(Brooksville)- 157 miles separates Nature Coast Technical High School and Baker County High School in this Friday’s Class 5A, Region 2 quarterfinal matchup.
The near three-hour long ride north up Interstate 75 to just off Interstate 4 is where the Sharks will meet their first round opponents in what looks to be a matchup between very similar teams.
Baker County has won nine games in a row since losing 31-14 to St. Augustine back on Aug. 25. Since then, the Wildcats haven’t lost and have picked up impressive victories over Menendez, Clay and Dunnellon.
“I don’t know a whole lot about them,” Nature Coast coach Cory Johns said. “I know traditionally they’re very good. It’s gonna be a dogfight. We kind of knew after Friday night who we were going to matchup with. It is what it is and we are still playing and a lot people aren’t.”
“We are very similar teams offensively. We both run a lot of the same things. It should be very redundant for our defense and they’re very similar to us. If we play good on defense upfront and we will have a chance. If we don’t, they’ll run it down our throat. We’re just going to have to be patient and just not do anything stupid. We’re going to have to throw the ball some and I feel like we have some advantages we can look towards.”
Nature Coast enters the contest with a record of 7-2 and its two losses on the season have come to Lake Wales (34-20) and Inverness Citrus (37-27). The Sharks are primarily a run-first team and rely on the backfield duo of quarterback Fabian Burnett (779 yards, five touchdowns) and running back Michael Weston (970 yards, 12 touchdowns).
Johns points out that despite a couple losses on the season, there’s been a few road games that have helped prepare Nature Coast for the trip to Baker County. Facing Tallahassee Godby in the preseason along with road contests against Lake Wales and Hernando have helped. The winner of this game will face the winner of the Belleview-Menendez matchup.
“You look at our region and you know this could’ve potentially happened with a long travel,” Johns said. “It’s part of our reason why we went up to Tallahassee to play Godby. We haven’t played anybody like that since. Three hour or so trip is a bit extreme for a first round. Definitely an accomplishment making the playoffs.”
“We played a decent Hernando team and a very good Springstead team. We played a very good Lake Wales team and we are very battle tested. I’ve been to the playoffs several times as an assistant. The kids are excited and that’s what matters.”
Class 5A, Region 2 Quarterfinal
Nature Coast Technical High School at Baker County High School
7:30 p.m. kickoff
1 Wildcat Dr
Glen Saint Mary, FL 32040