Round 3 Must-See Playoff Games and Players to Watch
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The time for high school football is back and Prep Redzone will be on the move this fall providing some of the best and up-to-date coverage in the country. Let’s kick Game Week off with a preview of some top…
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Continue ReadingThe time for high school football is back and Prep Redzone will be on the move this fall providing some of the best and up-to-date coverage in the country. Let’s kick Game Week off with a preview of some top Round 2 Playoff Matchups around Polk and the Central Florida area. *Below are matchups with notable players to watch for our readers! Most of these games will be played on Friday – 11/24.
Lake Minneola vs. Lakeland
LM: Jackson Hughes QB, Braylon Knauth ATH, Dane Thompkins Dane Thompkins 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Lake Minneola | 2025 FL RB, Uriah Maynard Uriah Maynard 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Lake Minneola | 2025 FL RB, D’Nari Adams ATH, Andrew Bowles LB, Jonah Cali S, Clarence Gaspard LB, Anthony Franklin DB, Chancellor Barclay OL
LHS: Zander Smith Zander Smith 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Lakeland | 2025 State FL QB, Rick Penick WR, Dee Rucker RB, Jamar Taylor WR, Malik Morris LB, Jameson Young Jameson Young 6'2" | 155 lbs | DB Lakeland | 2024 FL DB, Keon Young Keon Young 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Lakeland | 2025 State FL DB
The Dreadnaughts host another playoff game after a big-time defining win over Bartow last week. Lake Minneola comes into this matchup after taking down a couple of Polk teams this season but will have to take down the champ to continue the season. One of the premier matches left in the Polk area.
Lake Wales vs. Vanguard
LW: Rashad Orr RB, Levidiotis Bryce QB – Johnquae Richardson LB – Messiah Marlow LB – Dylan Simmons LB – Carldayle Brantley WR – Jaishon Berry DT
Vanguard: Fred Gaskin III Fred Gaskin III 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Ocala Vanguard | 2024 State FL ATH, Mitchell Brown ATH, Dallen Ponder WR, Markell Davis LB, Terrence Farmer LB, Josiah Farmer LB
The Highlanders leave home to take on Vanguard as their undefeated 26-game win streak is on the line for last year’s state champ. Vanguard has made some noise this season while taking on some of the more talented high school programs. A must-see and must-have win for the Highlanders who look to put on for the city once more.
22 Mandarin vs. 10 Seminole
Mandarin: Jaime Ffrench Jr. WR, Tramell Jones QB, Tiant Wyche RB, Drake Stubbs ATH
BokeyFB: Karson Lasky QB, Preston Watson Preston Watson 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Sanford Seminole | 2024 State FL DT, Trey Clarke RB, Tavari Hampton LB, David Parks ATH, Justin Rosado WR, Cori Smith DB, Juan Berchal Juan Berchal 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Sanford Seminole | 2025 FL DB
Mandarin enters round 3 with gleaming confidence after taking down one of the hottest teams this season in Lake Mary. Now the Mustangs face another well-coached and talented team in Seminole who are feeling good after a blowout win against Apopka. Two tough teams and a must-see game if you’re in the area or have ties to either school.
13 Jones vs. Tampa Bay Tech
Tigers: Trever Jackson Trever Jackson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orlando Jones | 2024 State FL QB, D’antre Robinson D’antre Robinson 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Orlando Jones | 2024 State FL DL, Vernell Brown III Vernell Brown III 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Orlando Jones | 2025 State FL WR, Dereon Coleman Dereon Coleman 5'10" | 145 lbs | QB FL QB, Jaylen Smith Jaylen Smith 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Plant City | 2024 FL WR, Sean Murphy WR, George Brown IV DB
TBT: Xzavier Jackson QB, Logan Rodgers QB, Rod Gainey Rod Gainey 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Tampa Bay Tech | 2024 State FL Jr RB, Dallas Sims Dallas Sims 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Clearwater Academy International | 2024 FL WR, Santonyo Isaac Santonyo Isaac 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Tampa Bay Tech | 2025 State FL WR, Matthew Stahl DE, Rukeem Stroud Rukeem Stroud 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Tampa Bay Tech | 2025 State FL DB
Wow, what a matchup between two schools one in Central and the other in West/South Florida. TBT took down rival Armwood to move on to the next round as Jones completed the huge upset over undefeated Edgewater to advance to round 3. Man, this will be hyped up as the game approaches and we’re excited to see how these two styles of programs match up on the field.
Choctawhatchee vs. 17 St. Augustine
Choctaw: Jesse Winslette Jesse Winslette 6'6" | 215 lbs | QB Choctawhatchee | 2024 FL QB, Cole Tabb Cole Tabb 5'7" | 190 lbs | RB Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee | 2024 State FL RB, Isaiah Johnson WR, Tristan Jackson LB, Ellis Alloway LB
SAHS: Locklan Hewlett Locklan Hewlett 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB St. Augustine | 2025 State FL QB, Carl Jenkins Jr. Carl Jenkins Jr. 6'3" | 165 lbs | WR St. Augustine | 2025 State FL WR, Trenton Jones WR, Myles Simmons WR, Ja’ki Singleton DB, Julian Quintero DB, Drake Lusk LB, Devonte Lyons Devonte Lyons 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB St. Augustine | 2024 FL RB
This is a big-time North Florida matchup that has Power 5 / Division 1 players all over the field. Interesting QB matchup that I will be paying attention to but it’s the running backs on both of these squads that will be the difference maker ( Cole Tabb Cole Tabb 5'7" | 190 lbs | RB Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee | 2024 State FL , Choctaw) & ( Devonte Lyons Devonte Lyons 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB St. Augustine | 2024 FL , SAHS).
16 Mainland vs. Sebring
Mainland: Clarence Mccloud WR, Dennis Murray QB, Khamani Robinson RB, Rodney Hill Rodney Hill 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Daytona Beach Mainland | 2024 State FL ATH, Lawal Mccray ATH, Myron Shafer ATH, Emmanuel Yisrael WR, Rodney Hill Rodney Hill 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Daytona Beach Mainland | 2024 State FL LB, Zavier Mincey Zavier Mincey 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Daytona Beach Mainland | 2024 State FL DB
Sebring: Travis Kearney RB, Nick Rowe Nick Rowe 5'9" | 215 lbs | RB Avon Park | 2024 FL RB, Josiah Taylor Josiah Taylor 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Sebring | 2024 FL LB, Courtney Watson LB, Favid Shannon Favid Shannon 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Sebring | 2025 FL DB, KJ Massey QB
Sebring has put together a successful season with RB Travis Kearney leading the team. The Blue Streaks will face a tough Mainland defense that features a UF commit and other head hunters who are eager to bounce back from last week in a close win over Rockledge. Sebring is a ‘Polk’ squad that has a chance to move on against one of the tougher programs.
Pensacola Catholic vs. Florida State University High
PC: Ryan Huff QB, Charles Nettles RB, Jayvion Showers WR, Nigel Nelson Nigel Nelson 6'0" | 210 lbs | ATH Pensacola Catholic | 2025 FL ATH, Turner McLaughlin LB, Terius Mason Terius Mason 6'3" | 265 lbs | OL Pensacola Catholic | 2025 FL ATH
FSUHS: Jeremy Johnston Jeremy Johnston 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Florida State University FSUS | 2024 FL QB, Micha Danzy ATH, Ashton Hampton Ashton Hampton 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Tallahassee FSU High | 2024 State FL WR, Josiah Broxton LB, Noah Deem LB, Keisean Inman ATH, Darrick McGhee LB
I really like this matchup between two solid squads that have made some noise this season as well as coaches and talented teams on both sides of the ball. Another interesting QB matchup to pay attention to but it’s the defenses that will star in this game and will look to slow down two offenses averaging over 33.0 points per game.