High School Football Playoff Preview

Another week of Friday night lights is upon us with several area teams involved in state playoff action.

We first head to Fort White, where the Indians, 7-1 and undefeated in district play, will gear up to take on the East Gadsden Jaguars (4-6) in a Class 4A-Region 1 matchup. The Indians are coming off a 35-21 win over Buchholz heading into the playoffs.  Fort White coach Demetric Jackson discusses tonight’s game and says his team needs to prevent the Jaguars from making big plays in order to come out victorious.

“Another team that’s going to come in with a big offense and defensive line and that’s going to play physical,” Jackson said. We’ve seen them in the past, we’ve actually played them a couple of years ago; they’re really athletic so we have to do a good job of containing them and keeping them within the perimeter and not letting them hit the big plays on us.”

The Jaguars are looking to bounce back from last week’s disappointing 43-15 loss to the Rickards Raiders; kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

In Class 4A, Region 2, the Keystone Heights Indians (5-5) who are also undefeated in district play will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Bolles Bulldogs (7-3). Both teams will enter the contest after tough losses last week. The Indians are coming off a 34-7 loss to Santa Fe while the Bulldogs are coming off a 42-31 loss to Niceville. Keystone Heights coach Charles Dickinson says he expects this game to be a challenge for his team, but limiting turnovers is the key to winning tonight’s matchup.

“Number one like I said we need to limit the turnovers, number two we have to be able to control the ball offensively and keep their offense off the field,” Dickinson said. The longer we do that, the better chances I think we have. We have to play sound special teams and if we win the turnover battle I think that will definitely be a big plus.”

Kick off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Other playoff matchups scheduled for tonight include:

6A: Columbia (9-1) at St. Augustine (8-2) , Land O’ Lakes Sunlake (8-2) at Gainesville (8-2). 5A: Suwannee (7-2) at South Sumter (10-0). 4A: Bradford (3-6) at Jacksonville Raines (8-2). 1A: Lafayette (7-2) at Trenton (8-1), Bell (8-2) at Hamilton County (4-5), Wildwood (2-8) at Dixie County (9-0), Union County (9-1) at Crescent City (6-4).

For audio on the quotes above, click here:

Demetric Jackson, Fort White Coach

Charles Dickinson, Keystone Heights Coach