Class 4A Regional Semifinals Preview with Predictions

Most games went the way things were supposed to have gone last week with no unexpected surprises. With the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each region joining the fold this week, the real test will be to see if any of the remaining seeds below the top seeds can pull off some upsets as the Drive to December continues.

All games are scheduled for Friday, November 16 with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff unless noted

THE ONE TO WATCH

No. 3 Glades Central (8-3) vs. No. 2 Booker T. Washington (5-5), Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
Traz Powell Stadium, Miami

This is the fourth meeting in the playoffs between Glades Central and Washington … Washington leads the series, 4-0 … Last week Glades Central easily defeated No. 6 seed Coral Springs Charter, 55-10 … Washington was on a first-round bye last week and has not played a football game in over two weeks since defeating Orlando Evans to finish the regular season … For the visiting Raiders, keep an eye on quarterback Davius Richard who has been a huge leader for the team … For the host Tornadoes, keep an eye on quarterback Torey Morrison to lead things. Prediction: Booker T. Washington 35, Glades Central 28

POLL: Who wins Thursday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 4 SEMIFINAL
No. 3 Glades Central (8-3) vs. No. 2 Booker T. Washington (5-5) at Traz Powell@GCHSRaiders @MiamiBTW_FB

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

THE REST OF THE SLATE

REGION 1

No. 4 Marianna (5-5) at No. 1 Raines (9-1)
Earl S. Kitchings Stadium, Jacksonville

Friday’s meeting will be the first between both teams … Marianna bested No. 5 seed Rutherford for the second straight week, 31-20 … Raines was on a first-round bye last week and bested neighborhood rival Ribault, 14-6 to close out the regular season in Week 11 … The visiting Bulldogs will rely Damon Rolle as he rushed for 197 yards on just 10 carries, scoring three times, all on long runs … The host Vikings will rely on a variety of key playmakers, but the one to watch for is running back Brandon Marshall who has dominated the ground game this season. Prediction: Raines 48, Marianna 10

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 1 SEMIFINAL
No. 4 Marianna (5-5) at No. 1 Raines (9-1)@RainesVikings

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

No. 3 South Walton (6-4) at No. 2 West Nassau (8-2)
Bakers Sporting Goods Stadium, Callahan

This is the first playoff meeting between the two schools … This will be West Nassau’s only third-ever home playoff game … Last week South Walton bested No. 6 seed Gadsden County, 35-12 … West Nassau was on a first-round bye last week and lost to Baldwin in a makeup game to close out the season in Week 11 … For the visiting Seahawks, keep an eye on quarterback Drake Roberts, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards this season. He threw for 285 yards and scored three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) last week … for West Nassau keep an eye on the legs of Javon Wright who has rushed for 672 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season. Prediction: West Nassau 27, South Walton 17

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 1 SEMIFINAL
No. 3 South Walton (6-4) at No. 2 West Nassau (8-2)@southwaltonHS @PhilTisa @Athletics_WNHS @WNHSwarriorFB @Rickey_1970

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

REGION 2

No. 4 P.K. Yonge (10-1) at No. 1 The Villages (10-0)
H.G. Morse Range, The Villages

This is the first meeting for between both teams in the playoffs … The Villages is seeking their second playoff win in school history … Last week, P.K. Yonge defeated No. 5 seed Bradford, 36-22 … The Villages were on a first-round bye last week after defeating The First Academy in Week 11 to finish their first undefeated regular season in school history … For the visiting Blue Wave, keep an eye on running back Pernell Sylvester who rushed for 105 yards on 22 carries and scoring three touchdowns last week … With the host Buffalo, keep an eye on the abilities of dual-threat quarterback Mac Harris as well as running back Bryce Mellado to lead the way. Prediction: The Villages 28, P.K. Yonge 20

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 2 SEMIFINAL
No. 4 P.K. Yonge (10-1) at No. 1 The Villages (10-0)@PKYFootball @waverunnerpky @pkyongedrs @PKYongeGov @MMcDonaldGOAT @VHSFootballFBT

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

No. 3 Dunnellon (6-5) at No. 2 Santa Fe (5-5)
Raider Field, Alachua

This will be the second meeting in the playoffs between Dunnellon and Santa Fe … Santa Fe won the first meeting in 2015, 15-14 … Dunnellon bested No. 6 seed South Sumter for the second time this season last week by a score of 41-13 … Santa Fe had a first-round by last week and finished the regular season in Week 11 with a loss to Buchholz … Keep an eye on players like Ja’quavion Fraziars, AJ Hamilton, Trent Townsend and Emanuel Caballero for the visiting Tigers as they are all key players for the team … For the host Raiders, keep an eye on running back Darrell Greenwood has been a force for the team this season. Prediction: Dunnellon 31, Santa Fe 24

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 2 SEMIFINAL
No. 3 Dunnellon (6-5) at No. 2 Santa Fe (5-5)@DunnellonHigh @DtownFb @JukeNJive65 @_Dark_Kent_ @SFHS_Raiders

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

REGION 3

No. 4 Astronaut (10-1) at No. 1 Cocoa (7-3)
Dick Blake Stadium, Cocoa

This will be the first meeting between the teams since 2016 regular season, but it will mark just the second meeting in the postseason between the two Brevard County rivals … Cocoa won the last playoff meeting in 2009 by a score of 29-0 … Last week Astronaut defeated No. 5 seed Avon Park easily by a score of 48-14 … Cocoa was on a first-round bye last week after closing out the regular season with a loss to Rockledge in the annual BBQ Bowl … Keep an eye on Jaiden Dollard who has been the leading rusher the visiting War Eagles, but also Javon Garvin who lead in rushing last week with 112 yards, scoring once … Watch out for DJ Arroyo who has been leading the host Tigers’ passing attack this season with over 2,300 yards passing and 21 touchdowns. Prediction: Cocoa 35, Astronaut 24

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 3 SEMIFINAL
No. 4 Astronaut (10-1) at No. 1 Cocoa (7-3)@AstronautFB @coachjpworden @ASTRO_ATHLETICS @CocoaHighSchool @CocoaFootball @Cocoa_Schneider

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

No. 3 LaBelle (8-3) at No. 2 Bishop Verot (8-2)
Viking Stadium, Fort Myers

This will be the just the second playoff meeting between the two teams since 1994 … Bishop Verot won that 1994 meeting, 30-6 that led them to the 1994 Class 3A state championship game … LaBelle defeated No. 6 seed Lake Placid 14-13 at home in a rematch of a meeting between the two teams … Bishop Verot drew a first-round bye last week and actually has not played a football game since Oct. 26 when they defeated Boca Raton St. John Paul II … The visiting Cowboys have a nice core of talent, but the one athlete to keep an eye on is Maynard Blackmon who rushed for over 100 yards last week and scoring both touchdowns in the game … With the host Vikings, watch out for running back Joslyn Mira as he rushed for over 1,000 yards in the regular season, scoring 11 times in the process. Prediction: Bishop Verot 34, LaBelle 17

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 3 SEMIFINAL
No. 3 LaBelle (8-3) at No. 2 Bishop Verot (8-2)@LaBelleCowboys @ChrisSiner @BishopVerot @Verot_AD

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

REGION 4

No. 5 Gulliver Prep (8-3) at No. 1 University School (9-1)
AutoNation Field, Davie

This will be the second playoff meeting between Gulliver Prep and University School … University School won the previous meeting in 2013, 47-7 … Last week, Gulliver Prep took down No. 4 seed Monsignor Pace in a solid ball, 27-14 … University School clinched a first-round bye last week, after finishing the regular season with a shutout loss to defending Class 3A State Champion Chaminade-Madonna … For the visiting Raiders keep an eye on the speed of running back Yulkeith Brown who rushed for 198 yards on 23 carries and scoring one touchdown last week … With the host Sharks, quarterback Nick Vattiato (1,836 yards passing, 26 touchdowns) and Kenny McIntosh (1,135 yards rushing, 16 touchdowns) will be the two players to watch in the game. Prediction: University School 45, Gulliver Prep 13

POLL: Who wins Friday night?

CLASS 4A-REGION 4 SEMIFINAL
No. 5 Gulliver Prep (8-3) at No. 1 University School (9-1)

@GulliverFB @GulliverSchools @GulliverSports @UNS_Athletics @uschoolfootball @UNCLELUQ

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) November 14, 2018

Last Week’s 4A picks record: 6 correct picks, 2 boos out of the stadium