (Miramar) 41-6
This Week: At Fort Lauderdale Friday 7:00 PM
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (2-3)
Last Week: Defeated Miami Carol City 42-21
Next Week: Vs. Pahokee Friday 7:30 PM
Venice (7A) (2-2)
Last Week: Lost to Riverview (Sarasota) 24-21
This Week: At Sarasota Friday 7:30 PM
Wekiva (Apopka) (7A) (5-0)
Last Week: Defeated Ocoee 14-13
This Week: At Edgewater (Orlando) Friday 7:00 PM
Rankings By Class (Top Three)
8A
South Dade (Homestead)
Oakleaf (Orange Park)
Seminole (Sanford)
7A
Lakeland
St. Thomas Aquinas
Armwood (Seffner)
6A
Miami Central
Columbia (Lake City)
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale)
5A
Miami Northwestern
American Heritage (Plantation)
Rockledge
4A
Miami Booker T. Washington
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Cocoa
3A
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
Berkeley Prep (Tampa)
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)
2A
Cambridge Christian (Tampa)
Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah)
University Christian (Jacksonville)
1A
Madison County
Blountstown
Baker
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