Can't miss matchups
Armwood at Durant
Preseason result: Armwood defeated Cooper City 44-7; Durant defeated Orlando Oak Ridge 42-27
Story line: The Cougars have defeated Armwood once in their 18-year existence, in 1997. …Durant, 11-1 last year, hasn’t lost a regular-season game since Nov. 10, 2011. …Following this game, Armwood embarks on a stretch of eight consecutive district contests.
Joey Knight’s pick: Pretty sure these coaching staffs don’t exchange Christmas cards. The Hawks will be jacked for a lot of reasons. Armwood, 34-14
Jefferson at Alonso
Preseason result: Jefferson defeated Plant City 46-28; Alonso lost to King 20-18
Story line: The teams’ first meeting since 2008. …This shapes up as the best Dragons team since their 2010 state title season. …A Ravens victory would have to stand as the biggest in third-year coach Brian Emanuel’s tenure.
Knight: Don’t be too misled by Alonso’s preseason loss to King, which rallied in the waning minutes with JV players in. Still, I don’t see many teams around here containing the Dragons. Jefferson, 40-20
Newsome at Tampa Bay Tech
Preseason result: Newsome did not play; Tampa Bay Tech defeated Blake 56-0
Story line: This is the third consecutive year the Wolves and Titans have met in the season opener (they split the first two). …For the first time since 2007, a player named Worth will not be on Newsome’s roster. …The Wolves’ preseason game against Spoto was canceled.
Knight: Considering Newsome is breaking in a new QB and didn’t get a dress rehearsal, the Titans have to be favored heavily. TBT, 33-6
More predictions
Jacksonville University Christian at Carrollwood Day: The re-loaded Patriots get to gauge themselves against the reigning Class 2A state champ. University, 40-22
Sickles at Robinson: Still not sold on the Knights’ rotating QB system, but I am sold on Ray Ray McCloud. Sickles, 28-13
Madison County at Tampa Catholic: The teams’ first meeting since the Cowboys wing-T’d the Crusaders into submission, 28-7, in the 2007 state title game. Madison County, 33-14
Jesuit at Wauchula Hardee: Not certain who has a longer bus ride this week: Plant (to middle Georgia) or Jesuit (to middle of nowhere). Jesuit, 24-21
Elsewhere
Berkeley Prep 30, Middleton 12
Plant City 27, Steinbrenner 20
Strawberry Crest 28, Bloomingdale 13
East Bay 32, Lennard 8
Wharton 28, Spoto 6
Brandon 27, Blake 6
Gaither 31, Chamberlain 6
King 15, Freedom 14
Bell 31, Cambridge Christian 21
Seffner Christian 28, Belle Isle Cornerstone 12