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Football Playoff Preview

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Tribune staff

Published: November 20, 2008

CLASS 6A

Durant (6-4) at Orlando Dr. Phillips (9-1)
Bill Spoone Stadium, 6500 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando
Outlook: Durant is in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, and the Cougars will face a Dr. Phillips squad that has won eight straight.

Dr. Phillips has averaged 33 points per game in the regular season, and they are capable of moving the ball through the air and on the ground. Quarterback Nico Ranieri finished among the Orlando area's leading passers in the regular season with 2,226 yards and 24 touchdowns, while his top target, Kenny Shaw, had 52 receptions for 774 yards and eight scores. Running back Demetrius Hart is a threat in both the passing and running game, averaging 123 yards from scrimmage per game.

Cougars quarterback Je'Twan Smith must make good decisions and help Durant put together some good drives in order to keep Dr. Phillips' offense off the field, and Durant also must take full-advantage of its scoring opportunities, something the Cougars have had trouble with at times this season.

CLASS 5A

Alonso (7-3) at Wharton (8-2)

Mitchell D. Muley Stadium, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa
Outlook: Alonso quarterback C.J. Bennett led Hillsborough County and was second in the state with 2,615 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. Alonso's defense, specifically the front four, create a lot of pressure on the opposing offense.

Wharton's offense, led by quarterback Andrew Clifford, can expect to see a lot of Ravens defensive tackle Demonte McAllister. The FSU commit led the county with 18 sacks this season. The Wildcats, while capable of throwing the ball, balance their attack with a strong ground game led by Shane McEwen (981 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns).

Playing for the first time since their defensive coordinator Earl Goodman passed away, there will be an emotional factor for the Wildcats. The team plans to honor him by wearing his initials and the band will form Goodman's initials on the field during team introductions.

Gaither (4-6) at Chamberlain (9-1)
John Adcock Stadium, 9401 North Blvd., Tampa
Outlook: Chamberlain senior quarterback Dontae Aycock leads Hillsborough County in points scored with 128. He's passed for 1,189 yards and rushed for 1,045. Senior running back Kenny Allen has also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark this season, along with nine touchdowns. Defensively, the Chiefs have one of the best lines in the area led by Dontavious Pyron, Eric Hammond and sophomore end James Wilder, who leads the team with 110 tackles.

Gaither senior running back Jarvis Giles leads the Cowboys with 907 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Giles, however, rolled his ankle during Wednesday's practice and is questionable for tonight's game. Senior quarterback Kamren Hawkins has thrown for 824 yards and six touchdowns.

Chamberlain defeated Gaither, 45-13, in the season opener and won 24-8 in the 5A region semifinals last year.

Bloomingdale (6-4) at Lakeland (10-0)
Bryant Stadium, 1125 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland
Outlook: Bloomingdale, who this season secured the program's first winning season, has the insurmountable task of facing Lakeland, a perennial state power that has won three of the last four Class 5A state championships.

The Bulls use a variety of running backs to move the ball, led by Derek Johnson's 639 yards and six touchdowns. Fullback Anthony Amos adds 588 yards and four touchdowns. Senior linebacker C.J. Curran has a team-high 132 tackles.

Lakeland, which is coming off a 30-0 win over Lakeland Kathleen, has three players with 70 or more tackles.

Kissimmee Osceola (7-3) at Newsome (8-2)
Newsome Stadium, 16550 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia
Outlook: Newsome is making its first postseason appearance in program history, and it will come against last year's Class 5A state runner-up.

Newsome does the bulk of its damage on the ground, with sophomore fullback Conner Powers (1,121 yards, 11 touchdowns) leading the Wolves' rushing attack, while quarterback Kyle Copack has been a catalyst for Newsome's success ever since moving under center mid-season.

The key for Newsome will be to slow down Osceola's rushing attack, which utilizes a handful of players on a regular basis. The good news for the Wolves is their defense, led by linebackers Trent Cornwell and Troy Green, has played extremely well during their current six-game win streak, posting three shutouts while not allowing more than 14 points in a game during that stretch.

CLASS 4A
Lakewood (7-3) at Plant (9-1)
Dad's Stadium, 2415 S. Himes Ave., Tampa
Outlook: For the fourth-consecutive year, the Panthers are playing in the postseason. Sophomore quarterback Phillip Ely, who took over when starter Aaron Murray broke his leg, uses the multitude of weapons at his disposal. Ely's got tight end Orson Charles and wideout Allen Sampson, two of the state's leading receivers, to throw to. Sampson rolled his ankle during Wednesday night's practice, but he's expected to play.

Long overshadowed by the high-powered offense, Plant's defense deserves a lot of the credit for rallying around the loss of Murray. The Panthers allow an average of only 9.8 points per game.

Plant coach Robert Weiner said Lakewood is the toughest first-round opponent his team has played in his five years as the Panthers head coach. The Spartans possess the rare combination of speed and physicality. Lakewood's offense averaged 30 points a game, while the defense, aided by two shutouts, limited opponents to 13 points per game.

Tampa Bay Tech (9-1) at Auburndale (5-5)
Bruce Canova Stadium, One Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
Outlook: Tampa Bay Tech, ranked No. 6 in 4A and its only loss coming to nationally-ranked Armwood, has reached the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Now the Titans will go after the school's first postseason win ever, and C.C. Culpepper's squad will have to do that on the road in Polk County, where teams from Hillsborough County have not had an easy time in recent years.

Despite their 5-5 record, the Bloodhounds possess a physical team with an offense built around the running game. Auburndale has had its problems scoring this fall (in five games, it has managed seven or less points) but it closed the regular season with a 34-point effort against Haines City.

Culpepper expects this matchup to be a defensive struggle and the Titans' scoring chances will once again be carried on the shoulders of junior fullback Maurice Hagens (1,019 yards and 13 TDs on 170 carries).

Winter Haven (7-4) at Armwood (10-0)
Lyle Flagg Field, 12000 U.S. 92, Seffner
Outlook: Armwood has seemingly moved the ball at will on offense after a sub-par performance against Plant in the season-opener. The Hawks have averaged 42 points per game over the last nine games behind quarterback Mywan Jackson and a plethora of other offensive weapons.

Winter Haven has won five of its last six games and the Blue Devils defense has played well during that stretch, posting four shutouts while allowing only 26 points. However, Winter Haven must deal with a Hawks defense – which is led by Division I prospects Ryne Giddins, Petey Smith and Angelo Hadley – that hasn't allowed more than 14 points in a game this season.

While Winter Haven won the last meeting between the two teams in 2006, Armwood hasn't walked off its home field with a loss since the 2002 playoffs, a streak of 39 consecutive games.

Jefferson (6-4) at Bradenton Southeast (8-2)
John Kiker Memorial Stadium, 1200 37th Ave. E, Bradenton
Outlook: This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Dragons. A very young team, led by sophomore quarterback Quentin Williams, had other plans for the season and surprised some teams along the way. Jefferson rebounded from last year's losing record with a winning one and found itself in a familiar position – the postseason.

The offense averages 26 points per game, while the defense allowed 21 points per game. Williams was second in the county with 2,395 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. Along with backs Terence Dotson and Mark Winters, Williams helped the Dragons average 402 offensive yards per game.

Southeast's defense has held opponents to under 200 yards of offense per game. The Seminole have a strong ground game, led by Waymon Bowden, who averages nearly six yards per carry. Southeast will be well coached, with veteran Paul Maechtle at the helm.

Seabreeze (5-5) at Land O' Lakes (8-2)
Gator Stadium, 20325 Gator Lane, Land O' Lakes
Outlook: Don't be fooled by the .500 record the Sandcrabs bring. Five games have been against Class 6A opponents, while one was against a 5A team. The Sandcrabs utilize big splits from their linemen and receivers are only a few yards away from the sideline.

The Gators' defensive strength is in the middle of the field. Offensively, Land O' Lakes has confidence in sophomore QB Tanner Stocker, but will take as much pressure off the youngster with effective RBs Ben Hipps, Tyler Peak and Collin Robinson. If the running game can produce, Stocker will attempt to pick apart the Seabreeze defense with Will Irwin, Andrew Moore, Nick Pardo, Alex Robinson and James Tello.

CLASS 3A
Spoto (4-6) at Arcadia DeSoto County (7-3)
Bulldog Field, 1710 E. Gibson St., Arcadia
Outlook: Only a second-year varsity program, Spoto is making its first state playoff appearance. The Spartans offense is led by a trio of running backs, highlighted by junior Tim Randolph who leads the team with 556 yards and two touchdowns. Jamar Burns adds 395 yards and four touchdowns while Romondo Purcell has 319 yards and two touchdowns.

DeSoto County has scored an average of 36 points per game while allowing 21.7 per game. Running back Marcus Shaw leads the Bulldogs with 1,759 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns.

Spoto's aggressive style of defense, led by sophomore linebacker Rodney Williams and senior defensive end Sergio Robinson, has held opponents to an average of 14.8 per game. Offensively, Spoto averages 16.1 points per game.

Orlando Bishop Moore (7-3) at Pasco (9-1)
W.F. Edwards Stadium, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City
Outlook: Bishop Moore is all about its running game. Occasionally, QB Eric Connelly pass, but Bishop Moore likes to use RBs Tyler Floyd and Jalen Singleton as well as Connolly to gain yards on the ground.

Pasco's defense has allowed only five 100-yard rushers this season. The offense will go as far as RB Jamal Haynes will take it. The 1,200-plus yard rusher has a knack at gaining tough yards or ripping off long runs. That combination has allowed quarterback D.J. Clower to hit an always-dangerous Josh Johnson, Chaise Dunn or Hakeeme Ishmar.

Gulf (9-1) at St. Cloud (9-1)
Tom Gannarelli Field, 2000 Bulldog Lane, St. Cloud 34769
Outlook: While Gulf features TB Adrian Golden and his 2,197 rushing yards (second in the state) and 31 touchdowns, the Bulldogs will counter with quarterback E.J. White, who is 151 of 264 for 2,344 yards, eclipsing the school and Osceola County record. His favorite target is James Boone, who has 47 catches for 1,028 yards, a county receiving yardage mark and good for second in the state. White also is the team's leading rusher (379 yards) and has combined for 30 TDs — 21 in the air and nine rushing.

CLASS 2A

Riviera Beach Inlet Grove (7-3) at Tampa Catholic (7-3)
Crusaders Stadium, 4630 N. Rome Ave., Tampa
Outlook: The Crusaders beat Inlet Grove 35-7 in the first round last season but coach Bob Henriquez doesn't expect a repeat of that scoreline. Henriquez says the Huirricanes possess more speed than nearly any team TC has faced this season, including several players whom he describes as "breakway threats."

The Crusaders, meanwhile, will be missing two key players: junior receiver Jordan Jones, who is out for the remainder of the year with a foot injury, and senior tight end A.J. Mulkey, who is nursing a nagging hip flexor problem. If TC can overcome those losses – and shake off last week's sting of another setback to rival Jesuit – it should be able to move forward with its goal to return to the 2A state title game.

Compiled by Katherine Smith, Bill Ward, Nick Williams, Adam Adkins, Eddie Daniels, Rick Harmon and Bart O'Connell

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