Below is a recap of FHSAA regional semifinal games and FIT Regional Finals featuring area teams.
No. 2 Mandarin 42, No. 3 Pace 35 (Region 1-6A semifinals)
The Patriots cut the Mustangs lead to 42-35 with 8:10 left before the Mustangs ran out the final 8:10.
Pace recovered the opening kickoff to take a 7-0 but didn’t lead again. Mandarin scored 21 unanswered points, though the Patriots did answer back to tie the game in the second quarter before the Mustangs scored a touchdown to go back ahead in the final minute.
Pace and its smashmouth running game scored again on the opening drive of the second half to tie the game, but Mandarin answered with two more touchdowns to take a 42-28 lead early in the fourth quarter.
For more on this game, see our website.
Up next: Mandarin (11-1) will play at No. 1 Buchholz the the Region 1-6A final on Nov. 28. Pace (10-2) is eliminated and its season is over.
No. 1 Raines 54, No. 5 West Florida 0 (Region 1-3A semifinals)
The defending 3A state runner-up obliterated the Jaguars to return to the Region 1-3A final.
Raines led 33-0 at halftime and 47-0 at the end of the third quarter. Everybody ate for the Vikings.
Tadarius Washington ran for two touchdowns in the first half and Taisean Haynes and Travis Williams ran for one. Timothy Cole threw for three touchdowns, with two going to Zion Green and another to Devin Frazier. Illinois commit Tony Williams returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Up next: Raines (11-0) will host No. 3 seed Bishop Kenny (10-2) in the Region 1-3A final on Nov. 28. West Florida (7-5) is eliminated and its season is over.
No. 2 Pensacola Catholic 34, South Walton 7 (Region 1-2A semifinals)
The Crusaders outscored the Seahawks 27-0 in the second half to advance to the regional final for the second time in three years.
Catholic quarterback Jaylin Brown threw touchdowns to Caden Jasso and Donnelle Gulley and ran for another. Caleb Willoughby ran for an eight-yard touchdown on 4th-and-1 to put the Crusaders in front 14-7 with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Jayden Coleman returned an interception for a touchdown with 9:42 in the fourth quarter to put Catholic in front 27-7. The Crusaders defense forced four turnovers.
For more coverage from this game, see our website.
Up next: Pensacola Catholic (11-1) will travel to No. 1 seed Bolles (11-1) for the Region 1-2A final on Nov. 28. South Walton (8-4) is eliminated and its season is over.
No. 2 Tate 21, No. 6 Bartram Trail 19 (4A-7A FIT Regional Final)
The Aggies held off the Bears and will be practicing Thanksgiving week for the first time since 2015.
Tate led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 14-6 at the end of both the second quarter and third quarter.
Bartram Trail took its final drive all the way to the Tate 15-yard line before an interception with about a minute left sealed the win.
Up next: Tate (9-3) will host No. 5 seed Chiles (8-4) in the FIT Final Four on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.. Bartram Trail (4-8) is eliminated and its season is over.
No. 2 Port St. Joe 37, No. 7 Central 0 (Rural FIT Regional Final)
The Jaguars historic season comes to an end.
Port St. Joe led 37-0 at halftime to force a running clock in the second half.
Central went from one win in its inaugural season in 2024 to four wins in its second season. The Jaguars also had their first winning streak, winning their last four games, and their first playoff win with a victory over Wewahitchka in the FIT Regional Semifinals last week.
Up next: Port St. Joe (5-5) will host No. 3 Holmes County (6-5) in the FIT Final Four on Nov. 28. Central (4-7) is eliminated and its season is over.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Catholic, Tate football advance in FHSAA playoffs
Reporting by Justin Fitzgerald, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
