Armwood Stripped of 6A Crown

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

It comes no surprise that Armwood has been stripped of its 2011 Florida Class 6A state title, which also led the school to a #3 overall ranking in MaxPreps.com's final national rankings.

Tuesday, the Florida High School Athletic Association handed-out its penalties after a six-month investigation into the school using ineligible players in 2010 and 2011.

In addition to stripping Armwood of its 2011 title, the FHSAA also took away the Hawks' 2010 runner-up finish and forced the school to forfeit all 15 wins from last year and 11 of its 14 victories from 2010.  The school was also fined $12,743 and placed on three year administrative probation.

National Letter of Intent Signing Day - Florida High Schools

Imarjaye Albury - DL (Northwestern) - West Virginia
Torry Clayton - RB (South Dade) - West Virginia
Sean Culkin - TE (Indian Rocks Christian School) - Missouri
Kyle Federico - PK (Ponte Vedra) - Rutgers
Korey Harris - DL (Bartram Trail) - West Virginia
Traveon Henry - S (Pinecrest) - Northwestern
Karl Joseph - S (Edgewater) - West Virginia
Devonte Robinson - WR (Village Academy) - West Virginia
Justin Simmons - DB (Martin County) - Boston College
Sean Walters - S (Hallandale) - West Virginia
Bobby Wolford - LB (Bishop Kenny) - Boston College

Nease Hires Former NFL QB Shane Matthews as Head Coach

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Two days after Tim Tebow's NFL season came to an end, a new chapter opened at his high school.

Former NFL quarterback Shane Matthews has been named the new head coach at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida.

Matthews, who played with several teams including the Chicago Bears during a 14-year NFL career, takes over for Danny Cowgill after he wasn't brought back after a 4-6 season in 2011.

This will be the former University of Florida star's first head coaching position in high school.

Last year, another former NFL QB, Gus Frerotte took-over the reigns of John Burroughs in Missouri.  Frerotte led his school to a runner-up finish in Class 3.

Don Beebe, the former Buffalo Bill and Green Bay Packer, led Aurora Christian to an Illinois Class 3A state title in 2011.

Click here to listen to my interview with both Beebe and Fererotte on the December 1st High School Football America radio show.

Florida High School Football Scores - Playoffs/Quarterfinals & Semifinals

Florida High School Football Scores
Friday, December 2, 2011

Playoffs
Quarterfinals & Semifinals

Class 8A
Christopher Columbus Boys Catholic 28, Miami Southridge 7
Duncan U. Fletcher 31, Timber Creek 27
Miramar 35, Palm Beach Gardens 7
Plant 28, East Lake 21

Class 7A
First Coast 28, East Ridge 21
Lakeland 42, Gaither 14
Manatee 13, Fort Pierce Central 10
William T. Dwyer 6, St. Thomas Aquinas 3

Class 6A
Armwood 17, Gainesville 14
Bartram Trail 34, Pace 24
Mainland 27, Naples 16
Miami Central 17, Palm Bay 7

Class 5A
Jesuit 31, Pasco 7
Palmetto 42, Immokalee 21
Pasco 31, Jesuit 7
Wakulla 20, Ponte Vedra 6

Class 4A
Bolles 49, East Gadsden 7
Booker T. Washington 20, Cocoa 14

Class 3A
American Heritage 17, Berkeley Prep 9
Madison County 14, Trinity Catholic 0

Class 2A
Admiral Farragut 42, Glades Day 16
North Florida Christian 54, Warner Christian 13

Class 1A
Chipley 25, Northview 21
Jefferson County 27, Union County 6