ORLANDO – The Florida high school football season is officially over.
At Camping World Stadium on Saturday, three more state champions were crowned, marking the end of the 2017 FHSAA Football Finals.
Dr. Phillips (Orlando) won the Class 8A state title with a 17-7 win against Atlantic (Delray Beach) in the finale. Japerri Powell blocked a punt and returned it for a score, and linebacker Cameron Williams had a pick-6, as the Panthers (13-2) built a 17-0 lead with 9:53 to play in the fourth quarter.
Despite only 199 yards of total offense, Dr. Phillips was able to turn to its defense to win its first state football title in school history. According to Florida prep football historian Richard Burton, Dr. Phillips became the first team since 2013 to win a state title game without gaining over 200 yards of offense (last were Trenton and Champagnat).
Atlantic finishes the season at 12-2.
Venice defeated Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 37-24, to win the Class 7A state title. It was the Indians’ first state title since 2000.
Dual-threat quarterback Bryce Carpenter, a Coastal Carolina commit, carried the ball 40 times for Venice (14-1) and finished with 214 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw for 180 yards.
Auburn commit Joey Gatewood rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown and threw for 129 yards and a score for Bartram Trail (11-4), which was making its first state final appearance in school history.
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) edged Oxbridge Academy, 31-28, for the Class 3A state title.
Auburn recruit Shaun Shivers ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Daniel Longman kicked a game-winning 19-yard field goal with just four seconds to play, as Chaminade-Madonna (11-2) won its first state title in 12 years.
FINAL SCORES
2017 FHSAA Football Finals (area teams in bold)
Thursday, Dec. 7
Class 1A: Madison County (14-0) 35, Blountstown (11-2) 20
Class 4A: Raines (Jacksonville) (13-1) 13, Cocoa (11-2) 10
Friday, Dec. 8
Class 2A: Champagnat Catholic (Hollywood) (9-2) 24, University Christian (Jacksonville) (10-3) 7
Class 5A: American Heritage (Plantation) (13-0) 44, Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (13-2) 15
Class 6A: Miami Northwestern (13-2) 21, Armwood (Seffner) (14-1) 16
Saturday, Dec. 9
Class 3A: Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (11-2) 31, Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) (10-2) 28
Class 7A: Venice (14-1) 37, Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (11-4) 24
Class 8A: Dr. Phillips (Orlando) (13-2) 17, Atlantic (Delray Beach) (12-2) 7
