skyway

Too many people on the AP voting committee don’t put any effort into it.
Their preseason rankings are basically the previous season results plus teams with obviously loaded senior classes (see Wekiva last season).
The week 11 poll is basically a standings list. That’s the more interesting poll to extrapolate forward to playoff performance. I believe DP was unranked week 11 in 2016 and 2017 (8-2 both years, loaded schedule), and both years they made the title game (won in 17).

The writers voting in these polls often have limited awareness of the player movement/transfers impacting teams in the immediate area they cover. Which should tell you they have absolutely no clue about player movement in other areas. All that is being considered is the name brand, how the team did last year and who graduated off that team. That was sufficient in years past. Now, such an approach renders the rankings meaningless. There's just far too much transferring and stacking of the deck, sometimes at places that have little to no history like Wekiva and Western.

Well, I had my Mainland Royal Blue sunglasses on.....what else can I say.    Never let facts get in the way of a good story.
 

"Central Florida" refers only to Orlando metro area. It's odd because if one looks at a map they might think other areas would be included. That Polk County isn't central Florida, but Daytona Beach is, is a concept I simply lack the intelligence to understand. 

I remember attending this game on a bitterly cold Saturday Afternoon in December. This was the last year that the state title games were in Daytona Beach until this year. What an upset. I could be mistaken, but I believe that the Bolles FB was injured very early in this game, and didn't play anymore. I remember going home from this game and watching the VCR tape of the Bill Parcells Patriots coming back to beat the Dan Reeves Giants 23-22, which was being played the same time as this game.

Yes, they just fell below 7A population stats. 

Truth of the matter is, the whole I-4 corridor plus Brevard and the counties just north of Tampa should be considered Central Florida. I guess Orlando Metro claims it just because they are also in the middle of the state width wide as well as length wise. But the whole thing is pretty arbitrary. 

Indeed. Growing up there, we always had access to both Tampa and Orlando news stations through basic TV (rabbit ears or cable). But, as you said above, this is all about the area the Orlando Sentinel deems worthy of their efforts/where most of their subscribers are from. Polk has the Ledger, so subscriptions to the Sentinel are quite low. I guess it just seems to make more sense to label the rankings "Orlando Sentinel coverage area rankings" 

The short answer is no. The Raiders will have a rematch with the Dreadnaughts in the 2019 title game. 

The colonels has always been a well respected program under Davis; after a year off and a horrendous year for plantation Davis came back last year and the colonels went on to a 10-2 season. 
Now back in the district with STA can the colonels under davis dethrone the raiders???

Shannon Snell of Hillsborough Terrier fame.

I proudly called this years ago on the national board that once the new rule is implemented basically letting public schools play by the rules as the privates Lakeland will be back to beating STAs ass. 
You cant call yourself a true competitive organization and have teams not playing by the same rules. When STA would have double digit transfers from Miami to West Palm no one batted an eye. But when some local Polk County stud wanted to play for the best coach in state history everyone got up in arms. 
Now every team can acquire talent how they see fit, and everyone can play under the same rules. 
 

I cannot speak for Floridatech, since he started the thread.  If we are trying to identify teams who have beaten "quality" competition(in terms of their national ranking at the time they played them),  we would be hard-pressed to find a team that can equal or surpass St Thomas over the past 10 years.  During that time frame, STA has beaten numerous teams that were ranked in the Top 100 of the country in at least one of the polls at the time they played. 
Is that the best way to measure greatness?  ...not necessarily.  As I have stated before, if any of the Broward private schools, STA included, routinely played the powers of Miami-Dade, we might look upon them differently.  Relatively speaking, STA, AHP, Cardinal Gibbons and Chaminade-Madonna all have limited numbers of wins over the Miami-Dade teams who were at the top of their game in any one year.  ...especially when one considers how long those schools have been around, ie it took 50 years for us to see a game between STA and Central. 
One could argue that Carol City or Northwestern has the best pedigree over the past 25 years.  The list of very good/great teams they have beaten is mindboggling.  That's a function of their location and the sheer number of strong teams in MIami-Dade over the years, many of which they play each year.

Yes Peezy, that is mostly correct. Why the officials would have a holding foul when the runner goes out of bounds after losing 3 yards, is beyond me. But since Jeff Carlson is much smarter than everyone else, so maybe he can explain it someday. Also, questioning the play-calling and decisions of Bill Castle, who is one of the all-time legends of coaching in Florida High School Football was pretty interesting and quite hilarious. I feel for any play-by-play man who has to carry that dead weight for an entire game or season.

He is always hella hard on the refs (which is why I think Jambun does not like him) and the coaches if they make what he calls bad decisions (which is why many coaches don't like him)

Two different kind of backs. Ones more of a slasher the other runs with more power although he is pretty fast. 

Great job lakeland
 
Made 7a proud and gave the north some credibility 

Pulled for Lakeland to beat STA. Some amazing plays, and that 99 yard run touchdown. What a game! 

Congrats Lakeland, cant think of any other private school I'd want you to beat to claim your 7th title!

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.  
 

In each of their 6 state title game meetings, the team that has led at halftime won.  This was the lowest first half score of any of the games.  It was 13-6 Lakeland at halftime in 1996.

I posted this on a national forum. Flame away!
Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas meet for the 8th time in the playoffs, and sixth time in a state title game. They have played each other for a state title more than any other two teams in state history. Lakeland is 5-2 all-time (games played between 1996 and 2008 prior to this year) and 4-1 in state title match ups. Both teams have blown the other out; both have won on the other's home field. The 2006 game is considered by many to be the most exciting finish to a title game in Florida history.
When Lakeland has the ball:
The strengths of Lakeland's offense are their blocking at the point of attack (both OL and TEs) and their running back. OL D. Hammond is a 4*, Under Armour All-American as is TE Keon Zipperer. Zipperer and 6'5" 250 lb. Keavis Dyer form what is likely the most punishing pair of blockers at the TE position of any team in the country. It is my opinion that, when all is said and done, RB Demarckus Bowman will go down as the best RB Lakeland has ever produced. He may well be the best RB STA has ever faced. Of course, he has a lot to do in order to prove that to be true. 
Lakeland's weakness is it's passing game. The QB McWilliams has "nifty" feet, but has generally been the weak point all year. He was limited the first half of the season with a hamstring injury and has come on late to keep defenses from keying on Bowman.
For this unit to be successful, they must be patient and McWilliams has to make some key throws. They must force the defense to either respect Zipperer and the passing game, or hurt them if they don't. I believe they are capable of some limited success through the air, but not more than 3-4 key, difficult completions (along with some quicker, simpler throws). They can't commit stupid personal foul penalties as they have been prone to do in earlier games.
STA's defense is playing with all Power 5 players. So, they are quite obviously good and without any glaring weaknesses. 
When STA has the ball:
Lakeland is strongest on the DL, with a solid LB core behind them. The best DL at present may be A.J. Thomas, who has 17 sacks on the season. He's the size/speed of a physical safety playing DE. As such, he has zero stars. The other three DL are either 3* or 4* Lloyd Summerall. They are a bit light at DT. But, along with a physical group of linebackers (Jaharie Martin started for Lake Gibson in the 2016 state title game vs. Carol City), they've not had anyone run up the gut on them with any consistency. 
Lakeland's secondary features 3* Fenley Graham, who has several power 5 offers. As a whole, most recognize this unit as the weakest part of the defense. There have only been a handful of bad breakdowns all year, but the 3rd quarter showing against Plant was alarming. I don't think this is a bad unit by any means. But they must avoid getting beat deep and/or making slants and curls ridiculously easy.
STA struggled at times offensively last year. But, save for a slow start against Dematha, they've appeared to be unstoppable on this side of the ball as well.
Special Teams: 
Both teams have been lethal in generating TDs on returns and blocks. Lakeland has blocked 8 punts on the year, several safeties and has numerous huge returns. Ditto STA.
Keys to the game:
Lakeland is the clear underdog given they have a max of 8 guys with Power 5 offers and STA has over 20. For Lakeland to win, they'll have to do what they've done many times in the past: Have guys with zero stars play and look like better players than who they're faced up against. The OL needs to keep STA's DL out of the backfield to give Bowman a chance to get to the 2nd level unscathed. If he can get to that level unscathed with any consistency, he'll have another huge night and Lakeland has a really good shot to win. QB McWilliams will have to avoid mistakes, make a few plays with his legs and at least hit the passes that are simpler and ostensibly able to be completed.  The DL needs to be in the backfield early and often. And the entire defense needs to play with patience and not overreact if STA gets several first downs. And I think Lakeland needs to outscore STA in the special teams and turnover areas. I think both teams are capable of creating big plays against the other in special teams. STA can't end up on top in that area if Lakeland is to win.
Prediction:
I don't f*cking know. I've conceded that STA is the favorite. But, what the hell. Lakeland has won every single game by at least 17 points. And I'm not a p*ssy.
Lakeland 34, STA 17.
 

I posted this on a national forum. Flame away!
Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas meet for the 8th time in the playoffs, and sixth time in a state title game. They have played each other for a state title more than any other two teams in state history. Lakeland is 5-2 all-time (games played between 1996 and 2008 prior to this year) and 4-1 in state title match ups. Both teams have blown the other out; both have won on the other's home field. The 2006 game is considered by many to be the most exciting finish to a title game in Florida history.
When Lakeland has the ball:
The strengths of Lakeland's offense are their blocking at the point of attack (both OL and TEs) and their running back. OL D. Hammond is a 4*, Under Armour All-American as is TE Keon Zipperer. Zipperer and 6'5" 250 lb. Keavis Dyer form what is likely the most punishing pair of blockers at the TE position of any team in the country. It is my opinion that, when all is said and done, RB Demarckus Bowman will go down as the best RB Lakeland has ever produced. He may well be the best RB STA has ever faced. Of course, he has a lot to do in order to prove that to be true. 
Lakeland's weakness is it's passing game. The QB McWilliams has "nifty" feet, but has generally been the weak point all year. He was limited the first half of the season with a hamstring injury and has come on late to keep defenses from keying on Bowman.
For this unit to be successful, they must be patient and McWilliams has to make some key throws. They must force the defense to either respect Zipperer and the passing game, or hurt them if they don't. I believe they are capable of some limited success through the air, but not more than 3-4 key, difficult completions (along with some quicker, simpler throws). They can't commit stupid personal foul penalties as they have been prone to do in earlier games.
STA's defense is playing with all Power 5 players. So, they are quite obviously good and without any glaring weaknesses. 
When STA has the ball:
Lakeland is strongest on the DL, with a solid LB core behind them. The best DL at present may be A.J. Thomas, who has 17 sacks on the season. He's the size/speed of a physical safety playing DE. As such, he has zero stars. The other three DL are either 3* or 4* Lloyd Summerall. They are a bit light at DT. But, along with a physical group of linebackers (Jaharie Martin started for Lake Gibson in the 2016 state title game vs. Carol City), they've not had anyone run up the gut on them with any consistency. 
Lakeland's secondary features 3* Fenley Graham, who has several power 5 offers. As a whole, most recognize this unit as the weakest part of the defense. There have only been a handful of bad breakdowns all year, but the 3rd quarter showing against Plant was alarming. I don't think this is a bad unit by any means. But they must avoid getting beat deep and/or making slants and curls ridiculously easy.
STA struggled at times offensively last year. But, save for a slow start against Dematha, they've appeared to be unstoppable on this side of the ball as well.
Special Teams: 
Both teams have been lethal in generating TDs on returns and blocks. Lakeland has blocked 8 punts on the year, several safeties and has numerous huge returns. Ditto STA.
Keys to the game:
Lakeland is the clear underdog given they have a max of 8 guys with Power 5 offers and STA has over 20. For Lakeland to win, they'll have to do what they've done many times in the past: Have guys with zero stars play and look like better players than who they're faced up against. The OL needs to keep STA's DL out of the backfield to give Bowman a chance to get to the 2nd level unscathed. If he can get to that level unscathed with any consistency, he'll have another huge night and Lakeland has a really good shot to win. QB McWilliams will have to avoid mistakes, make a few plays with his legs and at least hit the passes that are simpler and ostensibly able to be completed.  The DL needs to be in the backfield early and often. And the entire defense needs to play with patience and not overreact if STA gets several first downs. And I think Lakeland needs to outscore STA in the special teams and turnover areas. I think both teams are capable of creating big plays against the other in special teams. STA can't end up on top in that area if Lakeland is to win.
Prediction:
I don't f*cking know. I've conceded that STA is the favorite. But, what the hell. Lakeland has won every single game by at least 17 points. And I'm not a p*ssy.
Lakeland 34, STA 17.
 

I posted this on a national forum. Flame away!
Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas meet for the 8th time in the playoffs, and sixth time in a state title game. They have played each other for a state title more than any other two teams in state history. Lakeland is 5-2 all-time (games played between 1996 and 2008 prior to this year) and 4-1 in state title match ups. Both teams have blown the other out; both have won on the other's home field. The 2006 game is considered by many to be the most exciting finish to a title game in Florida history.
When Lakeland has the ball:
The strengths of Lakeland's offense are their blocking at the point of attack (both OL and TEs) and their running back. OL D. Hammond is a 4*, Under Armour All-American as is TE Keon Zipperer. Zipperer and 6'5" 250 lb. Keavis Dyer form what is likely the most punishing pair of blockers at the TE position of any team in the country. It is my opinion that, when all is said and done, RB Demarckus Bowman will go down as the best RB Lakeland has ever produced. He may well be the best RB STA has ever faced. Of course, he has a lot to do in order to prove that to be true. 
Lakeland's weakness is it's passing game. The QB McWilliams has "nifty" feet, but has generally been the weak point all year. He was limited the first half of the season with a hamstring injury and has come on late to keep defenses from keying on Bowman.
For this unit to be successful, they must be patient and McWilliams has to make some key throws. They must force the defense to either respect Zipperer and the passing game, or hurt them if they don't. I believe they are capable of some limited success through the air, but not more than 3-4 key, difficult completions (along with some quicker, simpler throws). They can't commit stupid personal foul penalties as they have been prone to do in earlier games.
STA's defense is playing with all Power 5 players. So, they are quite obviously good and without any glaring weaknesses. 
When STA has the ball:
Lakeland is strongest on the DL, with a solid LB core behind them. The best DL at present may be A.J. Thomas, who has 17 sacks on the season. He's the size/speed of a physical safety playing DE. As such, he has zero stars. The other three DL are either 3* or 4* Lloyd Summerall. They are a bit light at DT. But, along with a physical group of linebackers (Jaharie Martin started for Lake Gibson in the 2016 state title game vs. Carol City), they've not had anyone run up the gut on them with any consistency. 
Lakeland's secondary features 3* Fenley Graham, who has several power 5 offers. As a whole, most recognize this unit as the weakest part of the defense. There have only been a handful of bad breakdowns all year, but the 3rd quarter showing against Plant was alarming. I don't think this is a bad unit by any means. But they must avoid getting beat deep and/or making slants and curls ridiculously easy.
STA struggled at times offensively last year. But, save for a slow start against Dematha, they've appeared to be unstoppable on this side of the ball as well.
Special Teams: 
Both teams have been lethal in generating TDs on returns and blocks. Lakeland has blocked 8 punts on the year, several safeties and has numerous huge returns. Ditto STA.
Keys to the game:
Lakeland is the clear underdog given they have a max of 8 guys with Power 5 offers and STA has over 20. For Lakeland to win, they'll have to do what they've done many times in the past: Have guys with zero stars play and look like better players than who they're faced up against. The OL needs to keep STA's DL out of the backfield to give Bowman a chance to get to the 2nd level unscathed. If he can get to that level unscathed with any consistency, he'll have another huge night and Lakeland has a really good shot to win. QB McWilliams will have to avoid mistakes, make a few plays with his legs and at least hit the passes that are simpler and ostensibly able to be completed.  The DL needs to be in the backfield early and often. And the entire defense needs to play with patience and not overreact if STA gets several first downs. And I think Lakeland needs to outscore STA in the special teams and turnover areas. I think both teams are capable of creating big plays against the other in special teams. STA can't end up on top in that area if Lakeland is to win.
Prediction:
I don't f*cking know. I've conceded that STA is the favorite. But, what the hell. Lakeland has won every single game by at least 17 points. And I'm not a p*ssy.
Lakeland 34, STA 17.
 

STA and Lakeland are playing each other for a third straight decade crazy stat