Norland (Miami) at No. 11 Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.)The premier matchup of the entire
Class 5A state championship bracket is this quarterfinal game between the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams in the final Associated Press state poll. No. 2 Norland (12-0) has won six of its last seven postseason games. The Vikings were Class 3A state runner-up last season. Miami commit
Randy "Duke" Johnson returned a punt 42 yards for a touchdown in Norland's 59-40 win over Jackson (Miami) last week.
Glades Central (12-0) is playing as well as any team in Florida at right now. Defensively, the 11th-ranked Raiders have shut out five of their last seven opponents and have allowed more than 10 points only once this year. On offense, they average 43 points per game. With a win, Glades Central would be in prime position to win its first state title since 2006 and its seventh overall.
Mitch Stephens: Glades Central 42, Norland 28
Steve Montoya: Glades Central 28, Norland 20
Stephen Spiewak: Glades Central 38, Norland 21
Kevin Askeland: Glades Central 42, Norland 14
Jamie DeMoney: Glades Central 37, Norland 29
Duke Johnson and Norland lost in the title game last year. They'll be trying to avoid a repeat.
File photo by Stuart Browning
