Bartram Trail highlights area teams going for football titles Saturday

Clinch County, Old Plank Christian, Peniel Baptist in championship games

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No other area of the state sent more teams to the finals than the 904 -- four teams, including Raines, who won the 4A title on Thursday. Saturday afternoon, the final team from our area tries to bring back a trophy to northeast Florida as Bartram Trail faces Venice at 3 p.m.

"We are doing what we do," said senior quarterback Riley Smith.  "We are staying focused, getting the preparation in and doing what we have been doing all year.  If we do that, we will be just fine."

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The Bears (11-3) have advanced to the state finals for the first time in the school's history after three trips to the semifinals. Friday, they held their final practice before the finals in the Jaguars indoor Flex Field. 

The Bears should be ready for the matchup with Venice (13-1). They played a tough schedule that included Cocoa, the 4A runners up and St. Augustine, who lost just once all year. After four straight wins at home, Bartram Trail will be looking for a big defensive performance in Orlando to win the title.

"The defensive staff have done a wonderful job all year," said Bears head coach Darrell Sutherland who has been the only head football coach in the 17-year history of the school.  "We've installed a new scheme this year so it took a little bit of time for the guys to really understand it and be able to communicate.  That is something that we have seen over the last few weeks, everyone has been doing their job and communicating really well."

Beating Venice won't be an easy task. Their only loss of the season came to IMG Academy, a team more like a college team than a high school squad. To advance to the state finals, Venice topped powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, the number one seed.  Kickoff from Orlando is at 3 p.m.

Clinch County vs. Irwin County

In Georgia, Clinch County and Irwin County were supposed to play Saturday morning for the class 1A public school championship, but mother nature had other ideas. Bad weather in the Atlanta area has forced GHSA officials to postpone the game as well as move the location from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to Irwin County's home field in Ocilla.  

Irwin County head coach Buddy Nobles said that he did not know when the game will be played, but it will be at home.  Stay tuned to News4Jax.com for updates as to when this game will be played.

Old Plank Christian vs. Academy of the Lakes

Also on Saturday, the FCAAPS will crown champions in 8-man and 6-man football.  Old Plank Christian looks to stay unbeaten as they face Academy of the Lakes from Land O'Lakes at 7:30 p.m. in Lakeland.  Led by captains WR Zachary Crawford and RB John Kilpatrick, the Defenders beat Hernando Christian Academy 26-12 in the state semifinals last week.  

Peniel Baptist vs. Cornerstone Christian

Peniel Baptist will get a chance for revenge and a state title in 6-man football as they face Cornerstone Christian from Gainesville at 4 p.m. Saturday.  The Warriors fell to Cornerstone in week one back in September 72-45.  Peniel Baptist went on the road last week and beat a City of Life Christian Academy team in Kissimmee 56-52.  Johnathan Goodwin in his first year as the head coach will look to bring home a state title for the Warriors.