Tonight's prep football playoff matchups

By TBO.COM | Staff
Published: November 16, 2012 Updated: November 16, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Orlando Freedom (7-3) at Plant (9-1)

WHAT: Class 8A-Region 2 quarterfinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Dad's Stadium, 2415 S. Himes Ave., Tampa

OUTLOOK: Freedom had won seven consecutive games before losing its last two. It will be incumbent on Plant, the defending state champ, to put heat on quarterback Jimmy Kealy. When given time, Kealy can hurt opposing defenses, especially when he is connecting with wide receiver Jeff Badet. After an early season injury, Plant quarterback Aaron Banks is healthy. The Panthers use a balanced attack (1,834 passing yards and 1,883 rushing), with Banks throwing and Wesley Bullock (144 carries, 963 yards) spearheading the ground game.

UP NEXT: Plant would play at Orlando Dr. Phillips or host Wharton.

Wharton (8-2) at Orlando Dr. Phillips (10-0)

WHAT: Class 8A-Region 2 quarterfinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Bill Spoone Stadium, 6500 Turkey Lake Rd, Orlando

OUTLOOK: Dr. Phillips allows only 12.6 points per game, using a strong defensive line to shut down opposing running games and put pressure on quarterbacks. On offense, Eric Harrell has rushed for more than 100 yards in seven games. Wharton is also stingy on defense, allowing 12.8 points per game. In a defensive struggle, turnovers could hold the key. Wharton quarterback Chase Litton has thrown for 2,328 yards and 21 touchdowns.

UP NEXT: Wharton would play at Plant or host Orlando Freedom.

Newsome (6-4) at Gaither (8-2)

WHAT: Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Cowboy Stadium, 16200 North Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa

OUTLOOK: After beginning the season with three losses, the Wolves won six of their final seven. Quarterback Will Worth can hurt defenses with his arm and feet; he leads the team in rushing and passing. Gaither is a hard team to figure out. One week it defeats Tampa Bay Tech, and another it loses to Chamberlain. The Cowboys, who made it to the region final a year ago, run a balanced attack led by quarterback Alex McGough.

UP NEXT: Gaither would travel to Durant or host Tampa Bay Tech.

Armwood (7-3) at Largo (10-0)

WHAT: Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Packer Stadium, 410 Missouri Ave., Largo

OUTLOOK: The Packers have allowed only 81 points this season. This is not good news for an Armwood team that has scored just 38 points in its last three games. Largo quarterback Juwan Brown has thrown for 1,410 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Jarvis Stewart has rushed for 1,186 yards and 16 TDs. Armwood has had a couple of weeks to prepare to get its offense on track and get standout athlete Alvin Bay healthy after a foot injury.

UP NEXT: Armwood would travel to Hillsborough or host Osceola.

Osceola (7-3) at Hillsborough (8-1)

WHAT: Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Chelo Huerta Field, 5000 Central Ave., Tampa

OUTLOOK: The Warriors, who have won six straight, use the Wing-T offense. Hillsborough can expect Osceola to spread the ball around on the ground. The Warriors will hope to control the ball because Hillsborough can put up a lot of points in a hurry. Terriers quarterback Dwayne Lawson, only a sophomore, has thrown for 1,140 yards, and running back Nigel Harris has rushed for 643 yards and 12 touchdowns.

UP NEXT: Hillsborough would travel to Largo or host Armwood.

Port Orange Atlantic (8-2) at Robinson (9-1)

WHAT: Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Jack Peters Field, 6311 S. Lois Ave., Tampa

OUTLOOK: Atlantic defeated Orlando Lake Nona in a three-team tiebreaker to advance to the state playoffs. Robinson will have to contend with the passing and running of quarterback Alex Bell. Robinson has surrendered 45 points in its last two games, the same number it gave up in its previous eight. With the passing and running of Zain Gilmore and an opportunistic defense that can put points on the board, Robinson will be a tough team for anyone to handle.

UP NEXT: Robinson would host Lakewood or Orlando Bishop Moore.

Tampa Catholic (7-3) at Fort Meade (8-2)

WHAT: Class 3A-Region 2 semifinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Emory C. Lamb Stadium at Frank S. Battle Field, 901 Edgewood N., Fort Meade

OUTLOOK: Half of Fort Meade's victories have come by five points or less. The Miners feature a ground game led by senior DeVante Clark, who has 725 yards. TC has stepped up and played bigger schools in non-district games, including victories against Bradenton Bayshore, Zephyrhills, Northeast, Orlando Lake Highland Prep and Bloomingdale and losses to Alonso and Jesuit. TC uses a balanced attack led by quarterback Kyle Ploucher and running backs Kenny Bryant and TJ Harrell

UP NEXT: Tampa Catholic would travel to Clearwater Central Catholic or host Frostproof.

Moore Haven (9-1) at Carrollwood Day (9-1)

WHAT: Class 2A-Region 2 semifinal

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m./Alonso High Stadium, 8302 Montague St., Tampa

OUTLOOK: A classic matchup of a strong Moore Haven defense that has allowed just 79 points this season against a Patriots offense that has scored 413. Moore Haven has won nine straight after losing its opener. Although running back Robert Davis has rushed for 1,875 yards and 24 touchdowns, the Patriots can burn teams who focus only on the run. Quarterback Vidal Woodruff has thrown for 1,627 yards and 23 TDs. Andy Embody has caught 15 of those TD passes and has 763 receiving yards.

UP NEXT: Carrollwood Day would host Indian Rocks Christian or travel to Naples First Baptist.

A staff report

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tbo/preps/~3/Ao1nBWYqruE/

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