By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
CLASS 6A
Plant City Durant (6-4) at Orlando Dr. Phillips (9-1)
Durant, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, was a different team on the road, losing four of five by an average of 10 points. Dr. Phillips comes into the playoffs with an eight-game winning streak and a hot quarterback in Nico Ranieri (2,226 yards passing and 24 touchdowns).
CLASS 5A
Tampa Alonso (7-3) at Tampa Wharton (8-2)
A match-up of Hillsborough County passing leader C. J. Bennett (2,534 yards and 25 touchdowns) against Wharton’s defense led by safety Jairus Jones (101 tackles, 4 interceptions). Wharton, riding an eight-game winning streak, was one-and-done in the postseason last year while the Ravens’ last playoff appearance was in 2006.
Tampa Gaither (4-6) at Tampa Chamberlain (9-1)
Gaither running back Jarvis Giles missed the opening two games of the year with injuries but came back to rush for 900-plus yards and 13 touchdowns. Chamberlain has been a steamroller all season long, lead by quarterback Dontae Aycock (11 touchdown passes and 1,045 yards rushing and 21 running touchdowns). Chamberlain has beaten Gaither three times since the start of the 2007 season, including 24-8 in the playoffs a year ago.
Kissimmee Osceola (7-3) at Lithia Newsome (8-2)
Newsome’s breakthrough season guaranteed its first playoff game will be a home game. The scrappy Wolves were led offensively by 1,000-yard running back Connor Powers. Osceola was the Class 5A state runner-up last season. Tough running backs Semaj Washington and Bryant Butler combined for 1,239 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Valrico Bloomingdale (6-4) at Lakeland (10-0)
Bloomingdale’s first-ever winning season earned the Bulls a trip to the state playoffs. The reward? A first-round trip to face Lakeland. Ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 5A, the Dreadnaughts are 49-1 during the last five regular seasons and have won three state titles during that span.
St. Petersburg (8-2) at Dunedin (8-2)
St. Petersburg posted a quiet but solid campaign, putting together six wins to end the regular season and earn a playoff spot. It will face a Dunedin team that had to fight through a three-team tiebreaker to earn its district title and host a playoff game. The Falcons will line up bruising back Adaris Bellamy and turn him loose. Dunedin is back in the postseason for the fourth straight season while St. Petersburg is in for the first time since 2006.
Clearwater Countryside (7-3) at Largo (9-1)
Another team to make it to the postseason after a three-team tiebreaker last week, Countryside is led by running back Dawrence Roberts (1,082 yards, 6 TDs). Largo is dominant again after advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals last year. However, the Packers could be without starting quarterback Ryan Eppes, who missed the season finale with an undisclosed injury.
CLASS 4A
Tarpon Springs (8-2) at Merritt Island (6-4)
Tarpon Springs had twin four-game winning streaks this season, the second of which included a 63-point performance in the regular season finale. Spongers’ quarterback Danny Reyes threw for 2,287 yards and 19 touchdowns. Merritt Island opens the postseason with four wins in its last five contests.
Daytona Beach Seabreeze (5-5) at Land O’ Lakes (8-2)
A Class 5A region finalist last season, graduations hit Seabreeze hard this year. Still the Sandcrabs played well enough in the district games they had to win to earn a spot in the postseason. Land O’ Lakes is without the services of starting quarterback Stephen Weatherford (broken clavicle), so coach John Benedetto will turn to Tanner Stocker, who threw two touchdowns while filling in for Weatherford in the season finale.
Tampa Jefferson (6-4) at Bradenton Southeast (8-2)
Jefferson sophomore quarterback Quentin Williams was outstanding this season, throwing for 2,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. Defensive-minded Southeast will pose a challenge, especially in the form of defensive back Jonathan Dowling had 11 interceptions this season. Jefferson topped Southeast in the 2006 region quarterfinals 31-28.
St. Petersburg Lakewood (7-3) at Tampa Plant (9-1)
Lakewood’s Jacquez Jenkins was at times one of the most exciting player in the Tampa Bay area this season. The Spartans’ quarterback threw for 19 touchdowns and ran for four more. Lakewood wrapped up a playoff spot after a three-way tiebreaker. Plant, meanwhile, has played well with back-up quarterback Phillip Ely (1,000-plus yards and 13 touchdowns) filling in for the injured Aaron Murray.
Winter Haven (7-3) at Seffner Armwood (10-0)
Winter Haven travels to face an Armwood team that averaged more than 300 yards of offense a game and averaged 38 points a game. Defensively, the Class 4A No. 1 ranked Hawks are just as imposing. Armwood posted four shutouts this season and only allowed more than one score in a game twice (14 points, 12 points) this season. Good luck Winter Haven.
Tampa Bay Tech (9-1) at Auburndale (5-5)
Hard nosed Tech earned this playoff spot, competing this season in the rugged Class 4A, District 11. Tough running back Maurice Hagens scored 11 touchdowns while quarterback Angel Rodriguez ran for 14. Auburndale counters with its own-two headed running attack, manned by Josh Chery and Keeshawn Maxwell.
CLASS 3A
New Port Richey Gulf (9-1) at Kissimmee St. Cloud (9-1)
Gulf is making just its second playoff appearance in school history but the Buccaneers are doing so with a record-setting running back. Adrian Golden’s 2,193 rushing yards set a Pasco County record. Golden also has 30 rushing touchdowns. St. Cloud enters the postseason with a nine-game winning streak and its own offensive star in QB E.J. White (2,082 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes and 8 rushing touchdowns).
Orlando Bishop Moore (7-3) at Dade City Pasco (9-1)
Bishop Moore’s diminutive running back Jalen Singleton is tough to defend. The 5-foot-6, 140-pounder ran for 1,214 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He’ll have an equally tough counterpart in Pasco tailback Jamall Haynes, who ran for 1,242 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Riverview Spoto (4-6) at Arcadia DeSoto County (7-3)
Spoto’s first-ever playoff trip means an 83-mile, hour and a half bus ride to face DeSoto. Led by tailback Marcus Shaw, DeSoto enjoyed a six-game winning streak this year that saw it top 40 points five times.
CLASS 2A
Riviera Beach Inlet Grove (7-3) at Tampa Catholic (7-3)
The Class 2A state runner-up last year, Tampa Catholic is opening the 2008 playoffs against the same team it started its 2007 playoff run against. The result of their postseason meeting a year ago? Tampa Catholic 35, Inlet Grove 7. And junior quarterback Christian Green has played better this season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and running for four more while guiding the Crusaders to a seven-game winning streak this season.
CLASS A
Indian Rocks Christian (9-1) at Belle Glade Glades Day (5-5)
IRC started the season 8-0 before dropping its lone contest. Glades Day advanced to the state semifinals last season. Along the way, Glades Day pounded IRC 47-7.
CLASS B
Orlando Pine Castle Christian (5-5) at St. Petersburg Keswick Christian (6-4)
At least Pine Castle was consistent this season – three straight losses, followed by five straight wins before two losses to end the season. Keswick overcame an 0-3 start to the season to win its district and garner a home playoff game.