JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Six Jacksonville-area teams advanced to the third round of the playoffs with victories Friday night. Oakleaf, Ed White, Bishop Kenny and Bolles came out on top in all-area showdowns, First Coast won at home, and Trinity Christian secured a road win.
Class 8A
First Coast 56, Lake Mary 35: Senior quarterback Deandre Johnson threw for five touchdowns and scored another on the ground to send First Coast into the regional final against Apopka. DJ Matthews and Tristan Payton caught two touchdowns each from Johnson, and Kevin Stepherson caught one touchdown and scored on a 68-yard kick return. Tionte Arthur returned a fumble 31 yards for a score for the Buccaneers, who will host Apopka next Friday.
Class 7A
Oakleaf 28, Fletcher 14: The Knights rebounded from a two-touchdown deficit to advance to the regional final against Niceville. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson threw two touchdowns -- a 43-yarder to Marcus Johnson and a 30-yarder to Rontrez Morgan -- and Desmon George (11 yards) and Keylan Brown (35 yards) scored on the ground for Oakleaf. The Knights will play at home next Friday. The Senators jumped ahead early when Crisjohn Roscoe caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Alec Adamec and Matt Henderson scored on a 72-yard run. But Oakleaf's defense shut down the Senators after that.
Class 6A
White 26, St. Augustine 14: Javaris Davis' speed propelled the Commanders into a regional final match-up with Choctawhatchee. Davis broke free on scoring runs from 86 and 60 yards to push White ahead 18-7 in the second quarter. He later scored from 8 yards out to ice the win with minutes to play. Brent McGlashon also scored for White, which will travel to Choctawhatchee next Friday. Patrick Stewart scored on a 30-yard run, and Cole Northrup threw an 18-yard TD pass to Larry Woodard, but it wasn't enough for the Yellow Jackets.
Class 5A
Bishop Kenny 34, Clay 26: The Crusaders took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. They'll host Tallahassee Godby next Friday in the regional final. Anthony Farmand caught two touchdown passes (9 yards, 45 yards) from Jackson Bradley, and Charles Wade scored three TDs for Bishop Kenny -- two rushing and one on a 49-yard interception return. JT Turner threw two TD passes (62 yards, 48 yards) and scored two more on the ground for Clay.
Class 4A
Bolles 20, Raines 13: Senior quarterback Joe Edden scored the go-ahead touchdown in a back-and-forth game to secure the Bulldogs a spot in the state semifinals. Christian Bermudez scored on a 5-yard run, and Bryce Newman returned an interception 50 yards for a score for Bolles, which will travel to Madison County next Friday. Alex Rutledge rushed for a touchdown and Ronald Patterson connected on two field goals (27 yards, 28 yards) for Raines.
Class 3A
Trinity Christian 20, Trinity Catholic 10: Senior Chris Barr had a pick-6 on the final play of the game to seal the win for the Conquerors. Trinity Christian will play host to Lakeland Christian in the state semifinals next Friday. Rasheed Martin scored on a 5-yard run for the Conquerors, and Shaun Wade caught a 38-yard TD pass from Billy Cobb.
Class 2A
North Florida Christian 44, University Christian 27: The Christians' rally from a 44-13 deficit fell short against NFC, which advances to the state semifinals against Lakeland Victory Christian Academy. Juniors Hussein Howe Jr. and Ke'Shan Pennamon scored two touchdowns each for University Christian. Pennamon scored on a 67-yard fumble return and a 26-yard run.
Class 1A
Dixie County 50, Union County 37: The Tigers came out on the wrong end of a shootout that sent Dixie County into a state semifinal match-up with Hamilton County. The Bears did not attempt a pass. Union County rebounded from a three-touchdown deficit with two TD passes from senior quarterback Caleb Cox, but the rally fell short.