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Class 4A doesn’t feature as many respectable matchups, but we found at least three that should fit the billing for some quality action in the playoffs. Here are our previews and predictions for the Class 4A Regional Semifinals.
THREE BEST
REGION 2
NO. 3 TRENTON AT NO. 2 DUNNELLON
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Tiger Stadium, Dunnellon
Records: Trenton, 8-2; Dunnellon 7-2
Rankings: Trenton unranked in AP Poll & Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings; Dunnellon received votes in the AP Poll, unranked in Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings
Last Playoff Appearance: Trenton, 2016; Dunnellon 2016
Quick Hits: This will be the first meeting between Trenton and Dunnellon since 1975, according to Florida high school football historian, Richard Burton … Trenton, a team originally to be in Class 1A this season was moved up to Class 4A earlier this year after the school was placed on probation for alleged recruiting allegations … Head coach Lyle Wilkerson is in his first year as head coach, but is no stranger to Trenton’s winning ways as having served as defensive coordinator for their state championship winning teams in 2013 and 2015 … Expect the Tigers to pound the ball on the ground with senior running backs Eric Henry (1,390 yards, 128 carries) and Randy Fuller (1,022 yards, 125 carries) to lead the way. Both have combined for 22 touchdowns on the ground this season … For Dunnellon, keep an eye on sophomore quarterback Javon Lee to make plays for the home team, while Jaquavion Fraziers should be able to give visiting Trenton fits on the defensive side of the ball.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Dunnellon by 21
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: Dunnellon 38, Trenton 24
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: For all things playoffs, including scores and brackets, checkout PLAYOFF CENTRAL!
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 2 Semifinal
No. 2 @DTownFball (7-2)
No. 3 @Trenton_Tigers_ (8-2)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
REGION 4
NO. 4 GLADES CENTRAL AT NO. 1 UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: AutoNation Field, Davie
Records: Glades Central, 6-3; University School, 7-1
Rankings: Glades Central ranked No. 4 in AP Poll, unranked in Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings; University School ranked No. 3 in AP Poll and Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings
Last Playoff Appearance: Glades Central: 2016; University School: 2015
Quick Hits: A rematch of the regular season between these two programs. University School won the first meeting back in Week 1 by a score of 13-7 … Glades Central is led by Jessie Hester who is seeking to get the school back in state championship form, as their last appearance in a state championship game came in 2010 under Hester … The visiting Raiders lost last week’s Muck Bowl game against Pahokee in overtime … University School returns to the playoffs after missing out last season with a 7-3 record … Players to keep an eye on for the host Sharks include senior quarterback George Bubrick and junior running back Kenny McIntosh.
Joe Pinkos Forecast: University School by 13
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: University School 17, Glades Central 10
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 4 Semifinal
No. 1 @uschoolfootball (7-1)
No. 4 @GCHSRaiders (6-3)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
NO. 3 KEY WEST AT NO. 2 MONSIGNOR PACE
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Jones Field, Miami Gardens
Records: Key West, 8-1; Monsignor Pace, 7-1
Rankings: Key West unranked in AP Poll and Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings; Monsignor Pace ranked No. 5 in AP Poll, unranked in Joe Pinkos’ Power Rankings
Last Playoff Appearance: Key West: 2004; Monsignor Pace: 2010
Quick Hits: For everything that Hurricane Irma did to the Florida Keys and Key West, this is the success story of 2017 … The visiting Conchs missed three weeks of football thanks to Hurricane Irma and things still have not fully recovered in Key West, However, the perseverance of the team that still has several players living in hotels while two other players never returned after being forced to move due to the damage, the Conchs pulled off a 6-1 record since coming back to play their first game in 32 days on October 3 against Immaculata – La Salle … Keep an eye on senior dual-threat quarterback Alvin Howard as well as junior running back Alonzo Ridgeway and senior running back Kolby Kelleher for the visiting Conchs … For the host, Spartans keep an eye on junior quarterback Lorenzo Floyd and junior running back Tyrone Douglas Jr. to lead the way on the field … Key West has not won a playoff game since 1995 when they defeated Oakland Park Northeast 16-10 at home.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Monsignor Pace by 7
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: Key West 24, Monsignor Pace 17
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 4 Semifinal
No. 2 @PaceSpartans (7-1)
No. 3 @ConchsFootball (7-1)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
OTHER CLASS 4A PLAYOFF GAMES
Region 1
No. 4 North Bay Haven (5-4) at No. 1 Raines (9-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Earl S. Kitchings Stadium, Jacksonville —A lot of people are wondering if North Bay Haven might have a chance in this one and we feel this might not be the case. However, congratulation to the Buccaneers on reaching the playoffs for the first in school history. Expect the host Vikings to dominate this game in easy fashion as the roster sizes between both programs are going to be noticeable. Raines is currently ranked in the Top 25 in the state and No. 2 in Class 4A, according to Joe Pinkos’, while being ranked No. 2 in the final AP Poll.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Raines by 76
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: Raines 63, North Bay Haven 7
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 1 Semifinal
No. 1 @RainesVikings (9-1)
No. 4 @NBH_football (5-4)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
No. 3 Marianna (5-4) at No. 2 West Nassau (8-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Warrior Field, Callahan — This could be a matchup toss up here as both teams are have played similar like schedules this year. This is the first home playoff game for West Nassau since 1978, but it is the first playoff appearance since 2012, while this is Marianna’s first trip to the playoffs since 2008. West Nassau received votes in the final AP Poll of the regular season.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: West Nassau by 3
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: West Nassau 28, Marianna 24
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 1 Semifinal
No. 2 @Athletics_WNHS (8-1)
No. 3 @_MHS_Athletics (5-4)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
Region 2
No. 4 Keystone Heights (4-5) at No. 1 Bradford (8-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at David Hurst Stadium, Starke — The visiting Indians snuck into the playoff by one tenth of a point higher than The Villages, but get the unlucky draw of having to go visit rival Bradford in their first playoff berth since losing to Bolles at home in 2013. The host Tornadoes defeated Keystone Heights earlier in the season, 33-0. Bradford is currently ranked No. 5 in Joe Pinkos’ Class 4A Power Rankings.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Bradford by 42
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: Bradford 42, Keystone Heights 3
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Looking for information regarding state championship games? Go to PLAYOFF CENTRAL to learn more!
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 2 Semifinal
No. 1 @BHSTornadoFB (8-1)
No. 4 #KeystoneHeights (4-5)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
Region 3
No. 4 Lake Placid (3-4) at No. 1 Cocoa, Thursday, 7:00 p.m. at Tiger Stadium, Cocoa — The visiting Green Dragosn are in the playoff for the first time since 1998, but they do not draw a favorable matchup as they will head to Class 4A power Cocoa for a Thursday night tilt. Cocoa is currently ranked in The Top 5 in Joe Pinkos’ Top 25 Power Rankings while being ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by both Joe Pinkos and the final AP Poll.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Cocoa 62 over Lake Placid
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: Cocoa 55, Lake Placid 0
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 3 Semifinal
No. 1 @CocoaHighSchool (8-1)
No. 4 #LakePlacid (3-4)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
No. 3 Lake Highland Prep (6-3) at No. 2 Avon Park (6-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Joe Franza Stadium, Avon Park — Both teams will finally meet for the first time this season after their scheduled regular season contest was wiped off the books by Hurricane Irma. This game has a chance to be competitive both teams, but whoever wins this game will likely face a trip to Cocoa next week. This is the visiting Highlanders first trip to the playoffs since 2011.
Joe Pinkos’ Forecast: Avon Park by 1
FloridaHSFootball.com Prediction: Avon Park 28, Lake Highland Prep 27
PREDICT THE WINNER
Class 4A-Region 3 Semifinal
No. 2 #AvonPark (6-1)
No. 3 @LHPS_football (6-3)#flhsfb— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 8, 2017
