PLAYOFF WEEK 1 FLORIDA STANDOUTS

We brought you 11 weeks of the top performers in the state of Florida – each and every week. Now, as we head toward Week 2 of the Florida State High School Playoffs, we had some Week 1 standouts that we are bringing your way. As 1A-3A teams are looking for that trip to Tallahassee – and the 4A-8A programs headed to Fort Lauderdale, we will keep you informed on who is making noise on the football field. Here is a look at the top performers from Playoff Week 1: Miami Northwestern 2023 QB [player_tooltip player_id="128308" first="Taron" last="Dickens"] threw 417 yards and 7 touchdowns on 17 completions and added five carries for 61 yards and a score as the Bulls rolled Fort Myers. Brooksville Nature Coast 2024 RB Christian Cromer ran for 270 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Tampa Chamberlain. Coconut Creek a No. 4 seed in 6A, used a huge night from quarterback Asante Daniels and receiver Davari Morris in a win over South Fort Myers. The duo hooked up for 167 yards and a pair of scores. Regional No. 1 Clearwater showed once again they may have a team that reaches the school's first-ever state semifinal, as quarterback Aidan MacLean threw for 269 yards and four touchdowns as 5A No. 1 seed Clearwater rolled to a dominating 55-14 win over No. 8 Hudson. Senior WR CJ Lee had four catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Cornerback Maceo Bennett came up with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Tampa Jesuit sophomore QB Luke Knight threw for 4 scores in the first half in an opening-round playoff with against Boca Ciega. In the playoffs for the 22nd straight season, Apopka beat St. Johns Creekside and moved to the next round as Keyondray Jones led his team with 83 yards. [player_tooltip player_id="128399" first="Ke'shawn" last="Jones"] gained 80 yards. Quarterback Andrew McClain had his best rushing game of the season, gaining 66 yards. Senior Jay'den Birch ran for 95 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries, sophomore Ahmed Hunter's 85 yards on six attempts and junior quarterback Will Carter Jr.'s 45 yards on 14 rushes all made a huge impact as No. 5 8A Sarasota Riverview rolled to a 31-7 win against Steinbrenner (Lutz), Riverview finished with 372 yards. In Wildwood's win over Fort Meade, junior receiver Jamari Dickens had 5 catches for 111 yards, junior Zechariah Poyser had 4 catches for 47 Yards & 90 yard punt return and freshman QB Jonathan Harding (14/20, 185 Yards, 2 TD). Junior athlete [player_tooltip player_id="128484" first="Tra'quan" last="Johnson"] ran for over 100 yards and had a touchdown reception, and sophomore DL Kevaun Jones came up with a pair of sacks, including one late in the game that gave St. Petersburg Gibbs an upset win against Zephyrhills. Tyler Huff threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns to keep 10-1 Winter Garden West Orange red hot – beating Plant City Durant. Huff completed 9 of 11 pass attempts, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Kelly and a 12-yard TD throw to University of Florida commit [player_tooltip player_id="50211" first="Jayden" last="Gibson"]. Sanford Seminole junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="128344" first="Luke" last="Rucker"] completed 8 of his 14 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns, and four different receivers, including senior [player_tooltip player_id="50302" first="DeMari" last="Henderson"], junior [player_tooltip player_id="128490" first="Darren" last="Lawrence"] and sophomores Justin Rosado and Marvin Brown, found the end zone in a convincing 41-27 home win against Winter Park. Tampa Hillsborough RB [player_tooltip player_id="111429" first="Jordaan" last="Bailey"] had 130 yards of offense and two touchdowns and junior QB Shaun Joshi threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Pinellas Park. Junior Rashaun Walden, senior KJ Wooden, Cameron Pedro and [player_tooltip player_id='381550' first='Jaren' last='Hamilton'] came up big for Gainesville P.K. Yonge in a win over Crescent City 56-7 to advance to the second round of the playoffs at top-seeded Ocala Trinity Catholic. Crawfordville Wakulla 2022 RB Zamarion Smith had 14 carries for 327 yards, 2 TDs and a 2-point conversion in a first round win against Jacksonville Bishop Kenny. He also scored off of a blocked punt. Miami Christopher Columbus senior PK [player_tooltip player_id="50111" first="Luis" last="Palenzuela"] continued his season with 10 points in the Explorers' first playoff game. 7-7 on Extra points and 1-1 on field goals, 7-9 on touchbacks. Tampa Catholic got some impressive performances in its win over Tampa Carrollwood Day. Senior athlete Jaquise Alexander had a 35-yard reception that set up the game-winning field goal and picked off a pass that sealed the victory, senior kicker Eric Fidalgo hit two field goals, the last coming with 1:15 left that turned out to be the game winner, sophomore QB [player_tooltip player_id='474019' first='Terry' last='hedden III'] came in during the second half and threw a 90-yard touchdown pass and led the Crusaders on their game-winning drive. Plantation junior QB Luca Foerch fired 4 touchdowns as the No. 8 seed beat No. 1 seed Fort Myers Dunbar in a first round 6A playoff game. Senior LB Malcolm Harris from Baldwin had 10 tackles, forced a fumble and had a pass deflection in a first round win. In Ocala Vanguard's 38-0 win over Palm Bay Heritage. Joshua Rembert had an 8-yard touchdown run and a 53-yard touchdown reception, linebacker Markell Davis had a late pick-6 and [player_tooltip player_id="128095" first="Elijah" last="Hopkins"], a Coastal Carolina commit, returned a punt 85 yards. Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 2023 RB [player_tooltip player_id="128414" first="Sincere" last="Rodriguez"] had 2 first quarter touchdowns and led the Dragons to a first round win at Estero.. The state's leading passer, [player_tooltip player_id="128318" first="Collin" last="Hurst"] from Davie Western threw for 273 yards and 5 scores on 10 of 11 passing in a win against Parkland Douglas. Melbourne's [player_tooltip player_id="128352" first="Hunter" last="Turner"] completed 17 passes for 280 yards and 5 scores in a first round win. Nate Garnett, WR/RB, Auburndale, was 8 for 8 for 233 yards and 3 scores as the Bloodhounds remained unbeaten. Winter Garden West Orange standout Quentin Hatch had 8 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in one half of play versus Plant City Durant. The Warriors won the game, 55-6, Hatch led the team in tackles this year. In Tampa Bay Tech's win over Largo, junior DT Jahiem Borden recorded 10 tackles and two sacks, Iowa State senior WR commit Greg Gaines III had six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown and junior QB Xavione Washingtotn accounted for 356 yards (294 passing, 62 rushing) and threw for two touchdowns in a win over Largo. Tampa Wharton got 130 yards rushing and two scores from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='404262' first='Arkese' last='Parks'], So., Wharton: Ran for more than 130 yards and scored both of the Wildcats touchdowns and sophomore LB [player_tooltip player_id='404075' first='Booker' last='Pickett Jr']. was a huge force all night in a win over Mitchell. Catch More Florida High School Football. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a> You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.