Semifinal showdowns: Northeast Florida teams aim for FHSAA high school football finals

Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union
·7 min read

The Florida High School Athletic Association kicks off the 2022 football state semifinals Friday night across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. Here's a look ahead to the games.

Class 2M

Bolles (9-4) at Plantation American Heritage (12-1)

Bolles kick returner Kaleb Lampkins (6) tries to pull away from a tackle against Episcopal.
Bolles kick returner Kaleb Lampkins (6) tries to pull away from a tackle against Episcopal.

7:30 p.m.

Road here: Bolles beat Episcopal 38-6, Bishop Moore 27-10, Raines 21-14; American Heritage beat Inlet Grove 43-7, Boynton Beach 49-0, Cardinal Gibbons 31-20.

Winner meets: Miami Central or St. Petersburg Lakewood at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, date and time TBA

Glance: To advance to the final and bring home state championship No. 12, the Bulldogs will have to find a way past a perennial Florida superpower in American Heritage. The Patriots pack a punch in every area. They've got one of Florida's premier running back recruits in Mark Fletcher (188 carries, 1,736 yards, 20 TD), an elite receiver in Ohio State-bound Brandon Inniss (58 catches, 1,107 yards, 13 TD), a productive quarterback in Louisiana-Monroe commit Blake Murphy (123 of 192, 2,121 yards, 24 TD, 6 INT) and a defense with all-around stars Daemon Fagan (N.C. State), David Vadala and JaMarcus Smith. They're averaging more than 41 points per game. For Bolles, victory in Broward County will require near-perfection. Fortunately, running back Ty Neal has emerged as a steady ground gainer (1,178 yards) behind a mauling offensive front, and Kavon Miller is doing a little bit of everything (six interceptions, eight rushing TDs, more than 500 yards on returns). One big question: How much production will Bolles get through the air? Naeem Burroughs and Kaleb Lampkins are picking up speed at receiver for now-healthy QB D.J. Moore, and if they're able to get open downfield, it could take a lot of pressure off the Bulldog ground game.

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Class 1M

Clearwater Central Catholic (11-1) at University Christian (11-1)

University Christian receiver Jenoa Alford scores a touchdown. The Christians play at home Friday night against Clearwater Central Catholic for a berth in the FHSAA Class 1M football final.
University Christian receiver Jenoa Alford scores a touchdown. The Christians play at home Friday night against Clearwater Central Catholic for a berth in the FHSAA Class 1M football final.

7 p.m.

Road here: Clearwater Central Catholic beat Indian Rocks Christian 63-12, Carrollwood Day 21-11; University Christian beat Orlando First Academy 42-13, Trinity Christian 36-27.

Winner meets: Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna or Miami True North at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, 7 p.m. Dec. 8

Glance: The Orel Gray Show is extending into December. With 35 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards, including a rushing score and a pick-six last week to earn UC's first win over Trinity Christian in 30 years, the running back/defensive back/returner is an all-around superstar for University Christian. Also not to be ignored is a pass rush led by Desirrio Riles, who returned a pick to the end zone and collected his 11th and 12th sacks last week. When teams crowd the line against Gray, QB Dwayne Stuckey and sophomore wideout Jenoa Alford (36 catches, 761 yards) can punish them over the top. But will UC be able to slow down Clearwater Central Catholic's offense, a unit that racked up 63 points in three consecutive games last month? Since a Week 2 loss to Ocala Trinity Catholic, they've won 10 in a row. Sophomore QB Jershaun Newton is a double-threat star (115 of 172, 1,880 yards, 20 TD, 2 INT; 131 carries, 1,169 yards, 15 TD) in combination with a second 1,000-yard rusher in Lenwood Sapp (163 rushes, 1,177 yards, 13 TD). His primary target is Boston College commit Nate Johnson III (47 receptions, 827 yards, 7 TD; 3 INT on defense). While University Christian has won nine FHSAA titles and reached a final two years ago, CCC is still chasing its first state championship.

Class 3S

Columbia (9-3) at Lake Wales (13-0)

Columbia quarterback Tyler Jefferson (1) throws the ball during a game against Trinity Christian.
Columbia quarterback Tyler Jefferson (1) throws the ball during a game against Trinity Christian.

7 p.m.

Road here: Columbia beat Tallahassee Lincoln 29-6, Escambia 17-15, Choctawhatchee 20-14 (OT); Lake Wales beat Auburndale 34-10, Ocala Vanguard 40-0, Zephyrhills 26-9.

Winner meets: Fort Myers Dunbar or Daytona Beach Mainland at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, date and time TBA

Glance: Get ready for a low-scoring battle. Columbia has gone on defensive lockdown for the past month. Jaden Robinson tallied yet another return touchdown last week against Choctawhatchee, and a secondary led by Indiana-committed Amare Ferrell ranks among the area's most athletic. Columbia's offense is less consistent but can create highlights with dual-threat QB Tyler Jefferson, running back Tony Fulton (665 yards, 9 TD) and FSU-committed wideout Camdon Frier (24 catches, 521 yards, 5 TD). This year could be historic for Lake Wales, which has never won a title and last reached the final in 1994. They've held opponents to 60 points all season with six shutouts while winning every game by at least two touchdowns, although the Highlanders' strength of schedule doesn't compare to Columbia's. Kentucky-committed safety Jaremiah Anglin Jr. is the star for Lake Wales, with seven interceptions and five forced fumbles, while Philipp Davis, Xavier Marlow and Carlos Mitchell all have five or more picks and Terrell James (19 sacks) leads the pass rush. QB Trent Grotjan (101 of 168, 1,809 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT) and running back Corey Harris Jr. (72 carries, 809 yards, 9 TD) are Lake Wales' main stars on offense.

Class 2S

Cocoa (9-3) at Bradford (12-1)

Bradford defensive back C.J. Carn celebrates an interception against Palatka on Oct. 28.
Bradford defensive back C.J. Carn celebrates an interception against Palatka on Oct. 28.

7:30 p.m.

Road here: Cocoa beat Dunnellon 52-6, Palm Bay 49-3, South Sumter 35-7; Bradford beat Crescent City 48-0, Gainesville Eastside 37-0, Baker County 28-17.

Winner meets: Florida High or Bishop Verot at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, 7 p.m. Dec. 9

Glance: Not since 1990 has Bradford played a state semifinal, and they're aiming for their first trip to an FHSAA title game since 1985. Getting there means a battle with four-time champion Cocoa, which has faced a bruising schedule from start to finish with losses only to state powers Orlando Jones, St. Thomas Aquinas and Sanford Seminole. Bradford's air defense must be on high alert: Cocoa quarterback Blake Boda (229 of 354, state-leading 3,444 passing yards and 45 TD) is a genuine Mr. Football contender, with a multitude of targets including four-star junior DayDay Farmer (52 catches, 793 yards, 9 TD) and two-way Ohio State commit Cedrick Hawkins (34 catches, 601 yards, 5 TD). Bradford's 2022 defense is beyond rock-solid, allowing only 48 points through 13 games and tallying nine shutouts. Last week's comeback over Baker County was typical, achieved with help from Torin Brazell's pressure off the edge, a Jametrius Pringle kick return and key second-half takeaways. Quarterback Jeremiah McKenzie is a multiple threat behind center and Willie Pollard has been explosive since moving into the starting lineup in midseason.

Class 1R

Union County (8-2) at Bratt Northview (12-0)

Union County quarterback A.J. Cortese (9) hands off to running back Rayvon Durant during an Oct. 14 game against Hawthorne.
Union County quarterback A.J. Cortese (9) hands off to running back Rayvon Durant during an Oct. 14 game against Hawthorne.

7 p.m.

Road here: Union County beat Madison County 27-16, Lafayette 41-6; Northview beat Holmes County 34-26, Chipley 42-6.

Winner meets: Hawthorne or Blountstown at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, 7 p.m. Dec. 10

Glance: A trip to near the Alabama border awaits for the Fightin' Tigers, as they challenge Northview for a state final berth. How strong is Northview? The Chiefs are averaging 44 points per game, but only three of their regular-season opponents won more than four games. Against the teams they have played, though, they're a steamroller, and the main reason is one player: senior tailback Jamarkus Jefferson, who has rushed for 2,093 yards and a staggering 41 touchdowns this year. QB Kaden Odom (73 of 100, 1,343 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT) spreads the ball around in the air and can run it, too, picking up 567 rushing yards. Jefferson adds six sacks on defense as well. For Union County, which played only eight regular-season games due to cancellations, Markus Strong (10.5 sacks) leads a quietly strong defense that's held seven of its last eight opponents to 16 or fewer points. A.J. Cortese, who missed much of last season due to injury, has excelled as a senior (78 of 123, 1,277 passing yards, 13 TD, 5 INT; 638 rushing yards, 10 TD) in a ground combination with Rayvon Durant (1,482 yards, 16 TD). Wideouts Daylyn Diston and Gavin Jenkins combine for more than 1,000 receiving yards. Union County head coach Andrew Thomas has some less-than-pleasant memories of Northview: He was coaching Trenton in 2012 when losing to Northview 42-21 in the Class 1A final, the Panhandle school's only state title to date.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX, and sign up for the First Coast Varsity newsletter at https://profile.jacksonville.com/newsletters/first-coast-varsity/.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football playoffs 2022: Northeast Florida state semifinal preview