Florida high school football: What you need to know about the 2023 state semifinals
Only the elite remain in the Florida high school football playoffs.
36 teams are still standing in pursuit of a state championship at the end of November across the FHSAA's four metro, four suburban and rural classifications.
The USA Today Florida Network spans markets across the Sunshine State to provide local coverage of Florida's best high school football programs.
Here are previews for each of the state semifinals on tap for this week:
Class 4M
No. 4 Plant at No. 1 Columbus
No. 3 Mandarin at No. 2 Monarch
Breakdown: Class 4M state semifinal preview
Class 3M
No. 4 Gaither at No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas
No. 3 Jones at No. 2 Homestead
Breakdown: Class 3M state semifinal preview
Class 2M
![Bolles wide receiver Naeem Burroughs (3) runs against St. Augustine during a high school football game on August 25, 2023. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TsQT0Hn1bMyDzQ4NiCnLQA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/palm-beach-daily-news/7a31ef9ad2562f8ff3fec3f9f944fcca)
No. 4 Bolles at No. 1 Norland
No. 3 Berkeley Prep at No. 2 American Heritage (Plantation)
Breakdown: Class 2M state semifinal preview
Class 1M
No. 4 Archbishop Carroll at No. 1 Chaminade-Madonna
No. 3 Trinity Christian vs. No. 2 Clearwater Central Catholic
Breakdown: Class 1M state semifinal preview
Class 4S
![Buchholz Bobcats middle linebacker Myles Graham (2) stiff arms Eastside Rams strong safety DJ Anderson (11) during the first half at Citizens Field in Gainesville, FL on Friday, September 8, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JJ5_roz1wIOKlgWb5bqYAQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/palm-beach-daily-news/e3126211212fa9a3c1499ded759cfe6b)
No. 4 Lakeland at No. 1 Buchholz
No. 3 DeLand at No. 2 Venice
Breakdown: Class 4S state semifinal preview
Class 3S
![Vanguard Knights Fred Gaskin (1) drives up field to a score in the first half. The North Marion Colts hosted the Vanguard Knights at North Marion High School in Citra, FL on Friday, October 6, 2023. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BRjzzAMWPaxvnVVG0YX74g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk2NA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/palm-beach-daily-news/d75d40e09764ded5ae51c26832567352)
No. 4 Dunbar at No. 1 St. Augustine
No. 3 Vanguard at No. 2 Mainland
Breakdown: Class 3S state semifinal preview
Class 2S
No. 4 Booker at No. 1 Cocoa
No. 3 Pensacola Catholic at No. 2 Bradford
Breakdown: Class 2S state semifinal preview
Class 1S
No. 4 Trinity Catholic at No. 1 First Baptist (Naples)
No. 3 North Florida Christian vs. No. 2 Cardinal Mooney
Breakdown: Class 1S state semifinal preview
Class 1R
![Hawthorne Hornets Cj Ingram (7) hands the ball off to Hawthorne Hornets Keenon Johnson (9) during the first half between Williston High School and Hawthorne High School at Williston High School in Williston, FL on Friday, November 24, 2023. [Chris Watkins/Gainesville Sun]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1G31xyG_qqNxZyecumhZgg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/palm-beach-daily-news/1d4452763746d1bbaa29fb70a7274dea)
No. 4 Blountstown at No. 1 Hawthorne
No. 3 Bozeman at No. 2 Madison County
Breakdown: Class 1R state semifinal preview
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post and Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida high school football: What you need to know about state semis
