Marcus Benjamin @_BenjaminReport
One thing’s for sure, the Florida high school state championships were earned on the field last weekend. Champions walked off the field at Camping World Stadium in Orlando feeling the ultimate thrill of victory and runner-ups felt the agony of defeat. Unfortunately, one team had to win and one team had to lose and that is why we play the games. From offensive explosions, defensive dominance and plenty of success stories, the FHSAA state championships simply had it all.
The Dreadnaughts Are Back
The resurgence of Lakeland makes high school football in the state more intriguing. DeMarkcus Bowman is a tank on jets and will run through or by defenders if necessary. The junior was lightning in a bottle and displayed flashes of speed and power that is must-see TV.
Lakeland is destined to make another run in 7A with Bowman in the backfield. The Dreadnaughts will have to replace standouts Keon Zipperer and Lloyd Summerall and hopefully the Lakeland will continue to challenge for the state title for years to come.
There was no slowing the Lakeland Dreadnaughts @LHSDreadnaughts on their march for a state championship. @FootballHotbed throws those L’s up for a team that brought home nothing but W’s. pic.twitter.com/raQO9DInvo
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) December 12, 2018
Mustangs Charging Out Of Nowhere
Many did not see the high powered Mustangs coming. Mandarin was 2-8 and last season and lost four games coming into these playoffs, but that offense caught fire in the postseason. The blazing fast receiving core of wide receivers and running backs in the backfield with Carson Beck at the controls simply could not be stopped.
Senior receivers Demario Douglas, Darien Oxendine, Kris Mitchell, and Kasmir Absolu do graduate but we do get to see Carson Beck for one more year. Class 8A officially has been warned.
District Sixteen Dominance
It seems we can always assume that the last team standing from 16-6A will emerge as the champion of the class. District champion Miami Carol City was the favorite for most of the season until Miami Central knocked the Chiefs off in the playoffs. Miami Northwestern got its shot at Central and swung delivered a knockout blow of their own. The West destroyed their next two opponents 62-7. The Bulls claimed their sixth championship and kept a seven-game championship winning streak going for the district. The teams in 16-6A are simply in a class by themselves. Leaders Samuel Brooks, Leslie Smith, Isaiah Velez, Sean Delaughter, Calijah Kancey and Earnest Balkman will be greatly missed next season. Underclassmen Nathan Noel, Kemani Brown and Romello Brinson and Timothy Burns have the Bulls thinking about three straight.
Chiefs Kings of 5A
The Chiefs of Broward are looking to start a dynasty of their own. Previously in the shadow of American Heritage (Plantation), Cardinal Gibbons claimed their first state championship last weekend and have plenty for the future. New starter Brody Palhegyi is just a sophomore and led the Chiefs in the final two games to victories because of injury to Kentucky commit and three-year starter Nik Scalzo.
Gibbons narrowly fell short to American Heritage the previous two years in the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion. Heritage has now won four of the past six 5A state championships. Gibbons has a young core of playmakers coming back and is looking to start a new run of their own for the next four years.
What else can be said aside from HAIL TO THE CHIEFS. @FootballHotbed highlights how @GibbonsFootball finished their mission in capturing state gold, while the @RainesVikings planted their Duval flag in toppling Cocoa for the 4A state championship. pic.twitter.com/uOeas0oRNQ
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) December 12, 2018
Raines Reigns In 4A
The Vikings now have won back to back championships in an impressive manner. The Vikings duplicated their season in 2017 with an amazingly similar run in 2018. Raines started their 2017 campaign with a loss in the season opener and did the same in 2018. The Jacksonville Vikings won all their games after the opening losses and defeated Cocoa in back to back years at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Senior running back Brandon Marshall who made a spectacular play to ultimately seal the game will be lost for next season but the Vikings bring back quarterback Jacorey Rivers who will be the leader for the future.
Hollywood Lions Roar To Back To Back State Titles
Chaminade-Madonna was barely challenged during their run to repeat champions. After a slow start, the Lions reeled off 38-straight points to cruise to a victory over King’s Academy. The Lions will lose a ton of players on both sides of the ball if the Lions are looking to three-peat. Sophomore Thaddius Franklin did not play in the championship game due to a collarbone injury and he is one the key playmakers that Chaminade will rely on for 2019. Seniors Keontra Smith, John Dunmore, Te’Cory Couch, Cameron Williams, Daelen Menard, and Willie Davis are just some of the major contributors that Chaminade will be without next season.
STATE CHAMPS!@FootballHotbed highlights on deck from this past weekend as some Florida high-school football programs etched their names in the record books. We start with South Florida, where Chaminade @Nadeboyz & Northwestern completed back-to-back title runs. pic.twitter.com/hfcWrdOcjL
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) December 12, 2018
Eagles Soar For Eighth Title
Seniors JD Jerry and TJ Ward will be greatly missed but this is a program that knows how to rebuild.
This a championship team had four 8th graders and a 7th grader on the roster. Sophomore QB/WR DeAndre McCray returns and about 75% of the roster are underclassmen. NFC should be in the playoffs again for another run next year and maybe again competing in Orlando next year.
Cowboys Class Of 1A
Madison County wins back to back state championships and establishing themselves as the small school you do not want to schedule. The Cowboys held superstar running back Junior McLaughlin to 28 yards rushing and were able to get big gains from Senior Travis Jay win another championship for Madison. Jay is on to Florida State but fellow Cowboy playmaker Vinsonta Allen is back for another year.
Top Performers
Anthony Solomon, LB, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior Miami commit had eight tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
Brandon Marshall, RB, Raines – The senior had 135 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns.
Brandon McDuffey, QB, Columbus – The 2020 dual-threat went 15 of 25 for 293 yards scoring five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Brody Palhegyi, QB, Cardinal Gibbons – The 2021 dual-threat completed 10 of his 16 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Palhegyi also added 48 yards on the ground on nine carries and rushing TD.
Calijah Kancey, DT, Miami Northwestern – The 6’1” 265 senior had seven tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. The Pittsburgh commit also caused the errant throw for the Bulls’ pick six.
Carson Beck, QB, Mandarin – The 2020 pro-style quarterback committed to Alabama connected on 25 of his 36 throws scoring five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Clyde Pinder, DT, Armwood – The 2020 6’3 295-pound defender had six tackles two sacks and four tackles for loss.
Curt Casteel, QB, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior went 17-24 for 220 yards scoring a touchdown pass. The Harvard commit also added 54 yards on the ground and a touchdown rush.
Daniel Carter, RB, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior committed to Pittsburgh had 118 yards on the ground on 15 carries for a 7.9 per-carry average.
Darien Oxendine, WR/DB, Mandarin – The two-way senior committed to Tennessee-Martin had six catches for 54 yards and added ten tackles on defense and an interception.
DeMarkcus Bowman, RB, Lakeland – The junior workhorse carried the ball 22 times and gained 211 yards including an 80-yard touchdown run.
DeMario Douglas, WR, Mandarin – The senior had nine catches for 141 yards scoring four touchdowns.
Henry Parrish Jr., RB, Columbus – The 2020 back had 23 carries for 147 yards averaging 6.4 a carry.
Isaiah Velez, QB, Miami Northwestern – The senior went 9 for 18 for 141 yards scoring one touchdown and had one interception.
Jacorey Rivers, QB, Raines – The 2021 dual-threat ran for 110 yards on the ground on 19 rushes and passed for 50 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.
JD Jerry, QB, North Florida Christian – The senior carried the ball 13 times for 78 yards scoring two touchdowns. He would also add 47 yards passing and zero interceptions.
Khalil Crawford, LB, Lakeland – The senior had nine tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.
Kris Mitchell, WR, Mandarin – The senior receiver committed to FIU caught seven balls for 118 yards scoring a touchdown.
Marcus Rosemy, WR, St. Thomas Aquinas – The 2020 receiver had four catches for 94 yards.
Nijel McGriff, DL, Mandarin – The senior had nine tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Raymond Jackson, LB, North Florida Christian – The senior had nine tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.
Samuel Brooks, LB, Miami Northwestern – The senior had five tackles and one tackle for loss. The Miami commit would also add a 56-yard scoop and score.
Te’Cory Couch, CB, Chaminade-Madonna – The senior Miami commit had two athletic interceptions and added a pass break up in his final high school game.
Terrance Lewis, LB, Miami Northwestern – The 2021 defender had eight tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Thomas Armstrong, LB, Chaminade-Madonna – The senior TCU commit had 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Travis Jay, QB, Madison County – The senior Jay finished with 167 yards rushing on 7 carries and had 71 yards passing.
Trevis Robinson, LB, Cardinal Gibbons – The senior had six tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Vincent Davis, RB, Cardinal Gibbons – The senior Pittsburgh commit had 133 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Willie Davis, RB, Chaminade-Madonna – The senior had 83 yards on 18 carries scoring two touchdowns.
Xavier Restrepo, WR, St. Thomas Aquinas – The 2020 receiver had seven catches for 72 yards.
Xzavier Henderson, WR, Columbus – The 2020 receiver had seven receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
Top 25
1. Lakeland (7A) (15-0)
Last Game: Defeated St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 33-20
2. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (11-4)
Last Game: Defeated Columbus (Miami) 37-35
3. Miami Northwestern (6A) (10-5)
Last Game: Defeated Armwood (Seffner) 22-0
4. Miami Central (6A) (11-3)
Last Game: Lost to Miami Northwestern 19-15
5. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (5A) (13-2)
Last Game: Defeated North Marion (Citra) 48-10
6. Miami Carol City (6A) (9-3)
Last Game: Lost to Miami Central 30-21
7. Columbus (Miami) (8A) (14-1)
Last Game: Lost to Mandarin 37-35
8. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (7A) (13-2)
Last Game: Lost to Lakeland 33-20
9. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (13-1)
Last week: Defeated Cocoa 27-13
10. Wekiva (Apopka) (8A) (11-2)
Last Game: Lost to Mandarin 19-7
11. Edgewater (Orlando) (7A) (11-1)
Last Game: Lost to Lakeland 56-21
12. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (10-1)
Last Game: Lost to Edgewater 41-7
13. Venice (7A) (12-2)
Last Game: Lost to St. Thomas Aquinas 38-13
14. Armwood (Seffner) (6A) (13-2)
Last Game: Lost to Miami Northwestern 22-0
15. American Heritage (Plantation) (5A) (10-2)
Last Game: Lost to Cardinal Gibbons 35-7
16. Deerfield Beach (8A) (12-2)
Last Game: Lost to Columbus 49-21
17. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (3A) (12-2)
Last Game: Defeated King’s Academy (West Palm Beach) 38-10
18. Madison County (1A) (13-1)
Last Game: Defeated Baker 48-6
19. Clearwater Central Catholic (3A) (12-1)
Last Game: Lost to Chaminade-Madonna 16-0
20. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (12-3)
Last Game: Lost to Cardinal Gibbons 48-10
21. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (13-1)
Last Game: Lost to North Marion 29-25
22. Plant (Tampa) (7A) (11-2)
Last Game: Lost to Lakeland 49-30
23. Cocoa (4A) (10-4)
Last Game: Lost to Raines (Jacksonville) 27-13
24. University School (Davie) (4A) (11-2)
Last Game: Lost to Cocoa 32-31
25. North Florida Christian (2A) (Tallahassee) (9-4)
Last Game: Defeated Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) 28-20
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