With the state football championships starting Thursday in Tallahassee, south Florida teams will certainly be represented with five teams.
While it was a special night for unbeaten Miami Norland (2M), Miami Christopher Columbus (4M) and Homestead (3M), it was extra special for national powers Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
The Raiders, who have reeled off 13 straight wins since losing to California power St. John Bosco, set themselves up for five straight state titles when they took down Tampa Gaither, 50-14.
Coach Roger Harriott and his 13-1 Raiders seem to turn it up several notches during the state playoffs, where they have outscored the last four opponents, 181-20.
For the second straight year, they will play the Homestead Broncos (12-1) and first year head coach Ron Thornton, who won a tough game with Orlando Jones.
The Miami-Dade vs. Broward matchup with take place on Saturday, Dec. 9th at 3 p.m. at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee.
RECORD-BREAKING LIONS
Perhaps no other program in the state – or country – has been as dominating as the nation’s No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions.
All this program has done is win 38 of the past 40 games – including 13 this season, where they have outscored the opposition, 631-137, including a mind-boggling, 211-7 advantage in the four state playoff games.
But with all those gaudy statistics, the one that carries the most weight is consecutive appearances in the title game.
When the Lions step on the field Thursday morning at 10, they will be facing unbeaten (13-0) Clearwater Central Catholic for the second straight year. But more importantly, it will be a state record 8th consecutive state championship game appearance.
Chaminade beat Miami Archbishop Carroll, 47-7.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS RETURNS AND UNBEATEN MIAMI NORLAND ARE HEADED TO TALLAHASSE
For head coach Dave Dunn and his Columbus Explorers (12-2), a 27-7 state semifinal win at home against Tampa Plant, sends this team back to the finals to defend their state championship against a Jacksonville Mandarin (11-3) team that knocked off Coconut Creek Monarch, 51-21, at 3 p.m. on Friday.
The Mustangs beat Columbus five years ago in Orlando with current Georgia QB Carson Beck. It will be a test of a high-powered offense against a stingy defense.
For head coach Daryle Heidelburg and his Norland Vikings, it’s been a perfect season that included two wins against four-time defending state champion Miami Central, Booker T. Washington and 4S finalist and defending champion Lakeland.
With a 28-7 win against Jacksonville Bolles in the region final, the Vikings (14-0) will square off with 12-2 Tampa Berkeley Prep, a 17-14 winner of Plantation American Heritage on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m.
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For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..