State Semifinal Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><br></strong>We have made it. Gone through spring, summer, and an entire football season to reach the point where we will crown nine state football champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend in Tallahassee at Gene Cox Stadium and next week at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the state of Florida will have its 2022 state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a year that did have some ups and downs – with Hurricane Ian and a number of challenges for several programs throughout the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While many are still detractors of the new Metro, Suburb and Rural classifications, especially in the larger cities where many of their teams were forced to compete in the same division, the show must go on, and while the FHSAA will need to look long and hard at the current format, football will be played and fans will attend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past week watched the State Semifinals take place – from the Panhandle to south Miami and everywhere in between.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we have done since the first week and over the past 25 years on the website and social media, we have spotlighted the top performers for college coaches and recruiters, along with fans, to see and watch many talented prospects get the chance to gain that exposure while being in the spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of the top performers from the state semifinal week – win or lose:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, senior DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128717' first='King' last='Mack']</strong> took over the game with several big plays, including a pick six in a win over defending state champion Tampa Jesuit. The Raiders are after their fourth consecutive state championship in two weeks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Wales senior quarterback <strong>Trent Grotjan</strong> threw a 4-yard touchdown to senior receiver <strong>Xavier Marlow </strong>and finished the day with 175 yards passing and three touchdowns in a win against Lake City Columbia. Senior running back <strong>Corey Harris Jr.</strong> racked up 21 rushes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Highlanders linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128470' first='Terrell' last='James']</strong> recovered a fumble and <strong>Philipp Davis</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381549' first='Jaremiah' last='Anglin Jr'].</strong> both had picks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami True North Classical Academy's fourth season may have come to an end, but what a year it was for the Titans. In the loss to one of the nation's elite programs, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, eighth grader <strong>Zac Katz </strong>(19 of 33 212 yards and 6 rushes 28 yards before being injured), <strong>Josh Reyes</strong> (3 rushes 18 yards, 4 receptions 28 yards, 60 yards on Kick Returns) and <strong>Jasen "Jroc" Lopez</strong> (11 receptions 150 yards, 1 kick return 30 yards).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Cocoa's offense has been getting plenty of press this season, the defense came to play against Starke Bradford County, limiting the Tornadoes to just 109 total yards while coming up with 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception and 3 QB pressures. On offense, head coach Ryan Schneider's Cocoa Tigers featured <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128298' first='Blake' last='Boda'] </strong>(19 of 25 328yds, 2TD), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='953682' first='Jayvan' last='Boggs']</strong> (9 Receptions, 203 yards and 2TDs), <strong>Ced Hawkins</strong> (4 Receptions, 70 yards and 3 kickoff returns for 61 yards), and <strong>Anthony Bridgewater Jr.</strong> (7 carries, 44 yards, TD and 1 reception for 6 yards).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daytona Beach Mainland makes a long-awaited trip back to the state finals with a win against Fort Myers Dunbar. There were a number of impressive prospects who made an impact. Among those were <strong>Jackie Bowdry</strong>, <strong>Dennis King III </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128465' first='Ajai' last='Harrell']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plantation American Heritage's standout runner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127994' first='Mark' last='Fletcher']</strong> scored two touchdowns in the first half and wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127990' first='Brandon' last='Inniss'],</strong> an Ohio State commit, scored the eventual game-winning touchdown in a win over Jacksonville Bolles. Heritage defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128014' first='Daemon' last='Fagan']</strong>, a North Carolina State commit, intercepted a fourth-down pass. Bolles' sophomore <strong>Ethan Drumm</strong> threw a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter – a 45-yard strike to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1315725' first='Chase' last='Collier']</strong> and a 20-yard pass to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1206198' first='Naeem' last='Burroughs']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bratt Northview QB <strong>Jamarkus Jefferson</strong> had three total touchdowns and 250 yards from Jamarkus Jefferson in a win against Lake Butler Union County. Union County rode the legs of fullback <strong>Rayvon Durant</strong> and senior tailback <strong>Dayviontae Thompson</strong>. Northview senior quarterback Kaden Odom had a scoring pass and <strong>Maliki Haynes</strong> had an interception for the Chiefs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clearwater Central Catholic continued to turn heads as they went on the road and beat Jacksonville University Christian. Among the players who stepped up for the Marauders were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404498' first='Andy' last='Jaffe']</strong>, <strong>Julian Allen</strong>, quarterback <strong>Jershaun Newton</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381588' first='Nate' last='Johnson'] III</strong>, <strong>Luis Sanchez</strong>, <strong>Cristian Landeros</strong>, <strong>Diego Mouton</strong>, <strong>Andrew Burton,</strong>&nbsp; <strong>Lenwood Sapp</strong> and <strong>Ceddrick Cann.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Venice and Gainesville Buchholz game had some standouts in the Indians' win. Senior QB<strong> Brooks Bentley</strong> had over 220 total yards and five touchdowns – while fellow senior standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128356' first='Creed' last='Whittemore']</strong> had three touchdowns and nearly 300 total yards offensively for Buchholz.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the exciting Lakeland and Kissimmee Osceola contest, there were some quality athletes who made a statement. Lakeland's <strong>Shadarian Harrison</strong> came up with the two interceptions in a 14-7 Class 4S state semifinal. For Osceola, super sophomore RB <strong>Taevion Swint</strong>, Kissimmee Osceola rushed for 110 yards on 25 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top junior QB <strong>Joshua Townsend</strong> from Homestead continued his impressive season with 235 yards in the Broncos first ever state semifinal win at Orlando Jones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past two years, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='128063' first='Jaden' last='Booker'] </strong>has not received the attention and spotlight that he deserved. On Friday night, the Naples First Baptist Academy standout had 225 yards and scored twice to lead his team to their first ever state final.</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 -->