WESLEY CHAPEL - The emotional high of making the playoffs as underdogs did not carry over for the Class 4A, District 10 finalists.
Gulf and Hudson, who defeated top seed Ridgewood and No. 2 Wesley Chapel, respectively, in the semifinals, had letdowns in Friday's final at Wildcat Stadium.
For Hudson's Jeremy Enix, however, there were no lapses. Enix, the Cobras' leading scorer, kicked in his 17th and 18th goals in the 2-0 victory.
"He came through when it counted," Hudson coach Ron Ladimir said.
Hudson (14-7-3) won its fourth district title in six seasons and hosts 4A-9 runner-up Lecanto in a region quarterfinal Thursday night at 7.
The game resembled the Cobras' up-and-down season, which was a far cry from last year's school-record 21-win season for the region finalists.
"All season they've been saying, "Don't worry. We'll be fine in the playoffs,"' Ladimir said. "They worked their rear ends off (Friday)."
Gulf (14-9-3) is in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. The Bucs travel to 4A-9 champion Springstead for Thursday's region quarterfinal at 7 p.m.
"It took a lot out of us," Gulf coach Sam Koleduk said of Wednesday's 3-2 comeback semifinal win over Ridgewood. "But we still go on and (the Cobras) go on."
Hudson goalkeeper Travis Miller made five saves, none more impressive than his first, a leaping catch of Novica Maric's 20-foot blast headed for the upper left corner.
That kept the game scoreless until the 17th minute when Enix scored on a rebound. Gulf goalie Cellin Neptune stuffed David Connors on a close-in bid, but couldn't control the rebound and Enix kicked it into the left corner.
Another Gulf chance went awry in the final minute of the first half. Miller batted down Maric's 10-foot blast, but Victor Rodriguez kicked the rebound inches wide of the right post.
"That's one you have to get," Koleduk said. "(Rodriguez) did what he had to. He followed it up."
Having dodged a bullet, Hudson got an insurance goal in the 47th minute. Connors' through ball trickled past a crowd in the penalty box and Neptune came out to smother the ball. But he couldn't get a handle on it and Enix kicked the loose ball into the right corner.
