DarterBlue2
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Posts posted by DarterBlue2
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1 hour ago, KeemD321 said:
The shocker for me was that Port Charlotte score. I honestly don't believe Port Charlotte should've scored that much on Venice
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.
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37 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:
Jones doesn’t have a better win than Norland in this young season.
Western is MUCH better than Evans
If you score 60 a game, you can give up 40. Sorry I don’t make the rules
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.
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14 hours ago, DILLARDBOYZ954 said:
When you say less drama in their(Miramar) program in the Dillard vs Miramar prediction what you mean by that ?
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.
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2 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:
As you well know, Jones is the top ranked team in our central FL area so I don't expect anyone to pick us. They obviously have lots of weapons but hard to say how good they are based on the teams they have beaten thus far. I do agree with you that it has to be a game like Evans had with them with the difference is us keeping them to the 21 points or less to secure a victory. Will need to play a clean game avoiding costly penalties and/or turnovers. We look forward to the challenge.
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.
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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
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19 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:
Lots of unexpected results and you are right in saying that is the beauty of high school football. Week in and week out you are depending on 15, 16, 17, 18 year old kids to perform; what you saw last week maybe 180 degrees from this week. Teams that display the consistency over several weeks usually come out on top. So humorous to me when someone claims they have a bunch of DOGS and forget that simple fact. Unless you have spent years coaching at this level, that sometimes gets lost in the equation, they are still kids. Really liked that Poinciana didn't embarrass itself against a solid Evans team tonight despite taking their first loss. Evans hung tough with both Apopka and Jones for the two losses on their resume. After tonight, I am pretty convinced Poinciana can get to an 8-win season. It would be huge for their staff so certainly pulling for them. We have a short week before facing off with Jones next Thursday night and I certainly feel good about our chances with Taevion healthy.
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.
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Nice lineup. I smell a few upsets.
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16 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:
Lake Mary moved up 1 for hanging with a top 3 state team the entire way. Lakeland moved up because they beat a quality ranked team and the team above them lost.
TBT was ranked 25th. Even if I moved them down 1 spot they would be unranked. TBT also gave up 60 to Venice. But they are right there. Same with Verot. Right there if the top 25 went any further those 2 teams would probably be right there with Naples, Monarch, and Raines
I don't buy your response.
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6 hours ago, nolebull813 said:
1. STA (-)
2. Lakeland (+1)
3. Venice (+2)
4. Armwood (-)
5. Miami Central (+3)
6. Chaminade (+3)
7. AHP (-1)
8. MNW (-1)
9. Cocoa (-7)
10. CCC (-)
11. Lake Mary (+1)
12. Mandarin (-1)
13. Ely (+1)
14. Buchholz (+1)
15. Cardinal Newman (+1)
16. Niceville (+1)
17. Jones (-4)
18. Norland (-)
19. First Academy (+5)
20. St Augustine (-3)
21. Atlantic Delray (NR)
22. Seminole (-3)
23. Choctaw (-3)
24. Eau Gallie (-1)
25. Gadsden County (NR)
dropped out
#21 Bishop Verot
#25 TBT
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.
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29 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:
I might need to start mixing in some mad teams but hard to figure out games.
Like Innovation vs Cypress Creek. That would be hard to guess
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.
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3 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:
But of everyone gets the same break then it doesn’t benefit anyone
It's actually unfair, since they (the leaders) will preserve their lead.
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Ely
Columbus
West Broward
Sanford Seminole
Northwestern
Palm Beach CentralColumbia
Tampa Bay TechGadsden
Mandarin
American Heritage
South Sumter
I actually feel good about the above picks. Seems like @nolebull813gave us a break this week.
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16 minutes ago, Longtime Observer said:
Those were obviously huge, and I believe both were on 3rd and 5 or more. Sometimes the QBs who prefer to beat you through the air, but have the presence of mind to scramble when it's there, are the toughest to stop.
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.
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5 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:
From what little I did get to see of the 4th quarter, folks painted that Lakeland defense as elite and I certainly didn't see that which was surprising. Lake Mary seemed to move the ball pretty well on the ground and don't know if that was the case for the entire game. If they did, then that defense is overrated because I didn't feel like the run game was very effective against us despite continual 3 and outs, repeatedly giving them the ball right back which over time wore us down. Still early in the year with a lot of football to play.
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.
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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.
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4 hours ago, Nulli Secundus said:
Either way, you take an L.
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).
- KeemD321 and VeniceIndianFan
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Winners below:
Cocoa
Lakeland - I hope I am wrong
Chaminade
Armwood
Ware County
St. Augustine
Valdosta
Hawthorne
Vanguard
Columbia -
52 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:
Good question. Since it’s a week 2 pick em game i think it should only count this week. So maybe if the game is played by this Tuesday. If it’s played in October or some time down the road I don’t think it should count
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.
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Is the Palmetto vs BTW game scratched or will it count if the second half ends up being played?
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49 minutes ago, THIS_IS_DILLARD said:
I hear that chaminade starting quarter back was hurt and ruled out the game in the first Quarter on their second offensive possession.
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.
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4 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:
Thanks for your take as your reference to our inability to run the ball I explained why I thought the game was decided when he went out. It didn't help missing two OL including 6'7" - 300 lb. D1 tackle Marcus Ferrer who we will eventually get back on the field. Just read HC EP comments in our local paper this morning and Swint suffered the shoulder injury on his very first carry of the game although he tried to continue for a bit after that. I would beg to differ in your take of losing our PRINCIPAL RB as the Orlando Sentinel described him as the best back in our entire area and some think in the entire state. Watched the podcast by Lo Woods with Gavin Nix (IMG LB) when he made his commitment to UM with interest as he grew up and played for Kissimmee alongside Taevion Swint as a RB before switching to LB. Both he and his dad on that podcast without prompting claimed Taevion is the best back he ever played against including the ones currently at IMG. He is a weapon that our entire offense is designed around and if the shoe was on the other foot with LM losing Noah Grubbs from the start that would have been the headline if we won. Again, don't know the seriousness of the injury and yes we were slow to adjust what we needed to do on offense to move the ball. Don't know about the whole chemistry thing with his receivers, just remember your statement he could put up 7 TD's against any team in the state on any given night. My belief was he couldn't do that against us "ON ANY NIGHT"! Our defense isn't talked about like the team the Dreadnaughts have, but if they are as advertised and can run the ball with a few passes mixed in they will win. Just be prepared to play thru the holding that will not be called to protect Grubbs.
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.
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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.
- Wavebb, muckboy561 and KeemD321
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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.
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8 minutes ago, nolebull813 said:
Their record is dictated by exactly who they play. Tough schedule go 5-5. Easy one. Go 8-2. They play 2 teams with a pulse. Lake Mary and STA. Both blowout losses. The rest are breathers.
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.
JONES DEFEATS OHS KOWBOYS IN OT 34-28
in The Huddle
Posted
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.