Florida high school football: First half superlatives, including best game and MVPs

Blink and you might have missed it, but we've already officially passed the halfway point of the 2023 high school football regular season.

Defending state champions Columbus (Class 4M), St. Thomas Aquinas (3M), Miami Central (2M) and Chaminade-Madonna continue to set the pace in the Metro Classes, while the Suburban classes have been a mixed bag.

Mainland (3S) and Cocoa (defending Class 2S champion) have been the No. 1 teams in their respective classes since the beginning of the season. Class 4S already has had four different teams at No. 1 while Class 1S has had three.

More: USA Today Florida Network High School Week 7 poll: Buchholz new No. 1

Here's a look at the first-half MVP, best coaching job, best games and more from the first half of the season.

Offensive MVP: Jeremiah Smith (Chaminade-Madonna)

This isn’t some kind of a token honor for Smith because he’s the top-ranked recruit in the state. Just consider what Smith did in the first five games of the season – all against nationally ranked opponents. He caught 42 passes for 617 yards and nine touchdowns. His game against Bergen Catholic (17 catches, 321 yards, three touchdowns) made national headlines. The Lions are in the mix for the national title and Smith is a major reason why.

Defensive MVP: Michael McClenton (Ocoee)

Just from a production standpoint, it’s hard to even consider anyone but McClenton. The sophomore leads the nation (not the state) with 126 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. If McClenton wasn’t on people’s radar after his 23-tackle performance in the season opener when Ocoee’s defense shut out Apopka’s offense, he certainly should have been with his 20-tackle, seven-sack game against Wekiva a week later. His lowest single-game tackle total is 17. That’s both stunning and consistent.

Coach: Tyrone McGriff (Leon)

When the former college all-American defensive back was hired days before Christmas in 2021, the Lions had a total of two winning seasons in 13 years. After going 1-9 in 2022, Leon has won its first five games of 2022 and have a much-anticipated matchup with state-ranked Lincoln on the horizon. The Lions opened the season with a 31-23 win against a North Florida Christian team that beat them 35-10 a year ago. Leon also has consecutive last-minute wins against Mosley and St. John Paul II.

More: Last second touchdown boosts Leon football to 4-0 start, best start in decades

Breakout Player: Brady Hart (Cocoa)

No one could have predicted what Hart would do against some of the top talent in the state. With an opening schedule of playing at Jones, home against Venice, at St. Thomas Aquinas and home against Eau Gallie and Treasure Coast, Hart completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,505 yards and 16 touchdowns. The first-year starter had 408 yards and four touchdowns against Venice, then topped it with a 493-yard, five-touchdown performance against Aquinas.

Best Game: Chaminade-Madonna 31, Miami Central 28

Every once in a while, the most anticipated game of the season turns out to the best. This was one of those times. Despite a 90-plus-minute delay because of inclement weather, these two top-five nationally ranked teams put on a show. The first half was a track meet where Chaminade quarterback Cedrick Bailey Jr. threw for four touchdowns to give the Lions a 31-21 lead. Central scored the only touchdown in the second half but Curtis Janiver had a late interception and the Rockets last-gasp pass on the final play of the game fell short of the end zone.

More: Football recruiting notes: Chaminade holds off Miami Central in thriller

Best Game, Worst Finish: St. Thomas Aquinas 37, Cocoa 36

This was an elite high school football game for 46 minutes. Cocoa wide receiver Jayvan Boggs caught four touchdown passes and Aquinas running back Jordan Lyle scored three rushing touchdowns in a back-and-forth affair. Cocoa appeared to have the game won with 1:28 left but some clock management mistakes by the officials allowed St. Thomas to get the ball back and kick the game-winning field goal. Cocoa appealed the loss (which was denied) and the Broward Football Official Association apologized to Cocoa for “egregious clock management errors.”

More: Referees hand St. Thomas Aquinas football victory over Cocoa with incomprehensible finish

Best Comeback: St. Augustine 43, Bolles 36

Myles Simmons’ leaping touchdown grab with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter not only proved to be the game-winning score but capped a big fourth quarter comeback by the Yellow Jackets. This one appeared to be over when Bolles receiver Naeem Burroughs scored to give the Bulldogs a 36-21 lead with 11:17 remaining. That’s when St. Augustine quarterback Locklan Hewlett and Co. went to work. Hewlett threw a touchdown pass to Carl Jenkins Jr. and later completed a two-point conversion to Devonte Lyons after a Trenton Jones touchdown run to tie the game and set the stage for Simmons’ heroics.

More: Buzzing from behind: Takeaways from St. Augustine-Bolles high school football thriller

Best Streak: Bishop Verot running clock

The Vikings have played five games on the field. They've had a running clock in all five games. That's an impressive feat no matter the competition. But Verot's streak incudes Port Charlotte (2022 Class 3S regional semifinalist), Dunbar (2022 Class 3S state semifinalist), First Baptist (2022 Class 1S state champion) and Sarasota (Class 4S regional semifinalist). If the Vikings can add Jesuit to the list on Friday, that will really be something.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida high school football: First half superlatives, best games