Week 10 Playbook: Treasure Coast-Centennial has major playoff implications

PORT ST. LUCIE — Treasure Coast’s football team is atypical.

The Titans are one of few teams — and the only one in the area — to run the single-wing offense. The coaching staff stresses the importance of improving itself rather than game-planning for specific opponents.

Treasure Coast isn’t even approaching Friday’s game against St. Lucie West Centennial the way you might accept. Treasure Coast and Centennial are rivals, District 8-8A opponents and are competing for the No. 5 seed in Region 2-8A.

“The way I feel is every week is a playoff week for us, since Week 1,” Titans coach Irvin Jones said. “Our thing is 1-0. Every week, 1-0. Let’s just try to be 1-0 at the end of the week.

“I don’t talk to them about the playoffs or anything like that. I just tell them let’s beat us. Let’s gets better with us every day. If we do what were supposed to do, we get better, we’ll be successful on Friday.”

Whether or not the Titans want to talk about it, Friday’s game has major playoff implications. With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, Treasure Coast has a narrow edge over Centennial for the No. 5 seed in the region.

Centennial is coming off a surprising 42-13 loss to Orlando-Bishop Moore last week. The loss wasn’t a shock considering Bishop Moore was a regional semifinalist in Class 5A in 2017; what’s surprising is that the Eagles allowed 42 points in the first half — more than the Eagles gave up in their first seven games combined.

The Eagles are eager to move on from their last game.

“When you come out and lose, you want to get back on the field and prove that you’re better than that and erase it,” Centennial safety Dwight Toombs said. “That’s the only way.”

Here are the biggest games of Week 10

1. St. Lucie West Centennial (6-2, 1-1) vs. Treasure Coast (6-2, 1-1): Treasure Coast has won the past three meetings in the series, including a 15-9 victory last year when former Titans RB Cedrick Wilcox IV (now a senior at Centennial) scored the game-winner with 3:25 left in the game. Under the old playoff format, the winner of this game would have been the district runner-up.

2. Sebastian River (5-3, 2-2) at Eau Gallie (6-2, 3-1): This is a game with clear playoff implications — both directly and indirectly. Eau Gallie is No. 7 in Region 4-6A and Sebastian River is No. 13. A win would be important, not only for Sebastian River but also for the teams it has played this season. If Sebastian River wins its sixth game of the season it would double its win total from 2017 and also make the Sharks a Category 2 team.

3. Fort Pierce Central (1-7, 0-2) at Vero Beach (8-0, 2-0): The Fighting Indians already have wrapped up the District 8-8A championship and have their eyes set on claiming the top seed in the region and state. Vero Beach is going for its 52nd consecutive win against an old rival looking to snap a seven-game losing skid.

Under-the-radar game

Fort Lauderdale-Calvary Christian (4-4) at John Carroll Catholic (5-3): The Golden Rams have won four of their past five games but will have their hands full with a solid Calvary Christian squad. This game feels similar to John Carroll’s games against North Broward Prep and Pine Crest – both of which were come-from-behind wins for the Golden Rams.

Top individual matchups

John Carroll QB Jay Allen vs. Calvary Christian DE Joshua Byles: Allen, a sophomore, has been outstanding this season, throwing for 1,353 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for 380 yards and seven touchdowns. Byles, a senior, is the Eagles top edge rusher. He leads Calvary with four sacks and 13 tackles for loss. 

Vero Beach RB Bryan Primus-Winston vs. Fort Pierce Central LB Josh Mimms: Primus-Winston has rushed for 520 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Mimms is the Cobras leading tackler and was TCPalm’s Week 9 Defensive Game Ball winner. Vero Beach had only 11 called run plays two weeks ago against Treasure Coast. Will the Fighting Indians look to establish the run more against Central?

Centennial RB Cedrick Wilcox IV vs. Treasure Coast LB Brendon Joseph: The former teammates could collide often Friday night. Wilcox has scored a touchdown in seven consecutive games and is dangerous when he gets to the second level. Joseph, a senior, is coming off one of his best games of the season against Monsignor Pace last week.

Sebastian River WR Corbin Gibson vs. Eau Gallie DB Jamari Nelson: If these two do lineup against each other Friday, it could be one of the most interesting matchups of the night. Gibson (6-foot-4) is one of the top outside receivers on the Treasure Coast and arguably the best red zone target on the Treasure Coast. Nelson (5-foot-10) is giving up six inches, but has three interceptions and a fumble recovery the past three weeks.

By the numbers

4: Average margin of victory for Vero Beach in wins over Centennial and Treasure Coast this season. Last year, the average margin of victory in those games was 34.5.

4: Consecutive games in which Okeechobee has been shut out. The Brahmans travel to Jensen Beach for the District 14-6A finale on Friday. 

5: Blocked kicks for Sebastian River defensive tackle Tim Smith this season. The junior blocked an extra point in a 16-9 win over Central last week.

50: Percent of catches John Carroll Catholic WR Jacob Krauza has turned into touchdowns. The former swimmer is fourth on the team with 14 receptions but first with seven touchdown catches.

462: Total yards for Martin County QB George Johnson (No. 1 TCPalm Super 11, Michigan commit) against Melbourne in 2017, which was named the best individual performance of the year. Johnson threw for 269 yards, rushed for 156 yards, had 37 receiving yards and scored six touchdowns. Martin County hosts Melbourne on Friday.