South Florida Teams Sweep

     It was a best case scenario on Friday night as four South Florida schools won their state semifinal game and advanced to the FHSAA state championships at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando next weekend. It means that a team from the tri-county area will be represented in all four state championships in Class 8A, 7A, 6A and 5A.
     The only guarantee that a South Florida team would advance was between the Palm Beach Gardens Gators and the South Dade Buccaneers in a Class 8A state semifinal at Harris Field in Homestead. The Gators made their first appearance in this round since they won the Class 6A state title with running back/defensive back Emmanuel Cook in 2005. South Dade easily handled Palm Beach Gardens 37-10 and will play the defending Class 8A state champion Apopka Blue Darters next Saturday night in Orlando.
     The Dwyer Panthers, won was playing in their five state semifinal in the last six years, made the longest trip among all South Florida schools as they traveled to Tarpon Springs and took on the East Lake Eagles in a Class 7A state semifinal. This might have been the most exciting in the state of Florida on Friday night as Dwyer won with a Kansas tiebreaker used in overtime to edge East Lake 31-24. The Panthers advanced to their first championship game since 2009 when they captured the Class 5A title led by tight end Nick O'Leary and quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Dwyer will play Niceville for the Class 7A state championship next Friday night at the Citrus Bowl.
     The Miami Central Rockets, defending Class 6A state champions, will return to Orlando for the fourth consecutive year as they beat the Mainland Buccaneers 28-15 on Friday night at Traz Powell Stadium. The Rockets will look for their third state title in the last four years as they face the Armwood Hawks next Saturday afternoon. No school has appeared in the state championship game four straight times since St. Thomas Aquinas when they played in five consecutive Class 5A title games from 2004 until 2008.
     After several years of underachievement, the American Heritage Patriots have climbed the mountain to reach the Class 5A championship game as they went on the road Friday night and blasted the Lake Wales Highlanders 48-16. American Heritage will challenge Clay for the state title on Friday afternoon at the Citrus Bowl.
     There are two South Florida schools that are in Orlando for state championships in the lower classifications. Champagnat won their first state title as they got by Victory Christian Academy 14-7 on Friday afternoon in Class 2A. It was been a great process for this school which started its football program in 2010.
     The Booker T. Washington Tornadoes defended their FHSAA Class 4A title on Saturday night at Orlando as they dismantled the Bolles Bulldogs 40-21 in the 4A championship game. It was their third state football title in school history for them and extended its winning streak to 26 games. They are considered the top-rated team nationally in high school football by many national media organizations and are expected to be named national champions within the next two weeks.