JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The high school playoffs kick off this week around the state. News4JAX breaks down first-round games in Classes 4A through 7A here. For previews of games in Classes 1A-3A, find those here.
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Regional quarterfinal playoffs
All games Friday, Nov. 14
Region 1-7A
(8) Creekside (4-6) at (1) DeLand (10-0)
Winner gets: (5) Winter Park (6-4) or (4) Boone (9-1) in regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Knights have won back-to-back district championships for the first time in program history. The reward this year is a brutal trek to face the unbeaten Bulldogs. Creekside’s last foray into this region during the regular season was a clash against Winter Park that was closer than the final 45-29 score indicated. The Knights have an excellent two-way star in Class 7A District 1 player of the year Jaxon Earle. He’s better than his stats indicate, and he’s a leader on both sides of the ball. The Knights need to drag this into a slowdown game and not a track meet. DeLand has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Taihj Moore and Marceles Carey and averaged 46.7 points per game in the regular season.
Region 1-6A
(5) Oakleaf (8-2) at (4) Nease (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: (8) Oviedo (8-2) or (1) Buchholz (9-1) in regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: A rematch of a second-round game last year, won handily by the Knights (31-14) en route to the regional finals. They ended Nease’s perfect season in the process. Will things be different this time around? The Panthers have been strong on defense, allowing just 124 points this season and racking up three straight shutouts. The LBs are the heartbeat of the team. Kru Casey and Jacob Curry have combined for 204 tackles and 55 for loss and 30 sacks. Casey has been a menace, with 19 of those sacks his. Kyle Hurtado and Noah Hodge should surpass the 100-tackle mark in this game. The offense has been solid, too. RB Enrique Ordonez (830 rushing yards, 4 TDs) could crack the 1,000-yard mark. QB Aiden Phifer has passed for 1,705 yards and 18 TDs, WR Brayden Felder has a team-best 701 receiving yards and eight TDs followed by Chase Phifer with seven TD catches. … The Knights have followed their run to the third round of the playoffs last year with a solid encore. QB Jack McKissock has passed for 1,978 yards and 15 TDs and RB Fareed Coleman is up to 1,212 yards and 11 TDs. WR Trace Burney (767 receiving yards, 6 TDs) has been McKissock’s favorite target. The Knights can play defense, too. DL Mason Thomas has 12 sacks and LB Jermaine Robinson has a team-best 122 tackles.
(7) Crestview (6-3) at (2) Mandarin (9-1), 6:30 p.m.
Winner gets: (6) Orlando Evans (8-2) or (3) Pace (9-1) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Mustangs have gotten better by the week, headlined by their Week 11 tough win at previously undefeated St. Augustine. Mandarin is getting major contributions from all over. WR Tian Wyche has developed into a gamebreaker alongside Brysen Wright. Wyche has a team-best 10 TD grabs and has made defenses pay for trying to focus too much on Wright. Meanwhile, Wright is one of a handful of Mandarin players who is shining on both sides of the ball. He’s got 867 receiving yards and seven TDs, three pick-sixes and two punt returns for scores. RBs Shaunqueze Foster and Kyree Wilson have combined for 15 TDs and 1,480 yards on the ground. DB Brody Jennings is having his best season (4 INTs). LB Izzy Ratliff (73 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 3 sacks) and DL Kindrid Outland (43 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 16.5 for loss) are wreckers. Mandarin was good last year, but the Mustangs have been superb this season.
Region 1-5A
(8) Niceville (6-4) at (1) Ponte Vedra (8-2)
Winner gets: (5) Milton (7-3) or (4) Beachside (7-3) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Sharks have been past the regional round just once before, going to the state championship game in 2016. They have an excellent shot to get beyond the regionals this year as the top seed. They’ve won six straight games and have playmakers everywhere. RB Alex Winkles (830 rushing yards, 10 TDs) is the primary ball carrier and averages 6.7 yards per carry. He’s also a threat in the receiving game (427 yards, 4 TDs). At QB, Cole Rosendahl has done excellent in his first season as starter. He’s passed for 2,454 yards and 25 TDs, with big-play pass catchers in Jack Berquist (634 yards, 8 TDs), Davitt Doherty (541 yards, 6 TDs and Tucker Henderson (453 yards, 5 TDs). Defense is where Ponte Vedra really shines. They’ve held teams to under 14 ppg. DB Fionn Day leads the team in tackles (52) and interceptions (5). DL Reece Beck and LB JP Dolan have combined for 69 tackles, 21 TFL and 14 sacks.
(5) Milton (7-3) at (4) Beachside (7-3)
Winner gets: (8) Niceville (6-4) or (1) Ponte Vedra (8-2) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Barracudas won their first district title this season and would like to add their first playoff win to the ledger, too. Beachside is rooted in the passing game behind QB Eddie Jordan (17 TDs, 1,831 yards in 7 games, pictured below), but they added the ground element this season, too. Vinny Galella (836 rushing yards) has taken over in games this year to add some balance to the offense. But Beachside is still pass-heavy. The pass catchers are everywhere. Drew Watson, Maddox Hunstad, Brennan Monaco and Drew Aldrich are all capable of delivering the nail-in-a-coffin play. A win could set up an all-St. Johns County clash in the second round, provided Ponte Vedra beats Niceville. Beachside head coach Pete Duffy has 227 career wins, including 29 with the Barracudas. This is the first playoff home game in Beachside history.
(7) Middleburg (8-2) at (2) Mainland (7-2), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: (6) Lincoln (6-4) or (3) Mosley (9-1) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: This is the first regular season with eight wins for the Broncos since 1990. The last time they won eight games overall came in 2003 when they went 7-3 in the regular season and then clobbered Palatka in the playoff opener. That 54-28 win was also the last postseason win for the Broncos. They’ve lost five straight in the playoffs since then. But getting to the postseason has been something head coach Ryan Wolfe has made a priority since he was hired, and this is the team’s fourth straight trip to the postseason under his watch. RB Gino Addison (1,014 rushing yards, 16 TDs) has been the chain mover for the Broncos. WR Jordan Williams (605 receiving yards, 7 TDs) has been the most consistent target for QBs Dalton Motes and Mason Bacus. Middleburg has been sneaky good on defense, too. Dominic and Darius Swilley have combined for 152 tackles, 32 for loss and 16 sacks. DB Floyd Reed has four of Middleburg’s nine picks. Can the Broncos find success against a Mainland team that won a Class 3 Suburban state title just two years ago and has maintained its elite status in the region?
Region 1-4A
(8) Arnold (3-7) at (1) St. Augustine (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: (5) Pine Forest (3-6) or (4) White (8-2) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Yellow Jackets jumped from No. 2 back to 1 in the region in the final playoff standings, ensuring that the road to the final four runs through Foots Brumley Stadium again. It’s likely to mean another clash with Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee for the fourth consecutive season. The Yellow Jackets have clipped Choctaw in the regional finals in back-to-back seasons. QB Brenton James (2,379 passing yards, 29 TDs, pictured below) has been excellent in his first season starting. He also adds the ability to score with his legs (4 rushing TDs). He’s throwing to a pair of excellent pass catchers in Somourian Wingo (12 TDs on 42 receptions, 759 yards) and Julio Santiago (830 receiving yards, 7 TDs). The running game with Trendell Anderson and Durell Preston has been solid (18 TDs between that duo) but the path to winning is vertically. On defense, sophomore LB Mason Beane has a team-best 106 tackles and 9.5 for loss.
(5) Pine Forest (3-6) at (4) White (8-2), 6:30 p.m.
Winner gets: (8) Arnold (3-7) or (1) St. Augustine (9-1) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Commanders became the highest-scoring team in state history with a 537-point regular season. Their lowest output in a game was 41 in a loss to Oakleaf. They can unquestionably put up numbers, and that’s their identity. QB King Boylston passed for 1,844 yards and 22 TDs this year. WRs King Mercer (709 receiving yards, 5 TDs) and Nick Roberson (512 receiving yards, 9 TDs) were his two favorite targets. Boylston also led the Commanders with 623 rushing yards and 12 TDs and pushed his name into the conversation as the area’s top two-way QB. RB Joseph Williams (622 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Rontrez Loyd (600 rushing yards, 11 TDs) provide support out of the backfield. The question inevitably shifts to defense this time of the year and can the Commanders slow teams enough in the playoffs to make a deep run. Julian Holt is a thumper and is tied for the team lead in picks with Jacquari Parks (3 apiece).
(6) Rickards (3-7) at (3) Columbia (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: (7) Pensacola Washington (5-4) or (2) Choctawhatchee (9-1) in the regional semifinals on Nov. 21.
Glance: The Tigers ended the season on a down note with a 31-0 blowout loss to Bolles. Their path to moving on deep into the playoffs is try and keep scores low and scratch out points. Columbia is limited offensively (just 25.8 points per game) but it can clamp down on teams defensively (11.2 ppg). LB Kam Mills (70 tackles, 19 for loss, 10 sacks, 2 INTs) is one of the area’s best defenders. DB Julian De La Cruz has three of Columbia’s 11 picks. On offense, WR Kyren Caldwell has seven TD catches, half of QB Xavier Collins passing TDs this year.
Regional quarterfinal playoffs
All games Friday, Nov. 14, all games 7 p.m. unless indicated
Region 1-7A
(8) Creekside (4-6) at (1) DeLand (10-0)
Region 1-6A
(5) Oakleaf (8-2) at (4) Nease (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
(7) Crestview (6-3) at (2) Mandarin (9-1), 6:30 p.m.
Region 1-5A
(8) Niceville (6-4) at (1) Ponte Vedra (8-2)
(5) Milton (7-3) at (4) Beachside (7-3)
(7) Middleburg (8-2) at (2) Mainland (7-2), 7:30 p.m.
Region 1-4A
(8) Arnold (3-7) at (1) St. Augustine (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
(5) Pine Forest (3-6) at (4) White (8-2), 6:30 p.m.
(6) Rickards (3-7) at (3) Columbia (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Region 1-3A
(8) Baker County (4-6) (1) Raines (9-0), 6:30 p.m.
(5) West Florida (6-4) at (4) Yulee (8-2)
(6) Wakulla (6-4) at (3) Bishop Kenny (8-2)
Region 1-2A
(8) Walton (4-6) at (1) Bolles (9-1)
(5) Baldwin (7-3) at (4) Florida High (4-6), 7:30 p.m.
Region 2-2A
(8) Avon Park (6-4) at (1) Bradford (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Region 1-1A
(8) Trinity Catholic (4-5) at (1) University Christian (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
(5) Impact Christian (7-3) at (4) Episcopal (7-3)
(7) Providence (4-6) at (2) Trinity Christian (6-4)
(6) NFEI (6-4) at (3) Maclay (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
Florida Invitational Tournament
FIT 2 (Class 4A-7A division)
North bracket
(6) Bartram Trail (3-7) at (3) Matanzas (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
(7) First Coast (5-5) at (2) Tate (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
FIT 1
Class 1A-3A division
North bracket
(5) Jackson (4-6) at (4) Weeki Wachee (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
(6) Wolfson (4-6) at (3) Palatka (4-6), 7:30 p.m.
GHSA playoffs, first round
Friday, Nov. 14, all games 7:30 p.m.
Class 5A playoffs
Glynn Academy (6-4) at Jackson County (9-1)
Winder-Barrow (4-6) at Brunswick (8-2)
Class 4A
Ware County (8-2) at Flowery Branch (7-3)
Class 2A playoffs
Ringgold (6-4) Pierce County (8-2)
Class A Division II
Charlton County (5-5) at Macon County (5-5)