PLAYERS TO WATCH: Naples -- RB Jamelle Eugene, DB Jon Eugene, QB Danny Dunford, LB Don Steiss, LB Cory Hogue, RB Jermaine Washington; East Lake -- QB Louis Carralla, FB/LB Leo Deartiaga
KEY MATCHUPS: Carralla and Deartiaga vs. Naples defense -- East Lake's duo got the team into the playoffs, but now they face a Golden Eagles defense that has shutout five opponents this year.
FAST FACTS: This is a Class 5A Region 3 semifinal game ... The winner of this game faces the winner between Venice and Clearwater for the regional title ... Naples beat Bradenton-Manatee 19-14 last week in the regional quarterfinals ... Tyler Walker kicked 46- and 31-yard field goals in the game ... Jon Eugene took an interception back 88 yards for a touchdown ... Jamelle Eugene rushed for 147 yards on 17 carries ... East Lake came back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat St. Petersburg- Northeast 21-17 last week in the regional quarterfinals ... Deartiaga rushed for 143 yards on 20 carries ... It was the Eagles' first playoff win since 1995.
COACHES' COMMENTS: Naples coach Bill Kramer -- "(East Lake is) not as big as Bradenton-Manatee, so we match up a little better size-wise and speed-wise. Our defense especially had a great work week, and they've set the tone for us all year."
Clewiston (5-5) at Class 2A No. 8 Immokalee (7-4)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Immokalee -- RB Javarris James, WR/DB McIntosh Nicolas, QB Louis Gachette; Clewiston -- RB Daquan Adderly, QB Robert Smith
KEY MATCHUPS: Immokalee defense vs. Smith -- The Clewiston quarterback was not available for the first Tigers-Indians clash. Now he's back and, as his two touchdown passes show, he's back to normal.
FAST FACTS: This is for the Class 2A Region 3 title ... The winner of this game faces the winner between Hollywood-Chaminade and Miami-Belen Jesuit in the state semifinals ... These two teams met in the regular season, with Immokalee beating Clewiston 46-21 to clinch the Class 2A-6 title ... Immokalee beat Cocoa Beach 43-8 last week in the regional semifinals ... James rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns ... Clewiston beat No. 3 Wachula-Hardee County 24-14 in the regional semifinals ... Adderly rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown ... Smith threw for two touchdowns ... The Tigers rushed for 235 yards.
COACHES' COMMENTS: Immokalee coach John Weber -- "I always enjoy playing those guys. You're playing two class football programs and you can't ask for much more than that. (Clewiston's semifinal win) didn't surprise me. They know how to rise up and play in the playoffs. We're playoff veterans, too."
QUICK PICKS:
Naples 35, East Lake 14; Immokalee 21, Clewiston 20
Catch of the Day: May 24, 2012
Collier County arrests 05-23-2012
Editorial Cartoons: May 23, 2012









Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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