BOCA RATON – They say defense wins championships and offense sells tickets, that’s exactly what Clay coach Jay Stilianou is counting on.
His defense has only allowed 25 points this season, including a season high 13 in a come from behind 14-13 win over Choctaw.
And he will be counting on them again this weekend as the Blue Devils play in their first ever Final Four Saturday at Boca Raton High School.
Two wins separate the Blue Devils from their first state flag football title but first things first the Devils will have their hands full with No. 2 Robinson in the semi-finals.
Robinson is the reigning Class 1A state champs and has won three of the last four overall state titles, finishing second in 2015.
Stilianou is well aware of the challenge his team faces and is counting on his defense to step up again and lead them to a victory.
Despite being undefeated, the Blue Devils are use to being the underdog and counted out, especially at home last week against No. 1 Choctaw.
After seeing Choctaw take the lead in the fourth, many expected the heavily favored Indians to move on to the Final but Clay responded quickly.
touchdown ! @kassandrafairly for @choctaw_flag
it's 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter with @ChoctawHS 13 to 7. @fhsaa #flagfootball #elite8 #choctawhighschool pic.twitter.com/vfJ4Ypn1Ve
— lauren & taylor sparling (@sparlingmedia_) May 8, 2018
back to a tie. touchdown from clay highschool, 13-13 with an extra point to go. @choctaw_flag @ChoctawHS @FHSAA #flagfootball #choctawflagfootball #elite8 pic.twitter.com/Hxi63spTz0
— lauren & taylor sparling (@sparlingmedia_) May 8, 2018
Never count out sophomore quarterback Ciara Zino, who scored the winning touchdown and ensuing extra point with three seconds left to send the Devils to the Final Four or other offensive play makers Hannah Agee, Alexis Stilianou or Ariana Bellamy. As well as a secondary featuring Lea Plante, Kimber Griffin and Jenna Hill, which has picked off numerous interceptions and feeds off its opponents turnovers.
And though the task of knocking off the premiere team in Class 1A team in the state remains a difficult challenge, the Blue Devils, who have won 25 of their last 26 games won’t be intimidated.
POLL: Who will win this weekend's Class 1A Flag Football State Semifinal between Robinson (@RobinsonFlag) & Clay (@Clay_Athletics)?
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) May 10, 2018
At a glance
Who: No. 5 Clay (13-0) vs No. 2 Tampa Robinson (13-2)
Where: Boca Raton High School
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
How they got here: Clay def. Parker 21-0 and No. 1 Choctaw 14-13; Robinson def. Osceola 41-0 and Brandon 33-0
Winner gets: Winner plays winner of No. 4 Glades Central (15-1) vs No. 3 Miami Edison (13-0), in state championship game Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Glance: A defense that has only allowed six points in the regular season and 12 through districts, was tested in the regional final last week giving up as many as points as they gave up all season. Now the task is how to slow down the top program in the state Robinson, which has won titles three of the last four years (2014, 2016, 2017) and finished second in 2015. This is Clay’s first time in the Final Four, while Robinson is playing in its seventh straight.
2018 Clay Blue Devils
Game 1: Ed White (1-0) 35-6
Game 2: Bradford (2-0) 39-0
Game 3: Middleburg (3-0) 52-0
Game 4: Westside (4-0) 32-0
Game 5: Baldwin (5-0) 30-0
Game 6: Florida Deaf (6-0) 41-0
Game 7: Orange Park (7-0) 27-0
Game 8: Ridgeview (8-0) 48-0
Game 9: Fleming Island (9-0) 33-0
Game 10: Westside (10-0) 44-0
Game 11: Orange Park (11-0) 14-6
Game 12: Parker (12-0) 21-0
Game 13: Choctaw (13-0) 14-13
