JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three area high school football teams are playing for state championships this week at the Villages Charter.
Fernandina Beach faces Frostproof in the Atlantic State championship game and Cedar Creek Christian squares off against Legacy Charter in the Class 1A state championship. Both of those games are Friday at 7 p.m. On Saturday, St. Joseph and Jupiter Christian clash at 1 p.m.
Atlantic State championship
Fernandina Beach (6-6) vs. Frostproof (8-3), 7 p.m.
Road here: Fernandina Beach def. West Nassau, 24-20; def. Paxon by forfeit; Frostproof def. Bayside, 28-20; def. Delray Beach American Heritage, 21-0.
Glance: Both teams are in their first seasons in the SSAA and they’ve delivered. The Pirates got an extra week off after Paxon was forced to forfeit following a postgame incident against Lake Weir in the opening round of the playoffs. Fernandina Beach ended rival West Nassau’s season with its biggest win of the year in the opening round. QBs Ian Miller and Beckham Rohe have combined for 19 TD passes. RB D’ante Simms (613 rushing yards, 9 TDs) and Jeremiah Jordan (534 receiving yards, 7 TDs) offer playmaking ability for the Pirates. On defense, DB Othellus Swift has six of Fernandina’s 14 interceptions. … Frostproof will be the most difficult assignment of the season for the Pirates. All three of its losses are to playoff teams, including a region No. 1 seed (Providence) and a No. 2 seed (Lakeland Christian).
Class 1A state championship
Cedar Creek Christian (5-5) vs. Legacy Charter (4-6), 7 p.m.
Road here: Cedar Creek def. Saint Francis, 36-8; def. Windermere Prep, 64-27; Legacy Charter, bye in first round; def. Trinity Prep, 16-14.
Glance: A rematch of late October game, won 36-12 by the Eagles. A win by the Saints would be their best record since a 7-2 finish in 2018 for longtime head coach Jamie Gamel.
Class 5A state championship
St. Joseph (10-1) vs. Jupiter Christian (9-3), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Road here: St. Joseph def. Oak Hall, 52-20; def. Foundation Academy, 10-5; Jupiter Christian def. Seffner Christian, 34-20; d. Out-of-Door Academy, 29-26.
Glance: The Flashes have been another excellent story out of St. Johns County this year. They won their first eight games before a loss to Interlachen, but they’ve handled things in the playoffs. QB Cody Ott (1,538 passing yards, 26 TDs), RB Jack Fox (1,133 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and Jeremiah Kes (840 receiving yards, 13 TDs) have been the headliners on offense. On the other side of the ball, DBs Asher Glisson (118 tackles, 11 TFL) and Jamir Steward (4 picks) lead the way for head coach Cash Forbrich.
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