From Mandarin to Bradford: Jacksonville high school football playoff third round previews

The Florida High School Athletic Association begins regional finals for Metro, Suburban and Rural class football playoffs on Friday, Nov. 24. Here's a preview of the action for Jacksonville-area teams.

REGION 1-4S

Bartram Trail (8-4) at Gainesville Buchholz (12-0), 7:30 p.m.

Winner gets: The Dec. 1 opponent will be determined once the FHSAA re-seeds semifinalists based on its ranking system. Possible semifinalists: Treasure Coast, DeLand, Lakeland, Lake Minneola, Venice and Sarasota Riverview.

Road here: Bartram Trail d. Navarre 67-55, d. Niceville 28-21; Buchholz d. Lynn Haven Mosley 59-0, d. Ponte Vedra 34-21.

Outlook: The rematch is here. Buchholz bounced the then-unbeaten Bears from last year's regional final, 21-20, and overpowered them 44-7 in the regular season on Oct. 19. The big question: Will Bartram Trail's ground attack resemble the struggling unit that gained only 45 yards against the Bobcats last month, or the full-speed locomotive that's racked up dizzying numbers — 380, 544, 317 — in the past three weeks? In Laython Biddle (2,073 yards, 26 TD) and UCF-committed QB Riley Trujillo (693 yards), supported by a well-drilled line, Bartram Trail has a rushing combination like few teams left in postseason. But Buchholz knows how to snuff out the ground game, led by future Gators Myles Graham at linebacker and Kendall Jackson on the defensive line, limiting Ponte Vedra to 2.9 yards per rush last week. There's no doubt about Buchholz's scoring threats: Quinton Cutler makes plays as rusher and receiver from the backfield, while the sophomore tandem of QB Trace Johnson and receiver Justin Williams is red-hot in postseason.

How they got here: Mandarin, Bartram Trail, Baker County among second-round victors

REGION 1-3S

No. 3 Choctawhatchee (10-2) at No. 1 St. Augustine (11-0), 7 p.m.

Winner gets: Dec. 1 semifinal, to be determined based on FHSAA ranking. St. Augustine would host all opponents. Possible semifinalists: Daytona Beach Mainland, Sebring, Ocala Vanguard, Lake Wales, Fort Myers Dunbar and Naples.

Road here: Choctawhatchee d. Columbia 37-14, d. Tallahassee Lincoln 38-7. St. Augustine d. Middleburg 52-14, d. Escambia 31-14.

Outlook: A matchup the Jackets have been thinking about for months. In last year's playoff opener, Choctaw clawed back from a 28-6 third-quarter hole, punishing turnovers and rolling up 355 all-purpose yards on the legs of Cole Tabb to stun St. Augustine 42-35. Committed to Stanford and now above 5,000 yards for his Big Green career, Tabb is returning to Foots Brumley Stadium, and he is deadly. He ran for 192 yards and four scores last week to hammer Tallahassee Lincoln in a running-clock romp. Stacking the box to stop Tabb opens space for QB Jesse Winslette (1,558 yards, 22 TD, 1 INT) and Isaiah Johnson (760 yards, 12 TD). Choctaw's defense is tough, too, including Jonathan Boyd (4 INT) and Tristan Jackson (20 TFL). St. Augustine needs points and knows how to get them: Devonte Lyons (1,192 yards, 22 TD) is coming off a four-TD game, and the Jackets' air game buries most opponents: Wake Forest-committed QB Locklan Hewlett (2,012 yard, 19 TD, 2 INT) and receivers Carl Jenkins Jr. (50 catches, 931 yards), Trenton Jones (52 catches, 790 yards) and Myles Simmons (39 catches, 750 yards) are a nightmare for corners. Drake Lusk, Ja'ki Singleton and Mike Wright lead a defense that's held five straight opponents to 14 or fewer points.

First Coast Varsity Weekly: 9 a.m. basketball? Bolles girls ring in season bright, early at Insider Exposure Classic

REGION 2-2S

Baker County (8-3) at Bradford (12-0), 7:30 p.m.

Winner gets: Dec. 1 semifinal, to be determined based on FHSAA ranking. Bradford would host all opponents; Baker County would travel to all opponents. Possible semifinalists: Pensacola Catholic, Florida High, Cocoa, South Sumter, Bishop Verot and Sarasota Booker.

Road here: Baker County d. Baldwin 38-21, d. Yulee 32-14; Bradford d. Port Orange Atlantic 42-0, d. Gainesville Eastside 28-7.

Outlook: The rivals meet again. Bradford has beaten the Wildcats three times in the last 15 months: 21-0 in a lightning-shortened 2022 opener, 28-17 with 138 Willie Pollard rushing yards in last year's regionals and 12-0 in a defensive slugfest to begin the current campaign. Bradford's defense is rock-solid, allowing 49 points all year, with Chason Clark, Torin Brazell, Chalil Cummings and Duke Lewis leading an excellent unit. The Tornadoes' offense has found new life, too: Dae'Jon Shanks could end above 1,000 yards both rushing and passing. Baker County is much changed from Week 1 on offense, a run-first ground unit built around senior running back Benny Lewis and sophomore quarterback Hudson Register. The offense is growing and the defense is fierce: Juniors Seth Chestnut and Case Foster are among the area's tackling leaders, Phillip Jackson has a dozen sacks and freshman Rhett Rhoden has nabbed seven of Baker County's 23 interceptions.

REGION 3-1R

Union County (8-3) at Madison County (8-1), 7:30 p.m.

Winner gets: Dec. 1 semifinal, to be determined based on FHSAA ranking. Union County would travel to all opponents. Possible semifinalists: Bozeman, Holmes County, Blountstown, Port St. Joe, Williston and Hawthorne.

Road here: Union County d. Hilliard 58-8, d. Fort White 17-10. Madison County d. Mayo Lafayette 60-7.

Outlook: Playoff trips to Boot Hill are traditionally among the toughest. But Union County can enter with some confidence: They won their last meeting with Madison County 27-16 in the 2022 playoffs, including two interceptions -- one by all-around athlete Gavin Jenkins — and a punt block. Madison County usually keeps it on the ground, with Jason McDaniel (973 yards, 10 TD), Ryshard Miller and quarterback Za'vion Bryant splitting the carries, and on defense, they've got ball hawks in the secondary: Sean Williams and Trevion Gillyard have four interceptions apiece. Union County junior Trenton Klein is an all-around star: Against Fort White last week, he threw for 172 yards, ran for 53 and made nine tackles on defense, and he's also made seven sacks from his defensive post. Defense (11.4 points allowed per game) remains underrated for the Fightin' Tigers: Defensive backs Jenkins, Dayquan Diston, Deonte Jones and Blake McCoy all have three or more interceptions.

REGION 1-4M

No. 5 Mandarin (9-3) at No. 2 Sanford Seminole (10-2), 7 p.m.

Winner gets: Dec. 1 semifinal, to be determined based on FHSAA ranking. Mandarin would travel to all opponents. Possible semifinalists: Coconut Creek Monarch, Palm Beach Central, Riverview Sumner, Tampa Plant, Miami Columbus and Davie Western.

Road here: Mandarin d. Winter Park 29-16, d. Lake Mary 36-10; Sanford Seminole d. Oviedo Hagerty 42-3, d. Apopka 42-14.

Outlook: Road warrior Mandarin lands a trip to Sanford in a rematch of last year's playoff opener, which Seminole barely survived, 30-28. The battle-hardened Seminoles have weathered a bruising schedule — Cocoa, Lake Mary, Treasure Coast, Osceola, Apopka twice — and they're packed with defensive talent, including corner Chasen Johnson (committed to Duke), linebacker Ethan Pritchard (Florida State) and defensive tackle Preston Watson (Duke). Seminole can run the ball with Treyvin Clark (901 yards, 8 TD) and Rodney Grant (604 yards, 7 TD) or throw it with Karson Siqueiros-Lasky (163 of 250, 2,282 yards passing, 27 TD) and Michael Key (620 yards, 10 TD). But when Mandarin puts together four solid quarters, they're tough to stop. Senior running back Tiant Wyche (1,462 yards rushing, 21 TD) is coming off a season-high 253 all-purpose yards at No. 1 Lake Mary behind a line including All-Gateway honorees Deryc Plazz and Gavin Barton, and the junior air combination of FSU-committed Tramell Jones (145 of 235, 2,531 yards, 26 TD) and Alabama-committed Jaime Ffrench (44 catches, 931 yards, 10 TD) ranks among Florida's best. So does Mandarin's secondary with future Division I players A.J. Belgrave-Shorter, Jon Mitchell and Hylton Stubbs.

REGION 1-2M

No. 4 Bolles (7-5) at No. 3 Bishop Moore (9-3), 7 p.m.

Winner gets: Dec. 1 semifinal, to be determined based on FHSAA ranking. Bolles would travel to all opponents. Possible semifinalists: Plantation American Heritage, Cardinal Gibbons, Berkeley Prep, Clearwater Calvary Christian, Miami Norland and Miami Central.

Road here: Bolles d. Bishop Kenny 45-14, d. Raines 14-7; Bishop Moore d. White 42-22, d. Riverside 37-35.

Outlook: Bolles is bidding for a fifth consecutive state semifinal visit, but they'll have to travel to Orlando to get it. The Bulldogs' defense, excellent all year, was at its best against Raines: Garrison Butler recorded two sacks from defensive tackle, Trent Carter led with 16 tackles, Simeon Caldwell got his hands on two punts and Troy Holloway blocked a field goal. Hard-running backs Emmett Grzebin and Ty Neal have combined for more than 1,500 yards behind the offensive line, and Naeem Burroughs (40 catches, 842 yards) and Chase Collier are threats to take any D.J. Moore pass to the end zone. Bishop Moore survived a spirited second-half rally from Riverside, including a disputed out-of-bounds call on a potential Tae'shaun Gelsey touchdown, to escape from the Generals 37-35. Playing against the Hornets means containing junior quarterback Bjorn Jurgensen, who can run (104 yards and three touchdowns against Riverside) and pass (190 yards and another score). He has accounted for 2,881 total yards, with junior Gabriel Diaz as the top target. Bolles won 27-10 in last year's playoffs, with 139 yards from Neal.

REGION 1-1M

Orlando Christian Prep (10-1) at Trinity Christian (8-3), 7 p.m.

Winner gets: Dec. 1 semifinal, to be determined based on FHSAA ranking. Trinity would travel to all opponents. Possible semifinalists: Clearwater Central Catholic, Carrollwood Day, Chaminade-Madonna, Cardinal Newman, Miami True North and Archbishop Carroll.

Road here: Orlando Christian Prep d. Providence 28-25; Trinity Christian d. University Christian 28-22.

Outlook: A matchup that Trinity won in both the 2021 and 2022 playoffs, by 29-21 and 30-13 scores. Senior running back/strong safety Cameron Anderson is playing iron-man football right now for the Conquerors, running for 353 yards and eight touchdowns on offense and racking up 14 1/2 tackles for loss on defense. He alternates with three-time 1,000-yard rusher Darnell Rogers in the backfield, complementing the throwing arm of LSU-bound Colin Hurley (128 of 216, 1,807 yards, 23 TD) and receivers Kyle Boylston (26 catches, 434 yards) and Miles Burris (38 catches, 529 yards). They'll face a run-first OCP offense that had to take to the air last week against Providence: Cameron Kurzon threw three touchdown passes, although more often the Warriors rely on the legs of Avery Anderson and Akeevin Anderson. Trinity's offensive front must protect Hurley from OCP pass rusher Stanley Ihekwoaba, who tallied three sacks last week.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Northeast Florida regional final: High school football playoff preview