JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four area high school football teams are headed to the state semifinals.
Ponte Vedra, Raines, Bolles and Trinity Christian punched their tickets for the state final four on a chilly Friday night.
Those teams will play in final four games on Dec. 5.
In Class 1A, Trinity Christian (9-4) will travel to Chaminade-Madonna (10-2) in a rematch of last year’s final four game.
In Class 2A, Bolles (12-1) will host Cardinal Gibbons (10-3).
In Class 3A, Raines (12-0) will host Sarasota Booker (12-1) in a rematch of last year’s state semifinal.
In Class 5A, Ponte Vedra (11-2) will travel to face Lakeland (11-2).
In Region 1-6A, Mandarin’s season ended with a 27-20 loss to host Gainesville Buchholz. The Mustangs (11-2) had been to this round just three times before. They couldn’t stop Bobcats star Justin Williams in the second half as they won their fifth straight regional final over a local team.
In Region 1-5A, Ponte Vedra used a smothering defense to beat Daytona Beach Mainland 27-10 to advance to the state semifinals for the second time in program history, and first since 2016. The Sharks (11-2) will likely host a final four game.
In Region 1-4A, host St. Augustine saw Choctawhatchee force a couple second-half turnovers and lost in a 31-28 nail-biter. The Yellow Jackets (11-2) lost for the first time in three regional finals against the Indians.
In Region 1-3A, Raines walloped visiting Bishop Kenny 61-15 to win its second straight regional final in a running clock romp. The Crusaders (10-3) scored first but couldn’t stop the onslaught as the Vikings cruised.
In Region 1-2A, Bolles got three passing touchdowns from Jaden Weatherly and crushed visiting Pensacola Catholic 44-10. It’s the sixth state semifinal appearance in seven seasons for Bulldogs head coach Matt Toblin.
In Region 2-2A, three-time defending state champion Cocoa held off Bradford 17-10 to beat the Tornadoes for the third time in the last five playoff seasons.
Regional finals
Friday’s results
Region 1-6A
(1) Gainesville Buchholz 27, (2) Mandarin 20
Region 1-5A
(1) Ponte Vedra 27, (2) Daytona Beach Mainland 10
Region 1-4A
(2) Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 31, (1) St. Augustine 28
Region 1-3A
(1) Raines 61, (3) Bishop Kenny 15
Region 1-2A
(1) Bolles 44, (2) Pensacola Catholic 10
Region 2-2A
(3) Cocoa 17, (1) Bradford 10
Region 1-1A
(2) Trinity Christian 27, (1) University Christian 12
State semifinal qualifiers
Matchups will be announced this weekend, games are Dec. 5
Class 5A
Ponte Vedra (11-2) at Lakeland (11-2)
Riverdale (12-1) at St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1)
Class 3A
Sarasota Booker (12-1) at Raines (12-0)
Bishop Moore (11-1) at Miami Northwestern (12-0)
Class 2A
Cardinal Gibbons (10-3) at Bolles (12-1)
Cocoa (8-4) at Cardinal Mooney (12-1)
Class 1A
Trinity Christian (9-4) at Chaminda-Madonna (10-2)
Cardinal Newman (10-3) at Carrollwood Day (12-0)