On ESPN right now (12 noon Sat)

[Neutral 0bserver]

Defending State Champ St. Edwards (Cleveland, OH area) Lakewood vs. Pine-Richland from PA is being played live on ESPN.

Not sure about the team from PA, but St. Edwards is a private academy that is molded in the same image as Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

Florida HS's with plans to raid other HS rosters and build themselves into National powerhouses through use of free agency should tune-in and see what type of talent it will take to compete.

Last year two teams from FL traveled to OH to play St. Eds. Neither had much luck. St. Eds found out - by running the most basic of pass patterns - that putting points up against talented athletes was no problem if they were either poorly prepared or lacked the discipline to play assignment football.

Points out the fact that sometimes - even if you dominate your District by cleaning out most of the blue-chippers from other team's rosters - that's STILL not enough.

Now 7-7 mid first quarter.

 

[Neutral 0bserver]

Final score: St. Edwards (OH) 28, Pine-Richland (PA) 27

Items of note:
1. Both teams featured multiple numbers of players headed to the next level.
2. Game turned out to be very competitive, decided with 1:57 to go.
3. Weather was picture perfect.
4. Game was nationally-televised.

Availability of seating:
No problem whatsoever. There were plenty of empty seats, even on the home side.

Question for any HS football fan:
Why?

 

[Roadkillav8r]

I could have sworn you just said there is no I in TEAM!

 

[Cat_Scratch]

Cocoa had a time in Ohio last year against St. Edward. If not for Cole Guest, Cocoa would have beaten St. Edward. It was a 3 point game until the last 2 minutes. Gest broke one for 55 yards to make it a 10 point game.

For what it is worth. Cocoa traveled 28 players while St. Edward listed 195 on their roster although it looked to be about only 99 dressed out for the game.