RURAL FIT CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: Fort Meade and Dixie County meet for first-ever invitational championship in FHSAA history

2024 RURAL FLORIDA INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

NO. 6 FORT MEADE (5-7) VS. NO. 5 DIXIE COUNTY (7-6)

When: Fri, Dec 6

Where: The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium, The Villages (2210 Randy McDaniel Way, Middleton, FL 34762)

Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET

Live Broadcast: NFHS Network – Click Here To Watch (Subscription Required)

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Tickets: $17 with advance purchase, $20 day of – Click Here To Buy

FORT MEADE MINERS (5-7)

Head Coach: Maurice Russell (1st year, 5-7)

Playoff Appearances: 30 – 1970 (B), 1973 (2A), 1975 (2A), 1976 (2A), 1977 (2A), 1980 (2A), 1993 (2A), 1995 (2A), 1997 (2A), 1998 (2A), 1999 (A), 2000 (A), 2001 (A), 2002 (A), 2003 (1A), 2004 (1A), 2005 (1A), 2006 (1A), 2007 (1A), 2008 (1A), 2009 (1A), 2010 (1A), 2011 (3A), 2012 (3A), 2015 (1A), 2018 (1A), 2020 (1A), 2021 (1A), 2022 (1R), 2023 (1R), 2024 (R FIT)

State Finals History: 1 State Championship – 2004 (1A); 8 Runner-Up Finishes – 1973 (2A), 1993 (2A), 1999 (A), 2000 (A), 2001 (A), 2003 (1A), 2005 (1A), 2008 (1A)

2024 Results – How They Got Here
*** –  Rural FIT Playoff Game
8/23 – Hardee (Wauchula), 28-20 (L)
8/30 – at Geroge Jenkins (Lakeland), 28-7 (W)
9/6 – at Lakeland Christian, 42-21 (L)
9/13 – Mulberry, 20-14 (L)
9/20 – Victory Christian (Lakeland), 23-20 (L)
10/4 – at IMG Academy White (Bradenton), 35-9 (L)
10/25 – Frostproof, 35-19 (W)
11/1 – University Christian (Jacksonville), 34-17 (L)
11/7 – at Moore Haven, 13-9 (L)
11/15 – Taylor (Pierson), 42-0 (W)***
11/22 – at Franklin County (Eastpoint), 33-14 (W)***
11/29 – Wildwood, 20-19 (W)***

What To Know About Fort Meade: The Miners, who are under the first-year direction of Maurice Russell, have found their stride during the first-ever Rural FIT bracket playoffs, and they are looking to bring home some hardware, even if it is not a traditional state championship for the first time since 2008 when the legendary Mike Hayde was roaming the sidelines at the Polk County School. The Miners are led by sophomore quarterback Jayden McCutchen, who has found his stride during the postseason and will be a true threat to contain through the air. Jerean Jones will help balance things on the ground while keeping an eye on Omari Russell, a two-way athlete who will do damage not just in the passing game, but on defense, where he leads the team with a whopping 10 interceptions. Mehki Berrien will be a tackle machine to watch and teams have done everything to avoid having Berrien tackle whoever has the ball.

DIXIE COUNTY BEARS (CROSS CITY) (7-6)

Head Coach: Ric Whittington (1st year, 7-5; 11-21 overall as head coach – Williston 2019-2020)

Playoff Appearances: 19 – 1967 (B), 1971 (2A), 1999 (2A), 2000 (2A), 2001 (2A), 2002 (2A0, 2003 (2B), 2004 (2B), 2006 (2A), 2009 (1A), 2013 (1A), 2014 (1A), 2015 (1A), 2017 (1A), 2018 (1A), 2019 (1A), 2020 (1A), 2023 (1R), 2024 (R FIT)

State Finals History: 1 Runner-up Finish – 1971 (2A)

2024 Results – How They Got Here
*** –  Rural FIT Playoff Game
8/23 – at Lafayette (Mayo), 38-12 (L)
8/30 – at Trenton, 40-16 (W)
9/6 – Taylor County (Perry), 37-0 (L)
9/13 – Belleview, 20-8 (W)
9/20 – Keystone Heights, 14-6 (L)
10/4 – Chiefland, 48-0 (L)
10/12 – Blountstown, 22-0 (L)
10/17 – Hamilton County (Jasper), 39-20 (W)
10/25 – West Nassau (Callahan), 47-0 (L)
11/1 – Santa Fe (Alachua), 28-21 (W)
11/15 – Wewahitchka, 29-6 (W)***
11/22 – Jefferson County (Monticello), 41-32 (W)***
11/29 – Trenton, 52-22 (W)***

What To Know About Dixie County: Under the direction of first-year head coach Ric Whittington, who is a Dixie County alum, is excited about how the Bears have come along in the postseason. The Bears’ offense is mostly a ground-and-pound operation led by Mister Williams, who has over 1,200 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns this season. While Drew Pleasant has been the lead at quarterback, do not expect him to complicate things in the passing game, mostly relying on short passes to help move the offense along down the field behind the back of Williams. Defensively, it is a collective effort as Williams also plays defensively as a middle linebacker and leads the team currently with 79 tackles. There are three athletes currently tied for the lead with two interceptions each, which makes Dixie County’s defense a potential problem for the opposing Miners offense.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

This is the first-ever Florida Invitational Tournament and as such as a test for possible expansion into other classifications in football in the Sunshine State, this bracket has given teams that missed the 16-team Class Rural State Championship bracket an opportunity to have their athletes play for something. However, more importantly, give their athletes a chance to add more game film to their season highlights in hopes of being recruited by colleges across the country. This game will help highlight and showcase some of these athletes who are capable of providing services to many programs that can use the hard-working athletes who are about to graduate from these two programs.

The biggest thing that stands out for us in this game is that Fort Meade’s offensive game has looked impressive in recent weeks, but there is concern that McCutchen’s experience is still in the growing stages and that is something that Dixie County might be able to capitalize on during the game. Dixie County seems to have more of the senior-led talent and senior leadership needed to bring home some kind of hardware, something the Bears have not done since the 1971 season, and as such the team here feels that Dixie County is going to win out in this, even if it is a close one in the first-ever Rural FIT tournament.

Josh’s Pick: Dixie County
Chris’s Pick: Dixie County
Reno’s Pick: Dixie County