The latest from Pahokee from the Miami Herald, where Friday night's ESPNU televised matchup between Pahokee and Byrnes (S.C.) will still be played despite the tragic death of Blue Devils' senior Norman Griffith early Saturday morning.
Here are some additional notes on the Pahokee-Byrnes matchup from ESPN RISE senior writer Doug Huff:
BYRNES (Duncan, S.C.) 5-0
1. The Rebels, ranked No. 5 in the ESPN Rise FAB 50, have won five of the last six state titles with last year's 15-0 record team winning in Class 4A-Division 1 after four titles in 4A-Division II.
2. The team won-loss records during that period, since 2002 are 15-0 last season, 11-2 in 2006, 15-0 in 2005, 13-1 in 2004, 15-0 in 2003, and 14-1 in 2002.
3. Chris Miller is in his second season as head coach and has a 20-0 record. He took over the program from the architect of the current Juggernaut, Bobby Bentley, who left to join the college coaching ranks as head coach at alma mater Presbyterian College. Bentley's spread offense ran up big passing numbers and that has continued under Miller, with current junior quarterback Chas Dodd. He succeeded former QB Willy Korn, currently a redshirt freshman and backup QB at Clemson.
4. Besides Dodd, junior running back Marcus Lattimore has already broken the school career rushing record with 2,946 yards.
5. This year's Rebel team scheduled three out-of-state opponents. Earlier wins came over last season's Georgia Class 5A runnerup North Gwinnett of Suwanee, Ga., 36-21, and Lincoln of Tallahassee, Fla., 38-0.
PAHOKEE (Pahokee, Fla.) 4-1
1. The Blue Devils, like the Rebels, are on a tear in winning state titles. Pakokee has won four of the last five Florida Class 2B championships and is coming off a 14-0 record season last year when they were ranked No. 8 in the FAB 50.
2. This year's team opened with a 48-47 shootout loss to Olive Branch, Miss., but has run off four straight wins vs. in-state opponents in which they have outscored them, 174-34. Last week, Pahokee defeated Jupiter, 34-10.
3. Pahokee and rival Glades Central of Belle Glade, Fla., eight miles apart, annually end the regular season with a rivalry game labeled the Muck Bowl. Last season, both teams entered the game with unbeaten records but Pahokee won at Belle Glade for the first time in 20 years, 34-24.
4. Pahokee, despite competing in one of the smallest Florida classes -- 2B with 6A the largest, annually produces several college-bound athletes. Included was 1998 Florida Mr. Football, Anquan Bolden, who later starred at Florida State and is now a wide receiver with the Arizona Cardinals. Bolden was one of 33 state players selected to an All-Century Football. Team in 2007 by the Florida High School Association.
