The Prep Zone

How the top 20 fared (Boys BKB)

Mike Ridaught

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December 10, 2017

Here’s a look at how all of the regionally-ranked basketball teams fared this past week. The new regional ranking will be released on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Central Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters. It is powered by Strive Fitness.

THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2017-18 BOYS BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, record through 12/9, and total voting points)
1. Leesburg (6A) (2) (5-1) – Went 2-0; won at #9 Gainesville, 56-53 (Fri.); won at Bishop Moore (Orlando), 49-28 (Tue.)
2. Providence (Jacksonville) (4A) (3) (3-1) – Went 1-1; LOST to 8A state semifinalist Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton), 71-62, at Windermere Prep Shootout (Sat.); won at RV Bolles (Jacksonville), 69-49 (Mon.)
3. Creekside (St. Johns) (8A) (1) (5-0) – Went 3-0; d. #4 Vanguard (Ocala), 65-41, at the Raider Dome Classic at Orange Park High School (Sat.); won at St. Augustine, 73-49 (Thur.); won at Oakleaf (Orange Park), 64-54 (Tue.)
4. Vanguard (Ocala) (7A) (3-1) – Went 2-1; LOST to #3 Creekside (St. Johns), 65-41, at the Raider Dome Classic at Orange Park High School (Sat); won at RV Dunnellon, 67-57 (Thur.); won at RV St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville), 56-47 (Mon.)
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-0) – Went 3-0; won at #19 First Coast (Jacksonville), 71-67 (OT); won at #20 Terry Parker (Jacksonville), 54-36 (Fri.); won at Baldwin, 88-51 (Tue.)
6. The Villages (5A) (4-1) – Went 2-0; d. St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville), 60-20, at the Mighty Ike Shootout (Sat.); d. Eustis, 66-56 (Tue.)
7. Ribault (Jacksonville) (6A) (1-2) – Went 0-2; LOST to #16 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), 59-54 (Fri.); LOST at Yulee, 42-39 (Tue.)
8. Eastside (Gainesville) (6A) (5-0) – Went 2-0; d. previously unbeaten 8A Tampa Bay Tech, 70-49, at the Mighty Ike Shootout at Williston (Sat.); d. Belleview, 65-34 (Fri.)
9. Gainesville (7A) (3-2) – Went 2-1; LOST to #1 Leesburg, 56-53 (Fri.); won at Forest (Ocala), 72-59 (Thur.); d. Columbia (Lake City), 67-55 (Tue.); other loss was at #13 P.K. Yonge in the season opener
T-10. Hawthorne (1A) (3-1) – Went 1-1; d. Williston, 70-45 (Fri.); LOST at 5A Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 57-54
T-10. Palatka (6A) (5-0) – Went 3-0; d. Matanzas (Palm Coast), 50-40 (Fri.); won at Crescent City, 68-47 (Thur.); d. Ponte Vedra, 63-61 (Wed.)
12. Wildwood (1A) (4-1) – Went 3-0; have won 4/row since 7-point loss at The Villages to start the season; won at Williston, 71-49, at the Mighty Ike Shootout (Sat.); d. RV Lake Minneola, 76-66 (Fri.); d. South Lake (Groveland), 80-33 (Tue.);
13. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (4A) (4-3) – Went 2-1; d. 7A Columbia (Lake City), 52-45, at Mighty Ike Shootout at Williston (Sat.); LOST at Maclay (Tallahassee), 51-48 (Fri.); d. Oak Hall (Gainesville), 51-10 (Tue.); other losses were to defending 8A state runner-up Lincoln (Tallahassee) by one & #6 The Villages at the buzzer
14. Deltona (7A) (3-1) – Went 1-1; won at Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 59-55 (Fri.); LOST to Father Lopez (Daytona Beach), 61-58 (Tue.)
15. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (6A) (5-0) – Went 3-0; d. Hernando (Brooksville), 76-36 (Fri.); d. Fivay (Hudson), 62-32 (Wed.); d. Citrus (Inverness), 77-36 (Tue.)
16. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (6A) (5-1) – Went 2-1; LOST to 9A unbeaten Seminole (Sanford), 61-52 (Sat.); won at #7 Ribault (Jacksonville), 59-54 (Fri.); won at Ponte Vedra, 64-61 (OT)
17. Atlantic (Port Orange) (7A) (4-0) – Went 3-0; won at RV New Smyrna Beach, 47-40 (Sat.); won at Pine Ridge (Deltona), 81-62 (Thur.); won at Seabreeze (Daytona Beach), 61-32 (Tue.)
18. Flagler Palm Coast (9A) (3-1) – Went 1-1; won at Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 49-39 (Fri.); LOST at RV DeLand, 66-50 (Tue.)
19. First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (3-1) – Went 1-1; LOST to #5 Raines (Jacksonville), 71-67 (Sat.); won at Sandalwood (Jacksonville), 53-42 (Wed.)
20. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (6A) (1-3) – Went 0-2; LOST to #5 Raines (Jacksonville), 54-36 (Fri.); LOST at Ed White (Jacksonville), 39-30 (Mon.)

Also receiving votes:
Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-1) – Went 3-1; won at Orange Park, 62-59, at the Raider Dome Classic at Orange Park (Sat.); d. Episcopal (Jacksonville), 58-50 (Fri.); d. West Nassau (Callahan), 77-35 (Thur.); LOST at #2 Providence (Jacksonville), 69-49
North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-2) – Went 3-0; d. Halifax Academy (Daytona Beach), 66-24 (Fri.); won at Calvary Christian Academy (Ormond Beach), 71-53 (Thur.); d. Seacoast Christian Academy (Jacksonville), 70-20 (Mon.)
Englewood (Jacksonville) (7A) (3-2) – Went 2-1; LOST at Camden (GA), 63-57 (Sat.); won at Nease (Ponte Vedra), 56-37 (Thur.); d. RV Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville), 63-56 (Tue.)
Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (5A) (1-2) – Went 1-1; LOST at Rickards (Tallahassee), 64-48 (Sat.); won at Westside (Jacksonville), 68-50 (Wed.)
Temple Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (0-1) – LOST to Eagle’s View (Jacksonville), 73-9 (Tue.)
Fernandina Beach (5A) (2-2) – Went 0-2; LOST at Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 70-54 (Thur.); LOST at Episcopal (Jacksonville), 63-38 (Tue.)
Lake Minneola (8A) (4-1) – Went 2-1; LOST at #12 Wildwood, 76-66 (Fri.); won at East River (Orlando), 84-74 (Thur.); won at Mount Dora, 71-55 (Tue.)
Trinity Christian (Deltona) (3A) (0-5) – Went 0-2; LOST to Trinity Prep (Winter Park), 64-46 (Tue.); LOST Lake Mary Prep, 84-63 (Mon.)
DeLand (9A) (3-2) – Went 2-0; d. Boone (Orlando), 41-36, at Hoops for Heart tournament at Oviedo (Sat.); d. #18 Flagler Palm Coast, 66-50 (Tue.)
New Smyrna Beach (7A) (2-1) – Went 1-1; LOST to #17 Atlantic (Port Orange), 47-40 (Sat.); d. Seabreeze (Daytona Beach), 68-36 (Thur.)
Mount Dora Christian Academy (3A) (2-2) – Went 0-1; LOST at Faith Christian (Orlando), 42-27 (Thur.)
University Christian (Jacksonville) (4A) (1-1) – Went 1-0; d. Duval Charter (Jacksonville), 51-18 (Thur.)
Madison County (1A) (0-1) – LOST at RV Hamilton County (Jasper), 60-51 (Sat.)
Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (8A) (1-3) – Went 1-2; d. Sandalwood (Jacksonville), 66-61 (Fri.); LOST to Paxon (Jacksonville), 70-62 (Wed.); LOST at RV Englewood (Jacksonville), 63-56 (Tue.)
Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (4-1) – Went 2-0 pending game at Taylor County (Perry) (Tue.); d. RV Madison County, 60-51 (Sat.); won at Union County (Lake Butler), 82-46 (Thur.)
Dunnellon (6A) (4-1) – Went 1-1; LOST to #4 Vanguard (Ocala), 67-57 (Thur.); d. West Port (Ocala), 65-51 (Mon.)
St. Francis Catholic Academy (Gainesville) (3A) (2-3) – Went 1-2; LOST to #6 The Villages, 60-20, at the Mighty Ike Shootout at Williston (Sat.); d. St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park), 56-29 (Fri.); LOST to #4 Vanguard (Ocala), 56-47 (Tue.)
Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (4-0) – Went 2-0; d. Westside (Jacksonville), 74-48 (Fri.); d. at Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville), 79-65 (Tue.)

On the bubble:
Bell (1A) (5-0) – Went 3-0; d. Chiefland, 56-24 (Fri.); won at Bronson, 75-30 (Thur.); d. Dixie County (Cross City), 62-26 (Mon.)
Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) (4A) (3-2) – Went 3-1; d. defending 8A state runner-up Lincoln (Tallahassee), 67-60, at the Raider Dome Classic at Orange Park (Sat.); LOST to Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville), 60-58 (Thur.); won at St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine), 82-61 (Tue.); d. Paxon (Jacksonville), 64-53 (Mon.)
Bradford (Starke) (5A) (2-1) – Went 2-0 pending game vs. Taylor (Pierson), XX (Fri.); won at Interlachen, 73-72 (Thur.); d. Keystone Heights, 82-43 (Tue.); only loss was to RV Bolles (Jacksonville), 68-57
Episcopal (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-1) – Went 1-1; LOST at RV Bolles (Jacksonville), 58-50 (Fri.); d. RV Fernandina Beach, 63-38 (Tue.)
Eustis (6A) (4-2) – Went 3-1; won at Tavares, 70-38 (Fri.); won at Mount Dora, 80-54 (Thur.); LOST at #6 The Villages, 66-56 (Tue.); d. Umatilla, 65-24 (Mon.)
Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (7A) (5-1) – Went 3-0; d. Trinity Prep (Winter Park), 63-47, at St. John’s River Shootout (Sat.); d. Mainland (Daytona Beach), 72-60 (Thur.); won at #14 Deltona, 61-58 (Tue.); only loss was to 8A unbeaten Edgewater (Orlando)
First Academy-Leesburg (Ind.) (6-0) – Went 3-0; d. Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto), 70-12 (Fri.); d. Adventure Christian Academy (Tavares), 69-17 (Tue.); d. Liberty Christian Prep (Tavares), 69-21 (Mon.)
Interlachen (5A) (5-1) – Went 2-1; won at Trenton, 73-45 (Fri.); LOST to Bradford (Starke), 73-72 (Thur.); d. Fort White, 63-51 (Tue.)
North Marion (Citra) (6A) (3-1) – Went 3-1; has won three in a row since season-opening loss to Forest (Ocala); d. Santa Fe (Alachua), 50-46 (Fri.); won at Lake Weir (Ocala), 84-57 (Thur.); won at Belleview, 54-31 (Tue.)
Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (3-2) – Went 2-1; d. Lake Region (East Lake), 73-54 (Sat.); won at Fleming Island (Orange Park), 51-50 (Thur.); LOST to #2 Creekside (St. Johns), 64-54 (Tue.)
St. John Lutheran (Ocala) (2A) (6-0) – Went 3-0; d. Redeemer Christian, 70-50 (Fri.); won at Oak Hall (Gainesville), 48-47 (Thur.); d. Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto), 55-23 (Tue.)
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (5A) (2-1) – d. Newberry, 64-30, at Mighty Ike Shootout at Williston (Sat.); LOST to #14 Deltona, 59-55 (Fri.); d. #10 Hawthorne, 57-54 (Tue.)

Mighty Ike Shootout (Boys BKB)

Mike Ridaught

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December 10, 2017

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At Williston High School
Saturday, Dec. 9

Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 64, Newberry 30
Eastside (Gainesville) 70, Tampa Bay Tech 49
The Villages 60, St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville) 20
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) 52, Columbia (Lake City) 45
Wildwood 71, Williston 49

Dr. Phillips (8A), Venice (7A) and Chaminade-Madonna (3A) win state football titles

Mike Ridaught

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December 10, 2017

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FHSAA Football Championships_2017 ORLANDO – The Florida high school football season is officially over.

At Camping World Stadium on Saturday, three more state champions were crowned, marking the end of the 2017 FHSAA Football Finals.

Dr. Phillips (Orlando) won the Class 8A state title with a 17-7 win against Atlantic (Delray Beach) in the finale. Japerri Powell blocked a punt and returned it for a score, and linebacker Cameron Williams had a pick-6, as the Panthers (13-2) built a 17-0 lead with 9:53 to play in the fourth quarter.

Despite only 199 yards of total offense, Dr. Phillips was able to turn to its defense to win its first state football title in school history. According to Florida prep football historian Richard Burton, Dr. Phillips became the first team since 2013 to win a state title game without gaining over 200 yards of offense (last were Trenton and Champagnat).

Atlantic finishes the season at 12-2.

Venice defeated Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 37-24, to win the Class 7A state title. It was the Indians’ first state title since 2000.

Dual-threat quarterback Bryce Carpenter, a Coastal Carolina commit, carried the ball 40 times for Venice (14-1) and finished with 214 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw for 180 yards.

Auburn commit Joey Gatewood rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown and threw for 129 yards and a score for Bartram Trail (11-4), which was making its first state final appearance in school history.

Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) edged Oxbridge Academy, 31-28, for the Class 3A state title.

Auburn recruit Shaun Shivers ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Daniel Longman kicked a game-winning 19-yard field goal with just four seconds to play, as Chaminade-Madonna (11-2) won its first state title in 12 years.

FINAL SCORES

2017 FHSAA Football Finals (area teams in bold)

Thursday, Dec. 7
Class 1A: Madison County (14-0) 35, Blountstown (11-2) 20
Class 4A: Raines (Jacksonville) (13-1) 13, Cocoa (11-2) 10

Friday, Dec. 8
Class 2A: Champagnat Catholic (Hollywood) (9-2) 24, University Christian (Jacksonville) (10-3) 7
Class 5A: American Heritage (Plantation) (13-0) 44, Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (13-2) 15
Class 6A: Miami Northwestern (13-2) 21, Armwood (Seffner) (14-1) 16

Saturday, Dec. 9
Class 3A: Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (11-2) 31, Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) (10-2) 28
Class 7A: Venice (14-1) 37, Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (11-4) 24
Class 8A: Dr. Phillips (Orlando) (13-2) 17, Atlantic (Delray Beach) (12-2) 7

Sonic Player-of-the-Game (Dec. 8) – Donald Mack (Eastside)

Mike Ridaught

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December 9, 2017

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Our Sonic-Player-of-the-Game for Friday, Dec. 8, is Donald Mack of the Eastside (Gainesville) boys’ basketball team.

Mack scored a team-high 17 points as the Rams (4-0, 1-0) won their Class 6A-District 6 opener with a 66-34 win against Belleview.

The junior came off the bench to score five points in the opening quarter as Eastside built a 22-11 lead. He hit one of his four shots behind the arc and finished with five points at the end of the period. SONIC POG_Donald Mack of Eastside

He caught fire in the second quarter, scoring nine of his 14 first-half points on two treys and an And One.

Mack added one more shot from beyond the arc in the third quarter, which featured a running clock.

A total of 10 players scored for the Rams, who also got 14 points from senior Jimmy Johnson.

The Rams are back in action on Saturday at the Mighty Ike tournament at Williston High School. They return home on Tuesday for another district game against North Marion (Citra), which will be broadcast on 92.1 FM in Gainesville, 100.1 FM in Ocala, and video via the NFHS Network.

Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Sonic Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift card & certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.

Miami Northwestern (6A), Champagnat Catholic (2A) win state football titles

Mike Ridaught

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December 9, 2017

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FHSAA Football Championships_2017 There will be no repeat FHSAA Football state champions in Classes 2A & 6A.

On Saturday night, Miami Northwestern defeated Armwood (Seffner), 21-16, to win the Class 6A state title at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Bulls (13-2) overcame a 9-0 deficit at the end of the first quarter to knock off the previously unbeaten Hawks (14-1) to win their first state title in 10 years.

Dual-threat quarterback Chatarius Atwell, a Louisville commit, threw for 152 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for 106 yards and a score. His 51-yard TD run with 3:41 to play in the third broke a 9-9 tie, and his 46-yard scoring toss to Kiaryn Davis (Offers from Illinois, Temple & Valdosta State) just 2:30 later proved to be the decisive score.

It was the first state football title for Miami Northwestern since going back-to-back in 6A in 2006 and 2007. The Bulls also knocked off defending state champion Miami Carol City in the Regional Finals and top-ranked Miami Central in the Regional Semifinals in this year’s playoffs..

University Christian (Jacksonville) had won the last two Class 2A state titles.

But on Saturday afternoon, Champagnat Catholic (Hollywood) got revenge from last year’s state title game with an almost identical flip-flop of the previous score. Last year, University Christian won 24-8, but this year Champagnat Catholic won 24-7 against the top-ranked Christians.

Champagnat Catholic (9-2) held University Christian (10-3) to 233 total yards and finished the game with 24 unanswered points after the two-time defending champs had taken a 7-0 first quarter lead.

It was the second state title in the past five years for the Lions (2013).

Fourth title in five years is no sweat for Patriots

Mike Ridaught

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December 9, 2017

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Orlando, FL. — State titles have become a rite of passage for the Plantation American Heritage Patriots.

The latest 5A state title, the fourth in five years for American Heritage, involved a bumpy and difficult road to Orlando.

The championship game itself was a breeze, as American Heritage (13-0) rolled to a 37-0 halftime lead and breezed with a running clock in the second half to a 44-15 win over first-time state finalist Baker County.

American Heritage went right down the field on a methodical 13 play, 77 yard drive that was capped off by a 1 yard TD run by quarterback Cam Smith.

After a Baker County punt, American Heritage put together another 11 play drive covering 69 yards that led to a 33 yard field goal by Jared Elstein and the Patriots led 10-0. That was the score at the end of the opening quarter.

In the second quarter the bottom dropped out for Baker County (13-2). FHSAA Football Championships_2017

First American Heritage expanded their lead to 17-0 on a 39 yard pass from Smith to Joshua Alexander. Then after Baker County finally got a drive going offensively, Seth Paige fumbled and defensive lineman Nester Silvera rumbled 57 yards to the end zone and the Patriots lead swelled to 24-0.

American Heritage wasn’t nearly finished though, as they would score on two more 1-play drives before the first half was over. Smith completed a 43 yard TD pass down the left sideline to Anthony Schwartz to make it a 30-0 Heritage lead with 3:13 left before halftime.

Then after another Baker County punt, the Patriots struck one more time as the speedster Schwartz scored from 37 yards on a jet sweep around right end and the running clock was in effect as American Heritage led 37-0 at the halftime break.

Baker County did show some heart coming out after the halftime break as Nick Lee broke off a 48 yard run to set up a 3 yard TD run by Seth Paige to get the Wildcats on the board to make it 37-7. Then after Baker County recovered an onside kick, the Wildcats struck right back.

Baker County quarterback John Green completed a short pass to Paige, who threw a 48 yard halfback pass to Lee Graham and Baker County had some life as they trailed 37-15.

“I was proud of the heart my team showed coming out like that in the second half,”Baker County coach Jamie Rodgers said.”That showed with the way we came out and got on the board.”

But American Heritage recovered another onside kick, and with the running clock was able to bleed out most of the second half. The Patriots put one more score on the board with as Smith scored again from 1 yard out to make the final 44-15.

For American Heritage, Smith was 7 of 11 passing for 144 yards and 2 TD’s passing and ran for 65 more yards and 2 TD’s on the ground. Schwartz had two catches for 53 yards and a TD receiving and had the 37 yard touchdown run.

Paige rushed for 49 yards on 13 carries and a TD on the ground to go along with the 48 yard TD pass. Baker County only attempted seven passes in the loss, their first since their opening game at St. Augustine.

“Despite the loss, I’m proud of this team and what they’ve accomplished,” Baker County coach Jamie Rodgers said. “To be playing football for 72 years and finally make it to this point, it is something they can always remember.”

For American Heritage coach Patrick Surtain, he is now 27-0 in 2 seasons as Patriots head coach with two state titles.

“We had been talking about the perfect game all season,”Surtain said. “We got close to that in the first half today. This group has been so close-knit all year. This is well deserved.”

Belleview at Eastside – Boys Basketball 2017

Mike Stanton

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December 8, 2017

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Belleview at Eastside – Boys Basketball 2017

Friday, 7 p.m. – Boys’ High School Basketball
Belleview at Eastside (Gainesville)

RADIO: 92.1 FM & 1230 AM in Gainesville and 100.1 FM & 900 AM in Ocala
Join Mike Ridaught (Play-by-play) and Skyler Lebron (Color) for this Class 6A-District 6 game and showdown between Alachua & Marion County.

Paid subscription to watch here:
http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/eastside-high-school-gainesville-fl/8911c895bd

Free audio here:
http://mgmt.firststreaming.com/listen/player.php?callsign=WMOP_AM

Andy Hart Memorial Invitational (Girls BKB)

Mike Ridaught

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December 8, 2017

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andy hart memorial 2 At Lafayette High School (Mayo)
Dec. 8-9

Friday, Dec. 8
Lafayette (Mayo) 56, Suwannee (Live Oak) 32
Newberry 53, Paxon (Jacksonville) 22
Gainesville 62, Trenton 51
Boca Raton 52, Booker T. Washington (Pensacola) 44
The Rock (Gainesville) 53, FAMU High (Tallahassee) 33

Saturday, Dec. 9
Booker T. Washington (Pensacola) 48, Gainesville 46
Rickards (Tallahassee) 53, Boca Raton 46
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) 67, Newberry 46
Paxon (Jacksonville) 55, Suwannee (Live Oak) 32
Lafayette (Mayo) 66, Columbia (Lake City) 33

Madison County, Raines (Jacksonville) win FHSAA Football Class 1A & 4A state titles

Mike Ridaught

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December 7, 2017

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FHSAA Football Championships_2017 It had been one decade for team, and two decades for another, since their school’s last FHSAA Football state title.

But on Thursday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Madison County won the Class 1A state title, its first football championship since it won the 2A state title in 2007, and Raines (Jacksonville) won the Class 4A state title, its first trophy since winning it all in 1997.

In the Class 1A state championship game, an upset seemed to be in the making in the first half, as James Shores’ 41-yard field goal came on the final play of the first half gave unranked Blountstown (11-2) a 17-14 lead. But in the second half, Madison County’s Teryon Henderson had TD runs of 2 and 67 yards, putting him over 200 yards on the night, as the Cowboys (14-0) would rally for a 35-20 win.

In the Class 4A state championship game, one marred by penalties and sloppy play early, Raines also rallied to win, joining the team two decades ago as the only Duval County public school teams to win state. Raines (13-1) knocked off defending state champion Cocoa, 13-10, to win its first state football title since 1997.

The Vikings led 6-3 at the half, scoring first on a 72-yard TD run by junior Brandon Marshall with 1:22 to play in the opening quarter.

Cocoa (11-2) took the lead at 10-6 on a 2-yard TD run around right end by Willie Gaines with 9:06 to play in the game, only to have the Vikings (13-1) reclaim the momentum when Ivory Durham threw an 8-yard TD pass to Kamaree Noble with 5:41 to play.

Friday & Saturday’s championship schedule:

Friday, Dec. 8
Class 2A: Champagnat (8-2) vs. University Christian (Jacksonville) (10-2), 10 a.m.
Class 5A: Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (13-1) vs. Plantation American Heritage (12-0), 3 p.m.
Class 6A: Miami Northwestern (11-2) vs. Armwood (14-0), 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9
Class 3A: Oxbridge Academy (10-1) vs. Chaminade-Madonna (10-2), 10 a.m.
Class 7A: Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (11-3) vs. Venice (13-1), 3 p.m.
Class 8A: Delray Beach Atlantic (12-1) vs. Dr. Phillips (12-2), 8 p.m.

The Trophy Shop Athlete of the Week – Anthony Allen (Newberry)

Mike Ridaught

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December 7, 2017

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The Trophy Shop Athlete of the Week for the week of November 27 is ANTHONY ALLEN* of the Newberry boys’ soccer team.

Newberry_Panthers

*Allen helped the Panthers bounce back from its first defeat of the season, a 6-0 loss at Crescent City on Monday, by scoring five goals in their next two games to lead Newberry to a 2-1 week. The senior scored both of his team’s goals in a 2-0 win at Interlachen on Thursday, followed by the first hat trick of his career in a 5-0 win at Oak Hall on Friday. He also added an assist in the win against the Eagles.

Previous 2017-18 winners:

Nov. 20 – No award due to Thanksgiving holiday

Nov. 13 – Zion Barber (Bradford football)
The senior helped lead the Tornadoes to their first state semifinal appearance since 2004 with a 24-14 win against Dunnellon in the Class 4A Region 2 Final. Barber had a rushing touchdown on a 4th-and-goal, threw two TD passes, kicked three extra points and made a 20-yard field goal as Bradford (10-1) won its 10th straight game.

Nov. 6 – Isabel Ivey (Buchholz girls’ swimming)
Ivey helped lead Buchholz to its third straight state title. She set a state record in the 100 breast stroke (1:00.99), and she beat Stanford commit Morgan Tankersley of Plant (Tampa) to win the 200 freestyle (1:44.68), in winning two individual state titles. The junior was also a part of the 200-yard freestyle relay team which set a school record, and a state record, with a time of 1:31.66, less than a second from the national mark, and she helped lead the Lady Bobcats to a state record in the 400 freestyle relay.

Oct. 30 – Austin Montini (Oak Hall boys’ cross country)
The freshman helped lead the Eagles to a third-place finish at the high school cross country regional championships. Montini finished third with a time of 16:48.86 to lead the Eagles to a third-place finish. The Oak Hall boys were ranked sixth but finished third.

Oct. 23 – Brandis Smith (St. Francis Catholic Academy volleyball)
Smith helped lead the Wolves (8-9) to an upset of previously unbeaten North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) in the FHSAA Class 3A Regional Semifinals. The senior had 50 kills, 7 blocks, and 12 digs for the defending state champions. St. Francis Catholic Academy d. North Florida Christian 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-14.

Oct. 16 – Heather Pedrick (Santa Fe volleyball)
The junior setter helped lead the top-seeded Lady Raiders to the Class 6A-District 6 title. Pedrick had 14 kills, eight digs, 14 assists and six service points to lead the Raiders to a sweep of North Marion (Citra) in the district semifinals. In the championship against No. 2 seed Belleview, she led the way with 17 kills, 20 digs and five blocks as Santa Fe swept the Rattlers.

Oct. 9 – Amelia Williams (Buchholz girls’ golf)
Williams helped the Lady Bobcats capture their fifth straight Jill Darr Invitational title. The sophomore was the low medalist with a 3-under 69. She had a bogey-free round. The Jill Darr Invitational, named after the late Jill Darr Rowell, represents the Alachua County championship.

Oct. 2 – Charles Strong (Union County football)
The FSU commit rushed for 262 yards and scored three touchdowns as Union County (6-1) defeated previously unbeaten Hawthorne, 31-25, in overtime. Strong, who has 1,139 yards and 13 TDs on the season, scored the game-winner from 10 yards out in OT. He also had a 23-yard scoring run and a 12-yard TD run.

Sept. 25 – Demari Turner (St. Francis Catholic football)
Turner came up with the big plays, catching four passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, to help lead the Wolves to a 36-0 win against rival Oak Hall and snap the Eagles’ two-game win streak in the series. The senior wide receiver had scoring catches of 63 and 89 yards as St. Francis Catholic knocked off the previously-unbeaten Eagles and snapped their overall winning streak at 13 games. He also had a 2-point conversion and helped the defense pitch its first shutout of the season.

Sept. 18 – Anthony Richardson (Eastside football)
The sophomore quarterback led the Rams to a 2-0 week, which is twice as many wins as Eastside had (1) all season in 2016. Richardson had 646 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing and passing. In the Rams’ 33-28 home win over Newberry on Monday, he accounted for all five of their touchdowns, finishing with 348 yards and two scores through the air and 65 yards and three scores on the ground. On Friday, at Lake Weir (Ocala), Richardson ran for 102 yards on 11 carries with two TDs, and 131 yards passing with three scores.

Sept. 11 – No award due to Hurricane Irma

Sept. 4 – Gerard Williams III (Williston football)
Williams set a school record with 307 yards on 27 carries, with three touchdowns, in the Red Devils’ 28-14 win at Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto). During Williston’s first five possessions, the senior had 13 carries for 115 yards. However, on Williston’s final three drives, he had 192 yards on 14 carries, with 2 TDs.

Nominate an Athlete of the Week each week no later than Sunday at 6 p.m. Email your nominations to mike@ThePrepZone.com