FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 3A 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 3A state semifinal games, along with direct links to watch the games live.

No. 1 Seminole Ridge Hawks (Westlake) vs. No. 4 East Bay Indians (Gibsonton)

GAME TIME: 7:00 p.m. EDT

FPRI FORECAST: Seminole Ridge 8 over East Bay

WATCH LIVE: NFHS Network

The Hawks are back in the final four for the first time since 2023 and could be the favorite to win their first state championship since they last won a state championship in Class 2A in 2016. Seminole Ridge is led by Aubrey Fogel, who has thrown for over 4,200 yards this season with 60 touchdowns against just 13 interceptions. With the Hawks being pass-heavy, expect very little running with the team only having 164 yards rushing on the season and three rushing touchdowns. That is compared to East Bay, which is making its first trip to the state semifinals in program history, where the team has combined 925 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns on the ground. The Indians have mixed it up with a two-quarterback system this season, with Nyashia Edwards and Victoria Whitfield, both sophomores, who have accounted for most of the Indians’ 3,600 yards passing. Edwards and Whitfield accounted for 62 of the Indians’ 63 passing touchdowns this season. Seminole Ridge will spread the ball around passing, with Lola Agosto (953 receiving yards, 20 TDs) and Dakota Parks (913 receiving yards, 12 TDs) being Fogel’s favorite targets. That will compare with East Bay, which has seen Jazalyn Baluja emerge as the favorite receiving target with 1,331 yards receiving and 26 touchdowns this season. Defensively, Fogel will have to keep an eye on where Jayla Jackson is on the field for the Indians as she has been a ball hawk with 15 interceptions, while Baluja has led the team with 57 flag pulls while recording 10 sacks. Chachi Saunders leads the Hawks with 16 interceptions and will undoubtedly be one of the defensive players that the Indians will have to watch, along with Lily Von-Purkyne, who leads the Hawks with 21 sacks.

No. 2 Homestead Broncos vs. No. 3 Chiles Timberwolves (Tallahassee)

GAME TIME: 8:30 p.m. EDT

FPRI FORECAST: Homestead 6 over Chiles

WATCH LIVE: NFHS Network

Both Homestead and Chiles are in the final four for the first time in program history, and they will be looking to emerge to play for a state championship for the first time. The Broncos are led by quarterback Jerniyah Fowles, who has thrown for over 4,400 yards this season with 47 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. That is compared to the Timberwolves’ counterpart, freshman Kendall Sadberry, who has taken most of the snaps this season, throwing for 1560 yards and 30 touchdowns. However, Sadberry likes to run with the ball as well, which has helped keep opposing defenses on their feet as Sadberry has rushed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season. You will find Homestead will run the ball some with Zakieria Cobb leading the stats in rushing with 561 yards and six touchdowns, but also don’t be surprised that Fowles keeps the ball herself, who has rushed for 326 yards and four touchdowns this season. Fowles’ favorite target for the Broncos is Caitylyn Gibson, who has 82 catches for 1,112 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, with Cobb and Kiani Graham also top targets who have a combined 17 touchdowns as well this season. With Chiles not being a pass-heavy team, Charlotte Reynolds led the Timberwolves with 434 yards receiving, 46 receptions, and 11 touchdowns. However, where Chiles makes the most of each game is defense, and that is where you will have to keep an eye on Ali Harllee, who has racked up 31 sacks this season, along with 50 quarterback hurries and 51 flag pulls. Sophomore Francesca Fernandes leads Chiles with 83 flag pulls, while another sophomore, Lainey Crisafulli, leads Chiles with 11 interceptions. All the defense for Chiles contrasts with Homestead’s defense, which has not recorded a lot of sacks or interceptions this season, with Graham leading with five interceptions, while Cambria Smith leads the Broncos with six sacks.