The first round of the state playoffs begin Thursday and Friday for 192 football teams, the dream to win a state title is their for every team.
The playoff format is simple just ‘survive and advance’ and move on to the next round of the playoffs. It takes 4 wins to win the small school state title (1A-4A) and 5 wins to win the big school state title (5A-8A).
While a lot of people frown upon on the states smallest classification, its one of the most exciting and evenly balanced classification as well, I believe as many as 7 teams have a chance to bring home the state title trophy.
So without further ado, here is my prediction for all of the eight classes.
Projected spreads are from notorious expert Joe Pinkos, who has a mathematical formula for picking high school football games across the state of Florida
First round
Region I-5A
Bishop Kenny (6-3) at Ribault (5-3)
Pinkos: Ribault by 4
Corey: Ribault
Outlook: Ribault is one of the hottest teams in the area right now and they have seemed to finally have found an offensive identity. With a tenacious defense and now a well oiled offense, the Trojans should have enough to move on.
Yulee (6-3) at No. 3 Ponte Vedra (9-0)
Pinkos: Ponte Vedra by 17
Corey: Ponte Vedra
Outlook: I’ve been really hard on Ponte Vedra all season for a lackadaisical schedule to say the least. We know all about Nick Tronti, the Charlotte commit who just became St. Johns County all-time career leading touchdown passer last week. Its no secret what Yulee is going to do with Virginia commit Jamari Peacock in the backfield. This comes down to which defense can stop who.
Region II-5A
Belleview (6-2) at Baker County (8-1)
Pinkos: Baker by 21
Corey: Baker
Outlook: What a turnaround for the Belleview program, from 0-10 to in the playoffs the next season. Baker has a nasty physical defense to go along with two major studs on offense in Joe Green and Seth Paige. A loss here would be a major blow to a program with its best ever chance to break a curse of never getting past the second round of the playoffs.
Clay (7-3) at North Marion (4-4)
Pinkos: Clay by 3
Corey: Clay
Outlook: Who could forget last years 65-58 second round win for Clay which sprung the Devils all the way to the state semi-finals. I don’t think we are headed that direction this year, this could well end up being a 21-20 game. Both seem to have found a defense this year.
Final 4
Rickards over Baker County
Am. Heritage over Jesuit
State title
Pinkos: American Heritage over West Florida
Corey: Rickards over American Heritage
