Atlantic, Oxbridge face final hurdles
Tough opponents await local teams in state title games.
Palm Beach County doubled the number of state finalists from last season following Atlantic’s comefrom-behind 28-21 win over Miami High on Friday night in a Class 8A state semifinal.
The Eagles join Oxbridge Academy at Saturday’s state football championships in Orlando.
The Thunder Wolves clinched a Class 3A berth Nov. 24 with a 41-0 win over Tallahassee-Florida State University School.
Oxbridge faces Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna Saturday at 10 a.m. at Camping World Stadium. Atlantic plays Orlando-Dr. Phillips at 8 p.m.
■ Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna (10-2) vs. Oxbridge Academy (101): This state championship-clash between the Lions and the ThunderWolves was not unexpected as both have dominated this season. Oxbridge comes into this contest on a 10-game winning streak, and has not given up more than 14 points in a game all year. The ThunderWolves dominated their three previous playoff opponents, winning by a combined 115-14 and not allowing an offensive touchdown. Chaminade-Madonna, however, has been even better. Ranked No. 1 in the state to close the regular season — Oxbridge was No. 2 — the Lions have outscored their three playoff opponents by a combined 143-3. Chaminade-Madonna has lost twice this season — to perennial powers Miami Central and Plantation-American Heritage. Oxbridge’s lone loss came in Week 1 to a stateranked team from Pennsylvania. Both the ThunderWolves and Lions can score, and both dominate on defense. A key for the ThunderWolves will be shutting down Chaminade-Madonna running back Shaun Shivers, an Auburn commit who has torched opposing defenses. Oxbridge has plenty of incentive after losing to the Lions in the regional finals last year.
■ Atlantic (12-1) vs. Orlando-Dr. Phillips (12-2): Unlike the Class 3A state title game, this contest between the Eagles and Panthers is a surprise. Both teams ended the regular season unranked in the AP state poll — each received one vote — and both were seeded fourth in their respective regions. Dr. Phillips defeated stateranked Kissimmee-Osceola and Wekiva earlier in the postseason, while the Eagles knocked off 10-win Davie-Western and 11-win Miami High in consecutive weeks. Against Miami, Atlantic returned and interception 101 yards for a score and also got a 70-yard kickoff return for a score. The Panthers are the only hurdle remaining for Atlantic in its drive for the school’s first state football title – but they’re a big one.