REGION SEMIFINALS: Key Matchups Ahead
With less than a month before we crown nine state champions this week will certainly define the season for many teams.
While the past two weeks had some quality games take place, this round will truly showcase matchups that many had talked about before the season started.
While the new classifications and playoff format may not sit well with some, you can guarantee that things will be looked at after the year is out – and if changes are dictated – they will be addressed.
As we head toward the Region Semifinals, here is a look at the Top 25 plus for this week:
1. Miami Central (2M, 11-0). THIS WEEK: No. 3 Miami Norland (9-2) in the Region final. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Rockets had a tough one against No. 4 rival Miami Northwestern, winning 34-30.
2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M, 9-0). THIS WEEK: A key matchup with No. 2 seed West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (11-0). NEXT WEEK: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Lions beat No. 4 seed Hollywood Avant Garde Academy, 48-0.
3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M, 11-0). THIS WEEK: A matchup with unbeaten (11-0) No. 3 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Raiders beat No. 4 Delray Beach Atlantic, 63-14.
4. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 8-1). THIS WEEK: SEASON OVER. LAST WEEK: The Ascenders ended the season with a 27-16 win over national powerhouse St. Frances (Maryland) Academy.
5. Lakeland (4S, 11-0). THIS WEEK: A Region Finals contest against No. 2 seed Lake Minneola. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Dreadnaughts won a Region Semifinals game, 47-10, over No. 5 New Port Richey Mitchell.
6. Plantation American Heritage (2M, 9-1). THIS WEEK: A rematch of the district title game against No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD.. LAST WEEK: The Patriots rolled over No. 4 seed Boynton Beach, 49-0.
7. Orlando Edgewater (3M, 11-0). THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed they will be home against No. 2 seed Orlando Jones. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Eagles won a tough game against defending state runner up and No. 5 seed Tampa Bay Tech, 28-24.
8. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M, 10-1). THIS WEEK: A rematch against No. 3 seed Doral Academy. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Explorers played great defense in shutting down district rival and No. 4 seed Miami Palmetto, 28-0.
9. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (1M, 11-0). NEXT WEEK: A rematch against longtime rival No. 2 seed Jacksonville University Christian. NEXT WEEK: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Conquerors beat No. 4 seed Orlando Christian Prep, 30-13.
10. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M, 10-1). THIS WEEK: The season is on the line as they travel to No. 1 seed and district rival Plantation American Heritage. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The two-time defending state champions overcame a slow start to beat No. 3 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 43-27.
11. St. John’s Bartram Trail (4S, 12-0). THIS WEEK: The No. 1 seed Bears will be at home against No. 3 seed Gainesville Buchholz. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: They had no problem with city foe St. John’s Creekside, 42-15.
12. Orlando Jones (3M, 10-2). THIS WEEK: It’s a road game against unbeaten and No. 1 seed Orlando Edgewater. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Tigers won a convincing 49-21 decision over No. 3 Oviedo.
13. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1M, 11-0). NEXT WEEK: The season is on the line as they travel south to play national power Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – a No. 1 seed. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Crusaders continued this magical season with a tough victory (14-6) against North Palm Beach Benjamin.
14. Lake Wales (3S, 11-0). THIS WEEK: The Highlanders look to keep it going with a contest against No. 3 Zephyrhills. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: One of the biggest surprises this season remained unbeaten with a 40-0 win against No. 4 Ocala Vanguard.
15. Clearwater Central Catholic (1M, 10-1). NEXT WEEK: As a No. 1 seed it will be a home game against No. 3 Tampa Carrollwood Day. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Marauders scored early and often with a 63-12 win against No. 4 Largo Indian Rocks Christian.
16. Vero Beach (4S, 11-1). THIS WEEK: As a top seed, they will be at home against No. 2 Kissimmee Osceola in another tough contest. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: A convincing 24-7 win against No. 4 Melbourne.
17. Gainesville Buchholz (4S, 9-2). THIS WEEK: It’s a trip to unbeaten and top seed St. John’s Bartram Trail for the second time this season. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD.. LAST WEEK: The Bobcats broke out and won a 54-33 game against a tough Crestview team.
18. Cocoa (2S, 8-3). THIS WEEK: A road game with unbeaten and No. 1 seed Bushnell South Sumter. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Tigers continued to impress in the ladder part of the season with a 49-3 win against No. 3 Melbourne Palm Bay.
19. Apopka (4M, 10-2). THIS WEEK. The No. 2 seed has a matchup with a surprising No. 4 Lake Mary. NEXT GAME. A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Blue Darters continued their late season push with a 28-7 win over No. 3 Winter Park.
20. Tarpon Springs East Lake (4M, 10-1). THIS WEEK: A home game against a tough No. 4 Ocoee. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The No. 1 seed won a convincing 38-14 game against No. 4 Tampa Plant.
21. Wellington Palm Beach Central (4M, 11-1). THIS WEEK: The No. 1 seed Broncos will welcome No. 3 Palm Beach Gardens. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: After struggling early, this impressive squad put it into high gear with a 55-23 win against No. 3 Parkland Douglas.
22. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3M, 11-0). THIS WEEK: A trip to play No. 1 seed Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in a battle of unbeatens. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Tigers beat longtime rival Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 19-14
23. Kissimmee Osceola (4S, 9-3). THIS WEEK: A road contest at No. 1 Vero Beach. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Kowboys won a defensive struggle with Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast, 10-6.
24. Tampa Jesuit (3M, 8-4). THIS WEEK: The defending state champions will be at home for No. 2 seed Largo. NEXT GAME: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: The Tigers continued to roll in the late season as they beat Tampa Gaither, 45-10.
25. Tallahassee FSU High (2S, 12-0). THIS WEEK: The Seminoles will be at home as a No. 1 seed against No. 2 seed Live Oak Suwannee. NEXT WEEK: A State Semifinal game, TBD. LAST WEEK: In a tight game against Pensacola Catholic, they pulled out an 18-14 decision.
OTHER PLAYOFF TEAMS
No. 3 Blountstown (1R, 8-4)
No. 1 Bratt Northview(1R, 11-0)
No. 1 Bushnell South Sumter (2S, 12-0)
No. 1 Century Northview (1R)
No. 2 Chipley (1R, 11-0)
No. 2 Clearwater Calvary Christian (2M, 10-2)
No. 4 Daytona Beach Mainland (3S, 9-3)
No. 3 Doral Academy (4M, 8-4)
No. 1 Fort Myers Bishop Verot (2S, 9-2)
No. 2 Fort Myers Dunbar (3S, 8-1)
No. 1 Fort Pierce John Carroll (1S, 9-1)
No. 5 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (3S, 7-5)
No. 2 Frostproof (2S, 10-2)
No. 3 Gainesville P.K. Yonge (1S, 4-7)
No. 3 Glen St. Mary Baker County (2S, 7-3)
No. 1 Hawthorne (1R, 9-0)
No. 1 Homestead (3M, 9-2)
No. 5 Jacksonville Raines (2M, 9-2)
No. 3 Jacksonville Bolles (2M, 8-4)
No. 2 Jacksonville University Christian (1M)
No. 2 Jensen Beach (3S, 10-2)
No. 1 Lake Butler Union County (1R, 7-2)
No. 3 Lake City Columbia (3S, 8-3)
No. 4 Lake Mary (4M, 8-3)
No. 2 Lake Minneola (4S, 10-1)
No. 2 Lakeland Christian (1S, 8-1)
No. 2 Largo (3M, 9-2)
No. 2 Live Oak Suwannee (2S, 10-2)
No. 3 Mayo Lafayette (1R, 10-2)
No. 3 Miami Norland (2M, 9-2)
No. 4 Miami Palmer Trinity (1M, 6-5)
No. 3 Miami True North Classical Academy (1M, 8-3)
No. 2 Miramar (3M, 10-1)
No. 3 Moore Haven (1S, 8-3)
No. 1 Naples (3S, 9-2)
No. 1 Naples First Baptist (1S, 7-2)
No. 1 Ocala Trinity Catholic (1S, 7-2)
No. 3 Ocoee (4M, 8-4)
No. 3 Quincy Munroe (1S, 5-6)
No. 2 Pahokee (1R, 9-2)
No. 3 Palm Beach Gardens (4M, 9-3)
No. 7 Sarasota Riverview (4S, 5-6)
No. 1 Sneads (1R, 11-0)
No. 4 St. Petersburg Lakewood (2M, 8-4)
No. 1 Starke Bradford County (2S, 10-1)
No. 1 Tallahassee North Florida Christian (1S, 11-0)
No. 3 Tampa Carrollwood Day (1M, 6-3)
No. 1 Venice (4S, 7-3)
No. 3 Zephyrhills (3S, 9-3)
FINISHED FOR THE SEASON
Niceville (4S, 9-2– SEASON OVER)
Pensacola Pine Forest (3S, 9-1– SEASON OVER)
Rockledge (3S, 8-3 – SEASON OVER).
Sanford Seminole (4M, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)
Tampa Bay Tech (3M, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)
Tampa Wharton (3M, 8-3 – SEASON OVER)
Winter Park (4M, 9-2– SEASON OVER)
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.
PLAYOFF WEEK 1: New Season Begins. https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/playoff-week-1-new-season-begins/