Thanksgiving weekend football is here and there are 32 games tonight that will decide who will be playing in the 16 state semifinals next week to decide who will be a playing for a state championship in Orlando. Here is our quick preview.
All kickoff times 7:30 p.m. Eastern unless noted
CLASS 8A
Region 1
No. 3 Mandarin (8-4) at No. 1 Wekiva (11-1) – The battle of the Mustangs here in this showdown where high octane offense of the visitors meets shutdown defense of the home team. Really like the home team in this one in a game where anything could possibly happen. Prediction: Wekiva 24, Mandarin 14
Region 2
No. 4 Dr. Phillips (7-5) at No. 3 Sarasota Riverview (9-3) – We have been wrong about Dr. Phillips the last two weeks and they are hitting their peak at the right time. Riverview has been great, but they are very much beatable at this point. Prediction: Dr. Phillips 27, Riverview 20
Region 3
No. 3 Palm Beach Central (11-1) at No. 1 Deerfield Beach (11-1) – First regional final for Palm Beach Central and Deerfield Beach has managed to survive the gauntlet test of their foes of Broward County to this point with defense being a key factor. Great battle, but Bucks more experienced here. Prediction: Deerfield Beach 28, Palm Beach Central 13
Region 4
No. 6 South Dade (10-2) vs. No. 1 Columbus (12-0) at Tropical Park, 1:00 p.m. – South Dade has shown they can battle here in the regional playoffs, but now comes the test of a Columbus team that just went totally off on Miami Palmetto last week. Not sure South Dade has enough to go against the Explorers’ defense. Prediction: Columbus 35, South Dade 17
CLASS 7A
Region 1
No. 7 Edgewater (11-1) at No. 5 Robert E. Lee (10-1) – Two teams we didn’t think would get to this point, but Edgewater has taken out No. 2 Buchholz and No. 3 Lincoln along the way, while Lee has taken out No. 4 Hagerty and No. 1 Columbia for both them to get to this meeting. This has all the makings for a high scoring affair. Prediction: Robert E. Lee 45, Edgewater 42
Region 2
No. 3 Plant (11-1) at No. 1 Lakeland (12-0) – Expected matchup in the regional finals, these two teams have been each other’s nemesis over the last few years in the playoffs. Lakeland has played a tougher schedule, but through that out of the window. Whoever emerges from this game is likely to represent 7A North in Orlando two weeks from tonight. Prediction: Lakeland 27, Plant 23
Region 3
No. 6 Bloomingdale (11-1) at No. 1 Venice (11-1) – This is Bloomingdale’s first trip to the regional finals in school history while Venice is looking for another trip to the state semifinals. While the Bulls have been red hot, Venice has been even better and hasn’t lost a game since Week 1. Experience will matter here. Prediction: Venice 35, Bloomingdale 20
Region 4
No. 2 Dwyer (11-1) at No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (11-1) – Two familiar foes meet again in the playoffs, but this time it is for a trip to the state semifinals. The visiting Panthers have not played as tough of a schedule at the host Raiders, plus talent will be the noticeable difference here. Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Dwyer 21
CLASS 6A
Region 1
No. 3 Crestview (9-2) at No. 1 Navarre (11-1), 7:30 p.m. CT – Rematch of both teams from the regular season that finished with Navarre winning in overtime. Both teams have high-powered scoring offenses with defenses that can dominate as well. A high scoring affair is not out of the question in this one… and maybe another overtime game? Prediction: Navarre 38, Crestview 31
Region 2
No. 2 Armwood (11-1) at No. 1 Ocala Vanguard (12-0) – Rematch from last year’s regional final should be an exciting one. This is Vanguard’s third consecutive trip to the regional finals and each trip has had a team that could have made a run to the state championship game. Both Armwood and Vanguard are similar in terms of offense and defense, so whoever plays their best will win this. Prediction: Vanguard 28, Armwood 17
Region 3
No. 6 North Fort Myers (9-3) at No. 1 Naples (11-1) – North Fort Myers who? And this is not the strongest of the Red Knight teams to have been fielded, especially last year’s team that had gone undefeated in the regular season. However, it should be no surprise once again Naples is here at this point in the playoffs and they have battled through a lot with a couple of key players have missed time already during the playoffs. In the end, though, experience should win this one. Prediction: Naples 31, North Fort Myers 20
Region 4
No. 6 Northwestern (7-5) at No. 5 Miami Central (10-2) – Not the matchup we were expecting in Region 4, but Miami Central is peaking just at the right moment and having taken down the No. 1 overall team in the state last week, they are the top team now. Northwestern has pushed through the bracket, but with opponents that have not been as battled tested as they were. This game, however, might not be as close as some would think. Prediction: Miami Central 35, Northwestern 21
CLASS 5A
Region 1
No 6. Bolles (8-4) at No. 1 Jacksonville Trinity Christian (12-0) – For the second straight year, both of these teams will get a rematch in the playoffs after playing each other in district play in the regular season. Bolles has potentially played possum here with the regular season having taken down West Florida and Godby the past two weeks, unexpectedly on both. However, Trinity has the better roster of talent and that will be the difference here. Prediction: Trinity Christian 35, Bolles 14
Region 2
No. 3 North Marion (10-2) at No. 1 Nature Coast Tech (11-1) – A huge matchup here between the top two seeds in the region. However, when it comes to the schedule each has played, North Marion has been battled tested compared to the teams Nature Coast has played. I think that will be a big difference here in this one. Prediction: North Marion 30, Nature Coast 20
Region 3
No. 8 Jefferson (7-5) at No. 2 Jesuit (11-1) – Another rematch from the regular season on top of it being the second straight year that both teams have matched up in the playoffs. Jefferson has proven their worth so far knocking out the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds along the way, but Jesuit has been taking care of teams easily so far. Think this will be the same thing again. Prediction: Jesuit 34, Jefferson 10
Region 4
No. 5 Plantation American Heritage (10-1) at No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons (10-2) – Trouble is brewing for a possible state championship run for Cardinal Gibbons as they have lost their quarterback due to injury. With American Heritage peaking just at the right time, this will be a tough game for the Chiefs who will have to rely more on defense while the offense transitions to their future quarterback earlier than expected. Prediction: American Heritage 31, Cardinal Gibbons 17
CLASS 4A
Region 1
No. 2 West Nassau (9-2) at No. 1 Raines (10-1) – Playoff rematch from last season, but as anything goes, talent is the key difference in this game and one that the host Vikings should easily dominate here. Prediction: Raines 35, West Nassau 13
Region 2
No. 3 Dunnellon (7-5) at No. 1 The Villages (11-0) – Throw the records out here on this game. Dunnellon’s five losses have all been to very strong teams and Dunnellon has played extremely well here in the playoffs. Although The Villages has had a successful season, the scheduling difference is going to show itself here in this one. Prediction: Dunnellon 27, The Villages 14
Region 3
No. 2 Bishop Verot (9-2) at No. 1 Cocoa (8-3) – Look closely at the two teams and you will clearly see which team has played the tougher schedule. That distinction belongs to Cocoa. This game won’t be as close as some would like to think. Prediction: Cocoa 35, Bishop Verot 14
Region 4
No. 3 Glades Central (9-3) at No. 1 University School (10-1) – Rematch of both teams from Week 1, Glades Central is rolling right now after taking down playoff nemesis Booker T. Washington last week. University School struggled in the first half last week against Gulliver Prep before pulling away in the second half. They can’t afford this week to get behind. Prediction: University School 30, Glades Central 27
CLASS 3A
Region 1
No. 6 Taylor County (7-5) at No. 1 Florida High (7-3) – Taylor County has proven that their schedule was no fluke going 5-5 in the regular season as they have taken care of business in the first two rounds. With Florida High struggling last week, a Taylor County win with this game would not be the biggest surprise of the week. Prediction: Florida High 27, Taylor County 24
Region 2
No. 2 The First Academy (9-1) at No. 1 King’s Academy (10-1) – One of these two teams will be closer to reaching their first state championship game in school history, but if you start to break down the schedule played between both teams this season, King’s Academy has clearly played the better schedule and is way more battled tested to this point over First Academy in this matchup. Prediction: King’s Academy 28, The First Academy 20
Region 3
#2-Berkeley Prep (7-3) at #1-Clearwater Central Catholic (11-0) – A regular season rematch both teams, but if anything is clear, CCC has been much more dominant of a team in their games this season than Berkeley Prep has. This has the makings of being a good game but could also go the other way as well. Prediction: CCC 34, Berkeley Prep 14
Region 4
No. 3 Delray American Heritage (9-3) at No. 1 Chaminade-Madonna (9-2) – Here is a matchup we thought was possible early on the playoffs, but are the visiting Stallions ready for the talent matchup that the host Lions bring? That is the biggest question and it might prove to the biggest challenge of the season for the visiting team. Prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 33, American Heritage 15
CLASS 2A
Region 1
No. 3 University Christian (7-4) at No. 1 North Florida Christian (6-4) – Thinking here with this game is that the strength of schedule is going to come into play here and I think that play well into the visiting Fighting Christians’ hands over the host Eagles in this one. Prediction: University Christian 38, North Florida Christian 24
Region 2
No. 2 Foundation Academy (9-2) at No. 1 Victory Christian (10-1) at Victory Field, Southeast University, 7:00 p.m. – This is going to be an interesting matchup given both teams a few years back used to be in the same district. Foundation Academy has certainly improved and will give Victory Christian a test, but will it be enough? Prediction: Victory Christian 28, Foundation Academy 20
Region 3
No. 2 Seffner Christian (11-0) at No. 1 Admiral Farragut (9-1) – Seffner Christian has had their best season to date, but Admiral Farragut is showing that their current team is much better than the 2011 team that reached the state championship game. The question here is who wants this game more? Prediction: Admiral Farragut 31, Seffner Christian 27
Region 4
No. 5 Champagnat (6-5) at No. 2 Naples St. John Neumann (10-1) – Champagnat gets another playoff rematch from last season against St. John Neumann and we have always felt Champagnat was the best team in Region 4 despite being a No. 5 seed. If you look at the schedules both teams have played, you will clearly see the visiting Lions have prepared for this over the host Celtics. Prediction: Champagnat 28, St. John Neumann 17
CLASS 1A
Region 1
No. 2 Vernon (8-2) at No. 1 Baker (10-0), 7:30 p.m. CT – Another rematch from the regular season, Vernon has improved along the way since their loss to Baker earlier in the season, even with a hurricane trying to upend things. Baker has been dominated in almost all of their games this year, but this will be their first real challenge. Should be a close game. Prediction: Baker 31, Vernon 24
Region 2
No. 3 Jefferson County (7-4) at No. 1 Port St. Joe (10-0) – A solid matchup here of two teams that always schedule tough each year. However, the perseverance of Port St. Joe through some of the most difficult times has this team potentially on a special run. Could be an interesting game here in Gulf County. Prediction: Port St. Joe 35, Jefferson County 20
Region 3
No. 2 Chiefland (10-1) at No. 1 Madison County (10-1) – Chiefland has had a special season, but this is going to be the toughest test of the season against a Madison County program that has played up in every single game this season except one. That is the biggest difference between the two teams and that is going to play the biggest role in the game. Prediction: Madison County 42, Chiefland 17
Region 4
No. 2 Pahokee (6-5) at No. 1 Hawthorne (11-0) – It has been a special season for Hawthorne and with a roster that is loaded with talent, this matchup will be a good one to watch against a Pahokee program that is always full of talent. However, with the visiting Blue Devils having to make the long road trip to Alachua County, this could be an issue, especially if they are down a couple of players. Prediction: Hawthorne 35, Pahokee 20
