By: Ross Van De Griek
We are down to the elite eight of the 2019 FHSAA Football playoffs, as we will have 32 total games taking place on Friday night, across the eight classifications. Who will be advancing to the state semifinals next Friday night? Who will have their postseason run come to an end?
Foundation Academy (9-2) at Victory Christian (9-1), Friday @ 7pm
Players to watch for Foundation Academy: 2020 QB Henry Austad (2742 passing yards, 29 TD, 7 interceptions), 2020 LB Michael Lemieux-Bott (107 total tackles)
Players to watch for Victory Christian: 2021 RB Cornelius Shaw (1409 rushing yards, 13 TD's), 2021 LB Gabe Jean (81 total tackles this season)
Score Prediction: Victory Christian 34, Foundation Academy 28
The First Academy (Orlando) (6-5) at Lakeland Christian (9-1), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for The First Academy: 2022 RB Terrence Mosley (1244 rushing yards, 13 TD's), 2020 ATH Lake Ellis (601 rushing yards, 81 total tackles this season)
Players to watch for Lakeland Christian: 2021 QB Elijah Hunter (1020 passing yards, 9 TD's, 7 interceptions), 2020 LB Nathan Smith (93 total tackles this season)
Score Prediction: Lakeland Christian 31, The First Academy 10
Lake Minneola (9-3) at Gaither (11-1), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Lake Minneola: 2020 RB Kyeandre Magloire (2416 rushing yards, 34 TD's), 2020 QB Devon Cole (1044 passing yards, 13 TD's, 4 interceptions), 2020 LB Steven Peterson (101 total tackles this season)
Players to watch for Gaither: 2020 QB Tony Bartalo (2713 passing yards, 39 TD's, 11 interceptions), 2020 safety Hunter Mintzer (101 total tackles this season)
Prediction: Gaither 38, Lake Minneola 17
Clearwater Central Catholic (9-3) at Bishop Verot (9-2), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Clearwater Central Catholic: 2020 RB Jordan Niles (1852 rushing yards, 26 TD's), 2020 LB Tyler Barnett (90 total tackles)
Players to watch for Bishop Verot: 2021 QB Jacob Azizi (1244 passing yards, 13 TD's, 8 interceptions), 2020 LB Derrick Erickson (128 total tackles this season)
Prediction: Bishop Verot 24, Clearwater Central Catholic 17
Venice (7-4) at Manatee (8-4), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Venice: 2020 ATH Nico Dallacosta (734 passing yards, 231 rushing yards, 20 total TD's), 2022 LB Desavion Cassaway (108 total tackles this season)
Players to watch for Manatee: 2022 QB Jayce Berzowski (1546 passing yards, 24 TD's, 6 interceptions), 2020 RB Tyson Phelps (575 rushing yards, 7 rushing TD's)
Prediction: Venice 28, Manatee 20
Admiral Farragut (8-3) at Seffner Christian (9-3), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Admiral Farragut: 2020 QB Ty Vongvenekeo (460 passing yards, 5 TD's, 3 interceptions), 2021 ATH Courtney Eubanks (723 all-purpose yards), 5 TD's
Players to watch for Seffner Christian: 2020 RB Justin Stubbs (1249 rushing yards, 18 TD's), 2020 QB Isaiah Knowles (1724 passing yards, 22 TD's, 2 interceptions)
Prediction: Seffner Christian 28, Admiral Farragut 24
Lakeland (12-0) at Armwood (11-1), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Lakeland: 2020 RB DeMarkcus Bowman (1523 rushing yards, 24 TD's), 2020 LB Shawn Smith (79 total tackles), 2020 WR Arian Smith (382 receiving yards, 6 TD's)
Players to watch for Armwood: 2021 QB Cam'ron Ransom (1224 passing yards, 14 TD's, 9 interceptions), 2020 RB Eric Wilson (805 rushing yards, 11 TD's), 2021 WR Charles Montgomery (516 receiving yards, 6 TD's), 2021 WR Agiye Hall (437 receiving yards, 5 TD's)
Prediction: Lakeland 34, Armwood 31
Tampa Catholic (7-5) at Lakewood (11-0), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Tampa Catholic: 2020 QB Dylan McCain (1649 passing yards, 14 TD's, 6 interceptions), 2020 LB Mikey Gonzalez (90 total tackles), 2023 RB Antoine Hill (929 rushing yards, 6 TD's), 2020 DB DJ Taylor (56 total tackles, 2 interceptions)
Players to watch for Lakewood: 2020 QB Greg Spann (1654 passing yards, 23 TD's, 8 interceptions), 2020 RB Derrel Kelley III (833 rushing yards, 11 TD's), 2021 safety Aumhryaun Brown (87 total tackles)
Prediction: Lakewood 28, Tampa Catholic 14
Steinbrenner (11-1) at Osceola (Kissimmee) (10-1), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Steinbrenner: 2020 QB Haden Carlson (2016 passing yards, 30 TD's, 4 interceptions), 2021 LB Austin Brannen (115 total tackles), 2020 WR Aidan Bitter (706 passing yards, 13 TD's)
Players to watch for Osceola (Kissimmee): 2022 RB Ja'randy Swint (918 rushing yards, 12 TD's), 2020 RB Dwayne McGee (814 rushing yards, 9 TD's), 2021 LB Nolin Eaddy (60 total tackles this season)
Prediction: Steinbrenner 27, Osceola (Kissimmee) 17
Jesuit (10-2) at Lake Wales (12-0), Friday @ 7:30pm
Players to watch for Jesuit: 2021 QB Kiael Kelly (1350 passing yards, 17 TD's, 2 interceptions), 2021 RB Ricky Parks (972 rushing yards, 13 TD's), 2020 LB Brett Gerena (135 total tackles), 2022 LB AJ Cottrill (125 total tackles)
Players to watch for Lake Wales: 2020 QB Eric Williams (1841 passing yards, 20 TD's, 3 interceptions), 2020 RB Johnny Richardson (2339 rushing yards, 32 TD's), 2020 WR Norman Love (686 receiving yards, 10 TD's), 2020 LB Joel Hadley (159 total tackles), 2021 Nelson Zenteno Jr. (144 total tackles this season)
Prediction: Lake Wales 35, Jesuit 20