JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The high school football playoffs begin this week. Here is a glance of the matchups for local teams in the Rural and Class 1A and 2A divisions. Breakdowns of games in Classes 3A-7A will be published on Thursday. For a look at the Varsity 4′s top 10 playoff matchups, find that here.
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Region 1-2A
(8) Baldwin (5-5) at (1) Gadsden County (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Florida High or Marianna in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. Baldwin would travel to face either.
(6) Taylor County (7-3) at (3) Bolles (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Pensacola Catholic or Walton in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. Bolles would host Walton but travel to Pensacola Catholic.
Playoff notables: Baldwin’s last playoff win came in the Class 2S opener in 2022 over Palatka and notched its first postseason victory in 2021 against Marianna. Gadsden County opened in its current state in 2017 when East Gadsden and West Gadsden high schools merged. Local fans may remember Gadsden better from its win over Jackson in 2018. That win came via a coin flip when the Jaguars (0-9) and the Tigers (4-5) were tied for the final playoff spot in their region. Gadsden won the coin flip and beat out Jackson for the spot. … Bolles is one of the most successful programs in state history (11 titles) and has reached the state semifinals in all five of head coach Matt Toblin’s seasons.
Region glance: Baldwin has become a consistent football program in the Gateway Conference. This is the sixth straight season that the Indians have reached the playoffs, but the first for head coach Don Velvet, who is in his first season in that role. QB Gage Screws (1,715 passing yards, 20 TDs), RB Nashawn Jacobs (798 rushing yards, 4 TDs) and WR Kelvin Brown (819 receiving yards, 12 TDs) are Baldwin’s big three on offense. DL Synorice Barnes (61 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 5 sacks) is tough on the line. He and the Baldwin defense will have a challenge with the Jaguars backfield which has a pair of 1,000-yard backs in Kemarrion Battles and Tristen Davis. ... Bolles is Bolles and enters every playoff season with championship expectations. A win this week likely means a playoff trek to Pensacola Catholic in the second round. This is Bolles’ 44th playoff opener since 1975 and the Bulldogs are 37-6 in first-round games. Toblin is 8-3 in playoff openers (5-0 at Bolles, 2-0 at Clay, 1-3 at Ponte Vedra). Bolles’ only first-round loss of the 2000s came in 2017 under Wayne Belger in a 24-21 triple OT thriller against Trinity Christian. Before that, Bolles hadn’t lost in the first round since 1989, Corky Rogers’ first season. Injuries have clipped the Bulldogs this season. RB Ty Neal (666 rushing yards, 8 TDs) has taken the top back role after Emmett Grzebin’s Week 4 injury. Freshman Xander Edwards (424 rushing yards, 7 TDs) as emerged as a very good runner with Neal. QB Ethan Drumm has 16 TD passes (1,465 passing yards). Bolles could also have a slew of injured players back in the lineup, including WRs Naeem Burroughs and Chase Collier, and TE Corbyn Fordham. Each of those players has missed time this year. The Bulldogs are strong on defense, with DL Asher Ghioto (46 tackle, 17 TFL), versatile LB/S Simeon Caldwell (60 tackles), LB Troy Holloway (75 tackles) and DB CJ Ennis (5 INT) leading the unit. Taylor County is a run and defense team and may not have the offense to stay with Bolles for a full four quarters.
Region 2-2A
(7) Villages (5-4) at (2) Bradford (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Newberry or Palatka in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. Bradford would host either team.
(6) Palatka (7-3) at (3) Newberry (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Villages or Bradford in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. Palatka would host Villages but travel to Bradford.
Playoff notables: Bradford played for the Class 2S state championship last year and lost to Cocoa. Palatka has been a frequent visitor to the postseason under coach Patrick Turner, going in three of his four seasons. But the Panthers haven’t won a state playoff game since 2002 under iconic coach Jim McCool. That’s a long time and many coaches ago (Wilson Edwards, 2004-2008; Kyle Rice, 2009-2011; Willie Offord, 2012-13; Randy Hedstrom, 2014; Bobby Humphries, 2015-17; Willie Fells, 2018-2020 and Turner, 2021-current).
Region glance: This is a tough, tough region for the local teams. Bradford is very, very good and is going to struggle to get past the second round. The Tornadoes have a wicked good defense (7.7 ppg allowed). LB Trevis Johnson (27 tackles, 6 sacks), S Jeremiah McKenzie (65 tackles, INT) and FS Branden Williams (34 tackles, 2 INT) lead a physical unit. But the offense is where Bradford has questions to answer. RB Gino Addison (693 rushing yards, 9 TDs) is a constant and the Tornadoes should cruise this week. But looking ahead, things get tough in a hurry. … Palatka has an excellent dual threat QB in Tommy Offord (870 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and a solid WR in KJ Wright (546 receiving yards, 8 TDs). But the challenge is immense. Newberry beat Palatka (32-0) and Bradford (21-7) in the regular season.
Region 1-1A
(1) Providence (7-3) at (8) Ocala Trinity Catholic (2-8), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: University Christian or Impact Christian in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. Providence would host either team.
(5) Impact Christian (6-4) at (4) University Christian (5-5), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Providence or Trinity Catholic in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. UC and Impact would host Trinity Catholic but travel to face Providence.
(2) Trinity Christian def. (7) P.K. Yonge by forfeit
Next round: Trinity (8-3) will host Maclay or St. John Paul II in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22.
Playoff notables: Providence’s only playoff win in the FHSAA system came in 2010. The Stallions lost a heartbreaker to Orlando Christian Prep (28-25) last year. … Impact Christian and UC are polar opposites, with the Lions making their debut and the Christians the owner of nine state championships. Trinity has nine titles, too, but gets a week off after a forfeit by P.K. Yonge.
Region glance: The Stallions are on the road as the top seed after losing to UC in the district championship game. They’ve lost back-to-back games and won’t have an easy time here, despite the massive difference in records. The Celtics have played a far more difficult schedule and tend to be in the playoff conversation every year. Providence QB Mason Williams (2,089 passing yards, 26 TDs; 667 rushing yards, 13 TDs) is so good that his presence under center can’t be undersold. His favorite targets are WRs Noah Johnson (943 receiving yards, 10 TDs) and Josiah Payton (10 TDs on 19 catches, 431 yards). Edge Sam Hayward (52 tackles, 9 sacks) and DB Jaden Jablonski (22 tackles, 4 INT) lead the defense. … Impact got hot at the right time, rattling off four straight wins to firm up its postseason spot for first-year head coach Jerrand Nesmith. RB Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy (469 rushing yards, 8 TDs; 574 receiving yards, 5 TDs) leads the offense. On defense, DE Tristian Kelly has racked up a staggering senior year in the stat books (99 tackles, 27 sacks). But having that success against UC will be another story. The Christians won this game in the regular season in a 35-0 romp. Even in an unusual season filled with young players and injuries, UC is still UC. RB Josh Bruton (601 rushing yards, 14 TDs) and WRs Jenoa Alford (785 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and Amare Mack (633 receiving yards, 7 TDs) are the playmakers on offense. DL Julius LaRosa (56 tackles, 7 sacks) leads the team in both of those categories.
Region 2-1A
(7) Crescent City (8-2) at (2) Lakeland Christian (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Orlando Christian Prep or Melbourne Central Catholic in the regional semifinals on Nov. 22. Crescent City would travel to face either team.
Playoff notables: The Raiders turned in their best season since going 8-2 in 2018. They’re back in the postseason after missing out last year. That 2018 year came under coach Clarence “Pooh Bear” Williams, a Raiders alum and one of the best players out of Putnam County.
Region glance: RB Jamaris Fuller (656 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and QB Eric Jenkins (646 passing yards, 8 TDs; 493 rushing yards, 2 TDs) have fronted the Crescent City offense. WR Zay Robinson (355 receiving yards, 3 TDs) is the top pass catcher. Defense has been stout for the Raiders. DB Tyler Padgett has six of Crescent City’s 17 picks. Jenkins and Chris Washington follow with four interceptions apiece.
Rural
(12) Fort White (5-4) at (5) Jay (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Chiefland or Williston in the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 22.
(14) Holmes County (6-4) at (3) Union County (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Winner gets: Pahokee or Chipley in the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 22.
Playoff notables: Fort White has been to the postseason more than a dozen times. The Indians have only won six times in the playoffs, the last victory coming in the 2020 Covid playoff season. The Tigers won three state championships in a row from 1994-96 under iconic coach Robby Pruitt. This is the eighth straight trip to the playoffs, five of those under head coach Andrew Thomas.
Region glance: Indians head coach Demetric Jackson has shaped Fort White into a perennial playoff team. He left to coach at Columbia for a couple years and took the Tigers to the state semifinals in 2022 before returning to Fort White in 2023 to coach his son, Jayden, the QB. He leads the team in rushing (460 yards, 8 TDs). RB Lacosta Byrd (394 rushing yards, 8 TDs). Jackson and CB Desean Lally are tops at takeaways, too, combining for six of Fort White’s eight interceptions. … Union County was a one-point loss to Chiefland away from an unbeaten regular season. QB Trenton Klein (1,111 passing yards, 19 TDs; 369 rushing yards, 5 TDs), RB Drew Simmons (1,165 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and WR Gavin Jenkins (449 receiving yards, 5 TDs) are the top offensive players for the Tigers. Klein also leads the defense from his linebacker spot (6.5 sacks, 63 tackles, 19.5 TFL).
Week 1 playoff schedule, Florida
Friday, Nov. 15
Region 1-7A
(5) Spruce Creek (7-3) at (4) Flagler Palm Coast (9-1), 7 p.m.
(2) Seminole (8-1) at (7) Creekside (5-5), 7 p.m.
Region 1-6A
(8) Tate (7-3) at (1) Nease (9-0), 7 p.m.
(5) Oakleaf (7-3) at (4) Mandarin (7-3), 6:30 p.m.
Region 1-5A
(8) Middleburg (7-3) at (1) Niceville (9-1), 8:30 p.m.
(5) Beachside (7-3) at (4) Ponte Vedra (8-2), 7 p.m.
(6) Fleming Island (7-3) at (3) Mosley (9-1), 8 p.m.
Region 1-4A
(8) Columbia (5-5) at (1) St. Augustine (8-1), 7 p.m.
(4) Pine Forest (5-5) at (5) White (7-3), 6:30 p.m.
(6) Riverside (5-5) at (3) Escambia (8-2), 8 p.m.
Region 1-3A
(8) Bay (5-5) at (1) Raines (9-0), 6:30 p.m.
(5) Menendez (6-4) at (4) Wakulla (7-3), 7 p.m.
(7) Suwannee (4-6) at (2) Godby (6-3), 7 p.m.
(6) Baker County (5-4) at (3) Bishop Kenny (7-3), 7 p.m.
Region 1-2A
(8) Baldwin (5-5) at (1) Gadsden County (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
(6) Taylor County (7-3) at (3) Bolles (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Region 2-2A
(7) Villages (5-4) at (2) Bradford (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
(6) Palatka (7-3) at (3) Newberry (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Region 1-1A
(1) Providence (7-3) at (8) Ocala Trinity Catholic (2-8), 7:30 p.m.
(5) Impact Christian (6-4) at (4) University Christian (5-5), 7:30 p.m.
(2) Trinity Christian (8-3) def. (7) P.K. Yonge (5-5) by forfeit
Region 2-1A
(7) Crescent City (8-2) at (2) Lakeland Christian (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Rural
(12) Fort White (5-4) at (5) Jay (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
(14) Holmes County (6-4) at (3) Union County (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
Georgia High School Association playoffs
Friday, Nov. 15
Class 6A
Camden County (7-3) at North Cobb (10-0), 7:30 p.m.
Class 5A
Villa Rica (5-5) at Brunswick (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Glynn Academy (6-4) at Rome (7-2), 7:30 p.m.
Class 4A
Ware County (5-5) at Tucker (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A
Jackson (4-6) at Pierce County (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Class A, Division II
Saturday, Nov. 16
Charlton County (5-5) at Lincoln County (9-0), 4 p.m.