Second Round High School Football Recap

     Second round FHSAA playoff games were played on Friday night throughout South Florida. There was no let up from the tri-county region that had six champions in the eight classifications during 2013.
    The surprise this year has been the Wellington Wolverines in Class 8A led by quarterback Shannon Patrick, who transferred from Forest Hill. They got by the Palm Beach Gardens Gators, a state semifinalist last season, 16-10 and made the regional final game for the first time in school history. Next week Wellington will travel down to Flanagan, who edged Monarch 26-20 in overtime.
     St. Thomas Aquinas hosted their district rival the Plantation Colonels for the third consecutive year in a Class 7A regional semifinals. It ended up being the same result as the Raiders rolled 38-6. Aquinas has reached the regional final every season since 2004 and will host the Royal Palm Beach Wildcats next week.
     Two newcomers to the postseason from District 13-7A met on Friday night in Palm Beach County as RPB defeated Atlantic 28-7. The district was represented by eventual Class 7A champion Dwyer and West Boca Raton last year.
     The Miami Central Rockets look to capture their third consecutive Class 6A championship and fourth in five seasons. They had no problems on the road as they beat the Hallandale Chargers 35-19. They have to take a long trip to Palm Bay and challenge Heritage in the regional final.
     The defending Class 5A champions had an easy game at home in Plantation as the American Heritage Patriots pounded Lely 43-13. They will stay at home next Friday and face Island Coast.
     Booker T. Washington, the defending national champions and Class 4A state champs, gave up the first seven points to the Glades Central Raiders in their regional final, however they came back with 35 unanswered points to win 35-7. The Tornadoes head north to Cocoa next week for a state semifinal game.
     In Class 3A, the American Heritage Stallions were on the road and got by Westminister Christian 23-7. They will visit Clearwater Central Catholic next Friday.
     Jupiter Christian head coach Bill Powers coached his final high school football game as his team fell to their longtime district rival the Glades Day Gators 41-0. Glades Day will host Indian Rocks Christian in a state semifinal next week in Belle Glade.