CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) - If you're a high school football player, and you're lucky enough to still be practicing, you belong to a select group. Some classifications in Florida are down to their final two teams, others in Florida and in Georgia are down to their final four.
The Wakulla War Eagles are still very much alive, as they are one of four teams remaining in Class 5A, and they hope to be one of two still standing after Friday night's State Semifinal match-up against Clay.
Clay is 10-3 on the season, and is led by Senior running back Bilal Ally, who's rushed for close to 2800 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. The defense Wakulla Head Coach Scott Klees notes is going to have to be on point come Friday.
The War Eagles are riding a 12 game win streak heading in to the match-up, and Klees is confident the defense can keep them going.
"They're the only steady part we've had up to this point," he said Monday at practice. "Each and every week, they've been playing every well. We hope they can continue to play this week because we have our work cut out for us on the defensive side of the ball."
"They have progressed so much," said quarterback Feleipe Franks. "They have probably progressed more than any physical attribute on the team, whether it be special teams, offense, they've progressed a whole bunch. Starting the year off slow against Spartanburg up until now, just being a shut out defense."
The defense may be good, but don't look down on that Wakulla offense. On the roster is wide receiver, and Under Armour All-American Keith Gavin, as well as U.S. Army All-American quarterback Feleipe Franks.
Franks has thrown for nearly 2400 yards and 30 touchdowns so far this season with just two interceptions. He said now, he's focused solely on Friday night, as a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders Sunday when he announced his commitment to play at the University of Florida.
"It's a big relief for me, as a quarterback, being a leader of a high school team. I just had to get it out of the way and focus on the things our coach has at hand here," he said Monday. "I've talked to them for a while. They have a great coaching staff, a good new coaching staff, and the way they turned the program around from last year was really impressive. That's really a big thing that I liked about Florida that made me kind of want to go there."
Franks and the War Eagles take the field Friday night against Clay. Kickoff is slated for 7:30.
