NO. 2 TRINITY CATHOLIC (OCALA) (9-2) vs. NO. 1 FIRST BAPTIST (NAPLES) (9-2)
WHAT: FHSAA Class 1S State Championship
WHEN: Saturday, 1 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)
ABOUT TRINITY CATHOLIC
COACH: John Brantley, 9th year overall; 3rd year in 2nd stint (92-29 overall at Trinity Catholic and Belleview)
ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE: d. Father Lopez (Daytona Beach), 56-6 (Regional Semifinals); d. P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) (Regional Finals), 48-7; d. John Carroll (Fort Pierce) 22-10 (State Semifinals)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Trinity Catholic is 2-2 in state championship games. They finished as state champions in 2005 and 2010. They finished as runners-up in 2006 and 2008.
KEY PLAYERS: OG/DL Tommy Kinsler, Sr. (On defense – 9 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hurries, Miami commit); OT/DE Brayden Ramey, Sr. (On defense – 14 tackles, 7 TFL, 7 QB hurries, USF commit); OLB Donathon Lecorn (71 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries, 1 PBU) Division I FBS prospect); RB Beau Beard, Sr. (174 car, 1,475 yds, 22 TDs, Division I FBS prospect); QB Preston Wright, So. (88-of-117, 1,234 yds, 11 TDs, 2 INTs); SS Jeremiah Rhem (66 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 1 QB hurry,
SCORING AVERAGES: Points For: 35.6 ppg; Points Against: 15.5 ppg
FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM INTERVIEW WITH COACH BRANTLEY
ABOUT FIRST BAPTIST
COACH: Billy Sparacio, 14th year (137-67 overall at First Baptist and Barron Collier)
ROAD TO TALLAHASSEE: d. Community School (Naples), 42-6 (Regional Semifinals); d. Moore Haven, 49-24 (Regional Finals); d. Munroe Day (Quincy), 28-7 (State Semifinals)
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is First Baptist’s first appearance in a state championship game
KEY PLAYERS: QB Ethan Crossan, So. (100-of-146 passing, 1,783 yds, 22 TDs, 6 INTs; 2 rushing TDs); WR Olsen Patt-Henry (61 rec, 1,159 yds, 13 TDs, Clemson commit); RB Jaden Booker, Sr. (142 carries, 1,137 yds, 20 TDs); ATH Rich Mellien, Sr. (41 car, 500 yds, 6 TDs; 2 receiving TDs; 60 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 6 PBUs, 3 FF, 2 blocked punts, 2 blocked kicks); OLB/SS Michael Votta, Sr., (119 tackles, 11 TFL, 1 sack, 4 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 blocked kick); OLB Jose Cintron, Sr. (107 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 FF); CB Kevin Nelson, Sr. (38 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 1 FF); MLB Donovan Sealy, Sr. (54 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 PBU, 3 FR); FS Devontae Grant, So. (41 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INTs, 1 PBU, 1 FR)
SCORING AVERAGES: Points For: 36.4 ppg; Points Against: 15 ppg
FLORIDAHSFOOTBALL.COM INTERVIEW WITH COACH SPARACIO
PREVIEW
When you look at all the data coming into this state championship game there are a lot of similarities between both Trinity Catholic and First Baptist. The offenses are very similar, the defense looks similar. Even down to the scoring averages for points for and points against are very much similar. However, there is one difference here and that is Trinity Catholic’s head coach John Brantley III has been here before, but it has been 12 years since the last time the Celtics played for a title. That right there could be a key difference because Coach Brantley knows what it takes to have a team play on the big stage. However, that does not diminish First Baptist from coming in and winning their first-ever state championship. Now the biggest thing here to keep in mind is Trinity Catholic tends to run the ball a little bit more than passing it, but the offense is rather balanced. However, First Baptist has a solid passing game backed up by a solid rushing attack. For Trinity Catholic to win this one they will have to limit the passing game against Crossan and then limit Booker on his carries and keep the Lions off the field. For the Lions to win they are going to need to limit what Beard does on the ground. If they can do that and force Wright into more of a passing situation that would allow them to win the game with Mellien being an X-factor for the Lions as he has been a four-year varsity starter and can play almost anywhere on the field – both on offense and defense.
PREDICTION
Trinity Catholic 31, First Baptist 21
