” Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things,” Psalm 107: 8-9 reads.
As we sit down to the table with our immediate family or our extended (football) family, let us give thanks for the many blessing that have been given to us and those that are yet to come.
For seven local teams, they continue to count their blessings each week as they get closer and closer to the ultimate goal of winning a state championship.
For teams like Raines, Bolles, Trinity and University Christian practicing on Thanksgiving Day has not become an annual tradition its become an expected tradition as well, while for other teams like Mandarin, Lee and West Nassau this is new territory that hopes to become an annual tradition.
We’re not only thankful to see our family again but also the fact we get to see several rematches and rivalries again every year in the playoffs.
We are thankful to be able to see playoff rivals North Florida Christian and University Christian meet for the 15th time overall and the eighth straight year in the playoffs.
Class 2A: No. 3 University Christian 8-4) at No. 1 North Florida Christian (6-4)
Series: Tied 7-7
1986: NFC 32, U.C. 12
Casey Weldon (8 of 11 for 174) threw three touchdowns passes to Kip Bembrey helping unranked NFC (8-2) stun No. 1 UC (10-1) 32-12 in the Class 1A first round playoff game in Tallahassee. NFC led 20-6 at the half and made things tough on the UC ground based attack, which finished with 265 yards. The big plays by NFC and multiple turnovers by UC made Willie McClendon (16 carries, 193 yards and two touchdowns) and company to have to play catchup.
1987: U.C. 20, NFC 7
Willie McClendon (29 carries for 264 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Champ Brown (12 carries for 73 yards) helped No. 6 U.C. ring up 395 yards rushing in the 20-7 win over host No. 8 NFC (8-3) in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. Clifford Johnson picked off two passes for the Christians to lead the UC defense. Fresh off its second consecutive undefeated regular season, UC claimed its first playoff victory since 1979 in the win.
1989: U.C. 47, NFC 6
The No. 1 Christians rolled up 508 total yards behind Cecil Majerska (14 carries for 152 yards, 3 touchdowns), Bula Brown (106 rush, 1 touchdown) and Carl Thomas (64 rush, 2 touchdowns) in the first round 47-6 win over No. 4 NFC in the Class 1A state playoffs in Tallahassee.
1990: U.C. 34, NFC 15
Rodney Deary (2 carries for 84 yards, 1 TD), Richard Burnoski (3 TD) and Mark Beverly (TD) led a 231 yard rushing attack for the defending state champions in their 34-15 win over host No. 3 NFC in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. UC outgained NFC 279-139 and forced four turnovers.
2003: NFC 27, UC 23
Thanks to a second half surge that saw them outscore the Christians 20-9, host NFC advanced to the second round with a 27-23 win over UC in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs. Blake Field scored the go ahead score on a 1 yard run while Bobby Ransom (24 carries for 163 yards, 1 TD) and Marcus Sims (9 carries for 54 yards) led NFC in the rally.
2005: NFC 24, UC 22
Isaac Ancrum had the go ahead touchdown on a 12 yard interception return and also caught a touchdown pass for the host Christians in the 24-22 win over No. 5 NFC in Jacksonville. UC trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, but scored the games final 12 points and sent NFC home.
2006: NFC 49, UC 21
Behind Chris Walley (10 of 18 for 233 and five touchdowns), Dayne Read (11 carries for 69 yards, 1 TD), Tyson Workman (2 TD) and Darius McQueen (5 catches for 112 yards, 2 TD), host NFC rolled UC 49-21 in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs. Workman blocked a punt return for a touchdown pacing the Eagles to a 21 point first quarter and 28-0 halftime lead.
2011: NFC 47, UC 21
Jonathan Vickers ( 9 carries for 130 yards, 2 TD), Matt Dobson (15 of 24 for 265 yards, 2 TD) and Marcus Clark (3 catches for 58 yards, 1 TD) led the host No. 1 Eagles to a run away 47-21 win over visiting Christians in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. Dwyane Norman (11 carries for 118 yards, 1 TD) and Kyle Smoot (6 catches for 108 yards, 2 TD) led the Christians offense.
2012: UC 44, NFC 31
Jeremiah Hamlin ran for a touchdown and scored on 3 two-point conversions as the host Christians knocked off NFC 44-31 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. UC jumped out to a 22 point lead and held off a late charge by NFC.
2013: NFC 28, UC 14
Jonathan Vickers (22 carries for 181 yards, 1 TD) interception return paced the Eagles in the 28-14 first round win in the Class 2A playoffs in Tallahassee.
2014: NFC 44, UC 27
Leading 28-13 at the half, the visiting Eagles poured it on with 21 straight points in the third quarter to stun host UC 44-27 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
2015: UC 38, NFC 30
The Christians rallied from an early 10-0 deficit and built a 21 point lead and then held off a late rally to hold off host NFC 38-30 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. Hussein Howe (27 carries for 186 yards, 4 TD) and Otis Anderson (15 carries for 85 yards, 1 TD) sparked the offense which rushed for 306 yards against the Eagles defense.
2016: UC 32, NFC 14
The Christians led 25-0 at the half and bashed the visiting Eagles 32-14 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs thanks to strong efforts from Otis Anderson (152 rushing, 2 TD) and Clayton Boyd (10 of 16 for 142 yards, 84 rushing, 2 TD).
2017: UC 26, NFC 13
Clayton Boyd (12 of 21 for 256 yards, 2 TD) and Jalen Dunnigan (16 carries for 70 yards, 1 TD) helped the Christians roll past the visiting Eagles 26-13 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs, thanks to a 20-0 run in the second quarter.
State titles
NFC (7): 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2011
U.C. (10): 1973, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2012, 2015, 2016
After going without it for 17 years, we are thankful to see Bolles and Trinity Christian meet up for the ninth overall meeting, including the fourth meeting in the last two years.
Class 5A: No. 6 Bolles (8-4) at No. 1 Trinity (12-0)
Series: Bolles leads 5-3
1997: Bolles 50, Trinity 27
1998: Bolles 45, Trinity 20
1999: Bolles 28, Trinity 21
1999: Trinity 17, Bolles 7 (third round)
2000: Bolles 28, Trinity 21
2017: Trinity 40, Bolles 28 (forfeit)
2017: Trinity 24, Bolles 21 (3 OT) (third round)
2018: Trinity 41, Bolles 13
Playoffs
1999: Trinity 17, Bolles 7
Trinity avenged their regular season loss limiting the host Bulldogs to 83 rushing yards and picked off three passes by Gerrard Ross, while Robby Tebow had 2 sacks to knock off host Bolles 17-7 in the third round of the Class 2A state playoffs at Skinner Barco Stadium.
2017: Trinity 24, Bolles 21 (3 OT)
Clayton Roerig booted the winner from 22 yards out as the No. 4 Conquerors won a classic over the visiting No. 5 Bulldogs 24-21 in three overtimes. Marcus Crowley (29 carries for 175 yards,1 TD) led Trinity to the win. The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime and then went scoreless in the second overtime to force a third overtime.
State titles
Trinity (7): 2002, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Bolles (11): 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011
We’re also thankful to see longtime district rivals meet for the second straight year in the postseason guaranteeing us another local team moves on to the state semifinals next week. West Nassau has had some really good teams the last couple of years but couldn’t get by Raines and had to hit the road for the playoffs or just miss out because of the loss.
No. 2 West Nassau (9-2) at No. 1 Raines (10-1)
Series: Raines leads 5-0
2013: Raines 47, West Nassau 28
2014: Raines 40, West Nassau 14
2015: Raines 47, West Nassau 0
2016: Raines 40, West Nassau 6
Playoffs
2017: Raines 57, West Nassau 15
Brandon Marshall (16 carries for 201 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Ivory Durham (9 of 17 for 221 yards, 3 touchdowns) enabled the Vikings to rout the visiting Warriors 57-15 in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs in the Graveyard. Raines led 35-7 at the half and finished with a 459-227 edge in total offense.
State titles
Raines (2): 1997, 2017
West Nassau (0): None
We’re thankful to see Lee finally play a Friday night game in the Backyard after having to play two home games Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and two more home games at 5:30 p.m. on Friday because of a shooting back at Raines in Week 1 of the season.
No. 6 Edgewater (11-1) at No. 5 Lee (10-1)
Series: First meeting
Lee is trying to become the program that Edgewater has been a consistent playoff contender, while the Eagles have never won a state title they came close with three straight state runnerup finishes from 2002-2004, including a tough loss in 2002 where they took the lead with 46 seconds left only to see it slip away 17 seconds later on a 61 yard touchdown pass in a loss to Miami Norland.
State Runnerups
Edgewater: 2002, 2003, 2004
Lee: 1964
Playoffs
1964: Lee 17, Clearwater 0 (state semifinals)
Beaver Lanier ran for a pair of second half touchdowns and the No. 10 Generals broke open what was a 3-0 game at halftime. Lee ended with a 222-35 rushing edge and didn’t commit a turnover, while also holding the host Tornadoes to 75 yards and forcing two turnovers.
1964: Coral Gables 14, Lee 7 (championship game)
Top ranked Coral Gables took a 7-0 lead into the fourth quarter on Larry Rentz touchdown toss and went up 14-0 on John North 1 yard plunge, before the Generals closed to with one score with three minutes left as the Cavaliers held off the Generals 14-7 in Miami to win its second straight state title. Coral Gables (12-0) became the first team to win multiple state titles and consecutive titles.
State titles
Lee (0): None
Edgewater (0): None
We’re thankful to see Mandarin live another day and also be on the verge of making school history with a win.
No. 3 Mandarin (8-4) at No. 1 Wekiva (11-1)
Series: First meeting
State titles
Mandarin (0): None
Wekiva (0): None
By now you know the deal this is only the second time Mandarin has made it this far, its first since 2015, when they lost 41-26 at home to West Orange. The Mustangs have continually proved people wrong each week especially going on the road and winning at Winter Park last week.
NOTE: Contains several information from ‘Seeds of Greatness, a History of High School Football playoffs’ by Richard Burton
