Great breakdown Mark. Good to see you again. Agree on Mainland they had several WR with sticky fingers who were electric after the catch. The RB (#3) is apparently Tamaj Woodard, who was listed at 6'1 200 last year. He's a load. On Friday, Judy and I went to Melbourne to watch Fort Pierce Westwood v Melbourne. Melbourne was solid up front, had a RB with a good burst and some shimmy, and some WR. They dominated the game, racing out to a 28-0 lead. It was 42-0 at the end of three, so we cut out.
Melbourne will probably be a playoff team again, but unless Westwood can work some portal magic this summer, they are going to struggle. They were out talented and outplayed in every phase of the game. Their lone bright spot came on a great play that was bizarrely blown dead. WW stopped Melbourne at the 1 as time expired at the end of the half but a personal foul gave them another play and they put 1 second back on the clock. Melbourne tried to throw a slant, but the safety jumped the route, made a clean pick and was off to the races for a 100+ yard pick six, until they blew it dead when he was up around the 30. The WW staff was livid. I have no idea what the explanation from the official was, but it didn't go over well. I though that being a scrimmage, maybe they didn't want returns on turnovers, like they don't have kick returns. Then, in the 3rd quarter, a Melbourne player scored on a 50 yard scoop and score on a fumble, so who knows. The WW staff wasn't happy about that one either. The pick six that was blown dead wasn't going to affect the outcome, but a play like that is a dream for a defensive back. I hate that he didn't get to finish it.
Mark and I are going to see South Dade at Piper tomorrow. I've never been to Piper, so I'm looking forward to that.
I know that technically speaking, the FHSAA considers spring football to be an extension of the fall season (like that makes a whole lot of sense). The obvious proviso is that seniors do not get to participate. That said, I've never really understood the rationale behind making transfers sit out the spring game. In this new Wild, Wild West of transfers and NIL, if a kid has transferred into a new school, why shouldn't they get to play in the spring game? They get to practice in the spring, right? So why not let them play in the spring game?
Seriously, this is more of a question than an argument. I just don't understand the reasoning behind making the kids sit out the spring game.