Last week seemed like a practice round for some teams in the FHSAA playoffs. This week, some matchups could be championship games. Unfortunately, teams that are championship contenders will see their season come to an end this weekend.
GAME OF THE WEEK
American Heritage Plantation (6-3) Vs. Miami Central (8-2)
This game is finally here.
The 5A matchup is arguably the most anticipated game when re-classification occurred in the offseason. The game lost some of its luster as both teams dropped their first two games of the season, but both are very capable of hoisting another state championship trophy for their respective programs.
The Patriots will go with five-star receiver Brandon Inniss at quarterback as they have been since Blake Murphy went down with an ankle injury in the St. Thomas game.
Innis has gone 5-1 as a starter including a 23-20 win over Cardinal Gibbons, but a 27-14 loss to 2020 3A state champion Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) left many scratching their heads.
Do not get it confused with previous years, this is the same team coached by NFL All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain that wears teams down with the running game and a smothering defense.
Junior running back Mark Fletcher, often compared to NFL Derrick Henry by his coaches, is a workhorse back with the explosiveness to take it the distance.
On defense, four-star Marvin Jones Jr. and Indiana commit Richard Thomas are relentless coming off the edge and will be a challenge for Florida State commit offensive tackle Daughtry Richardson. Harvard commit Jaeden Kinlock is a premier athlete playing linebacker that has great instincts and will greatly dependent upon to stop the Central running game
The core of the Rocket offense starts with pounding the football with the running game. The running game by committee of Ean Pope, Jonathan Harris, and Ghana Oboh has rarely been stopped all season.
Jonathan Harris coming at you with the 18-yard touchdown run.
Miami Central @Roc__Nation up quickly 14-0 over NMB. @FootballHotbed @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/g8CFczomeY
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 11, 2021
A bigger concern for the Patriot offense might be the Rocket passing game. Keyone “Lyghts Out” Jenkins and Dylan Tulloch are both precision passers that take deep shots when given opportunities. Central will play both quarterbacks every other quarter.
Matchup To Watch
American Heritage Defensive Backs Vs. Miami Central Wide Receivers
Both of these units are arguably the best position groups in the state. Heritage has two lockdown corners in four-star Earl Little Jr. and West Virginia commit Jacolby Spells. At safety, four-star Dameon Fagan roams the defensive backfield and has great range to snag interceptions.
Central has four big-play receivers in senior Zaylan Reese, sophomore Joshiah Trader, junior Corey Washington, and Miami Hurricanes commit Lamar Seymore. All are all-around receivers that beat defenders with short and long passes.
Heritage will be looking to win its sixth state title while Central will be looking to win its 8th championship.
Patriots are on the board with a touchdown here from @AH__Athletics running back @fletcherjr_mark. Score 14-9 with 1:08 left. (Extra point blocked) @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/uE9lCIzT6c
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 21, 2021
South Florida Notches Biggest Upset In State
After a lackluster first round, there were some surprises. In 6A, Plantation went over to Fort Myers and beat the number one seed in region 4 in Dunbar 44-20. Plantation led for most of the game and now faces Coconut Creek in the next round. Plantation lost to Creek in September 27-7.
Most Intriguing Region
6A Region 4
The winner of the Creek/Plantation game will face the winner of Miami Northwestern versus Naples in the following round. In a weekend full of blowouts, no team scored more points than Northwestern in round one.
The Bulls put up 71 points on Fort Myers and quarterback Taron “Tyga” Dickens threw seven touchdowns.
“The West” now gets a familiar playoff foe in Naples in round two. In 2017, the Bulls clipped the Eagles 42-7 and followed that win with a 40-7 victory in 2018.
Senior quarterback Stanley Bryant leads the Eagles and running backs Dustin McGill and Kendrick Raphael will need to have big games if they want to pull the upset.
Most Intriguing Class
8A
Based on last week’s rankings, I expect the top teams in 8A to remain standing in the end (Venice, Treasure Coast, and Seminole), but the road to get there should be fun. The team that emerges from South Florida will be tough to beat, well, because they are coming from South Florida.
Miami Palmetto will host Deerfield Beach at Tropical Park and Columbus (Miami) travels to Davie to take on Western. Could it be Western’s year? Will Columbus make another run to the title game?
Quarterbacks Collin Hurst and Fernando Mendoza definitely have the talent to do so. Or will it be the Bucks of Deerfield emerging with Miami Palmetto standing in their way?
Iowa commit Jazuin Patterson is a complete running back and can take over a game late.
However, the dynamic tandem of Mike Jackson and Jai-Ayviauynn “G7” Celestine are playmakers on both sides of the football and can will the Panthers to a win.
In region one, Seminole should have a tough out against Lake Mary, and Bartram Trail and Apopka square off in a battle of two teams that have made a championship game appearance in recent memory.
Repeat or Revenge
One of the surprises of the season was Merritt Island taking down Rockledge in October 26-6. The Mustangs dominated the Raiders with defense last time out and will need a big performance from senior receiver Rian Black if Rockledge is looking to advance in the 5A playoffs.
Other Games To Watch
7A
Dillard Vs. Homestead
Tampa Bay Tech Vs. Palmetto
Lake Gibson Vs. Edgewater
4A
Gulliver Vs. Miami Booker T. Washington
3A
Chaminade-Madonna Vs. Miami Edison
2A
Champagnat Vs. Glades Day
1A
Pahokee Vs. Bradford
Port St. Joe Vs. Madison County
Union County Vs. Hilliard
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