By: Ross Van De Griek
The second week of the 2019 Florida High School Football State Championships are about to get underway in about 24 hours from now. Our first matchup features two teams who are very familiar with reaching the state championship game. Booker T. Washington (Miami) vs Bolles (Jacksonville) on Wednesday night at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach.
The Booker T. Washington Tornadoes are seeking their sixth state football championship in school history & their first since 2015. How did Booker T. Washington get here? They defeated Carol City 35-14 in the regional quarterfinals, defeated Gulliver Prep 34-31 in the regional semifinals, Cardinal Gibbons 31-21 in the regional finals & defeated Lakewood (St. Petersburg) 9-7 in the state semifinals. The Tornadoes are coached by 5th year head coach Earl Tillman Jr. who holds a career coaching record of 46-18.
Booker T. Washington (12-2) is led by junior wide receiver Jacorey Brooks (1187 receiving yards & 16 touchdown receptions), as well as senior running back Shemar Paul (112 carries, 787 rushing yards & 10 rushing touchdowns this season) & junior quarterback Torey Morrison (3758 passing yards, 34 touchdown passes & 11 interceptions this season). Other names to keep an eye on feature senior defensive back Corey Thornton (UCF commit), senior lineman Anthony Hundley (LSU commit) & senior wide receiver Theodore Richardson (FIU commit).
The Bolles Bulldogs are seeking their state record 12th state football championship in school history & their first since 2011. Bolles was last in the state championship back in 2016, where they lost to Cocoa 31-17, back in Corky Rogers' final year as a head coach. How did Bolles get here? They defeated South Walton 62-6 in the regional semifinals, defeated Bradford 16-6 in the regional finals & defeated Cocoa 20-14 in the state semifinals. The Bulldogs are in 9th year head coach Matt Toblin, who is in his 1st year at Bolles after spending the previous 8 seasons at Ponte Vedra. Toblin holds a career record of 62-20.
Bolles (11-1) is led by senior quarterback Ben Netting (1303 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes & 4 interceptions), sophomore running back Kade Frew (135 carries, 934 rushing yards & 10 rushing touchdowns), junior wide receiver Davis Ellis (41 receptions, 644 receiving yards & 7 receiving touchdowns) & freshman linebacker Matthew Berry (147 total tackles this season).
Score Prediction: Booker T. Washington 31, Bolles 14