Florida high school football: Top 10 storylines to watch in the regional championships

Regional championship games don’t need a backstory to be interesting. With the state semifinals being just a step away, the drama is built in.

But some regional championship games are special in a different way.

In Region 4-2M, it’s the national powers Norland and Central in a rematch of a game that went to overtime in the regular season.

In Region 4-1R, the showdown between Williston and Hawthorne is the matchup we’ve been anticipating since the beginning of the year.

Clearwater Central Catholic vs. Carrollwood Day and Berkeley Prep vs. Calvary Christian (Clearwater) also are rematches of exciting district games that most fans were hoping and expecting to see again in the postseason.

Others, such as Florida High vs. Pensacola Catholic, Naples vs. Dunbar and Seminole vs. Mandarin played thrilling playoff games a year ago and are running it back again this season with a trophy on the line.

Here are 10 of the top storylines to watch in the regional semifinals.

Norland vs. Central (Region 4-2M)

Can Central continue its run to a fifth consecutive state title or is a loaded Vikings team the new power? This was one of the biggest in the nation when they met in a District 12-2M game on Oct. 13. It lived up to the hype in a classic tale of two halves. Central jumped out to a 20-0 lead at the half before the Vikings rallied to tie, force overtime and kick the game-winning field goal. From the moment that ball went through the uprights to set off Norland’s celebration, this was the game we’ve been waiting for.

FHSAA Football: Class 2M regional championship preview

'This one means everything': Miami Norland overcomes 20-0 deficit to beat Miami Central

Hawthorne at Williston (Region 4-1R)

For the second consecutive year, the Region 4 championship game matchup feels like it could (should?) be the state championship. Last year, it was Hawthorne-Pahokee, which the Hornets won 21-20 in an absolute thriller. This time, it’s Williston-Hawthorne. Hawthorne, the defending state champion, is undefeated and was the top team in the USA Today Florida Network poll all season. Williston is undefeated and was the top team in the FHSAA power rankings all season. No. 1 vs. No. 1 in the third round of the playoffs? We’ll take it.

FHSAA Football: Class 1R regional championship preview

Carrollwood Day at Clearwater Central Catholic (Region 2-1M)

Can Carrollwood Day get over the hump and finally beat the Marauders? The No. 2 and 3 teams in the USA Today Florida Network Class 1M poll already have played three times in the past two years, with Clearwater Central Catholic winning all three. That includes last year’s regional championship game, and a 28-27 Marauders win on Oct. 29, which is the Patriots' lone loss this season. Carrollwood Day was unable to convert on a two-point conversion with less than a minute remaining in the regular season. Let’s hope the regional championship is just as exciting.

FHSAA Football: Class 1M regional championship preview

DeLand at Treasure Coast (Region 3-4S)

This is a case of Teacher vs. Student. DeLand’s state championship-winning coach, Rick Darlington, certainly didn’t invent the single-wing offense, but he’d had tremendous success with it and helped Treasure Coast’s coaching staff install and excel with the scheme. Part of what makes the single-wing so effective is defenses don’t see a lot of it. That certainly won’t be the case this time. Does Darlington have another lesson for Treasure Coast or can Irvin Jones and Co. pass the test and win their second regional title in three years?

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Pensacola Catholic at Florida High (Region 1-2S)

If history is a guide, this should be a great game that goes down to the wire. Florida High and Pensacola Catholic are meeting in the playoffs for the fifth time since 2018. The Seminoles won all four previous matchups with every game decided by seven points or fewer. That includes last year’s 18-14 regional semifinal, when the Seminoles scored the game-winning touchdown with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Both teams knocked off higher-seeded teams on the road last week. Expect this to be another classic.

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'Old-school, smash-mouth football': Pensacola Catholic runs its way into regional title game

Dunbar vs. Naples (Region 4-3S)

This is a rematch of last year’s regional championship game when Dunbar stunned Naples 14-7. Despite being limited to just 116 total yards of offense, the Tigers scored two touchdowns in the first half and held on. Considering how dominant running back Shawn Simeon and Naples' offense has been during the playoffs, it is hard to imagine Dunbar winning without more offense — or an epic defensive effort. Simeon has rushed for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regional playoffs. Will Dunbar reach its second consecutive final four or will Naples advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2018?

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Shawn Simeon's record-breaking, 7-touchdown performance leads Naples past Port Charlotte

Choctawhatchee at St. Augustine (Region 1-3S)

Undefeated St. Augustine has done everything a top seed and state contender should do. The Yellow Jackets navigated a challenging early-season schedule with wins at Bolles and Brunswick (Georgia), rallied to beat Bartram Trail, and have won each of their past seven games by at least 19 points. Choctawhatchee is the team no higher-seeded team should want to see after what the Indians have done in the playoffs the past two years. They stunned previously undefeated Pine Forest in the regional semifinal last year before routing No. 2 seed Lincoln on the road last week. Choctawhatchee certainly won’t be intimidated by taking on the top seed on the road — especially after the Indians won at St. Augustine 42-35 in the regional quarterfinals last year.

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Choctaw running clocks Lincoln, advances to Elite 8 for second straight year

Mandarin vs. Seminole (Region 1-4M)

Coming into the year, Region 1-4M had four teams (Apopka, Lake Mary, Mandarin and Seminole) seen as legitimate state championship threats. Seminole and Mandarin are the two still standing. This is a rematch of last year’s regional quarterfinals, which Seminole won 30-28. Both of these teams have elite defensive talent. Seminole’s defense includes lineman Preston Watson (Duke commit), linebacker Ethan Pritchard (Florida State) and cornerback Chasen Johnson (UCF). Mandarin’s secondary includes cornerbacks Jon Mitchell (Penn State) and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (Penn State) and safety Drake Stubbs. This should be another great game.

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Sebring at Mainland (Region 3-3S)

Some matchups just feel like they’re going to be special, and this is one of those games. Mainland was the Class 3S state runner-up in 2022 and is the top seed this year. The Buccaneers’ lone regular-season loss was against Lake Mary, the top-ranked team in Class 4M, in Week 11. Sebring, the No. 3 seed, is looking for its second regional championship in three years. The Blue Darters are 9-2 with losses coming on the road against Lake Wales (2022 Class 3S champion) and Clearwater Central Catholic (2022 Class 1M runner-up). These teams have talented defenses that don’t give up a lot of points, which should set the stage for a low-scoring but exciting game.

Mainland rallies past Rockledge, reaches 2nd straight Region 3-3S football final

Calvary Christian vs. Berkeley Prep (Region 2-2M)

This is the fifth meeting of the two west coast powers in the past three seasons, with the past four games being decided by a single score. Calvary Christian swept the meetings last season, including a 29-28 overtime win in the regional semifinal. Sean Cuono and Dallas Golden each rushed for three touchdowns in last year’s game, with Zachary Green’s two-point conversion being the difference. Calvary Christian won the regular-season matchup 28-21 on Sept. 29, with the Warriors scoring the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter. This should be another close one between two teams that know each other very well.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida high school football: Top 10 region championship storylines