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.