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Prep Football Playoffs Review

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By KATHERINE SMITH and ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2008

Consecutive years Hillsborough County has been represented in a state championship game. In 2001, Chamberlain lost in the 5A title game to Naples. In 2002, Wharton (5A) and Jefferson (4A) were state runners-up. Jefferson made another title-game appearance in 2004. Armwood won back-to-back titles in 2003 and '04 and finished runner-up to Nease in 2005. Plant won the 4A title in 2006 and Tampa Catholic was the 2A runner-up last year.

Consecutive victories by the Wharton Wildcats. Since dropping their first two games of the season to Freedom and Armwood, the Wildcats have been on a roll. Wharton extended its streak Friday night with a come-from-behind victory against Alonso in a regional quarterfinal.

Margin of victory in Armwood's regular-season victory against Tampa Bay Tech. The Hawks defeated the Titans 45-6 on Oct. 10. Armwood hosts its district rival Friday night in a regional semifinal.

Points scored by Plant in its 60-point victory against Lakewood on Friday night, setting a school record for playoff points. The previous mark was 49, which the Panthers set last year in their regional-quarterfinal victory vs. Northeast.

REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME?

Spoto, Bloomingdale and Newsome each made the program's first appearance in the postseason Friday night, but all three teams suffered the same fate - a loss.

The history among Hillsborough County programs making their first postseason trip showed the Spartans, Bulls and Wolves had a 50-50 chance at coming out on top. Prior to Friday, 12 of 24 county programs had won their first postseason game in program history.

Here is a look at what each county program has done in its first postseason game:

PLANT RESPECTING SOUTHEAST'S PAST

Bradenton Southeast used to own football in the late 1980s and '90s. The Seminoles earned state titles in 1993 and '94 and were runners-up in 1985, '88 and '98. The last time Southeast made a state championship game appearance was 1998.

Not the dominant program it once was, the Seminoles were 0-4 in their previous four playoff games against Hillsborough County opponents before Friday night, when they beat Jefferson in a regional quarterfinal.

Despite recent history, Plant, which travels to Bradenton on Friday, isn't taking Southeast lightly.

"They're a very good opponent," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "I've know Coach Paul Maechtle for years and he does such a great job with them. It's going to be a great battle down there, particularly down at their place with all the tradition they've had. It will be a war."

IN OR OUT

Armwood likely will be without captain Justin Cabbagestalk for Friday night's regional semifinal against Tampa Bay Tech. The senior lineman was ejected from the Hawks' game against Winter Haven and per FHSAA rules is subject to at least a one-game suspension.

Armwood coach Sean Callahan said Cabbagestalk was retaliating after some Winter Haven defenders went hard at the Armwood line as the Hawks were taking a knee to end Friday's game, but the coach certainly didn't endorse his lineman's actions.

"I feel bad that my guy did this," Callahan said.

Callahan said he'll likely get word from the FHSAA on the length of Cabbagestalk's suspension early this week.

•Allen Sampson, Plant's leading receiver, was reduced to the role of a spectator in the Panthers' game against Lakewood on Friday night. Though dressed, Sampson was unable to play because of an ankle injury he sustained in Wednesday night's practice. In his absence, DeAndre Queen had a more increased role on offense and Marco Cobb handled return duties.

Weiner said Sampson will play Friday against Southeast.

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

Friday at 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 6A

Sanford Seminole at Spruce Creek

Apopka at East Ridge

Boone at Dr. Phillips

Royal Palm Beach at Vero Beach

Lauderdale Lakes Anderson vs. Deerfield Beach at Coral Springs

Miramar at Cypress Bay

Miami Northwestern vs. Miami Central at Traz Powell Stadium

Miami Palmetto vs. Miami Killian at FIU

CLASS 5A

Niceville at Pine Forest

Orange Park vs. Mainland at Municipal Stadium

Wharton at Chamberlain

Kissimmee Osceola at Lakeland

St. Petersburg at Largo

Charlotte at Venice

South Fork at Atlantic

Dillard at St. Thomas

CLASS 4A

Fort Walton Beach at Pace

Leon vs. Lincoln at Cox Stadium

Nease at Ridgeview

Seabreeze at Merritt Island

Plant at Bradenton Southeast

Tampa Bay Tech at Armwood

Dwyer at Fort Pierce Westwood

Miami Washington vs. Hallandale at Curtis Park

CLASS 3A

Arnold vs. Godby at Chiles

Jacksonville Jackson at St. Augustine

Williston at North Marion

Gulf at Pasco

Cocoa at Ridge Community

Braden River at DeSoto County

Dunbar at Naples

Glades Central at Monsignor Pace

CLASS 2A

REGIONAL FINALS

Madison County at Pensacola Catholic

South Sumter at Bolles

Mulberry at Tampa Catholic

Gulliver Prep vs. Archbishop Carroll at TBD

CLASS 2B

REGIONAL FINALS

Florida High at South Walton

Newberry at Trinity Catholic

Frostproof at Wildwood

University School at Pahokee

CLASS 1A

REGIONAL FINALS

Port St. Joe at West Gadsden

North Florida Christian at First Academy

Fort Meade at Glades Day

American Heritage at Dade Christian

CLASS 1B

REGIONAL FINALS

FAMU vs. Eagle's View at TBD

Warner Christian vs. Orangewood Christian at TBD

Pine Castle vs. Victory Christian at Lakeland Lake Gibson

Upperroom Christian vs. Jupiter Christian at Lake Worth Leonard

BY THE NUMBERS

REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME?

PLANT RESPECTING SOUTHEAST'S PAST

IN OR OUT

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

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