BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford, Keystone Heights and Union County learned of their opponents in this year’s football playoffs with the release of the brackets on Nov. 5.
Bradford (10-0) is the top seed in Region 2 of Class 2S and will host eighth seed Atlantic (5-5) in a quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Keystone (6-4) is region’s seventh seed and will travel to play second seed Yulee (8-2) on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Union (6-3) is the third seed in Region 3 of Class 1R. The Tigers will host sixth seed Hilliard (3-7) in a quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Matchups and seedings were determined by the season’s final Florida High School Athletic Association power rankings.
Bradford is ranked number two overall in Class 2S behind Cocoa. Atlantic, which is located in Port Orange, is ranked 39th.
The Indians are 35th in 2S, while Yulee is 14th.
In Class 1R, Union is 11th, while Hilliard is 28th.
BHS going for 5th straight win in the playoffs’ 1st round
Bradford is making its ninth straight playoff appearance and is looking to win a first-round game for the fifth straight year. The Tornadoes have five first-round wins in the past six seasons.
This is Bradford’s 24th season in the playoffs. The Tornadoes have a postseason record of 24-21 after going 3-1 last year.
The Tornadoes’ opponent has experienced little postseason success. Atlantic, which is making its seventh playoff appearance, has a postseason record of 2-6. The Sharks’ last playoff appearance was in 2020 as a Class 5A team. Their last postseason win was in the 2019 Class 5A playoffs.
The Sharks’ five wins this year came against teams with a combined record of 14-34. They played only three teams that finished the regular season with a winning record: Palatka (19-14 loss), Matanzas (35-7) loss and New Smyrna Beach (36-0 loss).
Three of Atlantic’s losses came against teams that qualified for the playoffs: Matanzas, New Smyrna Beach and Palatka.
Atlantic, which enters the Bradford game having won two in a row and three of its last four games, is scoring an average of 24 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 17 points.
Bradford is scoring an average of 32 points per game and allowing an average of four points per game.
Six of the Tornadoes’ wins this season came against teams with winning records: Baker County (12-0 score), Eastside (34-7), Keystone (48-6), True North Classical Academy (24-13), Palatka (42-0) and Suwannee (35-3). All six of those teams are in the playoffs, with True North earning a number-one seed in Class 1M.
The Tornadoes played an additional two playoff qualifiers in Baldwin and Middleburg, who each went 5-5. Bradford defeated Baldwin 40-6 and Middleburg 32-7.
Bradford began last season’s playoff run with a 48-0 win over Crescent City.
If the Tornadoes defeat Atlantic, they’ll host fourth seed Eastside or fifth seed Palatka in the Friday, Nov. 17, Region 2 semifinals.
KHHS is in for 4th time in 5 years
Keystone had a string of three straight postseason appearances end last year when the Indians went 2-8. The Indians return this year, making their 13th playoff appearance overall.
The Indians won their first-ever playoff game in 2021, which gives them a 1-12 postseason record overall.
Yulee, which is making its second straight postseason appearance and sixth overall, has a playoff record of 3-5. The Hornets’ last playoff win occurred in the 2012 Class 4A playoffs, when they went 2-1, riding running back Derrick Henry to the regional finals before losing 45-35 to Bolles.
The Hornets played two teams that finished with winning records during the regular season, losing to both: Titusville (27-14) and Baker County (32-14).
Titusville, Baker County and Baldwin (a 12-7) win were the only teams Yulee faced that qualified for the postseason.
Yulee, which is on a three-game winning streak, is scoring an average of 27 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 12 per game.
Keystone played four opponents that finished the regular season with winning records, with all four qualifying for the playoffs: Eastside (35-0 loss), Fort White (49-26 loss), Bradford (48-6 loss) and Palatka (41-21 loss).
The Indians are scoring an average of 29 points per game, while allowing an average of 27 per game.
If Keystone defeats Yulee, it will travel to play third seed Baker County or sixth seed Baldwin in the Friday, Nov. 17, Region 2 semifinals.
UCHS qualifies for 7th straight season
This marks Union County’s seventh straight year in the playoffs and its 26th year overall. The Tigers have a 39-22 postseason record after going 2-1 in 2022. That was the fourth straight year Union went 2-1 in the postseason.
Hilliard is making its fourth postseason appearance in five years and its 14th overall. The Red Flashes have a 4-13 playoff record and have never won more than one postseason game in one year. Their last trip to the playoffs resulted in a 52-14 loss to Union in 2021.
All three of Hilliard’s wins came against teams that finished the regular season with losing records. The Red Flashes played six teams with winning records, including three that qualified for the playoffs: Branford (23-18 loss), Providence (43-15 loss) and Fort White (49-14 loss).
Hilliard is scoring an average of 19 points per game, while opponents are scoring an average of 25 per game.
Union played only four teams that finished the regular season with winning records, defeating just one: Dixie County (42-8). The three losses came against formidable competition: 31-28 in overtime to Walton, a number-one seed in the 2S playoffs, 22-21 to Orlando Christian Prep, a number-two seed in the 1M playoffs and 28-0 to Hawthorne, a number-two seed in the 1R playoffs and the defending 1R state champion.
The Tigers are scoring an average of 36 points per game, while allowing 12 per game.
If Union defeats Hilliard, it will travel to play second seed Fort White in a Friday, Nov. 17, Region 3 semifinal game.
