You are here
Home > Sports > Tribal players set to start high school football playoffs

Tribal players set to start high school football playoffs

Moore Haven offensive lineman Greg James (52) battles a Fort Meade player during the Terriers’ 13-9 win Nov. 7, 2024, at Moore Haven High School. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)

MOORE HAVEN – It’s playoff time for Florida high school football, including Moore Haven and American Heritage-Plantation, which both have Seminole Tribe of Florida representation.

Moore Haven will make about a 350-mile trip to the Panhandle to face Madison County High School in a Class Rural regional semifinal Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Sixteen teams made it into the Rural bracket for the entire class. Moore Haven (5-4) is seeded No. 15; Madison (6-3) is No. 2. The Moore Haven-Madison winner will face the winner of No. 7 Aucilla vs. No. 10 Blountstown in a regional final Nov. 22.

Moore Haven features tribal member and starting lineman Greg James, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound sophomore. The Terriers also feature descendent Thaddeus Johns, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior wide receiver.

Moore Haven wide receiver Thaddeus Johns (82) makes a tackle during an interception return by Fort Meade on Nov. 7, 2024, at Moore Haven High School. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)

With its third win a row, surging Moore Haven clinched a spot in the postseason with a 13-9 victory at home against Fort Meade on Nov. 7. James’ block on the outside of the line opened room for speedy running back Daquon Adderly to score on a 38-yard run in the second quarter.

“Greg has been having a really good season on offense and defense,” Moore Haven coach Emanuel Hendrix said prior to the Fort Meade game. “He’s been a major contributor on the offensive line. He’s been a big part of this turnaround.”

James still plays both ways, but he’s not playing every play on defense as he was earlier in the season. Getting breaks on the sideline has paid off.

“He’s been playing a lot better on the offensive line than he did at the beginning of the year. At the beginning of the year, he was playing good on defensive line, but not offensive line. Now he’s stepped up his game on the offensive line, so we’ve been able to run the ball a lot more favorably lately,” Hendrix said.

Moore Haven’s Greg James (52) battles a Fort Meade player Nov. 7, 2024, at Moore Haven High School. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)

The offense has also received a boost from Johns, who is in his first year of playing football. Johns saw little playing time earlier in the season, but has worked his way into the rotation.

“Thaddeus has been getting a lot more playing time. We trust him a lot more than what we (had) been trusting him. I’m ecstatic about the improvement that I have seen from the beginning of the year to right now,” Hendrix said. “He’s got speed. He’s made a couple of first down catches for us lately. Hopefully that trend continues.”

Led by multiple sacks from Clarence Hunter, Aaryn Askew and others, the Terriers’ defense held an opponent to fewer than 10 points for the third straight game in the win against Fort Meade.

Moore Haven wide receiver Thaddeus Johns (82) lines up against Fort Meade on Nov. 7, 2024, at Moore Haven High School. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)
Moore Haven’s Greg James (52) plays against Fort Meade on Nov. 7, 2024, at Moore Haven High School. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)
Moore Haven wide receiver Thaddeus Johns (82) chats with a teammate on the bench Nov. 7, 2024, at Moore Haven High School. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)

***

Meanwhile, American Heritage, which includes starting cornerback and FSU-commit Greg “Zae” Thomas, will host Jensen Beach in a Class 4A regional quarterfinal Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.

Just a few weeks ago, American Heritage had a losing record, but its losses to Miami Central and Norland turned into wins due to the use of ineligible players. American Heritage, which has played one of the most demanding schedules in the nation, finished the regular season at 7-2 and earned the No. 1 seed in its region. Jensen Beach is seeded No. 8.

The Heritage-Jensen Beach winner will meet the winner of No. 4 John Carroll vs No. 5 Dillard in a regional semifinal Nov. 22.

Heritage hasn’t played since defeating St. Thomas Aquinas on Oct. 25.

American Heritage senior cornerback and Florida State-commit Greg “Zae” Thomas (2) in action against Milton High School on Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo Kevin Johnson/The Seminole Tribune)
Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson is senior editor. He has worked for The Seminole Tribune since 2014. He was previously an editor, photographer and reporter for newspapers in Southwest Florida and Connecticut. Contact Kevin at kevinjohnson@semtribe.com.
Top