Nulli Secundus

Why not have all the state champs play a tournament to see who the final real state champion is?

Nice thought, but the FHSAA would never allow it because it would undercut their premise that metro and suburban schools should compete for separate championships.  We can only dream...

Not an easy task for sure, but CM is highly overrated and I stand by that statement. That final score is a black eye to the state considering all the hype about them and their offense.
IMO Aquinas is a toss-up better than MC down there, and MC is slightly better than CM.
I will also stand by this statement, "When Lakeland is not playing silly and getting dumb penalties they are better than that entire trio".
No team in America is scoring 49 points on this Dreadnaughts defense. Not a HS team, maybe a small college.
 
 
 
 

We have another season to determine if this new system is truly a success, or a fluke.  However I will say I am impressed at the sheer amount of close games.  I'm still not a fan as the base of this plan prevents both metro and suburban school from playing each other in the playoffs and ultimately hurts the state of Florida in the long run.  That's what high school football should be all about.

All Dreadnaughts should be use to that by now, lol.  Thank goodness they don't dictate the outcome of the game.

As Jambun82 originally pointed out, the championship games were much closer this year -- 5 games decided by 7 points or less vs. 2 games decided by 7 points or less last year: two overtime games this year vs. zero last year.  Looking at all playoff games, last year there were 193 games: the median point differential was 25 points; 61 games (32%) were running clock (35+ points).  This year, there were 216 games: the median point differential was 20 points; 47 games (22%) were running clock games.  So this year's playoff games on average were closer with fewer blowouts.  Those are the objective facts, and one of the goals of the "competitive balance" restructuring.  But there are also subjective and/or emotional arguments.  An impartial observer would have to agree that the new system benefited the elite suburban teams, while adversely affecting the average to below-average metro teams.  Whether the upheaval was worth it depends on your perspective.  The same system will be in effect next year, and we will have to see where it goes in 2024. 

You better believe it!  LOL

With the Explorers close to losing the game to Ocoee, Blue Darters have to b encouraged. They can’t win a shoot out with Columbus. Gotta be low scoring & +3 in turnovers. 

Game on

You better believe it!  LOL

Congrats to Polk County with 2 Championships.  Must be that black and orange in the water. 

Much as I predicted, Venice defense just not good enough to control Lakeland running game and if not for the 3 TO's and numerous penalties they lose by 3 scores.  They could of easily punched in another score at the end to win by double digits but Castle showed class and just took a knee.  On the flipside the supposed high powered offense of Venice was made to look feeble against the Lakeland "D".  No question who was the better team. 

Damn shame is what it is!

Lake Wales comes away with the win.  32-30.  

Sad/disappointing/pitiful that two Texas UIL championship games are live on Fox Sports Sun today, but no Florida games.  

And you can't teach that lol lol

Without a metro class, Homestead doesn't make the finals.

Without a metro class, Homestead doesn't make the finals.

Silence says it all...

Again, a bit of sarcasm as well as driving home a point?  Don't know how the weather will affect either team, but in looking at their only common opponent (Clearwater Academy) Venice loss 26-20 whereas Lakeland seemed to steamroll them 44-6 as they have everyone else.   Venice has been prone to give up more points against good opponents like Buchholz (35), Northwestern (32) while I leave out a national power like SFA.  So when talking about defenses it appears to me that Lakeland does have a clear edge and have to agree with Nulli that only bunches of penalties, turnovers, etc.. will keep the game close.  Not big on predictions but if Naughts are dialed in it the margin will be double digits.  Good luck to both squads and do hope it is a great game.

Why do you contradict yourself?  You say the changes were done behind closed doors (which they were) to help Lee and Polk.  Lee I can certainly see as they would've rounded out the top 8 based on population not to mention they had 2 board votes whereas Polk had 0 votes and came in a #9 and would've missed the cutoff.  So how does Lee get around that? Change the criteria to population density which saves a struggling Lee county (which actually performed better thanks to those changes).  Polk does what it does.  As already documented, Polk does not need any help getting to the finals and out of 67 counties, Polk is #5 in all time appearances (excluding this season) beating out half the metro counties.  Try again son!

Why do you contradict yourself?  You say the changes were done behind closed doors (which they were) to help Lee and Polk.  Lee I can certainly see as they would've rounded out the top 8 based on population not to mention they had 2 board votes whereas Polk had 0 votes and came in a #9 and would've missed the cutoff.  So how does Lee get around that? Change the criteria to population density which saves a struggling Lee county (which actually performed better thanks to those changes).  Polk does what it does.  As already documented, Polk does not need any help getting to the finals and out of 67 counties, Polk is #5 in all time appearances (excluding this season) beating out half the metro counties.  Try again son!

Why do you contradict yourself?  You say the changes were done behind closed doors (which they were) to help Lee and Polk.  Lee I can certainly see as they would've rounded out the top 8 based on population not to mention they had 2 board votes whereas Polk had 0 votes and came in a #9 and would've missed the cutoff.  So how does Lee get around that? Change the criteria to population density which saves a struggling Lee county (which actually performed better thanks to those changes).  Polk does what it does.  As already documented, Polk does not need any help getting to the finals and out of 67 counties, Polk is #5 in all time appearances (excluding this season) beating out half the metro counties.  Try again son!

He roots for the Atlantic Eagles. Remember "Acer12" from ScoreStream?

it’s population per square mile:
Pinellas 3425
Miami Dade 1070
Hillsborough 1429
Orange 1494
Polk 414
 
but Pinellas county has a large elderly population, so it’s deceiving.