CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: Strong Hawthorne defense meets bruising ground game of Northview for the title

NO. 2 NORTHVIEW (CENTURY) (13-0) vs. NO. 1 HAWTHORNE (11-0)

WHAT: FHSAA Class 1R State Championship

WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET

WHERE: Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee

TICKET INFO: Go Fan ($14 per game advance purchase & $17 day of)

INTERNET STREAM: Spectrum Cable ($9.95 fee per game)

RADIO: WPLL 106.9 FM “I AM COUNTRY” – Gainesville

ABOUT NORTHVIEW

COACH: Wes Summerford, 3rd year (28-7 overall at Northview)

ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE: d. Holmes County (Bonifay), 34-26 (Regional Semifinals); d. Chipley, 42-6 (Regional Finals); d. Union County (Lake Butler), 21-11 (State Semifinals)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Northview is 1-0 in state championship games. They finished as state champions in 2012.

KEY PLAYERS: RB Jamarkus Jefferson (271 car, 2,345 yds, 43 TDs; 67 tackles, 12 TFL, 7 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBUs, 2 FR, 2 FF; committed to Huntington College); OL/DL John Michael Ward, Sr. (42 tackles, 7 TFL, 6 sacks, Division I FBS prospect); QB Kaden Odom, Sr. (75-of-105, 1,367 yds, 15 TDs, 6 INTs; 78 car, 581 yds, 8 TDs); DB/WR Luke Bridges, Sr. (108 tackles. 7 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 10 PBUs; 50 car, 587 yds, 8 TDs; 22 rec, 312 yds); WR/CB Wyatt Scruggs, Jr. (17 rec, 316 yds, 6 TDs; 59 tackles, 1 TFL, 5 INTs, 14 PBUs); DB Maliki Haynes, Sr. (32 tackles, 4 TFL, 4 INTs, 14 PBUs)

SCORING AVERAGES: Points For: 39.6 ppg; Points Against: 12.8 ppg

FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM INTERVIEW WITH COACH SUMMERFORD

ABOUT HAWTHORNE

COACH: Cornelius Ingram, 8th year (70-19 at Hawthorne)

ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE: d. Wildwood, 33-15 (Regional Semifinals); d. Pahokee, 21-20 (Regional Finals), d. Blountstown, 28-0 (State Semifinals)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Hawthorne is 0-2 in state championship games. They finished as state runners-up in 2020 and 2021.

KEY PLAYERS: DE/OLB Jailen Ruth, Sr. (86 tackles, 26 TFL, 18 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 FR, 7 FF); QB Cornelius (CJ) Ingram Jr., So. ( 63-of-118, 887 yds, 7 TDs, 6 INTs; 80 car, 452 yds, 13 TDs); OT Mozell Williams; DT Stanley Cooks, Sr. (50 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FR); SS/RB/WR Darian Smith-Williams, Sr. (57 tackles, 5 INTs, 1 FF; 10 rec, 199 yds, 3 TDs); LB/RB Tyrique Robinson, Sr. (95 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FR; 1 receiving TD); RB Kennon Johnson, So. (26 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack; 44 car, 381 yds, 3 TDs); OLB/RB Isaiah Donaldson, Sr. (62 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT; 38 car, 251 yds, 8 TDs; 1 receiving TD); RB Brian James, Sr. (114 car, 509 yds, 2 TDs)

SCORING AVERAGES: Points For: 42.5 ppg; Points Against: 14 ppg

FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM INTERVIEW WITH COACH INGRAM

PREVIEW

Will the third time be the charm for the Hawthorne Hornets? That is the big question looming in this game having come up short in their previous two trips to the rural classification game the last two seasons. However there are some questions for the Hornets we will not have answered until game time Saturday night and that is the availability of Ruth who was injured during the state semifinal against Blountstown as well as CJ Ingram, the son of head coach Cornelius Ingram who also went out in the game against Blountstown. If both are able to play this should play a considerable role given what they will be facing on the other side with the Chiefs from Northview. As for Northview, they have a strong rushing attack in Jefferson who has typically seen the ball placed in his hands anywhere from 30 to 40 times a game. This is where Ruth would come in to be able to put a limit on Jefferson doing damage as he is typically known to do. Ruth would be considered the X-factor for the entire Hornets team. However, if Hawthorne is without Ruth this game could go completely opposite and be in Northview’s favor. Also for the Chiefs, they are going to be relying on Jefferson and several others to go both ways so if the Hornets can wear down on the Chiefs early on that will also be another factor that could land Hawthorne their first-ever state championship otherwise the Chiefs might be taking home their second state championship in program history.

PREDICTION

Hawthorne 27, Northview 21