Before we shine the spotlight on the four schools who will be representing Miami-Dade and Broward Counties at the state football championships, let’s give the three schools who didn’t make it some of that well deserved spotlight.
As the state championships begin on Wednesday at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University, we take at the three programs who didn’t make it.
Congratulations on a great season to veteran head coach Tim “Ice” Harris and Miami Booker T. Washington (2A), coach Pierre Senatus and Miami Southridge (6A) and coach Dave Dunn and Miami Christopher Columbus (7A) all fell short, but each had a season to be very proud about.
FOUR SCHOOLS LOOK TO CARRY THE FLAG FOR THE #305 & #954:
1A
STATE SEMIFINAL
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 35, Jacksonville Trinity Christian 0
Clearwater Central Catholic 22, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 21 (OT)
STATE FINAL
No. 3 Clearwater Central Catholic (12-2) vs. No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (12-2), Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. Coach Dameon Jones and his Lions have reached the state finals for a record ninth consecutive time. They arrived by turning their season around early and going back to the basics, winning 12 in a row since losing in overtime to Pompano Beach Blanche Ely.
3A
STATE SEMIFINAL
Jacksonville Raines 28, Sarasota Booker 23
Miami Northwestern 40, Melbourne Eau Gallie 0
STATE FINAL
No. 3 Miami Northwestern (11-2) vs. No. 1 Jacksonville Raines (13-0), Saturday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. This season been all about the return of Teddy Bridgewater. From the opening win in the Broward County National Showcase until the state semifinal, this has been a program that has brought back the tradition for the Bulls. The playoff run was not fair. They outscored the four opponents, 221-12, and in a year that was to be all about Miami Central, this team certainly stepped up.
4A
STATE SEMIFINAL
Plantation American Heritage 38, St. Augustine 28
Orlando Jones 18, Naples 7
STATE FINAL
No. 2 Orlando Jones (14-0) vs. No. 1 Plantation American Heritage (11-2), Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. After a year away from the spotlight, head coach Mike Smith and the Patriots ran a gauntlet like no other team in the state. Their only two losses this season came to the nation’s No. 2 team Milton, Georgia (14-0) and the state’s best team down the stretch, Chaminade-Madonna by just three points.
5A
STATE SEMIFINAL
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 16, Bradenton Manatee 13
Lakeland 34, Niceville 33 (3 OT)
STATE FINALS
No. 4 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (11-3) vs. No. 1 Lakeland (13-0), Thursday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. No matter how they played down the stretch – or throughout the season, if you doubted a Roger Harriott-coached team, you just don’t know about high school football. Two come-from-behind wins give this five-time defending state champion a huge edge – against anyone!
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For the past 54 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..