STATE SEMIFINAL RECAP

8 Games were played on Friday, December 2 to decide the final playoff spots in next week's FHSAA State Championships in sunny Orlando, FL. This was the time to lay it all on the line. Win and your team heads to the State Championships.... lose, well you know how that goes....you'll get to see all 8 games in crystal HD from the lovely confines of your living room.

CLASS 8A
Miami Southridge vs. Deerfield Beach
(Butler Stadium, Deerfield Beach) -- Miami Southridge came into this game with a vaunted defense for the ages. 8 Defensive Shutouts this season..... EIGHT!!! Deerfield came in with the nations best receiver in elite Jerry Jeudy. Sure to be be battle for the ages for two teams many projected either to end up in Orlando. University of Florida commit DB Shawn Davis show why that defense is so highly touted, thwarting a Bucks drive with a 97 yard PICK SIX.

#RapidReplay @Southridge_SHS @MT6_Shawn w/ 101 yrds#Pick 6 in 4th Qrt #FLHSFB vía @AudibleSports @coach_ddcooney @AudibleSportsTN pic.twitter.com/xrbbeFm4dI

— Audible Sports (@AudibleSports) December 3, 2016

The Miami Southridge Spartans bring one of the stingiest defenses in state history to the Class 8A state championship game. The Spartans have only given up 70 points in 13 games, including 8 victories by shutout! Southridge actually had a streak of 7 consective  wins by shutout earlier in the season.

Despite turning the ball over six times, including five in the first half, the Spartans defeated Deerfield Beach 26-7 in the Class 8A semifinals last week. The defense was once agtain stout, accumilating 10 sacks and returning an interception for a touchdown.

The Orlando Dr.Phillips Panthers will have the tough assignment of trying to score on the Southridge defense, but the Panthers do have the ability to score points. The Dr. Phillips offense has averaged a shade under 33 points per game in their four previous playoff games, Including scoring 37 on Sanford Seminole in a wild 37-34 double overtime victory last week.

8A STATE SEMIFINAL

DA RIDGE HEADED TO STATES

#7 Southridge Spartans 26
#8 Deerfield Beach Bucks 7
Fhttps://t.co/xKfGhZ01xl #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/uqxz83ecsD

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

Sanford Seminole vs. Orlando Dr. Phillips

8A STATE SEMIFINAL

DP HEADED TO STATES

Dr. Phillips Panthers 37
#4 Seminole Seminoles 34

FINAL (2OT)https://t.co/Xmr8MZqz4x #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/cEAd4IYBjS

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

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CLASS 7A
St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders vs. Venice Indians
(Brian Piccolo Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale) -- The Raiders have been dominant throughout their 2016 campaign, putting up high numbers and stiff defense.

Venice had been smashing teams also, coming into their matchup vs. Aquinas with playoff wins with impressive point outings of 42, 56, 64, and 43 points. Some thought the upset of the states #1 team, St. Thomas Aquinas was imminent.

Don't be surprised @FLgridironpreps when @VeniceIndianFB shocks @STA_Football

— Plant Football (@PlantFootball) November 26, 2016

Aquinas wasn't hearing it. RB Mike Epstein went for 4 TDs in the 1st half, thrashing the Indians early. Many were surprised how quick Aquinas got off early to a 28-0 lead in the 2nd quarter.

Raiders dashed Venice's hopes by halftime, up 43-8, with a running clock in the 2nd half. In a State Semifinal game?!? Ouch!!!

St. Thomas Aquinas HC and former star Aquinas RB Roger Harriott preaches Excellence. The Raiders excelled against a very good Venice team. The 46-8 score just shows how seasoned Aquinas is at ALL positions. Depth and Tradition play key in AQUINAS still being AQUINAS. HC Roger Harriott seeks his 3rd State Title, and his 2nd straight title in his 2nd year at helm of Florida's powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders will play in a state championship game for the 17th time this Friday evening. The Raiders have won 9 state championships and will be looking for a 3peat in 2016. Last week in the Class 7A semifinals, St. Thomas trounced the Venice Indians 46-8 to earn the right to defend their spot as reigning Class 7A champions.

The school with the task of taking down powerhouse St. Thomas goes to the Tampa Plant Panthers. Plant punched its ticket to Orlando by defeating the Jacksonville Robert E. Lee Generals 27-19 at home last week.

Plant is no stranger to state championship football, the Panthers have won four state championships since 2006 and have finished as state runner up once during that span.

7A STATE SEMI

STA ADVANCES TO 17TH STATE FINAL APPEARANCE

#1 Aquinas Raiders 46
#3 Venice Indians 8
Fhttps://t.co/ZVqJoI25Wu #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/p7JXC0EwkI

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

Tampa Plant vs. Robert E. Lee -- Tampa

7A STATE SEMI

PLANT HEADED TO 6 STATE FINAL IN 11 YRS

#2 Plant Panthers 27
#10 Jax Lee Generals 19
Fhttps://t.co/F9wBUgSUH6 #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/zcCsOVVvke

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

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CLASS 6A
Miami Carol City vs. Punta Gorda Charlotte
(Charlotte) -- Miami Carol City hails from the "District of Death", District 6A-16. This District is probably the toughest in Florida and arguably the Nation, with traditional powers like Miami Central, Miami Northwestern, Miami Carol City and Miami Norland. The past Class 6A State Champions have come from this district. To emerge into the playoff says something..... to get in the State Final game, you'll probably be the favorite. And that's just what Miami Carol City did... took care of business, blanketing Punta Gorda Charlotte 39-0 in Friday's State Semifinal. District 6A-16 will once represent in the 6A State Final... and Miami Carol City is the favorite.

6A STATE SEMI

ZUUUUU
CAROL CITY blankets Charlotte, 39-0. @CarolCity_FB headed to 7TH STATE FINAL game!https://t.co/tqrU7nQxUF #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/HEsTIX336m

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

Lake Gibson vs. Navarre

6A STATE SEMIFINAL

LAKE GIBSON SEEKING 1ST STATE TITLE

#5 Lake Gibson Braves 35
Navarre Raiders 14
Fhttps://t.co/JIpc9QTc5E #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/AALCFlu4Os

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

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CLASS 5A
Plantation American Heritage vs. Tampa Jesuit
(Plantation, FL) -- American Heritage suffered a preseason loss to perennial State Power Miami Booker T. Washington. That preseson loss switched up the game for American Heritage, letting them know they had to work that much harder for that coveted state trophy. As soon as the season became official, the Patriots have not looked back, maintaining the #1 ranking throughout the majority of the season.

The Patriots have a true thirst to go back to the State Final game, not making it last year, but winning the previous two 5A titles in 2014 and 2013.

There would be only one team left in their way to achieve that goal, #2 Tampa Jesuit. Jesuit features RB Malik Davis, the best back statistically ever in Hillsborough's storied history of elite players to grace the gridiron. That's saying something to be tops over in Tampa Bay area.

To win this game, Plantation American Heritage knew it must NOT let Davis have one of the epic nights, at least not early while the game is in the balance. At the helm of Patriots is a defensive mastermind, former Miami Dolphins' All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain and Heritage's Gameplan for AH was simple: Throttle Davis, and puts some points on the board. Heritage got off to an early start as QB Jason Brown connected with his playmakers early. Brown hit Miles Jones on a 67 yard swing pass to start the Patriots on the right foot in the 2nd quarter. Brown then hit WR Laress Nelson for another passing TD to put the Patriots up by 13 at the half.

After halftime, Patriots got right back to business. ATH Miles Jones took an end-around 70 yards to The House. Davis has wheels. Get him cooking, and it's toast. Miles Jones was a big key to Heritage's success, with 2 TDs, 100+ yards receiving, and another 100+ on the ground.

The Patriots prevailed 21-14, holding off a late charge by the Tigers in the 2nd Half. Jesuit stud RB Malik Davis ended up with 177 yards. He had a long TD called back early which would have put him around his average of 200+. Trust me, you will hear Malik Davis' name on Saturdays and then Sundays in the very near future



Plantation American Heritage will play for their 3rd State Title in 4 Years.

5A STATE SEMI

AH SEEKING 3RD TITLE IN 4 YEARS

#1 Plantation American Heritage 21
#2 Tampa Jesuit 14
Fhttps://t.co/XYQsfDlQQK #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/qHQ8SoFhaV

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016

Ponte Vedra vs. Clay

5A STATE SEMI

SHARKS ADVANCE TO 1ST STATE FINAL

#3 Ponte Vedra Sharks 52
Clay County Blue Devils 42
Fhttps://t.co/xLHcPCjjk1 #FLgridiron pic.twitter.com/Z52A4pLIBL

— FloridaGridironPreps (@FLgridironpreps) December 3, 2016