By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
The playoffs are called the second season for a reason.
And in the case of several Tampa Bay area prep football teams, the second season has become about second chances. Four of the seven second-round playoff games scheduled for Nov. 23 are rematches of regular season games.
Tampa Chamberlain at Tampa Gaither, Tampa Jefferson at Tampa Plant, Tampa Hillsborough at Seffner Armwood and Largo at Dunedin are all second meetings this season between these teams.
Chamberlain and Plant won their first meetings with ease, Armwood slipped past Hillsborough and Largo needed two overtimes to get past Dunedin.
And just in case that's not enough familiarity, Tampa Catholic is playing at a Clewiston team it has faced three times during the past four seasons.
Here's a look at the second round playoff matchups:
CLASS 5A
Tampa Chamberlain (8-3) at Tampa Gaither (8-3) - Gaither looking for payback after an opening night 41-17 pounding at the hands of Chamberlain.
Largo (11-0) at Dunedin (7-4) - A rematch of the thrilling regular season 37-31 double overtime Largo win.
CLASS 4A
Tampa Jefferson (5-6) at Tampa Plant (10-1) - Jefferson proved with first round win its better than its record. But not good enough to successfully tangle with defending Class 4A state champion Plant.
Tampa Hillsborough (9-2) at Seffner Armwood (11-0) - Hillsborough has lost three straight to the juggernaut that is Armwood.
CLASS 2A
Tampa Catholic (9-2) at Clewiston (5-6) - TC gets another shot at getting over the Clewiston hump. Clewiston eliminated Tampa Catholic from the playoffs in 2006 and 2005.
CLASS 2B
Clearwater Central Catholic (7-4) at Frostproof (9-2) - The defensive-minded Marauders must travel to central Florida to face a solid Frostproof team.
CLASS 1B
Bradenton Prep (7-3) at St. Petersburg Keswick Christian (11-0) - The storybook season for Keswick continues. The program's initial playoff win earns another home postseason game - this time against Bradenton Prep.
First Round Playoff Results
CLASS 5A
Tampa Gaither 37, Tampa Sickles 3
Tampa Chamberlain 26, Tampa Wharton 25
Lakeland 31, Brandon 17
Kissimmee Osceola 34, Plant City 17
Dunedin 31, St. Petersburg Gibbs 17
Largo 19, East Lake 7
CLASS 4A
Daytona Beach Seabreeze 43, New Port Richey Ridgewood 3
Rockledge 31, Land O'Lakes 7
Tampa Jefferson 34, St. Petersburg Boca Ciega 16
Tampa Plant 49, St. Petersburg Northeast 12
Seffner Armwood 27, Eagle Lake Lake Region 6
Tampa Hillsborough 42, Auburndale 7
CLASS 3A
St. Cloud Harmony 28, Hudson 6
Eustis 32, Dade City Pasco 16
CLASS 2A
Tampa Catholic 35, Riviera Beach Inlet Grove 7
CLASS 2B
Clearwater Central Catholic 23, Crescent City 0
CLASS 1A
Belle Glade Glades Day 47, Indian Rocks Christian 7
CLASS 1B
St. Petersburg Keswick Christian 48, Lakeland Victory Christian 27
