Good Programs That Never Won a State Title

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Most programs that have won 25 or more FHSAA playoff games have at at least one state trophy.  But there are a few who don't.  Who are they?

Bonus question #1-Which team has the most playoff wins without winning a state title?

Bonus question #2-2 teams on the list are still alive and have a shot at winning a state title yet.  Who are they?

  

[ColumbiaHighFan2017class 2,575]

41 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

Most programs that have won 25 or more FHSAA playoff games have at at least one state trophy.  But there are a few who don't.  Who are they?

Bonus question #1-Which team has the most playoff wins without winning a state title?

Bonus question #2-2 teams on the list are still alive and have a shot at winning a state title yet.  Who are they?

  

Deerfield Beach is one 

Maybe Bartram Trail

Baker County?

 

 

 

As for bonus questions I'll say DFB is number 1 

 

Edgewater and maybe Vanguard?

[ColumbiaHighFan2017class 2,575]

Tampa Jesuit maybe

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

19 minutes ago, ColumbiaHighFan2017class said:

Tampa Jesuit maybe

Jesuit won an FHSAA title back in the late 60's, unless you don't want to count that.  But, if so, we should add Columbia to this list as well. 

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

22 minutes ago, ColumbiaHighFan2017class said:

Deerfield Beach is one 

Maybe Bartram Trail

Baker County?

 

 

 

As for bonus questions I'll say DFB is number 1 

 

Edgewater and maybe Vanguard?

Deerfield Beach-yes 

Edgewater-yes

Bartram Trail, Vanguard and Baker County-all less than 25 playoff wins to date

[ColumbiaHighFan2017class 2,575]

10 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

Jesuit won an FHSAA title back in the late 60's, unless you don't want to count that.  But, if so, we should add Columbia to this list as well. 

That's right, I remembered they played at state against somebody a while back but I wasn't looking that far back with them 

[ColumbiaHighFan2017class 2,575]

13 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

Jesuit won an FHSAA title back in the late 60's, unless you don't want to count that.  But, if so, we should add Columbia to this list as well. 

Hey if they still count Notre Dame as an elite program when they have had maybe one title in the lifetime of most posters on here then I have no problem counting the titles back in the 60s lol

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

10 minutes ago, ColumbiaHighFan2017class said:

Hey if they still count Notre Dame as an elite program when they have had maybe one title in the lifetime of most posters on here then I have no problem counting the titles back in the 60s lol

Different ways to measure "elite."  Some may not consider Pahokee an "elite" program, but there are few teams that have been as consistently "good" as Pahokee over the past 50 years.  Notre Dame is similar.  Not always "great," but usually always good or better.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Let's count them down.  At #10 is Clearwater Central Catholic, with 26 playoff wins.  CCC has been a strong program in the past decade and made numerous playoff runs.  2013 is the only year they made it to a final, losing to Trinity Christian.  The past 3 years they have been knocked out by eventual state champion Chaminade-Madonna.  This year was the first since 2011 when they did not advance past the first round.   

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Tied for #8 with 27 playoff wins is North Marion.  NM has been a strong program the past two decades.  They made it to the 3A state semis in 05, 06 and 07, losing each time.  They made it their first state final last year, where they fell short against Cardinal Gibbons. 

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Tied for #8 with 27 playoff wins is Sarasota Riverview.  Riverview made the 5A finals back in 1988 and 1990 under coaching legend John Sprague.  The Rams have never made it back, though they came close in 2004 and 20018, making the state semi each year.  

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Tampa Catholic comes in at #7 with 28 playoff wins.  TC has been a consistent contender since the mid 90's.  They made the state finals in 2007 and 2009, falling short each time.  TC's story this past decade is a bit like CCC's, competing in a 3A class with the likes of Trinity Christian and Chaminade-Madonna.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

At #6 is Lake Gibson, with 29 playoff wins.  Could this be the year?  We'll get a better idea when they travel to Palmetto for a 6A state semi this week.  LG is 3-0 in state semi games, winning in in 2003, 2004 and 2016.  But they came up short in the final each time, twice to Armwood.    

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Do you see a trend, yet?  Look at all of these Central FL teams on the list.  Here is another one from Polk County.  At #5 is Lake Wales, with 31 playoff wins.  LW made the state finals back in 93 and 94, but have not been back since.  They have been a relatively consistent program since the mid 90's, and have made 3 state semis (2001, 2009, 2013), losing all 3 at home.

[Proseteye 429]

38 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

Tied for #8 with 27 playoff wins is North Marion.  NM has been a strong program the past two decades.  They made it to the 3A state semis in 05, 06 and 07, losing each time.  They made it their first state final last year, where they fell short against Cardinal Gibbons. 

I think you meant 5A not 3A.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

3 minutes ago, Proseteye said:

I think you meant 5A not 3A.

NM was in 3A back then.

[Proseteye 429]

4 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

NM was in 3A back then.

I stand corrected.

[Hwy17 438]

Fort Myers and Charlotte are probably on the list or close.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

18 minutes ago, Hwy17 said:

Fort Myers and Charlotte are probably on the list or close.

close, but not quite

[DarterBlue2 1,970]

3 hours ago, OldSchoolLion said:

At #6 is Lake Gibson, with 29 playoff wins.  Could this be the year?  We'll get a better idea when they travel to Palmetto for a 6A state semi this week.  LG is 3-0 in state semi games, winning in in 2003, 2004 and 2016.  But they came up short in the final each time, twice to Armwood.    

And once to Carol City.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

At #4 we have Delray Beach Atlantic, with 33 playoff wins.  Perhaps no other program has such a hard-luck story.  5 trips to the state finals(4 of those in the 1970's) and no state title.  They lost those 5 games by a combined 29 points.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

Coming in at #3 is South Sumter with 35 playoff wins.  They made numerous deep runs under coaching legend Inman Sherman, including one state final appearance in 2005.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

At #2 we have Edgewater, with 38 playoff wins.  They have made 4 trips to the state finals and still no state title.  2 of those losses were by less than a TD.  Can they end the streak this year?  If they make the state final and lose, they will overtake the #1 team.

[OldSchoolLion 2,033]

At #1 it is...Deerfield Beach!  Despite 40 playoff wins and numerous deep playoff runs, the Bucks only made it to one state final back in 2005.  Amongst larger schools, only 7 have made it to more state semis than the Bucks.  

 

 

[Nulli Secundus 129]

On 11/30/2020 at 9:42 AM, OldSchoolLion said:

Do you see a trend, yet?  Look at all of these Central FL teams on the list.  Here is another one from Polk County.  At #5 is Lake Wales, with 31 playoff wins.  LW made the state finals back in 93 and 94, but have not been back since.  They have been a relatively consistent program since the mid 90's, and have made 3 state semis (2001, 2009, 2013), losing all 3 at home.

Hopefully the Braves will make a game of it and lead Polk to another title appearance.  If you wanna see a sad trend, look at the oldest school in Polk to have never...  That's all I'll say.