Nulli Secundus
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Posts posted by Nulli Secundus
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Only 3 Polk Schools guaranteed to make it to the 2nd round in which 2 are known. Which schools advance? Home teams in BOLD.
7A Lakeland vs Wiregrass
7A Winter Haven vs Bloomingdale
6A Lake Gibson vs Auburndale
5A Lake Wales vs Sebring
3A Lakeland Christian - Bye
3A Frostproof vs Melbourne Central Catholic
2A Victory Christian (Lakeland) - Bye
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DFB
South Sumter
Columbia
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22 hours ago, OldSchoolLion said:
I have heard a fair amount of negativity this year about the state of hs football in Florida. No doubt some of our traditional powers may be underperforming. And a few have downright crashed. I would offer that the performance of a relative few (relative to the hundreds of programs in FL) does not make or break a season.
There are a number of programs whose performance appears to be trending upward over the past 5 or so years. I have listed some below. I find this very exciting and encouraging. Possibly we are simply seeing more parity today than we have in the recent past.
Look at the parity in college football today. It makes for exciting viewing. I remember years ago when there was worry about some of the traditional NCAA powers faltering. Who would have dreamed we would see some of the traditional doormats actually competing like they do today?. Likewise, maybe we are at the start of a transition time in high school football and ultimately a changing of the guard.
7A Bloomingdale
7A Crestview
6A Dillard
7A Edgewater
6A Gaither
5A Jones
6A Lake Gibson
5A Lake Wales
6A Lee
8A Mandarin
8A Miami Palmetto
7A Palm Beach Lakes
8A Palm Coast
6A Palmetto
7A Plantation
5A Rockledge
8A Steinbrenner
5A Vanguard
8A Western
7A Wiregrass Ranch
I am not claiming any of the above are elite, world-beaters, or whatever term you want to use. I am simply saying that they appear to be performing at a consistently higher level of late than in the past.
If no one else has said it, I will. Some teams have absolutely no business playing out of state and the results reflect that. We have so many teams, more than I recall 5+ years ago playing OOS against other state/national powers and for what? Is it to make a name for themselves? Is it to level up competition because Florida lacks that, LOL?
Anyways.... I’n glad to see Lake Wales and Lake Gibson making some noise. How far they go as the season continues remains to be seen but nonetheless, I’m still happy to see some other Polk County Schools heading into the playoffs full steam ahead. The big shocker for me is most definitely Bloomingdale. Back in the day, that was known as an easy win for... everybody.
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2 hours ago, OldSchoolLion said:
Which 3 counties have the most public school state champions? In other words, these counties have the highest number of different public schools who have won at least one FHSAA title.
1) Dade
2) Broward
3) Hillsborough
3) Brevard
4) Palm Beach
4) Polk -
5 hours ago, FL_HS_football said:
I always hated going to Plant City in the 80's when they were in Manatee's District, for the very same reason.....the home cooking was terrible..............particularly if the score was close.
It was no better in the 90’s for those that remember bricks being thrown at the busses.
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On 9/21/2019 at 8:57 AM, OldSchoolLion said:
Someone recently stated that Lakeland "consistently beat(s) south Fla powers." There are some folks on the board who routinely ridicule OOS schools who beat up on FL cupcakes so they can say they beat a FL school. What is the line of thinking of Lakeland scheduling south FL programs who are clearly outclassed?...other than the possible joy it gives some Polk County fans to say it beat up on the big city boys? I honestly never understood this.
I would say the line of thinking is that Lakeland played a school with renowned athleticism that SFL I revered for. If it was just about beating “Big City” boys, Tampa/Orlando are both within a stones throw of Polk County.
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On 9/14/2019 at 10:01 AM, OldSchoolLion said:
8A Miami 4-0 after going 4-6 last season
7A Sarasota 4-0 after going 2-8 last season
6A Lake Gibson 4-0 after going 4-6 last season
5A Citrus 4-0 after going 4-6 last season
1A Freeport 4-0 after going 3-7 last season
I would love to see the Braves get back to their winning ways and be the “other” Lakeland school to raise hell. I don’t know what’s going on with the Red Devils but I know it’s not a shortage of talent. Time will tell.
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On 9/14/2019 at 11:40 AM, Hwy17 said:
Lakewood Ranch is 3-0 and Bartow 3-1, both went 0-10 last year.
I’m glad to see Bartow back on the winning side as the Yellowjacket populous is my second home.
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On 9/24/2019 at 9:08 PM, OldSchoolLion said:
No doubt some kids benefit from transferring. I'm in favor conceptually. I am just not sure we have a complete understanding of all the costs, both hard and soft. The biggest concern I have is actually not hs football, but how all of this is impacting our teachers.
Based on what I gather, some teachers are struggling to accommodate transfers because they came into a new academic curriculum and some kids are ahead of the curve, others behind it. This really makes it difficult on the teacher.
From a football standpoint, the transferring might be making the fans of a certain school excited, but the football community as a whole might be suffering. Look at what has happened in Polk County. Broward County may be the best example, where consolidation of players at a few private schools has profoundly impacted a number of public schools. My fear is that as the rich get richer and poor get poorer, interest in hs football by the public will further decline.
Class size initiative hurt Polk County more than anything else. Watch what happens when the new (unnamed) high school opens up in Davenport next year. Haines City, Ridge and AAA will battle for the players in that area. If you think the Hornets are suffering now, HC is done and will never be the same.
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6 hours ago, Legion37 said:
Well it showed up in my desk top...lol
But not my phone...
Well now you know why Lakeland was upset
When you posted, were the images linked directly to your desktop as opposed to a file share/site accessible to everyone? That may explain why you can see it when viewed from your desktop but not your phone.
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On 5/14/2019 at 7:41 AM, FL_HS_football said:
A video on youtube some of you might already be aware of, I did in 2007 to commemorate the end of the Lakeland streak for a couple of Lakeland homers that have long since disappeared.
Thank you for that. I remember that from the other board and even though I’m a Dreadnaught till I die, I still found that funny as hell.
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6 hours ago, LAZ said:
2018 est TOTAL PUBLIC PRIVATE County Population Titles Runner Up Appearances Titles Runner Up Appearances Titles Runner Up Appearances Category Dade 2,751,796 38.5 22 61 34.5 12 47 4 10 14 Super 1,000,000 and up Palm Beach 1,471,150 30 31 61 18 14 32 12 17 29 Broward 1,935,878 27 24 51 6 9 15 21 15 36 Hillsborough 1,408,566 11 21 32 10 17 27 1 4 5 Orange 1,348,975 6.5 9 16 4.5 7 12 2 2 4 Duval 937,934 31 17 48 4 7 11 27 10 37 Extra Lg 500,000 to 999,999 Polk 686,483 17 24 41 15 22 37 2 2 4 Brevard 589,162 14 7 21 14 7 21 0 0 0 Pinellas 970,637 0 10 10 0 5 5 0 5 5 Volusia 538,692 1 4 5 1 1 2 0 3 3 Lee 739,224 0 3 3 0 1 1 0 2 2 Pasco 525,643 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Escambia 313,512 12 7 19 12 6 18 0 1 1 Large 300,000 to 499,999 Manatee 385,571 8 6 14 8 6 14 0 0 0 Marion 354,353 6 4 10 4 2 6 2 2 4 Collier 372,880 3 3 6 3 3 6 0 0 0 Sarasota 419,119 3 3 6 2 3 5 1 0 1 Lake 346,017 1 5 6 1 5 6 0 0 0 Osceola 352,180 1 4 5 1 4 5 0 0 0 Seminole 462,659 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 St.Lucie 313,506 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Leon 290,292 21 11 32 13 8 21 8 3 11 Medium 150,000 to 299,999 Okaloosa 202,970 8 8 16 8 8 16 0 0 0 St.Johns 243,812 4 6 10 4 6 10 0 0 0 Alachua 266,944 4 4 8 4 4 8 0 0 0 Bay 183,563 1 4 5 1 4 5 0 0 0 Santa Rosa 174,272 2 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 Clay 212,230 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Indian River 154,383 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 Charlotte 182,033 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hernando 186,553 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Martin 159,923 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sumter 125,165 2 3 5 2 3 5 0 0 0 Small 50,000 to 149,999 Highlands 102,883 2 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 Columbia 69,612 1 2 3 1 2 3 0 0 0 Putnam 73,464 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Walton 68,376 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Monroe 77,013 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Citrus 145,647 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Flagler 110,510 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nassau 82,721 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hendry 40,347 0.5 6 7 0.5 6 7 0 0 0 Minature 20,000 to 49,999 Suwannee 44,190 4 2 6 4 2 6 0 0 0 Jackson 48,330 2 3 5 2 3 5 0 0 0 Wakulla 32,120 2 3 5 2 3 5 0 0 0 Bradford 27,038 2 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 Levy 40,355 1 2 3 1 2 3 0 0 0 Hardee 27,411 0 3 3 0 3 3 0 0 0 Gadsden 46,071 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Taylor 21,833 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Baker 28,283 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Washington 24,567 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 DeSoto 36,862 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Okeechobee 41,605 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Madison 18,449 4 5 9 4 5 9 0 0 0 Tiny 1 to 19,999 Gulf 16,160 4 3 7 4 3 7 0 0 0 Calhoun 14,483 3 3 6 3 3 6 0 0 0 Jefferson 14,144 5.5 0 6 5.5 0 6 0 0 0 Union 15,517 3 2 5 3 2 5 0 0 0 Gilchrist 17,743 2 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 Holmes 19,558 1 2 3 1 2 3 0 0 0 Lafayette 8,451 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 Hamilton 14,184 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 Franklin 11,727 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Dixie 16,673 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Glades 13,754 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Liberty 8,242 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Great stuff as always Laz!
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On 12/15/2018 at 4:11 PM, OldSchoolLion said:
with Armwood v Lakeland matchup looming, bet there's gonna be some competition for players along that little stretch of I-4
You mean between Armwood and Kathleen, right? LOL
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On 12/12/2018 at 6:02 PM, badbird said:
SEC favoritism lol. You mean the conference that has won 9 out of the last 12. I'm aware Bama has won more than half of them. Why should Bama not get favoritism. They've proven they are one of the best ever. If it was SEC favoritism Georgia should have also got in this year.
I'm fine with 4 teams getting in. If you expand it the conversations on who should get in diminish. I like the water cooler talk about why or why not UCF should get in. No one hardly talks about who gets left out in basketball anymore because 68 get in. Also if you expand it the regular season and conference championships get diminished.
The regular season should only be a catalyst for conference play enroute the conference championship and possibly rivalry games, nothing more. We shouldn’t have conference champs play in the dookie bowl just for the sake of being in a bowl game.
Conference championships are already diminished if you’re not in the right conference.
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On 12/12/2018 at 5:29 PM, ColumbiaHighFan2017class said:
Do you feel it should expand? Why or why not
It should expand to 16 teams and it should’ve expanded a long time ago. The ONLY equitable process for a true playoff system should remove as much opinion away from the game as possible. Every conference champion should have a seat at the table without question. Reduce the number of regular season games to accommodate an extended playoff schedule. Otherwise, why play
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12 minutes ago, peezy28 said:
Congrats On another note man all these years seeing you on the boards and we just now find out we are both Rattlers... Shameful LOL
Shameful indeed, lol. Better late than never. I knew I liked you.
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2 minutes ago, peezy28 said:
I would love to finally see an Armwood Lakeland matchup
I would too now that both programs are up. Maybe both programs coul;d end up in the same district again.
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23 minutes ago, ExplorerHomer2 said:
Saw that. NW generally travels well - at least better than all the other 305 programs with the exception of Central. Generation upon generation of Bulls and alumni who used to pack the Orange Bowl for the Soul Bowl with 20k in the stands.
I wondered what Armwood's excuse was - especially with such a strong tradition themselves.
My mother in-law graduated from Da West and she and some classmates drove up to the game in their 70’s. The community takes it seriously.
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47 minutes ago, gwdrum75 said:
Sure, Lakeland gets transfers. But, the most amusing thing I read every year is how people don't mention the kids that transfer out of Lakeland every year because they aren't starters. I believe two years ago, Lakeland lost 10+ players that transferred out to other schools.
Thank you. Couldn’t have stated it any better myself and it’s been happening for a long time.
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1 hour ago, OldSchoolLion said:
Not since Champagnat did it in 2013 has a 2-win team turned things around and won a state title the following season. And I remember the whispers of skepticism that accompanied that accomplishment, ie private school recruiting. Well, now Mandarin has now done the same. I was aware that one of the top qb's in the state, Carson Beck, had transferred in this season, but just today learned that 3 of their wide receivers all did the same this season or last. Senior Darien Oxendine came over from Menendez this season. Senior Demario Douglas did the same last season, and senior Kris Mitchell transferred from Bolles (isn't that ironic) last season.
After watching them this evening, it's pretty obvious that Mandarin's offense would likely be nowhere close to their current level of performance without those 4 players. I poked fun at Chaminade for having an "instant wide receiver corps" this year due to transfers, but at least their qb has been there the past 3 seasons. This situation at Mandarin takes it to another level with Beck coming over.
Is it Mandarin's "fault" these fellows wanted to come to school there? Not necessarily. Should this situation take away from their state title? Not necessarily. If this was a private school, would some folks be jumping up and down about the situation and pointing fingers? You bet.
Ironically, the public school had the edge tonight due to transfers. Columbus is a team that has paid their dues over the years and never won a title in over 50 years. Mandarin is an upstart program that has historically had little playoff success. How many times has the shoe been on the other foot with a private school skyrocketing to prominence and denying a public school that has paid its dues?
It's about time the shoe is on the other foot, right? Well, maybe so. But if we are going to take that position, we have to start admitting that the argument that private schools still have the edge is losing its ability to hold water. If we are going to continue questioning private schools about transfers/recruiting when they win state titles under unusual circumstances, I think it is only fair to do the same for public schools. I've called out Chaminade this year and now that I learn about Mandarin am doing the same.
Sorry, but it is highly suspect when a program goes from 1 playoff win in its first 25 years and numerous losing seasons to winning an 8A title in such short order. You don't have that kind of success that quickly under "natural" circumstances. If there is nothing unusual about it, what the private schools are doing today must be normal, too.
I am disappointed...not necessarily at the Mandarin football program, but the circumstances under which it won....with kids that spent a limited amount of their playing time there. No way they win an 8A title without those 4. And I would say the exact same of any program that won under such circumstances. I think most of our powerhouse programs today are not winning titles simply because of transfers. But occasionally we get situations like those at Chaminade and Mandarin where one questions if they could have won without them.
50 minutes ago, gatorman-uf said:Darian Oxendine had to bypass St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and Bartram Trail to go to Mandarin. All closer to his original school (37 miles away), all with tremendous success over the past few years. it seems weird that Mandarin would be his first choice. It also seems weird considering that at Menendez that he was a starting RB and occasional QB to switch to WR in his senior year. Like how does that conversation with a coach go, "Come to my school, but that position that you have been starring in for the past 3 years, we aren't going to play you in it, and we are going to move you to a completely new position, and if you do we will win a state championship."
As for Beck, what if he was originally zoned for Mandarin and chose Providence. Is it recruiting, money, or other issues to choose to go back? People forget that private schools cost money, so is choosing not to go to a private school might be a family decision. Additionally, with the coach of Mandarin being the same guy who coached Derrick Henry (Yulee) maybe, he liked the Bama connection.
Same with Kris Mitchell ($26,190 tuition per year at Bolles). So in 2 years, his family saves 52K, is it recruiting or realizing the money isn't worth it? Heck, that pays for UF's tuition.
Again, I assume these kids are zoned for the schools.
48 minutes ago, FL_HS_football said:Did you not hear the broadcasters for last night's Lakeland/STA title game talk about all the players that transferred into Lakeland this year? Riverview's QB was at Cardinal Mooney last year, that offense without him would not had taken them to the semi-finals this year and then we had the post about Madison and the whole charter school concept, The Venice QB was at a different school last year as well...................I dont like what is happening to high school football one bit, but the FHSAA ignored for years what the privates like STA were doing to tilt the playing field to their advantage......and rather than fix it got the state legislators involved and now we have what we have and it is what it is. Dont like that you've decided to single out Mandarin when every other public school including the likes of Lakeland did much the same....................I'm just glad the private schools are at least in some instances having to take heaping doses of their own medicine!
Wait for it....
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On 12/5/2018 at 10:00 PM, OldSchoolLion said:
Some possible milestones that could be reached this week:
St Thomas Aquinas has a chance to become only the second program to win 11 state titles.
North Florida Christian has a chance to become only the fourth program to win 8 state titles.
Cocoa and Baker have a chance to become only the 15th program to win 5 state titles and only the 8th public school to do so.
Lakeland has a chance to become only the 8th program to win 7 state titles(the second public school) and join an elite group of programs that have won a state title in 4 different decades.
Northwestern has a chance to become the first public school ever to win back-to-back state titles in 2 different decades. (St Thomas Aquinas, NFC, University Christian and Trinity Christian all have)
Madison County has a chance to become one of only a handful of teams to ever lose more than 5 state title games.
That group includes Armwood and St Thomas Aquinas.
# of State Titles Won by Each Team Competing This Weekend
St Thomas Aquinas 10
Lakeland 6
North Florida Christian 6
Northwestern 5
Cocoa 4
Baker 4
Madison County 3
Armwood 3
Chaminade-Madonna 3
Champagnat 2
Raines 2
Cardinal Gibbons 0
North Marion 0
Columbus 0
Mandarin 0
King's Academy 0
Check mark for Lakeland
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3 minutes ago, 954gator said:
Lakeland played one hell of a game! Bowman is a stud. STA made too many mistakes and just didn't play good enough to win. Happy for Coach Castle and the Naughts!
PS....I know you guys were nervous when it looked like we got that onside!!!
LOL, I was like “not this $h!t again”
- SPCjessica2004, peezy28 and 954gator
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This may not have been Lakeland’s most vaunted team but they never gave up. The mountain was high but dammit not impossible to climb. Damn the naysayers, the hell with the critics. Always underestimated, never intimidated. DREADNAUGHT NATION!!!!!!!! L-TOWN, POLK COUNTY!!!!!
Congratulations to the nationally ranked St Thomas Raiders on a great season.
Polk County Playoff Teams
in The Huddle
Posted
I hope the Blue Devils are ready. I can see Bloomingdale taking this one if WH doesn’t come out hard.