Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) vs. Central (Miami)
Anthony Jones, Central
Photo by Stuart Browning
It's the fifth consecutive trip to a championship game for 11th-ranked Central. The Rockets crushed Armwood, 52-7, in last year's 6A final and also won it all in 2010 and 2012. This is a 13-1 squad that is fresh off
one of the best performances of its season, a 31-21 win at previously unbeaten and No. 12-ranked Mainland (Daytona Beach). FIU-committed senior
Anthony Jones was Central's top offensive weapon with 159 combined rushing and receiving yards and three touchdowns. This is Armwood's fourth state finals appearance in five seasons but its only win in a title game — in 2011 — was later taken away due to forfeit. The Hawks (14-0) traveled more than 400 miles away from home for their 19-15 semifinal win over Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) last week. The Armwood defense turned in another stellar performance. Senior defensive end
Byron Cowart, rated a five-star prospect
by 247Sports, had six tackles — including three for losses — and his team continued a streak of not allowing 20 or more points in any game this season.
See live scoring updates of this game via QwixcoreJust the facts: In addition to last year's 6A final, Saturday is a rematch of, essentially, a game that never happened. At least according to the record books, it didn't. In 2011, Armwood beat Central on the field (40-31) for the Class 6A championship, but the Florida state association later changed the result to a double forfeit because both teams used ineligible players during the season. … With forfeit losses not factored in, both Armwood (third) and Central (fifth) are ranked in the top five of CalPreps.com Dynasty Rankings for Florida since 2003.
Mitch Stephens: Central 17, Armwood 14
Kevin Askeland: Armwood 21, Central 14
Jamie DeMoney: Central 21, Armwood 14
Stephen Spiewak: Central 17, Armwood 14
Leland Gordon: Central 28, Armwood 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Armwood 20, Central 17
