Down To The Final 18 Teams

Our objective for six decades is to promote and expose prospects and teams throughout the state of Florida.

No matter what classification, every school in this state will have their time in the spotlight – it has always been that way.

As this year has certainly been thrilling – with several games taking place throughout the state – we have now reached the final stage of the season.

The last 18 teams are ready to make that dream come true – with four contests being played this week at Tallahassee's Gene Cox Stadium – and five more next week at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

As we head toward the State Finals, here is a look at the Top 25 plus for this week:

1. Miami Central (2M, 13-0). NEXT GAME: The State Finals against No. 6 Plantation American Heritage on Friday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. LAST WEEK: The Rockets beat St. Petersburg Lakewood in the state semifinals, 39-21.

2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M, 12-0). THIS WEEK: A state championship game on Thursday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee. LAST WEEK: The Lions beat Miami True North Classical Academy, 56-0.

3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M, 13-0). NEXT GAME: The state championship game on Thursday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 16 Homestead. LAST WEEK: The Raiders took care of business against defending state champion No. 24 Tampa Jesuit, 45-3.

4. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 8-1). THIS WEEK: SEASON OVER.

5. Lakeland (4S, 13-0). NEXT GAME: A state championship matchup on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 13 Venice. LAST WEEK: The Dreadnaughts beat Kissimmee Osceola for the second time this year, 14-7.

6. Plantation American Heritage (2M, 13-1). NEXT GAME: A state title game on Friday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 1 Miami Central. LAST WEEK: The Patriots hung on for an exciting 21-14 win against Jacksonville Bolles.

7. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M, 13-1). NEXT GAME: A state championship contest on Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 11 Apopka. LAST WEEK: The Explorers won an exciting 41-36 decision against Ocoee.

8. Lake Wales (3S, 14-0). NEXT GAME: The state championship game on Friday, Dec. 16, 1 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 15 Daytona Beach Mainland. LAST WEEK: The Highlanders scored early and often in a 37-7 win against Lake City Columbia, 37-7.

9. Clearwater Central Catholic (1M, 12-1). NEXT GAME: A state championship contest on Thursday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee against No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. LAST WEEK: The Marauders won and exciting 35-29 game against No. 25 Jacksonville University Christian.

10. Cocoa (2S, 10-3). NEXT GAME: A state championship game on Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. – Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee against No. 12 Tallahassee FSU High. LAST WEEK: The Tigers won a 31-21 decision against Starke Bradford County.

11. Apopka (4M, 11-3). NEXT GAME. A state championship contest against No. 7 Miami Christopher Columbus on Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. LAST WEEK: The Blue Darters won a thrilling game against No. 22 Wellington Palm Beach Central, 27-24.

12. Tallahassee FSU High (2S, 14-0). THIS WEEK: A state title game on Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. – Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee against No. 10 Cocoa. LAST WEEK: The Seminoles won at home against Fort Myers Bishop Verot, 38-28.

13. Venice (4S, 9-3). NEXT GAME: A state title contest on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 5 Lakeland. LAST WEEK:  The Indians won an exciting home game against No. 21 Gainesville Buchholz, 42-35.

14. Hawthorne (1R, 11-0). NEXT GAME: A state title game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. – Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee against No. 17 Bratt Northview. LAST WEEK: The Hornets shut down Blountstown, 28-0.

15. Daytona Beach Mainland (3S, 10-3). NEXT GAME: A state championship game on Friday, Dec. 16, 1 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale against No. 9 Lake Wales. LAST WEEK: The Bucs won a thriller on the road, 30-24 over Fort Myers Dunbar.

16. Homestead (3M, 11-2). NEXT GAME: A Miami-Dade vs. Broward matchup with No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. – DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. LAST WEEK: A huge road win against No. 20 Orlando Jones, 30-24.

17. Bratt Northview (1R, 11-0). NEXT GAME: A state title game against No. 14 Hawthorne on Saturday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. – Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee. LAST WEEK: The Chiefs rolled to a 21-11 win against Lake Butler Union County.

18. No. 1 Naples First Baptist (1S, 9-2). NEXT GAME: A state championship contest on Saturday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m. – Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee against No. 19 Ocala Trinity Catholic. LAST WEEK: A big win at home against Quincy Munroe, 28-7.

19. No. 1 Ocala Trinity Catholic (1S, 9-2). NEXT GAME: The Celtics will play for a state championship on Saturday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m. – Gene Cox Stadium, Tallahassee against No. 18 Naples First Baptist. LAST WEEK: A big home win against Fort Pierce John Carroll, 22-10.

20. Orlando Jones (3M, 11-3 – SEASON OVER). LAST WEEK: The Tigers were beaten at home 30-24 by No. 16 Homestead.

21. Gainesville Buchholz (4S, 10-3 – SEASON OVER). LAST WEEK: Dropped a 42-35 decision to No, 13 Venice.

22. Wellington Palm Beach Central (4M, 12-2 – SEASON OVER). LAST WEEK: Lost a 27-24 heart-breaker to No. 11 Apopka.

23. Kissimmee Osceola (4S, 10-4 – SEASON OVER). LAST WEEK: A great season came to an end, 14-7, to No. 5 Lakeland.

24. Tampa Jesuit (3M, 9-5 – SEASON OVER). LAST WEEK: The defending state champions were soundly beaten by No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 45-3

25. Jacksonville University Christian (1M, 11-2 – SEASON OVER).  LAST WEEK: The Christian lost a thrilling home game, 35-29, against No. 9 Clearwater Central Catholic.

FINISHED FOR THE SEASON

Blountstown (1R, 8-5 – SEASON OVER)

Bushnell South Sumter (2S, 12-1 – SEASON OVER)

Chipley (1R, 11-1 – SEASON OVER)

Clearwater Calvary Christian (2M, 10-3 – SEASON OVER)

Doral Academy (4M, 8-5 – SEASON OVER)

Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M, 10-2 – SEASON OVER)

Fort Myers Bishop Verot (2S, 9-3 – SEASON OVER)

Fort Myers Dunbar (3S, 9-2 – SEASON OVER)

Fort Pierce John Carroll (1S, 9-2 – SEASON OVER)

Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (3S, 7-6 – SEASON OVER)

Frostproof (2S, 10-3 – SEASON OVER)

Gainesville P.K. Yonge (1S, 4-8 – SEASON OVER)

Glen St. Mary Baker County (2S, 7-4 – SEASON OVER)

Jacksonville Bolles (2M, 8-5 – SEASON OVER)

Jacksonville Raines (2M, 9-3 – SEASON OVER)

Jacksonville Trinity Christian (1M, 11-1 – SEASON OVER)

Jensen Beach (3S, 10-3 – SEASON OVER)

Lake Butler Union County (1R, 7-3 - SEASON OVER)

Lake City Columbia (3S, 8-4 – SEASON OVER)

Lake Mary (4M, 8-4 – SEASON OVER)

Lake Minneola (4S, 10-2 – SEASON OVER)

Lakeland Christian (1S, 8-2 – SEASON OVER)

Largo (3M, 9-3 – SEASON OVER)

Live Oak Suwannee (2S, 10-3 – SEASON OVER)

Mayo Lafayette (1R, 10-2 – SEASON OVER)

Miami Norland (2M, 9-3 – SEASON OVER)

Miami Palmer Trinity (1M, 6-6 – SEASON OVER)

Niceville (4S, 9-2– SEASON OVER)

Miami True North Classical Academy (1M, 8-4 – SEASON OVER)

Miramar (3M, 10-2 – SEASON OVER)

Moore Haven (1S, 8-4 – SEASON OVER)

Naples (3S, 9-3 – SEASON OVER)

Ocoee (4M, 8-5 – SEASON OVER)

Orlando Edgewater (3M, 11-1 – SEASON OVER)

Pahokee (1R, 9-3 – SEASON OVER)

Palm Beach Gardens (4M, 9-4 – SEASON OVER)

Pensacola Pine Forest (3S, 9-1– SEASON OVER)

Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3M, 10-1 – SEASON OVER)

Quincy Munroe (1S, 5-7 – SEASON OVER)

Rockledge (3S, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)

Sanford Seminole (4M, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)

Sarasota Riverview (4S, 5-7 – SEASON OVER)

Sneads (1R, 11-1 – SEASON OVER)

Starke Bradford County (2S, 11-2 – SEASON OVER)

St. John's Bartram Trail (4S, 12-1 – SEASON OVER)

St. Petersburg Lakewood (2M, 9-5 – SEASON OVER).

Tallahassee North Florida Christian (1S, 11-1 – SEASON OVER)

Tampa Bay Tech (3M, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)

Tampa Carrollwood Day (1M, 6-4 – SEASON OVER)

Tampa Wharton (3M, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)

Tarpon Springs East Lake (4M, 10-2 – SEASON OVER)

Vero Beach (4S, 11-2 – SEASON OVER)

West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1M, 11-1 – SEASON OVER)

Winter Park (4M, 9-2– SEASON OVER)

Zephyrhills (3S, 9-4 – SEASON OVER)

You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id='111610' first='Larry' last='Blustein'] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.