Hwy17

I didn't say IMG wasn't good. But they are beatable. IMG recruits top players but not everyone of their players are top players. Coaches that have a lot of talent at their disposal tend to get lazy, because they can overwhelm their opponents. That is until they run into a team that can match them talent wise and is better coached. Then they lose. IMG's schedule was tough, but not anymore than what some of the other top teams in Florida play every week.

So Darter, who did IMG play and beat that was so damn impressive? Mirimar was 5-5, Desoto Tx was 6-6, Bergen Catholic was 7-4. Yeah they got name recognition but if those teams are that great why aren't don't they have more wins. IMG beat Cocoa, but Cocoa is a 4a small school. You can't convince me that Palmetto, Venice, or Charlotte wouldn't have beat those same teams, nor would I not be surprised if those 3 wouldn't give IMG all they could handle. IMG only played one true powerhouse, that was AHP, and they lost. I stand by my statement: Manatee and Braden River would both win over IMG.

5 days ago everyone on here wanted to hand AHP the 5a title! A little note about AHP - this is a program that never could get past the 1st round of the playoffs until somehow magically they start getting all the star players that didn't go the STA. AHP wins because they overwhelm their opponents with size and speed, same as IMG, until they run into a team who can match them and has the coaching to boot. 2013 was AHP's best team of the last three years. Hell my school held them to 10 points in the first half with a bunch of average players until we gave out because of no depth. We had 3 10th graders at defensive back and totally shut down their passing game. Our line wore out and then we couldn't stop Sony Michele. So if we could do that with undersized average at best players, they would have got their butts handed to them by a team with equal size and speed. And we saw that the next season when they played STA. So, like you said, AHP won at IMG. It would practically be a home game for Manatee or Braden River to play there and yes, both can and probably would beat them.

Actually, I feel that the discourse as of late has fallen to the point where too much emphasis is placed on national rankings and what some computer says (i.e. maxpreps). While I view it as a good resource and fair way to measure. one must account for how those rankings can and do become flawed. For one, teams are rewarded too much for "style points", without actually taking into account how some teams actually match up with the next. Secondly, too much emphasis is given to past performance rather that taking into account how a team is actually performing. Exampe, the powerhouse team that has a down year still gets ranked ahead of the team that is having their first championship run ever. I've been following high school football in Florida since I was a kid. I lost all respect for "national rankings" when little ol' Bartow high beat the supposed #1 team in the country, Bolles, in the 96 state title game. IMG won games over so called "national powers" DeSoto Texas and Paramus Catholic who are 6-6 and 3-6 respectively? Come on! I'm sorry but I can't respect that they are that great. Manatee, while somewhat down this year due to graduation, still has some serious size, speed and talent. Trying to keep a young team like that focused when going on the road is difficult. But a matchup where they would be a home team; even in IMG's stadium. I'd have to go with the Hurricanes. Braden River: I've really enjoyed following them this season. In my opinion they are building a powerhouse program the right way. They actually remind me of where Manatee and Southeast were in the 80's and 90's. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that Braden River will win the 7a title!

Said it, meant it! Braden River or Manatee playing IMG in their own back yard would win.

I don't consider them a high school team. I think most Florida schools have actually boycotted playing them because of how they operate. There are 6 NAIA college teams in Florida, let IMG play their JV teams, seeing how their season is meaningless because they can't compete for a title. Aside from that, I think IMG may actually be the 3rd best in Manatee county.

Hallandale did it!

I don't know, I'm no so quick to just hand AHP the title yet. Bishop Moore gave AHP all they could handle last year and they are 10-1 with their only loss to Lake Brantley. I think Jesuit has been the best in region 3 all year.

11--0; do they have what it takes to beat AHP?

Sebring has for the last couple of years had a winning season but kept out of the playoffs due to having both Winter Haven and Lake Gibson in their district. They play Lake Gibson this week for the district title. Earlier this season I thought they were a little over-rated as their only quality win was over 2a Westminster Christian who I also think is over-rated. The Hardee game was canceled and I liked our chances at the time, but since then Sebring has beat a respectable Port Charlotte and remains unbeaten. I haven't seen Sebring in person but what I've heard is that they got a passing game that can score quickly.

I get why AP, LP, Mulberry, Tenoroc are the same district due to geography. Its LaBelle, Gateway and Bishop Verot that is such a long ride. In 2013, my team - Hardee, went 11-2 and beat Avon Park 56-0. I think AP only had like 25 players on their team. My impression was that they weren't so bad, but worn out by half-time. The next day a friend of mine in Polk county who's son was playing youth football said AP's youth team was the best in the conference. The former Hardee coach now coaches the Jr. High team and said both AP and Sebring is loaded with up a coming talent and expect both to be strong for the next few years. I've always said that both, Sebring especially, always has had the players but lacked the coaching. Now they got the coaching.

I wonder why Labelle is in that district and Clewiston isn't? Avon Park has come a long ways and getting back to a culture of winning that somehow got lost. They aren't the most athletic team, but they play smart. They got a good defense, a good offensive line, and a strong running back. They don't make stupid penalties or turn the ball over.

For the first time in years (maybe ever?) Sebring and Avon Park are not only both in the playoffs but both undefeated. How far can they go?

Down here in the Heartland, the measuring stick for a dynasty has got to be Lakeland. Bill Castle has never had a losing season and several state championships, including winning 60 straight. The last several years haven't been as good, but still winning seasons, district titles but no state title. How do feel about Fort Meade? Since the early 90's they have been arguable the strongest small town team in Florida but only 1 state title despite making the finals many times. Frostproof; been down in recent years but from the early 70's to mid-2000 they were consistently producing winning seasons, district titles, and 3 state titles, plus a couple more finals appearances. Avon Park: was a powerhouse in the 1980's winning back-to-back state titles in 1987-1988. Haven't had but a few good seasons since. Glad to see them back to winning this year Hardee and Lake Wales: I don't consider dynasties. Compare the two side-by-side since the 1960's and both have more winning seasons than most other programs do. Neither have won a state title but both have gotten there.

So, consecutive winning seasons? Number of state titles? Playoff Appearances? Programs that have been around for years usually have periods of dominance followed by years of being down: i.e. Live Oak Suwannee; Bartow;

What's the criteria being used to define dynasty?

Hardee vs DeSoto have been playing since 1921. No scores for 1921 or 1922; played twice in 1923 & 1924. There was a game in 1909 too and maybe one or two others pre-1921.

Regardless of record, Hardee vs DeSoto is always a good game. The state's oldest rivalry and both towns come out in force to support their team.