Here are the two best matchups in each of the big-school classifications this weekend. All games at 7:30 Friday:
CLASS 6A
Miami Central (9-1) vs. Miami Columbus (9-1) at FIU Stadium: The Rockets, whose only loss came to 6A No. 1 Miami Northwestern, are of course led by senior QB Jeffrey Godrey, who broke Jacory Harris career passing yardage record in Miami-Dade County in last week’s win over Booker T. Washington, the state’s top 3A team. Godrey has now thrown for 6,543 yards during his three-plus seasons. Columbus is led by running back Jakhari Gore, who has a county-best 28 touchdowns this season. These two met in the playoffs two seasons ago, with the Explorers winning. The winner likely gets Miami Northwestern.
DeLand (9-1) at Orange Park (10-0): The Bulldogs didn’t play last week after losing on Nov. 6 to Daytona Beach Mainland. Orange Park finished off a perfect regular season with an impressive 35-9 rout of Fleming Island last weekend. Orange Park hasn’t really been threatened since beating Gainesville Buchholz 20-17 early in the season. Since then, the Raiders have outscored opponents 313-75. Orange Park, with its Wing-T offense, has averaged 36.1 points per game and has three running backs, C.J. Stallworth, Demetre Baker and Damon Kell, who average better than 7 yards a carry. Georgia commitment Baker has run for 1,040 yards, and Stallworth and Kelly have 660 and 556 yards, respectively. Deante Saunders and Shontrelle Johnson for the 1-2 running punch for DeLand, having for 2,591 yards and 28 touchdowns. The winner faces the Mainland-Sandalwood winner.
Other games
Jacksonville Sandalwood (8-2) at Daytona Beach Mainland (8-2)
Orlando Timber Creek (6-4) at Sanford Seminole (8-2)
Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley (7-3) at Winter Park (9-1)
Orlando Boone (7-3) at Apopka (9-1)
Orlando Olympia (8-2) at Orlando Dr. Phillips (10-0)
Loxahatchee Seminole Ridge (7-3) at Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (7-3) (Thursday)
Vero Beach (7-3) at Boca Raton (8-2)
Plantation (7-3) at Deerfield Beach (7-3)
Oakland Park Northeast (5-5) at Miramar (9-1)
Ives Estates Dr. Krop (6-4) at Miramar Everglades (5-5)
Weston Cypress Bay (5-5) at Miami Carol City (6-4) (Traz Powell Stadium)
Coral Gables (6-4) at Miami Northwestern (9-1) (Thursday, Traz Powell Stadium)
Homestead South Dade (8-2) at Miami Ferguson (6-4) (Thursday, Tropical Park)
Miami Sunset (5-5) at Miami Southridge (9-0) (Harris Field)
CLASS 5A
Kissimmee Osceola (6-4) at Oviedo (9-1): The Lions’ defense has been on a roll, holding seven of the past eight opponents to two scores or fewer during an eight-game win streak. The Kowboys, in the playoffs for the third year in a row, were off last week and are 2-0 under coach Jeff Rolson in this round. Osceola’s four losses this year came to opponents that finished the season a combined 37-3, so throw out the Kowboys’ record. Oviedo is led by UCF-bound QB Blake Bortles, who threw for more than 2,100 yards with 25 touchdowns. Osceola has one of the best defensive front fours in the state, led by B.J. Butler, a Georgia commit. Osceola won fairly easily in games between these two in 2007 and ’08. Friday’s winner will play the Winter Springs-Lakeland winner next week.
St. Petersburg (9-1) at Venice (9-2): This game probably won’t be too close. St. Petersburg had last week off after finishing the regular season with 42-14 win over Dunedin. Venice also was idle after crushing Woods Haven Prep, 46-6, on Nov. 6. Venice has won nine straight games (by a combined 341-121) since dropping its opener to nationally ranked Oscar Smith (Va.) The Indians are led by QB Trey Burton, a Florida commit and possible Florida Mr. Football this year. He has thrown for 1,880 yards and 18 touchdowns this season (one pick) and rushed for 22 scores. The Green Devils led by RB Malik Wilson (676 yards, 11 TDs), and RB Ben Sams (428 yards, 9 TDs).
Other games
Daytona Beach Seabreeze (6-4) at Neptune Beach Fletcher (9-1)
Jacksonville First Coast (6-4) at Orange Park Fleming Island (8-2)
Winter Springs (3-7) at Lakeland (10-0)
Plant City (7-3) at Tampa Plant (9-1)
Tampa Alonso (4-6) at Lithia Newsome (7-3)
Tarpon Springs East Lake (7-3) at Tampa Bay Tech (8-1)
Tampa Freedom (7-2-1) at Clearwater Countryside (9-1)
Bradenton Manatee (9-1) at St. Petersburg Gibbs (6-4)
St. Petersburg (9-1) at Venice (9-2)
Royal Palm Beach (4-6) at Palm Bay Bayside (6-4)
Melbourne (5-5) at Lantana Santaluces (5-5)
Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson (5-5) at West Boca Raton (7-3)
Wellington (5-5) at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (9-1)
Hollywood South Broward Broward (9-1) at Coconut Creek (5-5) (Pompano Beach)
Coral Springs (7-3) at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (10-0)
CLASS 4A
Pace (6-4) at Niceville (9-0): Niceville is one of just two unbeatens in the 4A playoffs along with Cape Coral. But reportedly three Niceville players were involved in a Monday night altercation that erupted moments after the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview girls’ basketball game. These three players, two of whom have been confirmed as WR Kody Williams and DB Anthony Miles will be punished “internally” before Friday’s game against Pace. Williams, who has 568 yards receiving and 12 TDs, is one of the top wideouts in the Panhandle and a Division I recruit. He will play, it’s just not certain how much. This is a rematch of a Week 5 game, which Niceville won 42-28 at Pace.
Hillsborough (7-3) at Largo (8-2): These teams couldn’t enter on more different paths. Largo beat Palm Harbor 53-6 last week, while Hillsborough lost by 18 to Tampa Bay Tech. Largo, which earned its fifth consecutive district title this season, has reached the state semifinals the past two seasons, falling to St. Thomas Aquinas both times. The Terriers return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Hillsborough has a ton of athletes on both sides of the ball -- Tarean Austin, Terrence Mitchell, Charles Lovett and Rodney Johnson — but hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record. Largo, the best team in Pinellas County, is expected to start WR Myrick Gwynn at running back. The winner of this one faces the Sickles-Armwood winner.
Other games
Fort Walton Beach (5-4) at Pensacola Pine Forest (8-2)
Jacksonville Ed White (8-2) at Tallahassee Lincoln (7-3), (Chiles Stadium)
Tallahassee Leon (6-3) at Lake City Columbia (7-2-1)
Hudson (5-5) at Gainesville (9-1)
Ocala Lake Weir (8-2) at Tarpon Springs (8-2)
Haines City (5-4) at Orlando Edgewater (7-3)
St. Cloud (6-4) at Lakeland Lake Gibson (6-3)
Tampa Sickles (8-2) at Seffner Armwood (9-1)
Cape Coral Ida Baker (8-2) at Punta Gorda Charlotte (9-1)
Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (6-4) at Cape Coral (10-0)
Stuart South Fork (5-5) at New Smyrna Beach (6-4)
Melbourne Palm Bay (8-2) at Fort Pierce Central (6-4)
Hollywood Hills (6-4) at Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer (9-1)
Palm Beach Lakes (7-3) at Fort Lauderdale Stranahan (8-2)
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