FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 1A State Semifinals Preview

The FHSAA Flag Football State Championships kick off today in Tampa at the AdventHealth Training Center, the indoor practice facility of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here is a preview of each of the Class 1A state semifinal games, along with direct links to watch the games live.

No. 1 Wildwood Wildcats vs. No. 4 Somerset Canyons Cougars (Boynton Beach)

GAME TIME: 4:00 p.m. EDT

FPRI FORECAST: Wildwood 12 over Somerset Canyons

WATCH LIVE: NFHS Network

With both teams making their debut in the state semifinals, they are hungry to show they have what it takes to reach the state championship game. Forget how many fewer games the Wildcats have played compared to the Cougars, as that has certainly not been a factor against the other teams they have faced so far in the playoffs. Zoey Brown has been dominant in her freshman season with over 2,200 yards passing and 46 touchdowns, with her favorite targets proving to be Trinidy Harris (39 receptions, 506 yards, 12 TDs) and Adejah Corbin (43 receptions, 488 yards, 9 TDs). The Cougars also have a dominant quarterback in sophomore Ava Wotipka,who has thrown for 3,288 yards and 57 touchdowns. The striking difference between Brown and Wotipka this season is the number of interceptions Wotipka has thrown, 20 compared to Brown’s seven, so that will be a key stat to watch. Wotipka likes to favor freshman Avery DeMayo, who leads with 875 yards receiving, 65 receptions, and 12 touchdowns. Delanie Doty is another player to watch for Wotipka offensively, who has 18 touchdowns along with 561 yards receiving on 69 receptions. Wotipkaalso leads the team defensively with 11 interceptions, with Brooke Doty just right behind here with 10 interceptions. Simone Nangle leads the Cougars with 53 flag pulls on the season. For Wildwood, Brown is also the stats leader in interceptions, while Ranyla Jackson will be a force to watch as she comes into the game with 23 sacks on the season and leads the team in flag pulls with 39.

No. 2 Miami Edison Red Raiders vs. No. 3 Florida High Seminoles (Tallahassee)

GAME TIME: 5:30 p.m. EDT

FPRI FORECAST: Miami Edison 3 over Florida High

WATCH LIVE: NFHS Network

Miami Edison is no stranger to the state semifinals. They have been here before, having last reached the state semifinals in 2022, where they were knocked out by Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach). This marks their first trip to the state semifinals in program history for Florida High. Rakyia Louis is the name you will need to know for the Red Raiders, who have thrown for 4,705 yards and 78 touchdowns this season against just nine interceptions, making Miami Edison one of the most dominant teams in Class 1A. That alone right there could be trouble for the Seminoles to keep up with as they have primarily used a two-quarterback rotation system between Danielle White and Annelise Cardenas, who each have thrown for just over 800 yards each, with White having thrown for 18 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. What might help Florida High is that White does run the ball a lot, as she has over 1,100 yards rushing on 132 carries so far in 18 games, along with 20 touchdowns. But will it be enough to counter what Louis could for Miami Edison? Louis has two favorite targets in Poetry, Auguste and Malaysia David, who have combined for nearly 2,200 yards receiving and 39 touchdowns this season. That combination alone will keep the Seminoles on their heels as the Red Raiders also have options in the passing game. As such, Florida High will need Hannah Bowden to be at the top of her game to give Louis all the pressure and then some, as Bowden leads the Seminoles with 95 flag pulls and 47 sacks this season, while relying on White to make the necessary interceptions, who leads the team with 12. Defensively for the Red Raiders, the Seminoles might find the pressure being dialed up big time with Jennifer Burton, Armardi Danquah, and Talayah Akhdar stifling as those three players combined have racked up a whopping 67 sacks this season. Burton also leads the team with flag pulls at 95, while David leads the Red Raiders with nine interceptions.