HIGH-SCHOOL

High School Football Playoffs: Week 4 preview

Hays Carlyon
Gary McCullough St. Augustine Record Bartram Trail quarterback Nathan Peterman passes against Pace in a Class 6A regional final on Dec. 2. The Bears take on Seffner Armwood in the state semifinals tonight.

All games start at 7:30 p.m. today. Rankings are from the Associated Press state poll.

CLASS 8A

FLETCHER (11-2) AT NO. 3 TAMPA PLANT (12-1)

Playoff road (most recent game first): Fletcher - def. Orlando Timber Creek 31-27; def. No. 7 DeLand 24-7; def. No. 2 Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley 28-14.

Plant - def. Tarpon Springs East Lake 28-21; def. Orlando Dr. Phillips 49-13; def. Orlando Boone 54-21.

All-time playoff record: Fletcher 9-16. Plant 32-11 (three titles).

Winner gets: Either No.1 Miramar or No. 4 Miami Columbus in the state championship game, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Orlando's Citrus Bowl.

Outlook: Fletcher faces its fourth road test of the playoffs and third against a ranked team. Plant is one of the state's top squads. The Panthers are incredibly balanced offensively, passing for 2,466 yards while rushing for 2,335 yards this season. Fletcher's offense, led by dynamic running back Jamari Smith, will have to find success against a Plant defense allowing only 12.5 points per game.

Related: Fletcher coach preps for state semifinal, White House visit in same week

CLASS 7A

NO. 2 LAKELAND (13-0) AT NO. 1 FIRST COAST (12-0)

Playoff road: Lakeland - def. Tampa Gaither 42-14; def. Kissimmee Osceola 20-7; def. Saint Cloud 26-21.

First Coast - def. Clermont East Ridge 28-21; def. Fleming Island 31-24 OT; def. Ocala Forest 40-20.

All-time playoff record: Lakeland 59-18 (six titles). First Coast 6-8.

Winner gets: Either No. 5 Bradenton Manatee or No. 7 Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer in the state championship game, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 at the Citrus Bowl.

Outlook: First Coast has flirted with becoming one of the state's premier programs. It can take a major step toward that with a win over tradition-rich Lakeland, led by legendary coach Bill Castle. Lakeland is coming off a masterful performance in its regional final win over Gaither. The Dreadnaughts outgained Gaither 429-102, with Gaither getting 68 yards after a running clock was implemented with Lakeland up 42-7.

Related: With these Bucs, you're stopped here

CLASS 6A

NO. 6 BARTRAM TRAIL (12-1) AT NO. 1 SEFFNER ARMWOOD (13-0)

Playoff road: Bartram Trail - def. Pace 34-24; def. Columbia 27-24; def. Ridgeview 62-10.

Armwood - def. Gainesville 17-14; def. Tampa Hillsborough 23-0; def. Bradenton Lakewood Ranch 35-31.

All-time playoff record: Bartram Trail 9-9. Armwood 36-11 (two titles).

Winner gets: Either No. 2 Miami Central or No. 3 Daytona Beach Mainland in the state championship game, 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Citrus Bowl.

Outlook: Armwood is ranked by USA Today as the fourth best team in the nation, so the Bears will have to play flawless. Bartram Trail has the offensive talent to put points up on just about any defense. However, Armwood shut out Tampa Plant 21-0 on Oct. 28, so this will clearly be Bartram's toughest test.

Related: Bartram Trail makes way to state final four