FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 1A regional quarterfinals preview

The FHSAA Flag Football State Series kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) around the state with regional quarterfinals in all four classifications. Here is a look at Class 1A with our regional quarterfinals preview with five games to watch, statistical leaders in six different categories, SOS rankings, and FPRI Game Forecast:

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH

REGION 1

No. 4 Santa Fe (Alachua) (10-2) at No. 5 Suwannee (Live Oak) (10-7)

FPRI Forecast: Santa Fe 11 over Suwannee

This could be a very interesting, low scoring affair as Suwannee relied mostly on it defense to carry it to another district title, while Santa Fe came up in heartbreak against Bradford (Starke) for the District 1A-4 championship last week. This is also a rematch from the regular season that saw Santa Fe slip by with a 6-0 victory over Suwannee at home late last month. When talking about the host Bulldogs and how they have used mostly defense to carry the team, we must look at the stats and see Jessica Tran averaging nearly 110 yards per game and only averaging 81 passing yards per game. That right there is a low in comparison when looking at the visiting Raiders where Brooke Zeller is averaging over 223 yards per game. However, what could be the biggest thorn in the side for Suwannee? Raniliah Smith, who is averaging nearly four sacks per game and is most certainly going to cause havoc in this game. According to The Florida Power Rankings Index, Santa Fe ranks 201st in strength of schedule with an SOS rating of 1.614 and that is compared to Suwannee’s with is ranked 229th overall with a rating of 1.595.

REGION 2

No. 5 Gibbs (St. Petersburg) (8-6) at No. 4 Dunedin (14-4)

FPRI Forecast: Dunedin 1 over Gibbs

An interesting 4 vs. 5 matchup here in Region 2 with two Pinellas County teams going at it here in a rematch from the regular season that saw Dunedin squeak out a win at home over Gibbs 6-0. Interesting enough when you look at the statistics between both teams, Gibbs is one team that you would look at and think go wow that they should easily win this matchup given the fact that the comparison of the quarterbacks is where we can zero in on. Brianna Haugabook for the visiting Gladiators averages nearly 150 yards per game and that is compared to the host Falcons’ quarterback, Erionna Henry, who is averaging 99 yards per game. That right there says a big difference. However, Dunedin has won games this season has not been on offense, but defense as they are averaging almost two sacks and an interception per game which can be huge. According to The Florida Power Rankings Index, Gibbs is tied for the 160th best strength of schedule in the state with an SOS rating of 1.632 while Dunedin ranks 271st with an SOS rating of 1.576.

No. 6 The Villages (7-8) at No. 3 Keswick Christian (10-2), 6

FPRI Forecast: Keswick Christian 27 over The Villages

This game might look like a blowout based on the forecast, but could it be much closer? That depends on what information you look at and first we look at what The Florida Power Rankings Index says on strength of schedule. For the host Crusaders, they ranked 191st entering the playoffs on SOS with a ranking of 1.620 while the visiting Buffalo ranked tied 251st with an SOS ranking of 1.585. When we dive deeper though, this is where it could end up one-sided in favor of Keswick Christian as quarterback Robyn Cantwell lead the team in averaging almost 219 yards per game. That is compared to Ameila O’Brien who is averaging just nearly 132 yards per game for The Villages. In order for the Buffalo to advance or even just have chance in this one, keeping Cantwell away from the end zone will be a must as she leads the team in scoring with an average of 8.5 points per game.

REGION 3

No. 3 Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) (12-4) at No. 6 John Carroll (Fort Pierce) (8-6), 6

FPRI Forecast: Oxbridge Academy 5 over John Carroll

Another 3 vs. 6 matchup that could really swing either way with the ThunderWolves pulling off a big road victory over Gateway Charter (Fort Myers) before coming up short against Somerset Canyons (Boynton Beach) for a district championship that pushed them into a high ranking for the playoffs. As such, The Florida Power Rankings Index tells us that both teams are very similar in the way their schedules played out in 2025 with Oxbridge Academy ranking with the 278th with an SOS of 1.572 while John Carroll ranked 306th with a ranking of 1.562. While John Carroll has no reported statistics, we can look at Oxbridge’s Liani Gil who has been averaging over 230 yards passing per game and 270 total years per game, making her a big threat against the Golden Rams’ abilities to keep her at bay.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We wrote this preview in preparation for the game when we found out that game had to be forfeited, and we considered replacing it with a different game. However, in respect of the teams and the fact the situation is beyond the athletes’ control, we leaving this preview intact.

REGION 4

No. 5 Pinecrest Glades (Miami) (12-3) at No. 4 Monsignor Pace (Miami) (7-7)

FPRI Forecast: Monsignor Pace 15 over Pinecrest Glades

Do not let the record fool you on Monsignor Pace as they have played a much tougher schedule through the season that clinched them a District Championship. According to The Florida Power Rankings Index, Monsignor Pace ranks 69th overall in strength of schedule with an SOS rating of 1.697. That is compared to Pinecrest Glades – who is in the playoffs for the first time – with a rating of 1.477, ranking 401st among teams across the state. While there are no stats for Pinecrest Glades, you can keep an eye on Imani Davis for the Spartans who is averaging nearly 200 yards per game including nearly 143 yards passing per game. Davis is also the team’s leading scorer, averaging nearly 7 points per game. If the visiting Dragons want to win this one, shutting down Davis is going to be the key early in the game.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Here is a look at the top five statistical leaders in six different categories from the teams that are in the playoffs.

PASSING

Rakyia Louis, Miami Edison – 238-of-326, 3,401 yards, 56 TDs, 5 INTs

Arnayshia Griffin, Bradford (Starke) – 208-of-346, 3,000 yards, 33 TDs, 5 INTs

Ava Kopp, Tampa Catholic – 271-of-485, 2,879 yards, 38 TDs, 15 INTs

Amanda Kaplan, Posnack (Davie) – 305-of-473, 2,748 yards, 43 TDs, 9 INTs

Ava Wotipka, Somerset Canyons (Boynton Beach) – 266-of-409, 2,627 yards, 47 TDs, 17 INTs

RUSHING

Alee Horton, Keystone Heights – 116 carries, 1,109 yards, 8 TDs

Danielle White, Florida High (Tallahassee) – 113 carries, 993 yards, 17 TDs

Robyn Cantwell, Keswick Christian (St. Petersburg) – 124 carries, 767 yards, 13 TDs

Ava Wotipka, Somerset Canyons (Boynton Beach) – 89 carries, 717 yards, 6 TDs

Imani Davis, Monsignor Pace – 138 carries, 648 yards, 10 TDs

RECEIVING

Nichelle Brown, Bradford (Starke) – 118 receptions, 2,096 yards, 31 TDs

Riley Shuford, Keystone Heights – 51 receptions, 1,281 yards, 12 TDs

Izzy Rein, Tampa Catholic – 78 receptions, 1,121 yards, 15 TDs

Emily Tabak, Posnack (Davie) – 107 receptions, 963 yards, 20 TDs

Poetry Auguste, Miami Edison – 66 receptions, 855 yards, 15 TDs

FLAG PULLS

Niki Pantelis, Tarpon Springs – 134

Aniyamarie Gray, Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) – 125

Brooke Zeller, Santa Fe (Alachua) – 111

Bella Diaz, Palm Glades Prep (Miami) – 86

Nat Williams, Santa Fe (Alachua) – 84

SACKS

Ranilah Smith, Santa Fe (Alachua) – 42

Hannah Bowden, Florida High (Tallahassee) – 39

Emmorie Barnes, Dunedin – 38

Nat Williams, Santa Fe (Alachua) – 37

Lila Chang, Ransom Everglades (Miami) – 23

INTERCEPTIONS

Arnayshia Griffin, Bradford (Starke) – 20

Samantha Dobson, Tampa Catholic – 14

Adriana Carvalho, Ransom Everglades (Miami) – 13

Erionna Henry, Dunedin – 12

Myleigh Ogelsby, Dunedin – 11

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE RANKINGS

Top 10 teams based on Strength of Schedule among Class 1A playoff teams, according to The Florida Power Rankings Index

1. SLAM (Miami) – 1.720

2. Wildwood – 1.711

3. University Christian (Jacksonville) – 1.708

4. Tampa Catholic – 1.706

5. Bradford (Starke) – 1.702

6. Monsignor Pace (Miami) – 1.697

7. Florida High (Tallahassee) – 1.681

T8. Miami Edison – 1.679

T8. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) – 1.679

10. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) – 1.672

The 10 lowest rated teams based on Strength of Schedule among Class 1A playoff teams, according to The Florida Power Rankings Index

1. Classical Prep (Shady Hills) – 1.472

2. Pinecrest Glades (Miami) – 1.477

3. Palm Glades Prep (Miami) – 1.503

4. Atlantic (Port Orange) – 1.551

5. Keys Gate (Homestead) – 1.554

6. John Carroll (Fort Pierce) – 1.562

7. Newberry – 1.565

8. Coral Springs Charter – 1.567

9. Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) – 1.572

10. Dunedin – 1.576

FLORIDA POWER RANKINGS INDEX FORECAST

Remaining games not previewed

REGION 1

No. 8 Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (8-9) at No. 1 Florida High (Tallahassee) (12-3) Florida High 31 over Andrew Jackson

No. 6 Keystone Heights (9-8) at No. 3 Bradford (Starke) (12-2), 6 Bradford 34 over Keystone Heights

No. 7 Newberry (5-5) at No. 2 University Christian (Jacksonville) (9-0), 6 University Christian 39 over Newberry

REGION 2

No. 8 Tarpon Springs (10-8) at No. 1 Wildwood (9-0) Wildwood 41 over Tarpon Springs

No. 7 Classical Prep (Shady Hills) (10-5) at No. 2 Tampa Catholic (12-5) Tampa Catholic 40 over Classical Prep

REGION 3

No. 8 Atlantic (Port Orange) (10-7) at No. 1 Somerset Canyons (Boynton Beach) (13-3) Somerset Canyons 36 over Atlantice

No. 5 Gateway Charter (Fort Myers) (8-2) at No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (9-5) Chaminade-Madonna 23 over Gateway Charter

No. 7 Coral Springs Charter (6-4) at No. 2 Posnack (Davie) (13-2), 3 Posnack 20 over Coral Springs Charter

REGION 4

No. 8 Keys Gate (Homestead) (7-6) at No. 1 Miami Edison (14-1), 3 Miami Edison 44 over Keys Gate

No. 6 Ransom Everglades (Miami) (9-3) at No. 3 True North (Miami) (10-7), 4 True North 23 over Ransom Everglades

No. 7 Palm Glades Prep (Miami) (11-4) vs. No. 2 SLAM (Miami) (10-3) at Moore Park, 3 SLAM 34 over Palm Glades Prep

FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 1A regional quarterfinals preview

Five games to watch, top statistical leaders for playoff teams and forecasts in this Class 1A playoff preview

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Five games to watch, top statistical leaders for playoff teams and forecasts in this Class 1A playoff preview

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