The Carol City Chiefs have made a stunning playoff charge to bring them one win away from the state championships.
After knocking off Miami Northwestern and stunning the number one team in 6A, undefeated Mainland High School, the Chiefs play Friday in the state semifinals.
“Blessed to have this opportunity for us to be here and all the hard work we did in the summer, the spring, all that pays off,” wide receiver Kevaughn Dingle said.
With Friday’s 33-7 win over Northwestern, the Chiefs will travel to Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, their first state semifinal appearance in 12 seasons.
“We came out here, we put a lot of work in and we had this plan,” said cornerback Donelle Thomas. “We had this dream and right now, we’re doing it.”
“I have an opportunity to be in a semifinal right now, playing a very good Charlotte team,” head coach Aubrey Hill said. “We’re just trying to enjoy the moment, get better each day and then culminate it on Friday.”
A return to the state championship will be even more special for Hill, who remembers when the Chiefs were a premier team in the state.
“When you think about all the times my team went to the state championship, and I always talk about all the state championship teams here, so we have a lot to pull on,” said Hill.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.