7 State Semifinal Matchups Tonight

We have now reached the state semifinal round of the 2023 Florida high school football state playoffs.   One week until 18 schools converge in Tallahassee to produce nine state champions.   Through countless camps, combines, spring and summer football to reach this point where we have arrived at the round where lives are changed.   Each week during the season, we have picked out the games that are worth keeping an eye on.   Today, we bring you seven matchups to keep an eye on:   3S   No. 4 Fort Myers Dunbar (10-2) at No. 1 St. Augustine (12-0). Last year, Dunbar failed to get to this game under head coach Sammy Brown, but a huge win against Naples last week put this team into a spotlight game, one contest away from playing for a state title.   On the other side of the field is an unbeaten team, coached by Brian Braddock, that has run the gauntlet and predicted, by many, as the team to beat in the class after an impressive off-season showing. This is an offensive machine that will be tested.   THE PICK: St. Augustine 34, Dunbar 20   No. 2 Ocala Vanguard (11-2) at No. 3 Daytona Beach Mainland (12-1). This is another classic matchup against a team that finished second in this class a year ago, and has the motivation, and a team that is very hard to figure out.   For Travis Roland and his Bucs, losing to Lake Wales by a point last season was indeed enough to drive this team all season. They are loaded with talent and have that motivation it takes in a game like this.   For Edwin Farmer and his Knights, an amazing kickoff classic performance against national power Miami Central to last week's overwhelming win against defending state champion Lake Wales, it has been a ride with losses to South Sumter and 4S powerhouse Gainesville Buchholz.   THE PICK: Mainland 27, Vanguard 24   4S   No. 3 DeLand (11-2) at No. 2 Venice (11-2). What an interesting cross-state matchup we have here against two amazing coaching staffs that both played well enough to be in this position.   For John Peacock and his Indians, finishing second a year ago has driven this team through a challenging schedule. They are indeed stacked with seasoned and experienced talent.   If you had one team that you wouldn't want to play in this game, it's veteran head coach Ric Darlington and his Bulldogs. After beating Treasure Coast last week soundly, they have confidence that they can play with anyone. Challenging schedule and impressive talent.   THE PICK: Venice 30, Deland 24   No. 4 Lakeland (10-3) at No. 1 Gainesville Buchholz (13-0). Of all the games this evening, this could really be one that you would want to be at.   The home team Bobcats and first year head coach Chuck Bell are unbeaten and have played their share of quality opponents, but as good as they are, Lakeland's offense is running on all cylinders and could care less where the game is being played. They are also the defending state champions, and under first year head coach Marvin Frazier have found an identity.   While the Dreadnaughts were putting up 700 yards and 77 points, their defense was not great against Lake Minneola and that is a concern against a quality opponent on the road.   But no matter how you slice it, it is still tough to go against a state champion and a national powerhouse.   THE PICK: Lakeland 37, Buchholz 34   1M   No. 1 Jacksonville Trinity Christian (10-3) at No. 1 Clearwater Central Catholic (13-0). Another good game against one team who has been in this position dozens of times while the other is out to make it two in a row.   For veteran head coach Verlon Dorminey and his Conquerors, this has been one of those seasons where losses to 2M powers Plantation American Heritage and Jacksonville Bolles and Jacksonville Riverside has made this team better and gotten them ready for this game on the road.   The Marauders and head coach Chris Harvey, there is no getting around that the schedule this season has gotten them ready for this home game. Two contests against Tampa Carrollwood Day and a trip to 2M power Fort Lauderda;e Cardinal Gibbons have prepared them.   THE PICK: Clearwater Central Catholic 33, Trinity Christian 31   3M   No. 3 Orlando Jones (10-3) at No. 2 Homestead (11-1). Talk about revenge. Here is the game that certainly builds a case for the Tigers who blew a 10-point lead to the Broncos at home in 2022 and watched them move on to the state final. This year, Jones takes the trip to south Florida and is one of the hottest teams in the state right now. They are the ultimate road warriors under the direction of veteran head coach Elijah Williams.   After finishing second last season, the Broncos lost head coach Philip Simpson who went on to the college level, but returned several players and Ronnie Thornton who took over as head coach. While winning 11 of 12 games, they have not played well the past two weeks and will have to bring the best they have against a motivated opponent.   THE PICK: Jones 27, Homestead 20   4M   No. 4 Tampa Plant (11-2) at No. 1 Miami Christopher Columbus (11-2). At first glance this is one of those games where you say that the defending state champion Explorers and head coach Dave Dunn have a huge advantage being at home. But the return of the Panthers and head coach Hank Brown has made this contest one to keep an eye on.   The two teams are similar in the fact that their defenses have dictated outcomes of games this season. This figures to be a four-quarter battle with the home team gaining a small advantage. Remember, the Explorers fell behind against Ocoee in this round a year ago.   THE PICK: Christopher Columbus 17, Pliant 16   The state semifinals got under way on Thursday night with two 1R games that send a pair of programs to Tallahassee:   Madison County 61, Panama City Bozeman 22   Hawthorne 49, Blountstown 0   STATE FINAL   No. 2 Madison County (10-1) vs. Hawthorne (12-0), December 7th – Bragg Memorial Stadium.   MORE GAMES TO WATCH   In addition to those seven contests, there are others to keep an eye on as well:   1S   No. 3 Tallahassee North Florida Christian (9-3) at No. 2 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (10-2)   No. 3 Ocala Trinity Catholic (5-7) at No. 1 Naples First Baptist Academy (9-2)   2S   No. 4 Sarasota Booker (9-4) at No. 1 Cocoa (12-1)   No. 3 Pensacola Catholic (10-2) at No. 2 Starke Bradford County (13-0)   1M   No. 3 Miami Archbishop Carroll (11-1) at No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (12-0)   2M   No. 4 Jacksonville Bolles (8-5) at No. 1 Miami Norland (13-0)   No. 3 Tampa Berkeley Prep (11-2) at No. 2 Plantation American Heritage (10-1)   3M   No. 4 Tampa Gaither (7-5) at No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1)   4M   No. 3 Jacksonville Mandarin (10-3) at No. 2 Coconut Creek Monarch (11-2)   Statewide Coverage Daily. <a>https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.

We have now reached the state semifinal round of the 2023 Florida high school football state playoffs.