DarterBlue2

It was a great game. Both teams shot themselves in the foot in critical situations. Jones's QB has some of the best pocket presence I have seen in a high school QB. He had the best game I have seen him in to date, and I have watched him live about 7 times and on video probably another 7.

Maybe they have a strong team this year. Ever so often, teams that have been just average for a long time do. Lake Mary is a prime example last year and this year.

Teams that give up 40 points a game or more, rarely, if ever, win a state title in the state of Florida. You keep a lot of stats, go check them and it will be borne out. In fact, most state champions give up an average of under 21 points per game regardless of their schedule. If Venice cannot reduce the number of points other teams score against them, they will likely not win a state title this year and may not make the finals.

Not referring to this year in particular, but in general, I feel that there's less drama in the Miramar program. Dillard has been plagued with bad luck (early death) and just situations that in general, undermine their efforts to establish a consistently, good program. I would love for them to prove me wrong this week and win convincingly.

Ray, Jones is not unbeatable by any stretch. But they are capable of scoring quickly through the air and on the ground. So, the key is to contain them (unless you are a Lake Mary type offense, then you can try to win a basketball type game). Their defense is solid, but not impregnable. A solid offense can score points on them to the tune of three or so touchdowns. Osceola has a pretty solid defense. The key is to hold them to 20 or less and take your chances when you get them.

Miami Central vs American Heritage - American Heritage - I am not that impressed with Central this year Norland vs Chaminade (Thursday) - Norland - If there was no drama around Cham, then I would pick them Osceola vs Jones (Thursday) - Jones - If Osceola wants to win, they will need to hold Jones under the low 20s Venice vs Cocoa - Venice - solely because they have homefield advantage Columbus vs MNW (Thursday) - Miami Northwestern Atlantic Delray vs First Academy - First Academy - same deal as Venice. Homefield advantage Edgewater vs Apopka - Apopka - wins a defensive battle Bishop Verot vs Cardinal Mooney - Bishop Verot - Battle tested team Lake Wales vs Sanford Seminole - Seminole - difficult pick. This game could go either way. Port Charlotte vs Naples First Baptist - Port Charlotte Dillard vs Miramar - Miramar - Less drama in their program Orange City University vs Eau Gallie - Eau Gallie Lincoln vs Ware County GA - Lincoln - program seems headed in the right direction again Columbia vs Jax TC - TCA - Home advantage is the decider Buchholz vs Richmond Hill GA - Richmond Hill - home field advantage Coconut Creek vs Cardinal Gibbons - Cardinal Gibbons Nease vs St Augustine - St. Augustine Vanguard vs Dunnellon - Vanguard Oakleaf vs Bolles - Bolles Tampa Bay Tech vs Gaither - Tampa Bay Tech 12

Jones will be a tough game for anyone. They probably have their most complete team in that it has no glaring weaknesses. However, after having the Edgewater game well in hand at the half, they allowed Edgewater to fight back and make a game of it. Osceola has a decent shot at pulling the upset and I expect a close game. But overall, I feel Jones is the more complete team. I have not made my pick on this one yet, as I need to think this game through a bit more. If the game is low scoring, I expect Osceola may pull the upset. But if the winner scores 25 or more, my cash is on Jones to win.

Nice lineup. I smell a few upsets.

I don't buy your response.

So, TBT and Lake Mary take two top 5 teams down to the wire and what do they get: TBT unceremoniously booted from the top 25 and Lake Mary moves up 1 spot, the same as Lakeland a team that was on the ropes inside the final three minutes and which but for a missed field goal would have lost.

Games like those will be bracket breakers. Truly no telling which team would win. Think of it: Colonial vs Gateway or something similar (I don't think those two play each other). But games like those would be very hard to predict.

It's actually unfair, since they (the leaders) will preserve their lead.

Ely Columbus West Broward Sanford Seminole Northwestern Palm Beach Central Columbia Tampa Bay Tech Gadsden Mandarin American Heritage South Sumter I actually feel good about the above picks. Seems like @nolebull813gave us a break this week.

It's what I like about him. When he is at his best, he can beat you with a variety of passes: short and deep and he can put good touch on his balls. But, when he has to, he's actually deceptively good at picking up yards when he takes off. He has long legs so that's a big plus.

I agree with you. But Isiah Thomas is a vastly underrated underrecruited back, though. He showed it against state champ Mainland last year and again this year against Lakeland. I hope he gets some decent offers which I think he deserves. Grubbs, though not back at 2023 form, had his best passing night of the year. He also picked up two first downs with his legs when the pocket broke down.

Thrilling game. In similar fashion to the Venice/Northwestern game, Lake Mary had the sustained drives while Lakeland scored on big plays. Like I said last year: They are not Cake Mary anymore.

After watching the Lakeland vs Central game, if LM wants to win, it will have to: 1. Improve on its passing game (it needs to be where it was mid-season last year in terms accuracy). 2. Either get to the Lakeland QB early and often, or find a way to strengthen its secondary (Lakeland is not a passing juggernaut, but this team can move the ball through the air effectively and LM has given up points mostly due to its secondary in all of its three games).

Winners below: Cocoa Lakeland - I hope I am wrong Chaminade Armwood Ware County St. Augustine Valdosta Hawthorne Vanguard Columbia

How about if it's played by Thursday of the upcoming week or before? That would seem reasonable if both teams were able to make a Wednesday game happen. Of course if they played on Wednesday, it would mean that either both were off or both had Saturday games are were willing to get this one in. I couldn't imagine either agreeing to Wednesday if they had games on Thursday or Friday.

Is the Palmetto vs BTW game scratched or will it count if the second half ends up being played?

Even with that, though, you have to admit it was a great win for Ely. Like I said, I am glad their program's been turning around. It should also motivate Dillard to up their game so you don't end up losing three in a row or something like that in the Soul Bowl if Ely be firing on all cylinders and Dillard be somewhere in the middle which is what they have been recently.

Swint is a very, very good running back. But I have seen better over the 26 seasons I have spent watching high school football, mostly in Central Florida. In fact, Osceola had a better back in "Bubba" Brown back when they made the run at a state title in either 2008 or 2007, I forget which. And, I would rank Samaj Fleming of Edgewater as an equal of Swint. True they are very different kinds of football players, so a comparison of what each brings to the table is probably not very worthwhile. I read @Jullian's comments about Grubbs with interest. He stated that he missed his receivers most of the night against Cardinal Gibbons. He largely did the same against Osceola each time he went deep. It may be that I may have overestimated his overall accuracy based on the receiving group he had last year. Three of the 4 were seniors and have graduated and they have a "new bunch". To the eye they all look the part; and he has about six to work with instead of four like he did last year. But it just seemed to me that the route running and passing were off. I expect as the season progresses, it will improve. If it does, LM's offense will be like a well oiled machine and I can see a potential showdown with Venice in the state title game or semi finals.

Ely has been showing signs of returning to their former selves the past two years. I am glad for them. I know they are your rival, so I don't expect joy on your part.

I just watched the video of the entire game. Lake Mary has a very good defensive front, better than it was last year. Grubbs has yet to establish chemistry with his new crop of receivers (they only returned one starter from last year). Teams that depend on running the ball exclusively against Lake Mary will have a lot of trouble scoring. Teams that move the ball through the air will score their fair share of touchdowns. Until it's final drive of the game, Osceola probably had less than 75 yards of total offense. Losing their principal running back early in the first hurt. However, it is noteworthy that their only sustained drive came when they threw a number of short passes effectively. The call against the Osceola DB looked questionable and can only be justified if he said something totally disrespectful to the Lake Mary receiver. Not being there, I don't know. I also agree that there should have been a physical measurement on fourth down when the ball was just given back to LM. Frankly, I don't know if LM converted the first down or not. But it certainly was very close either way and five years ago would have been measured. If Lakeland has a sound passing game to go with its vaunted defense, they will win. However, if as in the past, they rely on trying to pound the ball, Lake Mary has a live chance of winning at home. It should be an interesting game and I plan to attend it.

To be fair to them, since they won states in 2015, they have not had a heavily recruited team. It's difficult in the current environment to be relevant in the playoffs without a heavily recruited team. The floodgates have been opened up too wide.