Each week we’ll go around the coverage area and give you a football player and/or coach quotes following the games. Here are newspaper quotes from the second round of the state playoffs.
Class 8A Mandarin (Jacksonville) coach Brian Braddock following the No. 3 Mustang’s 20-0 win against No. 9 Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs)
“I know their quarterback was hurt, but nobody has done what we did to their front. We dominated up front. There is absolutely no doubt after tonight that we are a pretty good team. We are ready to play anybody.” – Florida Times-Union
Clay (Green Cove Springs) running back Bilal Ally, who rushed for a Florida playoff-record 496 yards on 35 carries in a 65-58 upset win over No. 4 North Marion (Citra) in Class 5A
“We just came out ready and exploded. My O-line got the blocks. They did it. We knew it would be a shootout. We knew it would be this type of game. We just came out on top.” – Florida Times-Union
Hall of Fame coach Corky Rogers of Bolles (Jacksonville) following the Bulldogs’ season ending loss at No. 3 Raines (Jacksonville) in 4A which ended their state title game streak of four in a row
“The better team won, and I really don’t like saying that, probably outcoached us, too. We knew with our offensive line situation [injury to a starting guard] what it was, it was going to be a tough task. We had to be able to do certain things as a team, and they took it away.” – Florida Times-Union
Ribault (Jacksonville) coach Anthony Flynn following the Trojans’ 26-20 loss in double overtime at No. 9 Suwannee (Live Oak) in Class 5A
“It’s an outstanding season. Probably no one expected us to get this far. I feel like we still should be playing, but we’re not, so that’s a reality check. I’m proud of my kids and we’ll move on from here.” – Florida Times-Union
Mainland (Daytona Beach) defensive end Jacha’I Polite following the No. 2 Bucs’ 21-14 win against Heritage (Palm Bay) which sets up a rematch with No. 6 Miami Central, the team that has knocked Mainland out of the playoffs in 2011, 2013 and 2014
“This is what we’ve been waiting on. I’m definitely ready. We are ready.” – The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Buchholz (Gainesville) coach Mark Whittemore following the No. 6 Bobcats’ 35-21 season ending loss to Bartram Trail (St. Johns) in the Class 7A state playoffs; starting quarterback Jackson White played injured in the first half and did not return in the second
“We fought tooth and nail. He (White) was a warrior. He gave us the ignition we needed for those two scores to really get us back in the game. It’s a lot to ask a kid to come off the bench and play in a second-round playoff game, but (back-up QB Scott Lester) did a good job.” – Gainesville Sun
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) coach Darrell Sutherland on Buchholz quarterback Jackson White, who led the Bobcats on back-to-back touchdown drives in the second quarter despite hobbling with an ankle injury
“That was amazing. He was showing flashes of Byron Leftwich. I thought they were going to start carrying him down the field.” – Gainesville Sun
Santa Fe (Alachua) coach Bill Wiles after his Raiders upset No. 1 Dunnellon, 15-14, in Class 4A, converting a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, and advanced to their first state semifinal since 1994
“It is what we are. No disrespect to Dunnellon, to Price (Coach Harris), we gave them that fake punt, we threw that pick, and other than that they got nothing. We completely whipped them offensively and defensively. We didn’t come here to tie or play overtime. We came here to win. These kids have done all of this. They just believed in our vision and our mission. They keep fighting. They never quit. First time Santa Fe has beaten a No. 1 team in a long time. We just went big time.” – Gainesville Sun
Trenton senior Hamp Cheevers after his four TD performance, including two interception returns for a TD and a punt return for a score, in a 42-6 win over Dixie County in the Class 1A Regional Final
“I’d give us a B+. We have some things we definitely have to work on. It was a win, but not a great team effort.” – Gainesville Sun
Third-year Gainesville coach Mark Latsko after the Hurricanes exacted some revenge for a regular season loss to Vanguard (Ocala) with a 35-28 win against the Knights on the road in the 6A playoffs
“The kids wanted this one. They wanted the rematch because they don’t like losing at home. I don’t want to say it was revenge, but it was a little redemption for these kids because they had to hear about not winning a district championship for the first time in several years.” – Gainesville Sun
North Marion (Citra) coach Stephen Field after Clay (Green Cove Springs) running back Bilal Ally rushed for a Florida playoff-record 496 yards in a 65-58 victory over his Colts
“It wasn’t just the running back. Clay did a good job offensive-line wise. They did a good job blocking. It was one of those football games. I feel bad for my kids. They worked hard to pull this one out. But, at the end of the day, I’m still proud of my kids.” – Ocala Star-Banner
Vanguard (Ocala) coach Edwin Farmer, whose season ended at 9-3 following a 35-28 loss to GHS
“We had a great season. The biggest thing that hurts is losing this way for (our 13) seniors. But I love what we’re doing here with this Vanguard football program. We definitely had an opportunity tonight but just came up short. Our kids have nothing to hold their heads down about.” – Ocala Star-Banner
