7A Region 3 Game Previews

[OldSchoolLion]

This region has a number of possible Cinderella stories, if one of those teams could pull off an upset over Venice.  Look for lots of points to be scored in this slate of games.  

 

7A-R3

 

#8Tampa Bay Tech(7-3) @ #1Venice(9-1)  These two teams are regulars on the playoff scene, but have only met once in the playoffs. Defending 7A state champion Venice defeated TBT last year 48-17 in the region final. Venice has had impressive wins over Manatee, Palmetto, Braden River and Riverview, all after a rough start versus Vero Beach.  The Indians' offense has been lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 44 points per game.  TBT had an impressive win over Armwood, but lost games to Plant City, Gaither and Bloomingdale.  The Titans' defense has been allowing an average of 18 points per game.  Look for Venice to exploit that.  

 

#7Palmetto(7-3) @ #2Pinellas Park(10-0)  Can Pinellas Park bring glory to their county?  These two teams have met once in the playoffs.  Palmetto knocked out the Patriots in the first round last year, winning 28-24. PP has only won 3 playoff games in its history, the last victory coming in 2013. The Patriots are 10-0, but have played a very weak schedule.  Only one team came within 21 points of them.  Their statistics on both sides of the ball are gaudy, but may be deceiving because of the level of competition they faced. They scored 42 or more points in all but one of their games, and their D had 4 shutouts.  Palmetto is a regular on the playoff scene, but has had limited success of late.  TBT knocked them out in the second round last year.  The Tigers may be peaking at the right time, getting their most impressive win of the season last weak against Charlotte.  The Tigers have lost against tough competition, ie Manatee, Braden River and Venice.  They can light up the scoreboard with an offense that averages 40 points per game. But their defense has been porous at times, allowing 28+ points in 4 games and an average of over 20 points per game.  This one could be a shootout.  

 

#6Bloomingdale(9-1) @ #3Riverdale(10-0)  These two Cinderella teams have had surprising seasons and have never met in the playoffs.  Riverdale last appeared in the playoffs in 2010 and has only won one playoff game in its history, back in 2005. Bloomingdale has only appeared in 3 playoff games in its history, and has never won.  The Bullswere knocked out by Tampa Bay Tech in the first round last year.  Bloomingdale has impressive wins over Chamberlain and Tampa Bay Tech.  They lost to Plant City.  The Bulls have averaged 38 points per game on offense and their defense has 6 shutouts. Those stats may be a bit deceiving,though, since the Bulls have played some weak teams.  Riverdale is 10-0, but has played a fairly weak schedule.  No team has gotten within 14 points of them.  They have wins over Lehigh and N Fort Myers, both of whom made the playoffs.  Like Bloomingdale, the Raiders have gaudy stats that may be deceiving.  They have scored 35 or more points in all but one of their games.  This one could be a shootout.

 

#5BradenRiver(8-2) @ #4Plant City(9-1) These two teams have met once in the playoffs.  Braden River defeated Plant City 17-7 in the 2015 region final.  That was the last time that the Raiders have appeared in the playoffs.  Plant City has won only 4 playoff games in its history.  The Raiders played a rather weak schedule. They had a nice win over Tampa Bay Tech, but got exposed versus Armwood, who put up 44 points on them. The Pirates have had success in the playoffs the last few years.  They were knocked out in the second round last year by Venice. They have wins over Manatee and Palmetto, but fell just short against Venice and Trinity Christian.  Their offense has averaged 41 points per game, but their defense has been porous, allowing an average of 22 points per game.  They have given up big points throughout the season, including 31 versus St Pete in the last game of the season.  No doubt they will eventually run into a team they cannot outscore.  

 

*Palmetto and Tampa Bay Tech were benefactors of the new points system.

 

[Hwy17]

14 hours ago, OldSchoolLion said:

This region has a number of possible Cinderella stories, if one of those teams could pull off an upset over Venice.  Look for lots of points to be scored in this slate of games.  

 

7A-R3

 

#8Tampa Bay Tech(7-3) @ #1Venice(9-1)  These two teams are regulars on the playoff scene, but have only met once in the playoffs. Defending 7A state champion Venice defeated TBT last year 48-17 in the region final. Venice has had impressive wins over Manatee, Palmetto, Braden River and Riverview, all after a rough start versus Vero Beach.  The Indians' offense has been lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 44 points per game.  TBT had an impressive win over Armwood, but lost games to Plant City, Gaither and Bloomingdale.  The Titans' defense has been allowing an average of 18 points per game.  Look for Venice to exploit that.  

 

#7Palmetto(7-3) @ #2Pinellas Park(10-0)  Can Pinellas Park bring glory to their county?  These two teams have met once in the playoffs.  Palmetto knocked out the Patriots in the first round last year, winning 28-24. PP has only won 3 playoff games in its history, the last victory coming in 2013. The Patriots are 10-0, but have played a very weak schedule.  Only one team came within 21 points of them.  Their statistics on both sides of the ball are gaudy, but may be deceiving because of the level of competition they faced. They scored 42 or more points in all but one of their games, and their D had 4 shutouts.  Palmetto is a regular on the playoff scene, but has had limited success of late.  TBT knocked them out in the second round last year.  The Tigers may be peaking at the right time, getting their most impressive win of the season last weak against Charlotte.  The Tigers have lost against tough competition, ie Manatee, Braden River and Venice.  They can light up the scoreboard with an offense that averages 40 points per game. But their defense has been porous at times, allowing 28+ points in 4 games and an average of over 20 points per game.  This one could be a shootout.  

 

#6Bloomingdale(9-1) @ #3Riverdale(10-0)  These two Cinderella teams have had surprising seasons and have never met in the playoffs.  Riverdale last appeared in the playoffs in 2010 and has only won one playoff game in its history, back in 2005. Bloomingdale has only appeared in 3 playoff games in its history, and has never won.  The Bullswere knocked out by Tampa Bay Tech in the first round last year.  Bloomingdale has impressive wins over Chamberlain and Tampa Bay Tech.  They lost to Plant City.  The Bulls have averaged 38 points per game on offense and their defense has 6 shutouts. Those stats may be a bit deceiving,though, since the Bulls have played some weak teams.  Riverdale is 10-0, but has played a fairly weak schedule.  No team has gotten within 14 points of them.  They have wins over Lehigh and N Fort Myers, both of whom made the playoffs.  Like Bloomingdale, the Raiders have gaudy stats that may be deceiving.  They have scored 35 or more points in all but one of their games.  This one could be a shootout.

 

#5BradenRiver(8-2) @ #4Plant City(9-1) These two teams have met once in the playoffs.  Braden River defeated Plant City 17-7 in the 2015 region final.  That was the last time that the Raiders have appeared in the playoffs.  Plant City has won only 4 playoff games in its history.  The Raiders played a rather weak schedule. They had a nice win over Tampa Bay Tech, but got exposed versus Armwood, who put up 44 points on them. The Pirates have had success in the playoffs the last few years.  They were knocked out in the second round last year by Venice. They have wins over Manatee and Palmetto, but fell just short against Venice and Trinity Christian.  Their offense has averaged 41 points per game, but their defense has been porous, allowing an average of 22 points per game.  They have given up big points throughout the season, including 31 versus St Pete in the last game of the season.  No doubt they will eventually run into a team they cannot outscore.  

 

*Palmetto and Tampa Bay Tech were benefactors of the new points system.

 

This has got to be the toughest region in the state.  

[ohs vargas]

1 hour ago, Hwy17 said:

This has got to be the toughest region in the state.  

Definitely up there with 8A region 1, 6A region 4 and 5A region 4