DarterBlue2
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Posts posted by DarterBlue2
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11 hours ago, imjustafan2 said:
Cocoa wins 34-14.
South Sumter came to play but ran out of gas as the better team pulled away ...
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37 minutes ago, 181pl said:
I was just about to say that Vanguard put up a huge win against a defending state champ...
They certainly did. Both Mainland and St. Augustine are likely very aware that Vanguard stands in their way.
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I think your assessment is fair. CCC has the best chance of making the finals as I think it's better than 50/50; unfortunately, if they do, they face what is likely the best team in the state.
Ironically, the team with the best chance of winning a state title if it got there is Gaither, who, if by some magic, could upset St. Thomas in the semis, would at least have a 45/55 shot at beating either Homestead or Jones the following week.
If Plant beats Columbus, which is plausible, though it will be difficult, they would still be an underdog against either Mandarin or Monarch. But at least they would not be an overwhelming underdog. I believe their odds, should they beat Columbus, would likely be about 40% - 45%.
Unfortunately for Berkeley, they will face back to back giants on the way to a state title. Beating one seems possible if unlikely, beating both, would be a once in a lifetime achievement and would be a little too much to realistically expect.
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1 minute ago, nolebull813 said:
Yeah half the semi final rounds are good, and the other half are duds!
Gaither vs STA???? That’s a mockery of the sport!
Then I guess you will only have 10 games in the next round unless some of them come with margin of victory criteria and not just pick the winners.
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5 minutes ago, LongtimeVero said:
Can DeLand beat Venice?
Yes, but that game will be far more difficult for DeLand to win. If anything, they are at a natural disadvantage against the current Venice team.
My best bet is you get: Venice vs the winner of Buchholtz/Lakeland in the 4S final.
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3 minutes ago, KeemD321 said:
Right. There so many great games this round and a couple major upsets
By the third round, most of the pretenders have already been eliminated. So, you get very good games unless one team is just head and shoulders better than all the rest, which, unfortunately, has been the case too many times in the recent past.
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2 hours ago, Longtime Observer said:
After the narrow kickoff classic win over Ocala Vanguard, I said it was an indicator MC wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Of course, such a statement was impermissible at the time. Hopefully, now, I can say it: Central struggling to win at Vanguard was a harbinger of the season to come for the Rockets. No, teams don't travel 10 hours by bus to play in a game where they just want to get the backups and JV some reps. Miami Central struggled to score at Vanguard and they only managed 17 points against a MNW team that yielded 63 to Venice. Many of the kickoff classic games really are good indicators of teams' upcoming seasons. That some schools treat the classics as NFL-style exhibitions doesn't mean they all do.
In fairness to Vanguard, they are alive and well and looking like they may win a state title for Marion Publics for the first time in forever.
- Dan in Daytona, 181pl, Cat_Scratch and 1 other
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3 hours ago, KeemD321 said:
Barely scrapping by
But still in the hunt. @imjustafan2 went down fighting to the end and was a noble loser. Sorry the season had to end that way for him. He was this round's Seminole.
- imjustafan2 and KeemD321
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5 hours ago, LongtimeVero said:
3rd quarter...DeLand 31 TC 0
I was the only one in the pick em to get this game right. As we discussed, Rick Darlington nor Jeff Rolson, are not going to lose to a single wing team, especially one that was taught the single wing by Rick Darlington. Just is not going to happen unless: 1. The team has one of the best Offensive Lines in the state; 2. It has at least 3 power 5, running backs in the backfield; 3. It has a QB that can, if required to, hurl the ball downfield accurately.
TC was a solid team. But it never met the above criteria. As in 2021 when Apopka shut them down in the semis, they were doomed by the draw.
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19 minutes ago, ExplorerHomer2 said:
From nearly beating the #1 team in the nation at their place on week 0, we now see them getting beaten for probably the 2nd time this season by Norland. I mean dogged right now. And Norland is good, but not THAT good. I know they QB went down in that 1st loss to the Vikings, but this is crazy for a school that had like 30+ transfers and hopes for a natty a couple months ago. @MC Rockets you got the story?
3rd quarter, Norland is up 3 scores on the Rockets.
Heavily recruited teams don't always win. If no chemistry, no title. VB is a lesser example of the same issue.
- Airek and Cat_Scratch
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1 hour ago, Ray Icaza said:
Glad to hear that as your view is solid, though it probably won't prevent some nearby school in need of a QB to try.
Ray, If I had one iota of a chance, I would snap up Noah in a heartbeat. I am sure Seminole would like to. The sell would be a state championship. But I think that he won't budge as I believe he likes his current situation.
- Ray Icaza, KeemD321 and Cat_Scratch
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6 hours ago, nolebull813 said:
IMG might make a run at him
41 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:You reckon they would be the only one??
He's not going anywhere. Family is well grounded in the Lake Mary community. What they need are three replacement receivers, a good backup running back and more strength in their secondary. If they get all or some of these, they will be a contender next year, too.
- Ray Icaza and Cat_Scratch
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1R - Williston vs Hawthorne
Union County vs Madison County
Bozeman vs Holmes County
1S - Moore Haven vs First Baptist
Melbourne Central Catholic vs Ocala Trinity Catholic
1M - Carrollwood Day vs Clearwater Central Catholic
Archbishop Carroll vs True North Classical
2S - Pensacola Catholic vs Florida High
Baker County vs Bradford County
2M - Miami Central vs Norland
Bolles vs Bishop Moore - This is a sentiment pick on my part. It's going to be a tall order to beat Bolles even at home.
Calvary Christian (Clearwater) vs Berkeley Prep
3S - Dunbar vs Naples
St Augustine vs Choctawhatchee
3M - Tampa Bay Tech vs Jones - Jones had better win this; if they can't I doubt they ever get another finals appearance.
Miramar vs Homestead
4S - Deland vs Treasure Coast - If there's any defense Darlington can stop, it's the single wing.
4M - Mandarin vs Seminole - Mandarin may have peaked at the right time. I am not totally sold as the WP win was not impressive, and LM was a shell of its early season going into the playoffs with the exit of its Running Back/Receiver who had accounted for over 1,400 yards of total offense.
Palm Beach Central vs Monarch
Western vs Columbus
Picks bold underscored.
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2 hours ago, Longtime Observer said:
I think Venice scheduling Armwood and Cocoa might have helped them, as neither is such world beaters that they would've been out of the question.
You are underestimating Cocoa. They are totally capable of hanging with anyone in the state of Florida. Just ask St. Thomas Aquinas.
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2 hours ago, KeemD321 said:
Right. Maybe they were looking ahead or underestimated Boone. Who knows but it was definitely a shocker
Seminole exposed weakness on the right side of their secondary in the final five minutes of their game a few weeks ago when they came back from a 14 point deficit to win. Mainland failed to throw the ball effectively against LM and did not exploit it. Boone kept throwing in that area and picked up TDs and big yardage. Another thing Boone did effectively after watching video of the game, is this: Rather than running the ball up the gut against LM or trying to get the ball to the (edge) sidelines and running it from there, Boone's QB would pitch the ball out to the running back in space after looking like he was going to throw downfield. This caught the LM defense flatfooted a couple times and Boone took full advantage.
This game was the total opposite of the Mainland game. Against Mainland, LM looked like they had a monster defense. Against Boone, their defense looked suspect for a state title contender. LM had over 500 offensive yards in this game. Boone must have had close to 500 as well.
With LM's defensive weaknesses exposed, it should be interesting to see how Mandarin approaches their rematch next week. Also, if LM's running back, Isiah Thomas is not able to return (sadly, he looks like he may have sustained a bad injury although I can't say for sure), LM's running game is severely impacted as the backup they used is not nearly as good.
I have still picked them to win this upcoming week and still feel they have the offense to get them to state and maybe win it all, but all of a sudden they are looking a lot more vulnerable.
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11 minutes ago, Manatee Magic said:
Is this jambun82:
I'll ask Dan.
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Pahokee vs Williston
Holmes County vs Chipley
Sneads vs Blountstown
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Moore Haven vs Naples Community
Ocala Trinity Catholic vs Holy Trinity Episcopal
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Providence vs Orlando Christian Prep
Cardinal Newman vs Benjamin
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Pensacola Catholic vs Walton
Wakulla vs Florida High
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Bolles vs Raines
Tampa Catholic vs Berkeley Prep
3S -
Lincoln vs Choctaw
Eau Gallie vs Sebring
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Armwood vs Tampa Bay Tech
Gaither vs Largo
4S -
Bartram Trail vs Niceville
Lake Minneola vs Wiregrass Ranch
University Orange City vs Deland
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Miami Palmetto vs Western
Mandarin vs Lake Mary
Picks bold underscored.
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31 minutes ago, 181pl said:
http://tampasportshistory.blogspot.com/2009/11/plant-plant-city-clash-at-tampa-stadium.html?m=1
Good article about when Plant and Plant Citydrew 23K at Tampa Stadium. I went. I was 10.
Very interesting read. Thanks for posting. I was a college sophomore at the University of the West Indies when that game was played.
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2 hours ago, KeemD321 said:
I saw that halftime score and thought ain't no way
Lake Mary's running back went down early in the first quarter to a vicious hit. But that does not explain Boone scoring 38 on them after they blanked Mainland the week before.
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12 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:
Have to be honest that deep down inside I was positive we would win this game. How wrong I was!! Props to TC for a well played game, no turnovers, maybe only 2-3 penalties, stayed on schedule on offense and blanked us on defense. Quite the opposite on our side of the ledger as we committed numerous penalties on both sides of the ball, dropped at least 3 short passes, played with little emotion and most of all our offensive line simply stunk the place up. I can't recall the last time the Kowboys have looked and played this poorly, It was truly embarrassing and feel for our fans as well as theirs for having to endure this kind of performance in a playoff game. Time to SHUT UP!!
Sorry for the loss Ray, this year was not Osceola's.
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2 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:
Still don't see them as a state championship caliber team and expect them to struggle with Vero next week and even more so with Deland. They do execute well and play tough defense so you have to go out and beat them as they won't beat themselves.
DeLand gave up a lot of points last night. But Darlington should be able to stop the single wing.
As for Vero Beach, on paper they should match up well against TC, but they did not show it last time.
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On 11/5/2023 at 10:03 AM, DarterBlue2 said:
There are a few frauds on that list that will get exposed somewhere between (and including) the first and third rounds.
I kind of figured Winter Park was a fraud. Very weak schedule and a few unimpressive performances in their record against relatively weak teams. Not surprised Mandarin took them down.
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Thanks for posting this so quickly. This way I don't have to rely on spotty Jamaican Internet. I will have my picks up by Sunday before I go.
- KeemD321, nolebull813 and Nulli Secundus
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Who picked TC over DeLand?
in The Huddle
Posted
Deland's best chance to beat Venice would be to run the ball effectively and try and eat up the clock, keeping Venice's high powered offense off the field as much as possible. If Deland has to depend on its passing game, they are in deep trouble. Darlington is an offensive genius. So, I would not discount him. But if Venice vs Deland is in our tournament, my chips are on Venice this time.
Sorry SexyBeast, my heart's with Deland, but cold logic says Venice.