Football Playoffs, Week 3 Preview

News > Local Sports - High School Sports

By Bill Buchalter
Bright House Sports Network

Believe it or not, a dozen unbeaten teams still remain in the chase for Florida Football Playoff's ultimate prize - the state championship trophy.

Another 21 have only one loss.

That's how tough it is to play this second season - the intensity of the one-and-done, or the win or go home mentality.

Some, of course, are tougher than others. And the Road to Orlando sometimes is littered with heartbroken teams.

Going into Round 3, there are some trivia statistics that may help you separate the toughest from the wannabe the toughest.

Everybody is aware of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and their coveted national standing - No. 1 in polls, defending state champs in Class 5A. But the goal here is to show, statistically there are a bunch of other teams headed toward the Citrus Bowl that are pretty darned good, too..

In the playoffs, St. Thomas Aquinas has outscored two opponents, 129-8. That means the Raiders are scoring 64.5 points per game. Pretty strong stuff. But not No. 1. That spot belongs to Tampa Plant who is averaging 68 points per outing. In fat, the top dozen offensive teams in the playoffs are averaging over 40 points per game.

Remember, 48 would be a point a minute.

Here they are:

1. Tampa Plant 136

2. St. Thomas Aquinas 129

3. Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer 118

4. Niceville 115

5. Apopka 107

6. Belle Glade Glades Day 92

7. Jacksonville Trinity Christian 90

8. Pensacola Catholic 85

9. Tampa Robinson 83

9. Pompano Beach Ely 83

9. Freeport 83

12. Winter Park 81

Remember, it was Apopka who survived a 58-52, five-overtime thriller over Orlando Dr. Phillips last Friday. And Freeport is not the Grand Bahamas, it is Northwest Florida.

Now, St. Thomas Aquinas allowed only eight points in two playoff games, a paltry four per game. But the Raiders are only FIFTH in playoff points allowed. Here are the top dozen on that side of the ball.

1. DeLand 0
2. Cocoa 6
3. Pensacola 6
4. Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer 7
5. St.Thomas Aquinas 8
6. Miramar 10
7. Seffner Armwood 12
8. Jacksonville Bolles 12
9. Fort Meade14
10. Hollywood Chaminade Madonna 18
11. South Daytona Warner Christian 19
12. Bradenton Manatee 22

12. Jacksonville Trinity Christian 22

12. Lakeland 22

12. Orlando Edgewater 22

DeLand has now shut out eight opponents for the year, one more than Dwyer who has allowed only 44 opponents' points all year (12 games). Cocoa has recorded five shutouts. Armwood is only allowing 113 total yards