TAMPA, Fla. — Two Bay area high school football teams are vying for state championships.
Tampa Bay Tech and Jesuit are trying to bring home titles. Berkeley Prep lost to Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 21-0 in the 3A state championship game last week.
No Bay area teams have won a state title since 2011 when Armwood and Plant brought home crowns. Armwood’s title was later forfeited due to recruiting violations.
This year, in addition to Berkeley Prep, Jesuit and Tampa Bay Tech will compete for a championship.
Here’s a look at the games:
7A State Championship, St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders vs. Tampa Bay Tech Titans
Date: Dec 17 | Time: 7 p.m.
Brackets | Tickets: Ticketmaster | Live Stream
Florida's premier program faces a first-time finalist in the 7A Championship. No team has won more championships in state history than St. Thomas Aquinas. The Raiders have 12 state titles overall, and seven in the past 11 seasons (including each of the last two years). The nationally-ranked program once again brings a roster loaded with Power 5 recruits into the title game. Tampa Bay Tech is well-established as one of the Bay Area's premier programs, but now the Titans look to prove they belong amongst the state's elite. The Titans earned the top seed in the entire state for the 7A classification, and can complete a perfect 15-0 season with a win over Aquinas.
6A State Championship, Pine Forest Eagles vs. Jesuit Tigers
Date: Dec 18 | Time: 7 p.m.
Brackets | Tickets: Ticketmaster | Live Stream
In the 6A Championship, either Pine Forest or Jesuit will take home their first state title in at least 20 years. Pine Forest is back in the championship for the first time since 2006, and could take home to Pensacola the program's first title since 2000. After a loss in the season opener, the Eagles have reeled off 12 straight wins, including seven games with more than 40 points scored. A ground game racking up more than 275 yards/game features three players with double-digit rushing TDs: Tierra Wilson, Miequle Brock and Kobe Johnson. Jesuit has ended an even longer title game appearance, advancing to a championship game for the first time since 1992. The Tigers' lone state championship win came in 1968. But this isn't completely new territory for one of the Bay Area's best programs. Jesuit had advanced to the Final Four five times from 2015 to 2020, before breaking through this year and beating Miami Northwestern in the 6A Semifinals. Their perfect 14-0 record entering the title game includes a win over St. Thomas Aquinas. In the playoffs, the Tigers have won every game by at least 25 points, and hold the highest national rank of any Florida team.