After 11 weeks of regular-season action, the high school football playoffs are officially here.
The Florida High School Athletic
Association on Sunday released the postseason brackets for all eight
classifications, setting the stage for the road to Orlando’s Camping
World Stadium, where state champions will be crowned from Dec. 6-8.
Below are the seeding and opening-round matchups for regions involving Miami-Dade and Broward County teams.
Region 3-8A
The matchups: No. 1
Deerfield Beach (9-1) vs. No. 8 Miramar (6-4); No. 2 Atlantic (10-0) vs.
No. 7 Western (8-2); No. 3 Palm Beach Central (9-1) vs. No. 6
Wellington (6-4); No. 4 Plantation (9-1) vs. No. 5 Piper (6-4)
Quick thoughts: Barring
anything crazy happening in the first two rounds, the region will come
down to Deerfield Beach and Atlantic playing for a spot in the state
semifinal.
Region 4-8A
The matchups: No. 1
Columbus (10-0) vs. No. 8 Coral Gables (6-4); No. 2 Southridge (8-2) vs.
No. 7 North Miami (8-2); No. 3 Hialeah (9-1) vs. No. 6 South Dade
(8-2); No. 4 Belen Jesuit (8-2) vs. No. 5 Palmetto (9-1)
Quick thoughts: Columbus
has been the top team in the region all year, but don’t be surprised if
any of the three teams from District 16-8A (Southridge, Palmetto and
South Dade) make a splash.
Region 4-7A
The matchups: No. 1 St.
Thomas Aquinas (9-1) vs. No. 8 South Miami (8-2); No. 2 Dwyer (9-1) vs.
No. 7 West Broward (7-3); No. 3 McArthur (9-1) vs. No. 6 Palm Beach
Lakes (7-3); No. 4 Doral (8-2) vs. No. 5 Fort Lauderdale (8-2)
Quick thoughts: The region is St. Thomas Aquinas’ to lose, with Palm Beach County’s Dwyer being the only real test.
Region 4-6A
The matchups: No. 1 Carol
City (8-2) vs. No. 8 Norland (4-6); No. 2 Palm Bay Heritage (8-2) vs.
No. 7 Eau Gallie (7-3); No. 3 Daytona Beach Mainland (7-3) vs. No. 6
Northwestern (5-5); No. 4 Dillard (8-2) vs. No. 5 Central (8-2)
Quick thoughts: Circle
Nov. 16 on your calendar. The likely matchup between Carol City and
Central in the regional semifinal should make up one half of the Class
6A championship game.
Region 4-5A
The matchups: No. 1
Rockledge (9-1) vs. No. 8 Coconut Creek (6-4); No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons
(8-2) vs. No. 7 Merritt Island (5-5); No. 3 Orlando Jones (9-1) vs. No. 6
Bishop Moore (6-4); No. 4 Fort Pierce Westwood (7-3) vs. No. 5
Plantation American Heritage (8-1)
Quick thoughts: Three
teams from District 16-5A advanced this year, led by district champ
Cardinal Gibbons. Is this finally the year the Chiefs break through and
make it to state?
Region 4-4A
The matchups: No. 1
University School (9-1; first-round bye); No. 2 Booker T. Washington
(5-5; first-round bye); No. 3 Glades Central (7-3) vs. No. 6 Coral
Springs Charter (7-1); No. 4 Monsignor Pace (5-5) vs. No. 5 Gulliver
Prep (7-3)
Quick thoughts: University
School ran the table until being shut out by Chaminade-Madonna in its
regular season finale. The Sharks are likely still considered the
favorite in the class but need to avoid another letdown. A regional
final between University School and Booker T. seems likely.
Region 4-3A
The matchups: No. 1
Chaminade-Madonna (8-2; first-round bye); No. 2 Palm Beach Benjamin
(9-1; first-round bye); No. 3 Delray American Heritage (7-3) vs. No. 6
Calvary Christian (5-5); No. 4 Westminster Christian (8-0) vs. No. 5
Palmer Trinity (7-2)
Quick thoughts: Defending
state champion Chaminade-Madonna is the top team in its region and
arguably the top team in its class. A chance for the Lions to make a
third consecutive appearance in the state final is likely if not
expected.
Region 4-2A
The matchups: No. 1 Moore
Haven (8-1; first-round bye); No. 2 St. John Neumann (9-1; first-round
bye); No. 3 Glades Day (6-4) vs. No. 6 Naples First Baptist (3-5); No. 4
Miami Christian (7-1) vs. No. 5 Champagnat Catholic (4-5)
Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/article221081420.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/article221081420.html#storylink=cpy
