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FLAG FOOTBALL CLASS 1A STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW
Who: Robinson vs. Godby
What: Class 1A State Semifinal
When: Friday, May 13 at 8:00 pm
Where: Jack Peters Field at Robinson High School (Tampa); Address: 6311 S. Lois Ave., Tampa, FL 33616
Tickets: $8.00 per session (all of Friday’s games count as one session)
Parking: $5.00 per car, $50.00 per bus. All proceeds go to Hillsborough County Schools.
Live Webcast: NFHS Network ($9.95 for day pass)
Records: Robinson, 15-1; Godby, 14-2
Looking at the Rankings: Robinson – Ranked No. 1 in FloridaHSFootball.com’s Class 1A Flag Football Rankings. Ranked No. 1 in Joe Pinkos’ Class 1A Power 25 Rankings; Godby – Ranked No. 5 in FloridaHSFootball.com’s Class 1A Flag Football Rankings. Ranked No. 4 in Joe Pinkos’ Class 1A Power 25 Rankings.
ABOUT THE ROBINSON LADY KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Josh Saunders
Years As Head Coach at School: 10th year
It has been a big season for the Robinson Lady Knights, having put themselves on the line several times this season including their trip to the Capital City Classic in Tallahasee as well as their game with South Tampa rival Plant High School. All of that is helped the Lady Knights continue to build a solid winner who is now in the hunt for their second state championship in four years.
However, before all that can happen, the Lady Knights must face a familiar foe in the Godby Lady Cougars who they faced in bracket play at the Capital City Classic. The notion in Flag Football is – or well any sport – is that it is hard to beat any team twice in the same season. So call this a rematch if you well.
Looking at the Lady Knights offense, they carry one of the most potent offenses in the state. Through 16 games, they have been able to score 621 total points while only giving up just 50 points – and yes that is not a typo. What might be even more impressive is the amount of offensive yards they have been able to put up so far at almost nearly 4,500 yards. If you are saying impressive – they are indeed impressive.
Everything on offense starts with the quarterback and for senior Kayla Knowlton she has been a shining star at the position having thrown for 2,806 yards and completing 217 of 318 pass attempts. However, what is even more astounding is that Knowlton has thrown for 54 touchdowns this season.
Knowlton’s favorite targets in the passing game include junior Emily Draper who has had 71 catches for 1,140 yards and 17 TDs, while senior Megan Bohan has had 63 catches for 945 yards and 19 TDs. Also we can’t forget to mention junior McKenna Tyson who has had 45 catches for 523 yards and 16 TDs.
As for the rushing game – it is there when it is needed, but don’t really expect much of it, if any at all unless the passing game gets shut down.
On defense senior Kelly Dorsey is a big leader for the Lady Knights, having 80 flag pulls, 4 INTs and 1 sack through the regional finals. Another big leader is sophomore Sarah Jennewein who has had 65 flag pulls and 17 sacks. And if you want to find another big contributor to the defense, just look at Bohan from the offense who has also collected up 62 flag pulls and 3 INTs so far on the season.
Coach Talks About His Team
As part of our preview, we reached out to the coaches of each Flag Football team. Here is what Coach Josh Saunders had to say:
On the most challenging thing the team has faced this season: “We graduated 10 players last year including three 1st team All State players. In that group was our QB, our leading offensive, and leading defensive player. Replacing those players was a learning experience early and we lost our most experienced returners, Cierra Canty (torn ACL), Tyson 3 games, and Bohan 3 games.”
On the easiest thing the team has faced this season: “Our team always gets along well and supports each other. We had three seniors play for the first time and they fit in to the group easily.”
Would he change anything he has done that has gotten the team to this point?: “Our team always gets along well and supports each other. We had three seniors play for the first time and they fit in to the group easily.”
What he knows on opponent Godby: “Played them in the Capital City Classic. They are the worst kind of team to play against because they are well coached and unbelievably athletic with a QB who can make plays with her arm and feet.”
3/10 – Jefferson, W 52-0
3/21 – Blake, W 41-0
3/24 – Brooks-DeBartolo, W 58-0
3/28 – Leto, W 45-6
3/31 – Hillsborough, W 53-0
4/2 – FAMU, W 55-0*
4/2 – Lincoln, L 13-6*
4/2 – Godby, W 22-6*
4/4 – Plant, W 19-13
4/7 – Chamberlain, W 60-0
4/11 – Spoto, W 47-0
4/18 – Alonso, W 13-0
4/25 – Chamberlain, W 47-0**
4/27 – Brooks-DeBartolo, W 39-12**
5/6 – St. Petersburg Northeast, W 32-0***
5/10 – Armwood, W 33-0***
* – Capital City Classic
** – District 1A-7 Tournament
*** – Playoff Game
ABOUT THE GODBY LADY COUGARS
Head Coach: Chelsea Parmer
Years As Head Coach: 3rd year at Godby; 5th year overall as head coach (2012-2013 at Leon)
Want to watch an up and coming coach that will be making a big impact on Flag Football in the years to come like she did when she was played at Leon High School? Look no further than of Chelsea Parmer who now in her third year at Godby has been able to lead the Lady Cougars back to the state semifinals for the second time in three years.
Why do we make a point to stress this. It is because she helped lead Leon two consecutive state championships in 2007 and 2008 and could have the potential to become the first former athlete of the sport to win state championships as both a player and head coach if Godby is to win out this weekend (this according to what we have been able to find information wise).
However, they Lady Cougars must get past a familiar foe in the Robinson Lady Knights, who they lost to during bracket play at the Capital City Classic in Tallahasee last month.
Looking at the offense, thing start behind center and the leader of that positon has been no other than senior Shelby Hartley has been the only quarterback that Coach Parmer has had to coach two years in a row. Hartley has passed for 2,333 yards on 213 of 424 pass completions. That also includes 48 touchdown passes.
Hartley’s favorite targets in the passing game include freshman Armarni Williams, who has 51 catches for 747 yards and 14 TDs, junior Jamecia Mitchell who has 62 catches for 624 yards and 13 TDs and junior Darrion Denmark who has had 55 catches for 551 yards and 12 TDs.
Like Robinson, don’t expect Godby to rush the ball a lot.
On defense, keep an eye on senior Alexis Nelson who has had 64 flag pulls this season (19 for a loss) and 28 sacks. You can also find Hartley as a big contributor to the defense as well as she has had 67 flag pulls (2 for loss) to along with 6 INTs. Another key defender to keep an eye is Denmark as she had contributed 9 INTs on the season as well.
Coach Talks About Her Team
As part of our preview, we reached out to the coaches of each Flag Football team. Here is what Coach Chelsea Parmer had to say:
On the most challenging thing the team has faced this season: “Most challenging thing for our team this season has been our strength of schedule and our youth. We start 3 freshman. Only have 3 returning starters.”
On the easiest thing the team has faced this season: “Easiest thing for our team this year has been everyone’s willingness to buy in. This is also the most close knit team I’ve ever been around.”
Would she change anything he has done that has gotten the team to this point?: “Not sure if I would change much from this season. I feel like we’ve played one of the toughest schedules out there and it has allowed our girls to see what the best teams look like. I think that is important with a young group.”
What she knows on opponent Robinson: “Yes. It’s Robinson. The name alone tells you all you need to know. They are the #1 ranked team in the state for a reason. They are extremely well coached and have seen it all with the experience they have. We are excited and looking forward to the opportunity to have another crack at them.”
3/11 – Lincoln, W 7-0
3/22 – East Gadsden, W 41-6
3/24 – FAMU, W 32-6
4/1 – Orange Park, W 24-0*
4/2 – Alonso, L 19-0*
4/2 – Robinson, L 19-6*
4/5 – Rickards, W 48-0
4/7 – Chiles, W 15-7
4/11 – Florida High, W 46-6
4/14 – Leon, W 19-0
4/19 – Boca Ciega, W 26-0
4/20 – St. Pete. Northeast, W 19-6
4/25 – Leon, W 25-6**
4/27 – Chiles, W 19-13**
5/6 – Choctaw, W 13-12 (OT)***
5/10 – Terry Parker, W 26-0***
* – Capital City Classic
** – District 1A-2 Tournament
*** – Playoff Game
OUR TAKE ON TOMORROW
A rare rematch from the regular season here in the state semifinals and I think the FHSAA made the right call by allowing host Robinson to get the final game of the evening against Godby. Both teams are highly competitive and have skilled athletes and both are well coached. Already having seen both of these teams at the Capital City Classic this season, this game should cap off a great Friday evening in South Tampa with two of the best Flag Football team in the state. It will be hard to say who will, but it is going to be worthy every penny of admission to see these teams battle it out for the right to play for a state championship on Saturday.
