Gaither (Florida) preparing to face toughest test of the year

The Cowboys are in search of their first ever state championship berth

TAMPA, FLORIDA- When Gaither quarterback Jayce Nixon kept the ball and ran in what would be the game’s go-ahead touchdown, realization then started to set in. 

Reality was setting in that it could be the Gaither Cowboys representing the Tampa Bay Area out of all the teams heading into the state semifinals. 

Not Armwood or Jesuit or Tampa Bay Tech. I mean we’ve got to say it, how ‘bout them Cowboys? 

Gaither pulled off a thrilling 31-24 victory over Jesuit in a Class 3M, Region 2 final last week, which the Cowboys were 1-point off during the regular season from pulling off the feat. 

The win over the Tigers has punched the Cowboys ticket for a trip down to Fort Lauderdale on Friday night to face the mighty St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, the defending Class 3M state champions. Winning down in Broward County will be no easy task as the Cowboys are another Tampa-area school, like Plant, that hasn’t traveled outside of the Tampa Bay region. 

Gaither’s longest road trip this season was its region quarterfinal win over St. Petersburg, 42-14, when they traveled down into south Pinellas County. The Cowboys have been the road team this entire playoffs and they’ll be adding in some hours with this trip, taking on one of the country’s top teams. 

The Cowboys will be up against a familiar face on the other in Aquinas running back Stacy Gage, who played at Wharton last season. Gage had 74 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats in a 47-6 win over the Cowboys. 

Gaither will counter Gage and the Aquinas’ offense with one of the most productive defensive tackles in the state in junior Antonio Henley. The junior defensive lineman has made 69 tackles, 34 going for a loss and notching 21 sacks. 

Henley will need to lead a Cowboys’ club that will absolutely be facing their toughest test yet against the Raiders, whom feature Power Five talent like Gage, running back Jordan Lyle (Ohio State commitment), wide receivers Chance Robinson (Miami commitment) and James Madison III (Missouri commitment). 

The Cowboys on offense are preparing to throw the kitchen sink at the Raiders’ defense, with junior quarterback Jayce Nixon leading the way. Nixon in his second season as Gaither’s starting quarterback has thrown for 3,004 yards, 28 touchdowns and just a mere five interceptions. 

The southpaw can also make it happen getting first downs and touchdowns with his legs, as Nixon has rushed for 370 yards and five touchdowns. Lining up next to him is the always consistent Elija Mason, who has rushed for a team-high 1,301 yards and 21 touchdowns. The go-to-target through the air will be wide receivers Ladainian Ferrell (68 catches, 822 yards) and Latrell Taylor (53 catches, 771 yards). 

On the line for Kirk Karsen’s group will be a trip to the state championship game, which would be a first for Gaither. In its way is the defending state champion Raiders and putting in the work, preparation in aiming to pull off another upset. 

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FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Photo courtesy of Gaither Cowboys Football Facebook page)

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl