2021 FHSAA Playoffs State Semifinal Results

     The state semifinals of the 2021 FHSAA Playoffs were played on Friday night. There were seven South Florida high schools that entered the state semifinals and five teams advanced to state championship games. 

     There will be no local teams in the Class 8A state title tilt. The state semifinals resulted in the Venice Indians knocking off the Columbus Explorers 35-7. The Treasure Coast Titans hosted and were blanked by the Apopka Blue Darters 21-10. Venice will be going for their first state title since 2017 while Apopka attempts to capture their first state championship since 2014. 

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders blasted the Buchholz Bobcats 45-7 in the Class 7A state semifinal at Brian Piccolo Stadium. The Raiders reached the state title game for the fourth straight year and the 14th time in the last 18 seasons. STA will attempt to capture a state-record 13th FHSAA football state championship against Tampa Bay Tech. 

     In the Class 6A state semifinal, Miami Northwestern Bulls went to Tampa and fell to the Jesuit Tigers 37-12. No local high schools will be involved for the state title game as Jesuit challenges Pine Forest. 

     The Miami Central Rockets were able to outscore the Baker County Wildcats 54-21 at Traz Powell Stadium in the Class 5A state semifinal. They will try to win their three consecutive state title as they face Merritt Island in the championship contest. The Rockets captured the Class 6A state championship in 2019 and 2020. 

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs got a home victory over the Lakewood Spartans 36-18 in the Class 4A state semifinal at Fort Lauderdale. They will have the shortest trip of all Florida high schools to the state championship game at DRV PNK Stadium. The Chiefs look to win their second straight Class 4A state title and third overall in the last four seasons versus Cocoa. 

     The Chaminade-Madonna Lions routed the Florida State University High Seminoles 38-3 at Hollywood in the Class 3A state semifinal. The Lions reached the state championship games for the sixth consecutive year. They won three straight Class 3A state title from 2017 to 2019 and challenge Berkeley Prep next week.     

     In Class 2A, the Champagnat Catholic Lions defeated the First Baptist Academy Lions 27-8 in Naples to advance into the championship round. The Lions will attempt next week to capture their third consecutive Class 2A state championship and fourth state title in the last five seasons when they take on Trinity Christian Academy. It will be the sixth straight appearance by Champagnat Catholic in the state title contest.