Class 1A combatants resemble Florida-Alabama

PORT ST. JOE - It would take presumption to a new level to compare Friday's Class 1A semifinal matchup to the combatants in Saturday's SEC Championship Game.

There are, however, elements in North Florida Christian and visiting Port St. Joe that evoke associations with Alabama and Florida.

The Eagles (8-2) have a beefy and physical offensive line, somewhat like Alabama, and sometimes insert linebacker Cody Ledford at quarterback to take direct snaps in short yardage, ala Tim Tebow his freshman season at Florida.

The Tiger Sharks resemble Gators in the fact that they have a prolific running game, but don't rely on one player to chew up big chunks of yardage. They have at least five, and like Florida on Saturday, probably have a clear advantage in team speed over the Eagles.

Port St. Joe head coach Vern Barth contradicted that leverage in one sense, when he said Wednesday that his Tiger Sharks might have to be the ball-control team starting 6:30 CST Friday.

"Yes, we have to move the ball and control the clock," Barth said. "The one thing they do well, against everybody I've watched them play is they do a good job stopping the run. We may have to go to the air some.

"They put you in a position where you have to make some things happen."

Orlando First Academy was unable to do so last week, the Eagles winning 33-7 in their quarterfinal. The Royals did not achieve their initial first down of the game until midway through the third quarter and amassed only 113 total yards.

North Florida Christian quarterback Clint Trickett, son of Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett, passed for 170 yards and a touchdown in that game, completing 13 of 18 attempts. Barth warned, however, that the Eagles are far from a finesse team.

"He's really shifty and hard to get a clean shot on," Barth said of the younger Trickett. "But I think what they do depends on their opponent. Other times they line up and play smashmouth football. They have a much bigger squad."

That element also was displayed in NFC's quarterfinal win. The Eagles took over the football with 8:10 remaining in the game and exhausted all except the final 22 seconds on the clock without attempting one pass.

Port St. Joe prefers to run the football, doubling opponents (2,826-1,410) on the ground this season while rushing for 40 touchdowns. Quarterback Tyrone Dawson has five rushing touchdowns and 255 yards, yet his passing could be another key.

Dawson has completed 59 of 110 attempts for 934 yards and seven touchdowns against four interceptions. The Tigers Sharks have allowed only a 39.4-percent completion ratio and picked off 15 passes.

When Dawson does throw, Port St. Joe also has shown big-play capability. His completions net an average of 15.8 yards, and Willie Quinn has caught 20 for 349 yards.

The Eagles are led on defense by Ledford, a Tulane commitment, linebacker Chase Griffins and Matt Dobson, who had nine tackles against First Academy.

The winner advances to the 1A championship game against the winner of Fort Meade and defending champion Delray Beach American Heritage. Port St. Joe has a storied tradition in football, but NFC's pedigree, especially during the past decade, trumps all smaller-enrollment schools in the state.

The Eagles have played in the past two 1A state championship games, and have won five state titles since 1996.