FHSAA Football State Championships
When: Friday, Class 5A at 1 p.m. and Class 7A at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Class 6A at 1 p.m. and Class 8A at 7 p.m.
Where: Citrus Bowl, Orlando
TV: BHSN Channel 47/HD 1147
Live Streaming: Log onto bhsnlive.com for information.
Matchups:
Class 5A: Tallahassee Godby Cougars 0, Plantation American Heritage Patriots 38 - Final
Class 6A: Miami Central Rockets 24, Armwood Hawks 10 - Final
Class 7A: Kissimmee Osceola Kowboys 0, St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders 31 - Final
Class 8A: Miami Columbus Explorers vs. Apopka Blue Darters: Apopka is in the title game for the third-straight year. The Blue Darters won it all in 2012 and finished runner-up to Miami South Dade last year.
There were many skeptics who thought Apopka would make it back to the grand state after losing three games in the regular season. But the Blue Darters got hot at the right time, averaging 48 points per game in the postseason.
Apopka does their dirty work on the ground this season, led by two 1,000-yard rushers – Demetri Burch (1,340 yards, 19 TDs) and Chandler Cox (1,206 yards, 16 TDs).
Columbus’ lone loss was to Central and since then, the Explorers have won 11 straight. They are led by quarterback Tucker Beirne (2,063 yards, 23 TDs) and Ivan Smith (709 rushing yards, 7 TDs).