STATE PLAYOFFS – WEEK 1 TOP PERFORMERS

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While there are still some football games to be played this evening across the state of Florida, this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday brought some great games in the first week of the 2022 state football playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With teams appearing for the first time – and those who are veterans of the post season – the action was indeed something special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From southern Florida to the Panhandle, players were turning heads and winning games as crowds of fans were there to usher in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at some of those primetime performances:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Belen Jesuit's final game of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221454' first='Davion' last='Dixon']'s</strong> sophomore season was impressive in Miami Belen Jesuit's loss to Miami Dr. Krop. The defensive lineman had 12 Total Tackles, 5 Tackles For Loss, 2 Sacks, 2 Passes Defensed and 3 QB Hurries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons kicker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128846' first='Robert' last='Hammond III']</strong> was 6 of 6 on extra points, booted a 29-yard field goal and had four touchbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Fort Myers 2023 RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128082' first='Levontai' last='Summersett'] </strong>was impressive in Round 1 with 226 yards and a score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Port Richey Mitchell QB <strong>Chris Ferrini </strong>was 5 of 9 for 123 yards and added 194 yards rushing with touchdowns in a win over Springstead. On the season he is 86 of 160 for 1,222 passing yards and 962 rushing yards. On defense, he registered 30 tackles and an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hudson Cobras have been impressive this season – and in the opening games of the state playoffs, RB/FS <strong>Tanner Testori </strong>had a team-high 7 tackles, and 98 rushing yards, WR/CB <strong>Coltin Norris </strong>had a team-high 119 receiving yards, 2 receptions and a TD, RB/FS <strong>Logan Shawell</strong> had a team-high 102 rushing yards on 17 carries and QB <strong>Riley Blevens</strong> threw for 8/19, 248 yards, 2 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lecanto RB <strong>Amir Wilson </strong>ran for for 312 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. Also making an impact were <strong>Darius Gainer</strong> (WR/CB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='318808' first='Burke' last='Malmberg']</strong> (OL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='319152' first='Donovan' last='Foster']</strong> (WR/CB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='318820' first='Nathan' last='Lightfoot'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brendyn Colella</strong>, Zephyrhills, was on fire in the opener was 12 of 17 and a record eight touchdowns for 327 yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In one of the most thrilling games of the first round, Riverview Sumner QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128676' first='Greg' last='Smith'] III</strong> had a contest to remember against Tampa Plant. Smith III had 193 yards rushing and completed 20-of-30 for 245 yards, two touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Booker T. Washington junior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404484' first='Antwan' last='Smith']</strong>, with QB [player_tooltip player_id='404511' first='Claudell' last='Sherman'] out of the game, showed the state who may be one of the best 2024 backs in Florida as he&nbsp; ran for 326 yards in a win against Carol City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have talked about him all year, and Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee standout <strong>Cole Tabb</strong> brought his team back with a 300-yard all-purpose game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crestview's <strong>Jerome Brazan</strong> was a true star in an upset win against Niceville as his 44-yard scoring strike was the game winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gainesville Eastside's <strong>Micah Hudson</strong> had 139 yards and scored two touchdowns in a region quarterfinal win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight year, Orlando Lake Highland Prep won the&nbsp; &nbsp;Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship as <strong>Romelo Ware</strong> rushed for 195 yards and two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Super sophomore RB <strong>Taevion Swint</strong> was at it again in the opening round for Kissimmee Osceola as he finished with 169 yards rushing and scored twice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tampa Jesuit 2026 QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401462' first='Will' last='Griffin']</strong> threw for 245 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first ever playoff game win as the defending state champs rolled.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tarpon Springs East Lake RB<strong> Luke Yoder </strong>scored twice and accounted for over 100 yards in a playoff win over Orlando Olympia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just one half in Pensacola West Florida's win, <strong>Pat Dalcour</strong> had 5 receptions for 119 yards and 2 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class of 2026 OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401408' first='Grant' last='Wise']</strong> of Pace High School ended his first season with 12 pancakes and yielded no sacks in a tough loss to Gainesville Buchholz. 105 pancakes for the season and 0 sacks!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing in his first state playoffs game, Miramar 2024 QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275827' first='Kael' last='Alexander']</strong> was 14 of 29 for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's top running backs, senior <strong>Mark Wilder Jr.</strong> had 22 carries for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns in a win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sean Ashenfelder</strong>, QB, St. John's Creekside had 424 total yards 4 total touchdowns. 22/29 for 296 yards 1 score and 14 carried for 128 yards and 3 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Palmetto DB <strong>Jaden Outar</strong> was outstanding in his first round playoff game against West Broward as he was targeted 4 times and had 2 pass breakups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Live Oak Suwannee 2023 QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='118972' first='Bronsen' last='Tillotson']</strong> had a monster first round state playoff game with 5 touchdowns and 354 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ricky Harding</strong>, 2023 LB Wildwood. Had 20 tackles in 1st round playoff win over Williston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vero Beach linebacker <strong>Kevin Pollock</strong> recovered a fumble late in the first half and then made another key play to start the fourth quarter blocking a 47-yard field goal attempt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128352' first='Hunter' last='Turner']</strong> threw two touchdown passes and <strong>Nate Jennings</strong> had a critical interception return for a touchdown late in the first half to help the Melbourne knock out Centennial in the regional quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing in their first ever state playoff game, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy came up short, but 2025 QB <strong>Cam Hartzell</strong> finished a great season by throwing for 248 yards and 3 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a thrilling come-from-behind win against Riverview Sumner, Tampa Plant had some impressive performances. Among those were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='468699' first='Chase' last='Jarrett'] </strong>(14 solo tack 4 asst tack 3 TFL 1 INT), &nbsp;<strong>Jaden Davis </strong>(10 solo tack 5 asst tack 1 PBU), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336723' first='Devin' last='Andrews']</strong> (15 Tackles 5 Solo 2 TFL 1 Sack) and <strong>Jaquez Kindell</strong> (3 rushes 4 yards 4 receptions 33 yards 1 TD KOR - 1 for 95 yards 1 TD).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2023-rankings/</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/updated-2024-florida-rankings/</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id='111610' first='Larry' last='Blustein'] with prospect or team information at: <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->