On Thursday afternoon, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) had its bracket release show on its YouTube channel, although not without some drama.
It was scheduled for noon but was pushed back to 1 p.m. when an Orange County judge temporarily lifted The First Academy (Orlando) football team’s two-year postseason ban just a couple of hours before the FHSAA announced its brackets.
TFA had filed an emergency temporary injunction, and a hearing is scheduled for Monday before the FHSAA can complete its bracket for Class 1A-Region 2.
Following the delay, a total of 13 teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area heard their name called.
Buchholz, which is seeking its fifth straight state semifinal appearance, had the best ranking overall at No. 4 in the Sunshine State.
The Bobcats (9-1), who earned the overall No. 1 seed in Class 6A and could host all the way up to the state championship game, will host No. 8 Oviedo (8-2) next Thursday night to start the postseason.
There was some uncertainty surrounding both Newberry and Santa Fe (Alachua) on whether one or both would make the postseason in Class 2A. The Panthers (5-5) and Raiders (7-3) each earned a postseason bid.
Newberry, which defeated Santa Fe, 27-7, on Oct. 3, is the No. 6 seed and will travel to defending 2A state champion and No. 3 seed Cocoa (5-4), while No. 7 seed Santa Fe will play at No. 2 seed Calvary Christian (Clearwater) (7-3).
One of the more interesting first-round games is No. 5 seed South Sumer (Bushnell) at No. 4 seed Eastside in Class 3A-Region 2. The host Rams (8-2), winners of five in a row, rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Raiders (6-4), 27-21, and win the 3A-District 5 title.
Last year, the Raiders denied the Rams a district title.
Hawthorne, which is seeking its sixth straight state championship game appearance, Chiefland, Williston, Trenton, and Branford all made the Rural state tournament.
However, Fort White got left out.
Instead, the Indians (6-4) are the No. 1 seed in the Rural Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT), meaning they finished 17th and missed the top 16 bracket.
Despite a slightly better strength of schedule than Jay (-0.81 vs. -1.01), the Royals (6-4) edged the Indians, 2.947-2.904.
Trenton (Bryant Frye) and Santa Fe (Earnest Graham) advanced to the postseason in their coach’s first season.
FHSAA Football – Regional Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 14
All games at 7 p.m.
Class Rural-Region 2
13 Trenton (7-3) at 4 Taylor County (Perry) (9-1)
Class Rural-Region 3
14 Sneads (7-3) at 3 Chiefland (9-1)
Class Rural-Region 4
10 Lafayette (Mayo) (8-2) at 7 Williston (9-1)
15 Branford (7-3) at 2 Hawthorne (7-1)
Rural Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT)
Friday, Nov. 21
9 Wildwood/8 Jefferson County at 1 Fort White (6-4)
6 Union County (Lake Butler) (2-7) at 3 Holmes County (Bonifay) (5-5)
Regional Quarterfinals
Class 2A-Region 2
8 Avon Park (6-4) at 1 Bradford (Starke) (9-1)
7 Santa Fe (Alachua) (7-3) at 2 Calvary Christian (Clearwater) (7-3)
6 Newberry (5-5) at 3 Cocoa (5-4)
Class 3A-Region 2
5 South Sumter (Bushnell) (6-4) at 4 Eastside (8-2)
Class 4A-Region 1
6 Rickards (Tallahassee) (3-7) at 3 Columbia (Lake City) (8-2)
Thursday, Nov. 13
Class 6A-Region 1
8 Oviedo (8-2) at 1 Buchholz (9-1)