The Regional Quarterfinals of the 2018 FHSAA football playoffs provided a lot of excitement for football fans around the state and along the way it produced some interesting numbers. From St. Thomas Aquinas setting a new school record for most points scored in a playoff game to teams making history by winning their first playoff game in school history or winning their first playoff game in three, four or five decades, there is an interesting nugget or two that might catch your eye!
Check out the numbers we have this week with our Inside the Numbers – Regional Quarterfinals Edition:
77 – Points scored by St. Thomas Aquinas against South Miami in their Class 7A-Region 4 quarterfinal game, which sets a new high for points scored in a single playoff game by the Raiders. Their previous high, according to the FHSAA Football record book was 67 in a 1999 regional quarterfinal game against Port Charlotte. In that game St. Thomas Aquinas scored 56 of the 67 points in the first half, according to Richard Burton’s book “The Seeds of Greatness.”
12 – Shutouts recorded in the regional quarterfinals which is five fewer than last year’s total of 17 shutouts posted in the opening round of the playoffs.
4 – Teams that won their first playoff game in school history in the opening round of the playoffs. Those schools are – Bloomingdale, Carrollwood Day, Holy Trinity and Lake Weir. Of all of the schools, Lake Weir is the oldest of the schools to finally win a playoff game.
33 – Host teams that lost their opening regional quarterfinal playoff game. That is compared to only 21 host teams last year losing their opening round playoff game.
349 – Yards that Braden River running back Brian Battie rushed for in the Pirates 28-23 win over Plant City. Battie accounted for all four of the Pirates’ touchdowns in the game to help them advance to the Class 7A-Region 3 semifinal game at Venice on Friday.
1 – Only one No. 1 seed fell in the opening round of the playoffs with Class 5A-Region 3 No. 1 seed Hardee being upset by No. 8 seed Jefferson, 19-16.
4 – Turnovers that Winter Park was able to capture Friday night, two of them being interceptions returned for touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 34-7 win over Flagler Palm Coast in their Class 8A-Region 1 quarterfinal opener.
5 – Touchdowns that were thrown by Mandarin quarterback Carson Beck in the Mustang’s 35-0 rematch win over DeLand in their Class 8A-Region 1 quarterfinal opener. Beck threw for 224 yards in the one-sided affair.
36 – Number of teams that scored 40 points more in their regional quarterfinal playoff game.
370 – Yards Miami Northwestern quarterback Isiah Velez torched on host Mainland in their 31-16 win in their Class 6A-Region 4 quarterfinal game. Velez had three passing touchdowns on the night.
34 – The number of years between Father Lopez’s last on the field playoff win (1984) and their latest playoff win, a 23-21 squeaker over Melbourne Central Catholic in their Class 3A-Region 2 quarterfinal opener. A 2005 playoff game against University Christian was later reversed to a win due to forfeit.
1 – Pass attempts by Baker County in their 28-14 come from behind win over Hernando in their Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal game.
13 – Years between Palm Beach Lakes won their last playoffs game in 2005 and defeating McArthur 6-3 in their Class 7A-Region 4 quarterfinal opener.
512 – Yards Columbia racked up against Fletcher in their 38-10 opening round win against Fletcher in the Class 7A-Region 1 quarterfinals. Quarterback Jordan Smith threw for 429 yards and four touchdowns as part of the overall total.
18 – Years that it took Astronaut to achieve a 10-win season. The last time they achieved that accomplishment was in 2000, the year they were the Class 3A State Runner-up under former Head Coach Randy Hallock.
50 – Games decided by 21 points or less in the regional quarterfinal games in all classifications. That is half of the 100 playoff games that were played in the opening round of the playoffs. That is compared to only 42 games last year being decided by 21 points or less in the opening round.
358 – Total first-half yards Edgewater racked up in their dominating 65-21 Class 7A-Region 1 quarterfinal victory over Buchholz.
41 – Number of years between Palmer Trinity’s first playoff win (1977) and their second playoff win in school history with a 22-10 win over Westminster Christian in their Class 3A-Region 4 quarterfinal opener.
381 – Yard of offense that Lakeland used to steamroll Wiregrass Ranch in their 43-7 victory in the Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinals.
303 – Rushing yards by Kathleen in their 13-6 victory over Harmony in their Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal victory.
14 – Number of years between P.K. Yonge’s last playoff win (2004) and their latest playoff win, a 36-22 victory over Bradford in their Class 4A-Region 2 quarterfinal opener.
30 – Number of carries by Lake Wales running back Johnny Richardson had the Highlanders’ 25-14 victory over Gainesville in their Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinal opener. Richardson had 210 yards rushing in the game with one touchdown and one two-point conversion attempt.
456 – Offensive yards that Dunnellon had total in their 41-13 victory over South Sumter in their Class 4A-Region 2 quarterfinal opener.
5 – First quarter touchdowns scored by St. Thomas Aquinas in their 77-20 Class 7A-Region 4 quarterfinal victory over South Miami.
336 – Yards rushed by Vanguard in 32 attempts in a 35-7 win over Sebring in their Class 6A-Region quarterfinal opener.
52 – Years that passed between Fort Lauderdale’s first playoff win (1966) and their second playoff win in school history, a 54-7 victory over Doral Academy in their Class 7A-Region 4 quarterfinal opener.
393 – Yards gained by Wekiva in their 16-0 shutout victory in a rematch of West Orange in their Class 8A-Region 1 quarterfinal opener.
7 – Touchdowns scored by Venice in their 59-23 Class 7A-Region 3 quarterfinal victory over Tampa Bay Tech. Running back Brandon Gregory rushed four touchdowns while Hayden Wolff threw for three.
240 – Yards rushed by Nature Coast running back Michael Weston in a 57-26 win over Eastside in a Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal opener. Weston scored four touchdowns for the Sharks.
371 – Rushing yards by Dixie County in their 39-6 win over Branford in their Class 1A-Region 3 quarterfinal opener.
10 – Years between South Walton’s first-ever playoff win (2008) and second-ever playoff which they defeated the infamous winless Gadsden County team 35-12 in their Class 4A-Region 1 quarterfinal opener.
Information was used from various game reports including those from the Bradenton Herald, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Times-Union, Florida Today, Gainesville Sun, Lakeland Ledger, Miami Herald, Ocala Star-Banner, Orlando Sentinel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Tampa Bay Times
