As the playoffs get ready to start this week, here is Publisher Joshua Wilson’s projected bracket for Class 5A.
This could be the easiest bracket to project of all the classifications. Looking at Class 5A North, arguably Rickards and Baker County could have the best paths to get to Orlando. However, to be honest it is wide open as to who will really emerge from the North. Looking at the South, it looks like it could be no contest here as American Heritage stands out from the rest of the teams. Pretty easy to say it no matter who comes from the North, they are going to find it tough to get past American Heritage. For this, I take Baker County to get to Orlando, but ultimately seeing American Heritage winning it all.
Home team in bold italic / Bracket scrollable in mobile view
| REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL |
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL |
REGIONAL FINAL |
STATE SEMIFINAL |
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP |
|
| R2 | Wakulla | ||||
| West Florida | |||||
| W1 | West Florida | ||||
| Rickards | |||||
| R1 | Bay | ||||
| Rickards | |||||
| W2 | Rickards | ||||
| REGION I | Rickards | ||||
| R4 | Bishop Kenny | ||||
| Ribault | |||||
| W3 | Ribault | ||||
| Ribault | |||||
| R3 | Yulee | ||||
| Ponte Vedra | |||||
| W4 | Ponte Vedra | ||||
| Baker County | |||||
| R6 | Belleview | ||||
| Baker County | |||||
| W5 | Baker County | ||||
| Baker County | |||||
| R5 | Clay | ||||
| Clay | |||||
| W6 | North Marion | ||||
| REGION II | Baker County | ||||
| R8 | Zephyrhills | ||||
| Nature Coast | |||||
| W7 | Nature Coast | ||||
| Nature Coast | |||||
| R7 | Crystal River | ||||
| River Ridge | |||||
| W8 | River Ridge | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| R10 | Jefferson | ||||
| Jefferson | |||||
| W9 | Lakewood | ||||
| Jesuit | |||||
| R9 | Gibbs | ||||
| Jesuit | |||||
| W10 | Jesuit | ||||
| REGION III | Jesuit | ||||
| R12 | Immokalee | ||||
| Hardee | |||||
| W11 | Hardee | ||||
| Dunbar | |||||
| R11 | Southeast | ||||
| Dunbar | |||||
| W12 | Dunbar | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| R14 | Merritt Island | ||||
| Bishop Moore | |||||
| W13 | Bishop Moore | ||||
| Palm Bay | |||||
| R13 | Eustis | ||||
| Palm Bay | |||||
| W14 | Palm Bay | ||||
| REGION IV | American Heritage | ||||
| R16 | Cardinal Gibbons | ||||
| Cardinal Gibbons | |||||
| W15 | Suncoast | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| R15 | Fort Pierce Westwood | ||||
| American Heritage | |||||
| W16 | American Heritage (Plantation) | ||||
![Matt Adams is stepping down as head coach after eight years at Pensacola Catholic. [Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Catholic High School]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9290-120x86.jpeg)
![Adam Gore (left) is stepping down at Chiefland after his third stint. Cliff Harrell (right) will be taking over as head coach of the Indians in 2025 [@ChieflandFtbal/X & @CliffHarrell11/X]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chiefland-Coaching-Change-120x86.jpg)
![Miami Northwestern Head Coach Teddy Bridgewater and QB Leon Strawder huddle up the rest of the Bulls offense during a time out during the recent 2024 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship. Strawder was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship Game on Sat. Dec. 14, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-3A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
![Winston Watkins Jr. (right) of Venice was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 7A State Championship Game on Sat. Dec. 14, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-7A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
![RB Byron Louis of American Heritage (Plantation) was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 4A State Championship Game on Fri. Dec. 13, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-4A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
![QB Mason Mallory was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 6A State Championship Game on Fri. Dec. 13, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-6A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
