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    What you need to know

    Harry Posted on

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    SARASOTA – The FHSAA announced its football teams Friday night, and 7 Sarasota and Manatee programs earned a shot at postseason play.

    As expected, Venice earned the No. 1 seed in Class 7A-Region 2 and will remain at home throughout the game. Meanwhile, Riverview won 7th place and a road race. Cardinal Mooney and Manatee also captured the top seeds in their respective groups. The state’s final four teams, Booker and Palmetto, received two seeds.

    Here’s a look at each region with a local team and our analysis of that region, including our winning predictions. Regional teams are in bold.

    Class 7A-Region 3

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    1. Venice vs. No. 8 Haines City; No. 4 Newsome and No. 5 Sumner; No. 2 Plant City vs. No.7 River View; No. 3 West Orange vs. Apopka

    How do we see it?

    John Peacock’s Venice High School football team should make the district championship game barring a disruption of seismic proportions. The green-whites’ opponent in the first round is 6-4 Haines City. A semifinal match is expected with the winner of 6-4 Sumner and 7-3 Newsome; the second was a 21-14 loss to Palmetto in August. As for the 4-5 Rams, their No. 7 seed will earn them a game at No. 2 Plant City, which enters the game at 8-2 and has won five in a row. Assuming the Raiders handle either West Orange or the Rams, Apopka’s semifinal opponent, that would set up the title game with Venice hosting Plant City. Look for Peacock’s team to reach the Class 7A Final Four once again as Venice tries desperately to avenge state title losses to Lakeland the last two years, both times.

    Class 6A-Region 3

    1. West Boca Raton, No. 8 vs. Steinbrenner; #4 Mitchell vs. Parrish No. 5; No.2 Palmetto vs. No. 7 Largo; No.3 Wiregrass Ranch vs. No.6 Royal Palm Beach

    How do we see it?

    The 9-1 Bulls drew with the 10-0 Mitchell Mustangs as their quarter-final opponent on the road. Mitchell is averaging more points per game (40.1) than Parrish (33.4) and we favor a home win. Number 2 seed Palmetto drew 6-4 with Largo and lost 7-6 to Steinbrenner in the season finale. The Tigers won and advanced to host the winner of #3 Wiregrass Ranch and #6 Royal Palm Beach in a semifinal. We pick the 9-1 Bulls to beat Royal Palm Beach, then eliminate the top-seeded Tigers. At the top of the bracket, 10-0 West Boca Raton advances to the championship game with a win over Wiregrass Ranch.

    Class 5A-Region 3

    1. Manatee etc. 8. Pinellas Park; No. 4 Immokalee and No. 5 Cape Coral; No. 2 Fort Myers vs. No. 7 Charlotte; No. 3 Riverdale vs. No. 6. North Fort Myers

    How do we see it?

    The top-seeded Manatee Hurricanes shouldn’t be looking at a potential semifinal matchup with first-round opponent Pinellas, 9-1 Immokalee, which averages 43 points per game and last lost on Sept. 6. And that’s assuming Immokalee passes. 8-1 Mercan Burnu. However, playing the game at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium should give the Hurricanes an advantage. We’re picking Jacquez Green’s team to reach the regional championship, where they will face No. 2 seed Fort Myers. They will accomplish in 2024 what the Hurricanes failed to do last season. Win the Class 5A-Region 3 championship.

    Class 3A-Zone 3

    1. Jefferson, No. 8 vs. Hudson; No. 4 Chamberlain vs. No. 5 Boca Ciega; Book No. 2r vs. 7.Hardee; No.3 Mulberry and No.6 Nature Beach

    How do we see it?

    It’s not an easy road for the second-placed Tornadoes to defend their regional crown. An expected home quarterfinal victory over No. 7 Hardee will be followed by a possible matchup against No. 3 Mulberry in Tornado Alley, which will enter quarterfinal play with a 9-1 record against No. 6 Nature Coast. Only 66 points will be allowed in the match. 10 games. Once he gets past Hardee and Mulberry, Booker faces a possible championship matchup with Jefferson, who is 10-0 and in first place with an average of 45 points per game. We don’t see the Hurricanes surviving that grilling gauntlet. We see the Mulberry-Jefferson regional final.

    Class 2A-Zone 3

    1. Cardinal Mooney etc. 8. Boynton Beach; 4. Calvary Christian Academy etc. 5. King’s Academy; 2. Bishop Verot vs. 7. Tarpon Springs; 3. Glades Central, No. 6 vs. Lakewood

    How do we see it?

    The toughest matchup for the reigning champion and 9-0 Cougars may come in the semifinal round. First-round opponent 5-5 Boynton Beach needs to be led by Jared Clark’s team at home, which would lead to a possible semifinal matchup with Calvary Christian Academy. If the Cougars reach the championship game, a possible rematch with 7-3 Bishop Verot, whom the Cougars defeated 49-28 this season, is expected. Barring a major stumble, the Cougars will be back in the Class 2A Final Four.

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    Harry
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