Region Quarterfinal Football Playoffs Schedule
The FHSAA Playoffs have arrived football teams across the state. Tonight our staff writer Rick Cantor will be taking in the action from Dad’s Stadium in South Tampa as the Plant Panthers host the Sumner Stingrays. We’ve also posted the area quarterfinal schedules and some players to watch for each game upcoming this weekend, as we’ll have area games taking place tonight, Saturday and Monday night.
Where We Will Be: #5 Sumner (8-2) @ #4 Plant (8-2)
An intriguing matchup between Hillsborough County’s newest and one of its oldest schools, the Panthers and Stingrays come into this evenly-matched in tonight’s first round Class 4M-Region 2 quarterfinal game with identical records and a penchant for hard-nosed play.
The Panthers have enjoyed a renaissance year under second-year head coach and Plant alum Hank Brown. After dropping its first two games of the season to quality opponents Tampa Bay Tech and Berkeley Prep, the Panthers have reeled off eight-straight wins to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
The explosive Plant offense averages nearly 39 points-per-game and is helmed by the rotating quarterback duo of junior Trey O’Malley (1,358 yards, 13 touchdowns) and sophomore JC Mirasola (547 yards, eight touchdowns). A pair of playmakers lead the way at the skill positions as Waltez Clark (816 rushing yards, 435 receiving yards, 22 touchdowns) and Jaquez Kindell (747 receiving yards, 233 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) provide versatility.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers have pitched four shutouts and give up just 12 points-per-game. Senior Linebacker Devin Andrews (90 tackles, 14 tackles for loss) and sophomore defensive lineman Ty Conze (seven sacks) anchor a sturdy front seven, while senior defensive backs Jaden Davis (81 tackles, two interceptions) and Antoine Bailey (three interceptions) lockdown opposing receivers.
Sumner comes into the game after another impressive season. The third-year program led by head coach Alonzo Ashwood is now 24-6 in its history. And while the Plant program has a long history of success and playoff appearances, its Sumner who has most recently been a playoff participant, logging an appearance and victory in 2021, an 8-6 win over Pinellas Park. There could also be revenge on the mind of some Stingray’s as one of the six losses in school history came at the hands of the Panthers last season.
Quarterback Greg Smith (1,157 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 589 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns) runs the show at quarterback for Sumner. The junior will be making his third playoff appearance, as he led Carrollwood Day to a playoff victory as a freshman in 2020. He is joined in the backfield by hard-running junior Devin Spencer (662 yards, six touchdowns); FBS prospect Tyler Williams, a sophomore has racked up 446 receiving yards and six touchdowns; while 6-foot-4, 275-pound Andrew Smithberger is also getting college looks and leads an experienced offensive line.
Senior Linebacker Keoni Denny is the heart and soul of the Sumner defense, leading in tackles with 61, adding five sacks and a pair of interceptions. Junior Josh Warren sets the edge with five sacks and 14 TFL, while safety Joshua McClendon has also grabbed a pair of interceptions.
Friday’s Region Quarterfinal Schedule
2M-Region 2: #7 Blake (7-3) @ #2 Calvary Christian (8-2) – 7p
Blake: RB Deshawn Neal (675 yards, 9 touchdowns); S Javion Collins (44 tackles); DL Jadarian Collins (3 interceptions); LB Zion Morris (6 sacks, 9 tackles for loss)
Calvary Christian: QB Jacob Drackett (2082 yards, 27 touchdowns); RB Sean Cuono (1354 yards, 13 touchdowns); WR Joshua Robinson (49 receptions, 695 yards, 8 touchdowns); Edge Callahan Blair (101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 8 sacks)
2M-Region 2: #6 Robinson (6-4) vs #3 Berkeley Prep (7-3) – 7p
Berkeley Prep: RB Jojo Troupe (821 yards, 12 touchdowns); RB Dallas Golden (765 yards, 9 touchdowns); Edge Keon Keeley (13 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, 19,5 tackles for loss); DT Brice Stevenson (4.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss)
Robinson: QB Eric Archield (1595 yards, 8 touchdowns); Ath Kassim Johnson (630 rushing yards, 454 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns); RB Allan Lewis (632 yards, 8 touchdowns); S Devin Collado (98 tackles)
3M-Region 2: #8 St. Petersburg (7-3) @ Jesuit (6-4) – 7:30p
Jesuit: RB Joquez Smith (1001 yards, 12 touchdowns); DL Peter Pesansky (12 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries); LB Troy Bowles (59 tackles, interception); LB Cyrus Aboud (78 tackles, 7 tackles for loss)
St. Petersburg: RB Jefferey Jones (1381 yards, 15 touchdowns); MLB Novain Smarwt (76 tackles, 8 tackles for loss); S Evan Aikens (4 interceptions, 49 tackles); CB Antrez Johnson (3 interceptions)
3M-Region 2: #4 Gaither (6-4) @ #5 Pinellas Park – 7:30p
Gaither: QB Jayce Nixon (2801 yards, 33 touchdowns, second most passing yards in the state); WR Eugene Wilson (556 yards, 8 touchdowns in 5 games); DL Antonio Henley (57 tackles, 14 sacks, 29 tackles for loss); S Kamare Jones (42 tackles, 3 interceptions)
Pinellas Park: RB Isaiah Hampton (756 yards, 7 touchdowns); ATH Emarian Triplett (459 rushing yards, 408 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns); DL Javon Williams (27 tackles for loss, 6 sacks); DB Kamrin Canterbury (4 interceptions)
3M-Region 2: #6 Osceola (7-3) @ #3 East Bay (9-1) – 7:30p
East Bay: QB Nathan Carter (868 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 604 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns); RB Jaelin Sneed (913 yards, 11 touchdowns); RB/DB Vincent Ketchup (846 all-purpose yards, 11 touchdowns, 2 interceptions); DB DeAnthony Caldwell (3 interceptions)
Osceola: RB Nathan Carter (1221 yards, 10 touchdowns); ATH Nathaniel Gooden (695 all-purpose yards, 8 touchdowns); DB Elmmanual Brooks (119 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions); LB/S Brogan Coleman (111 tackles, 22 tackles for loss)
2M-Region 2: #8 King (3-7) @ #1 Tampa Catholic (8-1) – 7:30p
Tampa Catholic: RB/LB Lewis Carter (555 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, 77 tackles. 2 interceptions); WR TJ Moore (32 receptions, 725 yards, 8 touchdowns); DL Jeremy Patterson (11 sacks); OL Eddy Pierre-Louis (6-4 325 lbs)
King: RB Kyle Stewart (448 yards, 2 touchdowns); DL/LB Gabriel Morrell (70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss); Edge Koveyontez Ballentine (8 sacks, 12 tackles for loss); LB Joshua Lester (3 interceptions)
Saturday’s Region Quarterfinal Schedule
4M Region 2: #7 Steinbrenner (6-4) @ #2 West Orange (6-4) – 6p
Steinbrenner: QB Ty Robinson (2016 yards, 23 touchdowns); RB Kirby Vorhees (946 yards, 9 touchdowns); WR Demetrius Carter (905 yards, 11 touchdowns); LB Hayden Boever (9 sacks, 22 tackles for loss)
West Orange: WR Jordyn Bridgewater (742 yards, 7 touchdowns); MLB Noah Nixon (102 tackles, 6 sacks); DT Chris Ficka (7 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss); CB Jordan Castell (3 interceptions, 8 passes defended)
3M-Region 1: #5 Tampa Bay Tech (8-2) @ #4 Neptune Beach Fletcher (8-2) – 6:30p
TBT: RB Rod Gainey (1290 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns); So. WR Dallas Wilson (671 yards, 7 touchdowns); Sr. DE Antonio Camon (7 sacks, 13 tackles for loss); Sr. DT Jahiem Borden (55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks).
Fletcher: QB Marcelius Tate (1682 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 590 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns); RB Keandre Harold (531 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns); WR Anthony Vaglienti (713 yards, 8 touchdowns); OLB Matteo Davis (12.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hurries).
4M Region 2: #3 Ocoee @ #6 Durant – 7:30p
Durant: QB Michael Ryan (1402 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 6 rushing touchdowns); WR/DB Jeremiah Gines (608 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 3 interceptions); DT Ty Merkle (4.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss); DB Xavier Peavy (42 tackles, 3 interceptions)
Ocoee: RB Keyondray Jones (1024 yards, 8 touchdowns); WR Assad Waseem (843 yards, 10 touchdowns); Edge Calvin Smith (86 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss); S Acetro Ealey (5 interceptions).
Monday’s Region Quarterfinal Schedule
#6 Wharton (8-2) @ #3 Oviedo (9-1) – 7p
Wharton: RB Stacy Gage (441 yards, 10 touchdowns); Jr. Edge Booker Pickett, Jr (24 sacks, 13 tackles for loss);Sr. Cameron Campbell (82 tackles, 9 tackles for loss); Sr. CB Dijon Johnson (interception, 5 passes defended).
Oviedo: QB Jackson Latour (1430 yards, 19 touchdowns); RB DJ Scott (892 yards, 13 touchdowns); OLB Noel Keller (60 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions); LB Owen Proth (63 tackles, 11 tackles for loss).
