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High School Playoffs
(12.09.07) — BY Kevin Holden
FOX 35 NEWS
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- It's quite an accomplishment for any team to make it this far in the Florida high school playoffs, and while a few of the teams' state title dreams have ended, others are headed to the Citrus Bowl and the state championships!
Class 2A Championship
Chris Thompson rushed for 203 yards to help Madison County beat Tampa Catholic 28-7 tonight in the Class 2A championship game.
The title is Madison County's second. The Cowboys had been 1-3 in finals appearances. Corey Akins rushed a total of 145 yards.
The Crusaders had 59 yards in the first quarter, but only 41 in the final three. Madison County defense allowed 100 total yards.
Class 2B Championship
Anthony Sheppard tied a state finals record Saturday throwing four touchdown passes to lead Pahokee to a 53-14 win over Newberry in the Class 2B championship game. It was the fifth title for the Blue Devils (14-0). "Were just loaded out there," Pahokee coach Blaze Thompson
said.
The Blue Devils dominated from the start, going up 26-0 in the second quarter thanks largely to two Sheppard TD tosses (77 and 56 yards). He was 16 of 21 for 384 yards.
Sheppard shares his touchdown record with five other players, most notably current Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. Newberry (13-1) closed to within 26-14 at the half, but Pahokee responded by scoring three times in the first 5 minutes, 22 seconds of the third quarter.
Pahokee held a 572-283 edge in total yards. The Blue Devils also scored on an 80-yard fumble recovery. "A lot of things didn't go our way," Newberry coach Tommy Keeler said.
Sheppard's touchdowns went to four different receivers -- Dennis Hall, Martavious Odoms, NuKeese Richardson and Antavious Wilson. Odoms and Wilson each had 100-plus receiving yards.
Class 6A Semifinals
Boone vs Apopka
Boone High School faced an immense test in an incredible atmosphere against Apopka. The game at Boone High drew somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 fans, standing 7 deep all the way around the sidelines!! Many small college games don't get that kind of attention, but the Braves took the spotlight and played some of their most inspired football to up-end Apopka 21-18 and earn a spot in the 6A state title game! Boone usually runs a conservative offense, but they opened it up at just the right times, including an incredible 81-yard touchdown strike from Sam Hutsell to Jeremy Brown. Boone will play Miami Northwestern next Saturday at 7:00 at the Citrus Bowl, and the winner will walk away with a class 6A state title!
Osceola vs Bartram Trail
And how about the Osceola Kowboys? One of their closest games, with everything at stake, and the Kowboys find a way to hold on with a 27-21 overtime victory. The Kowboys are undefeated at 14-0, and the only thing standing between them and a 5A state title is St. Thomas Aquinas. The big battle happens Friday night at 7:00 at the Citrus Bowl!
Cocoa vs Naples
Cocoa and North Marion had their state title dreams ended by incredibly good teams Friday night. Cocoa managed to score three touchdowns against undefeated Naples, but they fell just short, 28-21. Cocoa's Tigers have nothing to hang their heads about, though - the pain of this loss is temporary, but making it to the state's Final Four is something these players will brag about for decades to come.
North Marion vs St. Augustine
North Marion ran into a juggernaut in St. Augustine, losing 35-0. That's quite a feat for St. Augustine, since North Marion is used to putting up 30 or 40 points a game. The Colts hadn't lost a game since August, but for the third straight year, they fall one game short of the state championships. Congrats on a great season, North Marion!
Class 1A Championship:
Justin Feagle rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and Jordan Spennato kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to lift Delray Beach American Heritage over Tallahassee North Florida Christian 31-28 in the Florida High Class 1A championship game Friday night at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
It is the first championship in school history for the Stallions (13-1) while North Florida Christian, coached by former Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon, dropped its second straight championship game.
North Florida Christian (12-2) tied the game at 28-28 on Clint Trickett's third touchdown to Melvin Ray, a 72-yarder, with 2:26 remaining. American Heritage drove 57 yards to set up Spennato's game-winner on his first field goal attempt all season. Feagin also threw for 70 yards. Trickett finished with 307 yards, with Ray making five catches for 146 yards and Darrius
McQueen posting 10 catches for 117.
The teams combined for 680 total yards, but also had a combined 26 penalties for 195 yards in a game that featured four ties and three lead changes.
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