Playoff football | All at 7:30 Friday
8A: Vero Beach (9-1) at East Lake (10-1)
Winner gets: Orlando Dr. Phillips/ Plant winner in the region final.
Playoff history: East Lake is 5-12 all time in playoff games. Last season the Eagles advanced to the region finals before losing 28-21 in overtime to Plant. Vero Beach is 32-26 in the playoffs, with its only state championship coming in 1981. Last season, the Indians lost to East Lake 41-22 in the opening round.
Who’s hot for East Lake: Quarterback Pete DiNovo threw for 321 yards last week, his third 300-yard game of the season, against Treasure Coast. He now has 2,459 passing yards and 22 touchdowns this season.
Who’s hot for Vero Beach: The Indians love to throw, and junior quarterback Dalton Stokes makes it happen (2,268 yards, 24 touchdowns). There are three receivers with more than 500 yards, including leader Will Dawkins (546 yards) and Jimmy Williamson (511 yards, eight TDs).
Rodney Page’s pick: Eagles make it two straight against the Indians by grinding it out on the ground. East Lake, 17-14.
Bob Putnam’s pick: Eagles use their offensive stars both ways to make enough defensive stands. East Lake, 35-24.
5A: Lakewood (10-1) at Robinson (10-1)
Winner gets: Pasco/Gainesville Eastside winner in the region final.
Playoff history: Lakewood is 4-13 in the playoffs and has never advanced past the second round. Its last playoff appearance was 2010, an opening-round 27-20 loss to Pasco. Robinson is 15-12 all time. Last season, the Knights beat Orlando Bishop Moore 30-10 then lost 35-20 to Jesuit.
Who’s hot for Robinson: Quarterback Zain Gilmore is the one player Lakewood must contain. Gilmore has thrown for 907 yards and 15 touchdowns, but has also run for 697 yards and 10 TDs. Martin Ruiz rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s playoff win over Port Orange Atlantic.
Who’s hot for Lakewood: Quarterback Tracy Johnson appears recovered after sustaining a concussion against Robinson that forced him to miss the final two games of the regular season. He was 10-for-16 for 220 yards against Bishop Moore last week.
Page: Robinson coach Mike DePue said his team gave a C-plus effort in the regular season and still beat Lakewood. Expect an A effort this time. Robinson, 28-14.
Putnam: Spartans will make it a game but have another tough time knocking off state title contender. Robinson, 17-12.
3A: Tampa Catholic (8-3) at Clearwater Central Catholic (10-1)
Winner gets: Fort Lauderdale University School/Delray Beach American Heritage winner in the state semifinals.
Playoff history: Tampa Catholic is 18-17 in playoff games. Its last appearance was in 2010, a 28-0 loss to Cape Coral Island Coast. Clearwater Central Catholic is 10-15 in playoff games. Last season, the Marauders lost 13-10 to Fort Meade in the first round.
Who’s hot for Tampa Catholic: Junior running back TJ Harrell averages 8.2 yards per carry and broke a 65-yarder against Fort Meade last week that ended up being the winner.
Who’s hot for CCC: Diquan Walker has 1,006 yards rushing. He ripped off a 57-yard touchdown against the Crusaders in the regular-season meeting.
Page: The Marauders run their way into the state semifinals. CCC, 24-17.
Putnam: Hard to see Tampa Catholic making that much of a turnaround in rematch. CCC, 24-10.