A dominating defensive performance led Largo to a 17-7 victory over Clearwater, giving the Packers their first district title since 2013.
Largo (7-1, 5-0) will host a first-round playoff game, in their first postseason appearance since 2014. Defending 6A District 9 champions Clearwater (6-2, 4-1) will have to wait and see if they'll be in the playoffs for the third straight season. Because of the FHSAA's new points-based playoff system, a win next week vs. East Lake could be necessary.
If Largo wanted respect, they had to take it, head coach and alum Marcus Paschal said earlier in the week. Take it they did, limiting Clearwater to just 28 yards in the second half. The "Goon Squad," as Paschal called them, had the mentality that they were going to take what was theirs.
A defensive line that includes three D-I commits - Jaquaze Sorrells (Florida), Isaiah Bellamy (UCF) and D.J. Bullard (Mercer) - bottled up Clearwater's running game and continually put pressure on Tornadoes QBs Colin Wray and Rent Montie.
Player of the Game Jaquan Hiers scored both Packers touchdowns and finished the night with 122 rushing yards on 25 carries. His Clearwater counterpart Jarius Williams rushed for 81 yards on 18 carries.
It's Largo's first win in the rivalry game since 2006, after the two programs did not meet from 2007 to 2014. Clearwater still holds the advantage in the all-time series, 35-20-1.
Largo will look to continue their seven-game winning streak next week in the regular season finale vs. Lakewood.
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