Class 5A
2021 FHSAA Football State Championships 5A Football State Championships
Area recap
Clearwater 55, Hudson 14
The Tornadoes, who own the top seed in the region (5A-3), went up 48-14 at the half and cruised to their 10th straight victory of the season. Clearwater has scored 46 or more points in each of its last six games.
Prime time performers
WR Adam Alicia, Jr., Clearwater: Finished with two catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in a win over Hudson.
WR CJ Lee, Sr., Clearwater: Had four catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Hudson.
QB Aidan MacLean, Sr., Clearwater: Threw for 269 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Hudson.
RB Efrem Only, Sr., Clearwater: Ran for 87 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in a win over Hudson.
QB Hunter Young, Sr., Hudson: Broke the Pasco County single-season record for passing yards in a loss to Clearwater.
Nature Coast 24, Chamberlain 21
The Sharks powered their way to the second round by relying on a devastating ground game to chip away at a 14-3 first half deficit. The Sharks, who have won three straight, are in the region semifinals for the third time in the past four seasons.
Prime time performers
RB/CB Delvon Bingham, Sr., Chamberlain: Returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a loss to Nature Coast.
RB Christian Cromer, So., Nature Coast: Ran for more than 270 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Chamberlain.
WR/CB Desman Hearns, Sr., Chamberlain: Returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a loss to Nature Coast.
Gibbs 12, Zephyrhills 10
Louis Murphy, a former receiver with the Florida Gators and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, guided the Gladiators to their first playoff win since 2004. Better still, they did as a No. 7 seed, knocking off the No. 2 Bulldogs. Gibbs did it by going on timely drives and relying on an aggressive defense that came up with stops in crucial situations.
Prime time performers
ATH Tra’quan Johnson, Jr., Gibbs: Ran for more than 100 yards and had a touchdown reception in a win over Zephyrhills.
DL Kevaun Jones, So., Gibbs: Recorded two sacks, including one late in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win over Zephyrhills.
QB AJ Miller, Jr., Gibbs: Threw for more than 90 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Zephyrhills.
RB Jaylin Thomas, Sr., Zephyrhills: Ran for more than 150 yards and scored the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown in a loss to Gibbs.
Sebring 41, Wesley Chapel 0
The Wildcats, who were in the playoffs for the first time since 2004, struggled to get into a rhythm, fell behind early and were unable to recover.
Friday’s region semifinal schedule
Nature Coast at Clearwater, 7:30
Gibbs at Sebring, 7:30
