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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 6, 2002
CLASS 5A
DAYTONA BEACH MAINLAND (12-1) at WHARTON (12-1)
LAST WEEK: Wharton defeated Lakeland 27-7; Mainland defeated Rutherford 19-17.
LAST MEETING: This is their first meeting.
THE SKINNY: In their first trip to the playoffs, Wharton has exceeded all expectations. The Wildcats have not only made their first trip to the postseason but won their first playoff game and last week won the region championship by defeating powerhouse Lakeland. After losing the first game of their season, Mainland has won 12 straight. However, it has won its three playoff games by a total of eight points.
THE EDGE: The Wildcats' potent offense featuring the running of Larry Edwards has only gotten better in the postseason. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have athletes in quarterback Jonathan Garner and running back Don Golphin, but little defense. That may be enough to send Wharton to Tallahassee to play for the state championship.
JEFFERSON (12-1) at PUNTA GORDA CHARLOTTE (13-0)
LAST WEEK: Jefferson defeated Lake Gibson 35-21; Charlotte defeated Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 28-21.
LAST MEETING: This is their first meeting.
THE SKINNY: As goes Andre Caldwell, so goes the Jefferson Dragons. However, that has rarely been a bad thing. Last week, Caldwell ran for 181 yards and threw for another 99 in a two-touchdown victory on the road. The Dragons have outscored their opponents in all but one quarter all season (3-0 to Armwood) and that was during its lone loss. In Charlotte, Jefferson gets an opponent that has won every game by an average of 23 points. In fact, the high-scoring Tarpons have only scored less than 21 points once this year. They have scored more than 30 three times, more than 40 three times and rang up 59 points in their season opener.
THE EDGE: Charlotte has kept up its scoring act in the playoffs, averaging 30 points in three games. That means there should be plenty of offensive fireworks in this game and it puts pressure on the defenses to perform. Even if Jefferson's is only slightly better, Caldwell and company will make sure that's enough.
-- All games kick off at 7:30 p.m.