FHSAA State Championship Predictions – Second Weekend

The final weekend of the 2013 Florida High School Football season is upon us and we are down to our final four games. Who do we predict and do we predict an upset? Find out right here, right now!

CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
American Heritage-Plantation vs. Clay – American Heritage has the big stars, but Clay has its own stars – ones that are not talked about as much as the Patriots. For the Blue Devils, it is has been a team that got hot at the right time, while American Heritage has been rolling through the season after losing to Miami Central to start the season. Clay started out 3-4, before picking up the pace and rolling through the playoffs. Looking at the teams Clay has faced in the playoffs plus the upcoming game this weekend, each of the teams has had at least one nationally ranked prospect on the roster. Clay has zero prospects like that. This is what is fun about football at the high school level because anyone can get to this game as evident by Clay. American Heritage will be a heavy favorite here, but there is no way to write Clay off on this one. They are hungry to win the school’s first state title since 1967, the last and only time a Clay County School played in a state final. For American Heritage this is their second trip, but they want to take this trip back home to South Florida as a winner.
Prediction: Clay 35, American Heritage 34 (going with an upset here and a close game)

CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Armwood vs. Miami Central – Both teams are rolling high on streaks through the season and both are teams are nationally ranked through one or multiple polls. This Armwood team is not like the 2011 team where they were flying high with a ton of names in talent. The Hawks you could say are little bit more laid back. However, Miami Central is just like your typical Rockets team from last year which steam rolled through the season to win against Gainesville in the Class 6A state championship. Now facing Armwood for the second time in three years. The Rockets know the Hawks are looking to pull an upset. However, not having Joseph Yearby on the field due to a season-ending injury will take part of the punch out of the duo that has been able to burn up backfields quickly the last three seasons. Looking back at the result of last week’s state semifinal for the Rockets against Mainland, you have to believe Armwood could have a nice chance to steal the thunder and take home the crown.
Prediction: Miami Central 30, Armwood 27

CLASS 7A STATE CHAMPIOSHIP
Dwyer vs. Niceville – A rematch of the 2009 Class 4A state championship game, but neither team have any of the players who played on that squad that year as big play maker threats, so revenge for Niceville is not in the decks in this one. Both teams do have their own blend of talent that has risen up to the challenges this season. Both are equally solid teams that can play tough and physical on the field and we expect this game to be just like that. Overall, Dwyer rolled through the season undefeated, Niceville has a slight blemish, but learned really quick from that and has since bounced back. Either way expect a crowd for this game and a good game.
Prediction: Niceville 38, Dwyer 35

CLASS 8A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Apopka vs. South Dade – Apopka is back again for the second year in a row representing Class 8A North, but here comes South Dade saying “Hey! We Belong Here!” Sure enough that is what has happened and this game could be just as exciting and high scoring at the Class 8A state championship game was last season. Apopka has rolled through the season ever since Byrnes, SC took the Blue Darters down at the start of the season. South Dade also had one miscue during the season, losing to district rival Miami Killian before picking up the pace to roll through the playoffs to get to Orlando. At this point, Apopka has been a favorite to repeat since the start of the season and we think they will do it this weekend.
Prediction: Apopka 48, South Dade 40