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Know the foe: Hialeah Champagnat

 
Northside Christian and quarterback Griffin Alstott take on 10-1 Hialeah Champagnat this week in a Class 2A state semifinal. (Andy Warrener, Special to the Times)
Northside Christian and quarterback Griffin Alstott take on 10-1 Hialeah Champagnat this week in a Class 2A state semifinal. (Andy Warrener, Special to the Times)
Published Nov. 21, 2016

Know the foe: Hialeah Champagnat (10-1)

Up next: Hosts Northside Christian (10-2) in a Class 2A state semifinal Friday.

Road to the state semifinals: D. Community School of Naples 34-31; d. Naples First Baptist 13-0

Season in a snap: Champagnat's lone loss was 36-18 to Melbourne Central Catholic, the team that knocked Clearwater Central Catholic out of the playoffs after nine overtimes. … The Lions' two playoff games weren't exactly blowouts. Freshman running back Calvin Montgomery scored three touchdowns and Champagnat made a field goal as time expired to beat Community School, according to the Miami Herald. Against First Baptist, the Lions returned a fumble for a touchdown late and had a first-quarter scoring drive aided by an 81-yard reception, according to the Naples Daily News. … The Lions are a fairly young team, with just 10 seniors on their roster.

Playoff history: In 2013, Champagnat won the Class 2A state title, 14-7 over Lakeland Victory Christian. That was the Lions' lone postseason appearance until this season, unless you count 2014, when the defending champs had to forfeit a first-round game to Jupiter Christian. The Lions walked off the field during the regular-season finale against IMG, refusing to complete the game. The Florida High School Athletic Association in turn banned Champagnat from the playoffs.

Northside says: "I'm not going to say what we plan to do against them, but I will say that we are peaking at the right time. We're very good in team play, which means all three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams. We're just playing fundamentally sound football right now." — coach Mike Alstott

Predictions

Rodney Page: Champagnat, 24-23

Bob Putnam: Northside Christian, 34-17