BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford, Keystone Heights and Union County high schools will all host first-round playoff football games on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m.
The Florida High School Athletic Association released its final RPI rankings today, with Bradford, Keystone and Union all ranked third in their respective regions. Bradford (5-5) will play sixth-seed Newberry (5-5) in a Region 4-1A quarterfinal, while in Region 3-1A, Union (10-0) will play sixth-seed Trenton (4-5). In Class 4A, Keystone (9-1) will play sixth-seed Umatilla (6-4) at in a Region 2 quarterfinal.
Teams with the top six RPI numbers in each region earned playoff berths. RPI was calculated using a formula that factored in a team’s winning percentage as well as the winning percentages of its opponents and its opponents’ opponents.
Bradford, Keystone and Union would all travel for Nov. 19 semifinal games against the second-seeded teams in their regions if they win on Nov. 12. The Tornadoes would play Pahokee (7-1), while the Indians would play The Villages (10-0). The Tigers would play Hilliard (9-1).
A springtime matchup revisited
The Tornadoes face a team they’ve already seen in 2021, but that was back in May when they hosted Newberry in a spring classic, winning 27-7.
Newberry is making its third straight regional playoff appearance and its fifth in the last six years. This is the 23rd year overall the Panthers have appeared in the playoffs. They have a 20-22 postseason record.
Bradford is making its seventh straight playoff appearance and its 22nd overall. The Tornadoes have a 20-19 postseason record
The Panthers enter this year’s playoffs off a 42-0 loss to South Sumter on Nov. 5. Newberry is on a two-game losing streak, having dropped a 45-13 contest against Union County prior to playing South Sumter.
Union, which defeated Bradford 50-21 this season, is one of three common opponents this season for the Tornadoes and Panthers. The teams also played University Christian — with Bradford losing 27-20 and Newberry losing 41-26 — and Fort White — with Bradford winning 33-6 and Newberry winning 14-7.
Class 4A South Sumter, Class 2A University Christian and Class 1A teams Fort White and Union are four of five teams Newberry played this season that qualified for the postseason. The Panthers also played Class 5A Wakulla (a 36-17 loss).
In addition to Fort White, Union County and University Christian, Bradford played postseason-qualifying teams in Class 5A Baker County (a 28-18 loss), Class 3A Baldwin (a 38-21 loss) and Class 1A Madison County (a 32-21 loss).
Newberry is scoring an average of 20.4 points per game, while its opponents are scoring an average of 28.6 points per game.
Bradford is scoring an average of 24.7 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 23.6 points per game.
Mismatch rematch?
The past is the past and not necessarily an indicator of what will happen in the present day, but Keystone and Umatilla played each other in the regular season, with the Indians winning 68-13.
Umatilla fell to 1-3 after that loss, but went on to win five of its next six games.
The Bulldogs are making their first postseason appearance in seven years. They’ve qualified for the playoffs nine years and have a 5-9 record.
This is Keystone’s third straight year in the playoffs and the Indians’ 12th appearance overall. The Indians are still seeking their first-ever postseason win.
Keystone and Umatilla played two common opponents this season in Bell and Crescent City. The Indians defeated Bell 38-0 and Crescent City 56-21, while the Bulldogs defeated Bell 20-14 and lost 41-6 to Crescent City.
Class 1A Bell and Class 3A Crescent City are two of five teams Umatilla played this season that qualified for the postseason. Aside from Keystone, the Bulldogs also played Class 4A Tenoroc, winning 24-20, and Class 6A Belleview, losing 33-8.
Aside from Bell, Crescent City and Umatilla, Keystone played postseason-qualifying teams in Class 1A Fort White (a 30-14 win) and Class 3A P.K. Yonge (a 33-14 loss).
Umatilla is scoring an average of 20.5 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 29.7 points per game.
The Indians are scoring an average of 41 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 10.2 points per game.
Thomas’ new Tigers vs. his old Tigers
Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas has guided the Tigers to the playoffs in each of his two years at the helm. He’s plenty familiar with the opponent his team faces on Friday. Trenton gave him his first head-coaching opportunity.
All he did at Trenton was go 60-5 in five seasons, leading that group of Tigers to state championships in 2013 and 2015.
Trenton is in the playoffs for the third straight year and for the 10th time in 11 years. Trenton has a 24-18 postseason record, with 13 of those wins coming under Thomas.
This is the Tigers’ fifth straight year in the playoffs and their 24th year overall. Union has a 35-20 postseason record.
Trenton enters the playoffs off a 14-7 win over Hamilton County, which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Five of Trenton’s opponents qualified for the postseason. Trenton lost to all of them: Class 1A Lafayette by a 26-14 score, Class 3A Crescent City by a 47-41 score, Class 1A Chiefland by a 42-0 score, Class 1A Hilliard by a 28-21 score and Class 1A Liberty County by a 31-14 score.
Union defeated three eventual playoff teams during the regular season: Class 1A Bradford by a 50-21 score, Class 3A P.K. Yonge by a 28-13 score and Class 1A Newberry by a 45-13 score.
Trenton is scoring an average of 26.1 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 30.1 points per game.
Union is scoring an average of 39.9 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 9.1 points per game.
