Round three of the FHSAA football state playoffs has seven Orlando area teams still in the running to get to Miami for state championship games.

It’s region final night and top seeds DeLand (7A), Edgewater (5A), Jones (4A) and Bishop Moore (3-A) have homefield advantage. Lake Mary plays at DeLand and 7A Dr. Phillips and 6A South Lake also go on the road.

We have reporters providing live updates on games as they unfold (below). Check back frequently to see the live updates.

Our Scoreboard at SentinelVarsity.com posts scores from every game involving an area team.

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Rankings in bold are regional seeding, based on FHSAA power rankings generated at the end of the regular season.
Friday’s winners advance to next week’s semifinals. Those matchups will not be official until the FHSAA updates its rankings to re-seed the final four games. The FHSAA told the Sentinel the pairings will not be finalized until Saturday night’s Miami Northwestern vs. Miami Central game is played.

Teams are listed with region seeding.

No. 2 Lake Mary (9-3) at No. 1 DeLand (12-0)

Coverage by Chris Hays

TOUCHDOWN: DeLand takes the lead with a 21-yard pass from Taihj Moore to Marceles Carey. The two point conversion is good and the Bullodgs lead 25-19 with 7:59 to go in 3Q.

It’s the first time DeLand has trailed at halftime in a game this season.

Lake Mary leads DeLand 19-17 at halftime.

TOUCHDOWN: Gardner Nordman throws to Korion Ross for a 13-yard TD pass and DeLand pulls within 19-17 of with 34 second left in half.

TOUCHDOWN: Gavin Isaacs goes 5 yards for a touchdown and Lake Mary now leads top-seeded DeLand 19-10 with 3:19 left in the second quarter.

FIELD GOAL: Christian Baez kicks a 36-yard field goal for DeLand. that cuts Lake Mary’s lead to 12–10 with 7:06 to go in the second quarter.

Lake Mary leads 12-7 going into the second quarter.

TOUCHDOWN: Lake Mary receiver Barett Schulz is putting on a display with quarterback Noah Grubbs. He catches four passes during the drive and scores on a 30-yard touchdown throw from Grubbs. Lake Mary now leads Deland 12-7 after PAT is missed. 1:08 left in 1Q.

TOUCHDOWN: DeLand’s Taihj Moore scores on a 6 yard run and the Bulldogs take the lead over Lake Mary 7-6 with 3:25 to go in 1Q.  quarter

TOUCHDOWN: Lake Mary’s Noah Grubbs hits Barrett Shultz for a 37 yard touchdown pass and Lake Mary leads at Deland 6-0 at 9:26 of the first quarter. Two-point conversiono try failed.

Tough break for Deland on the fourth play. Gardner Nordman goes 74 yards for a touchdown, but it’s called back with a holding penalty.

PRE-GAME NOTES:

This is a Class 7A Region 1 championship game, played at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.

A year ago, Lake Mary spanked the visiting Bulldogs 49-14 on the way to a state runner-up finish to Venice.

This year DeLand is the favorite with the No. 1 ranking in 7A.

The FHSAA power rankings rate the ‘Dogs as No. 1 across all eight classifications but there is a big discrepancy between that position and DeLand’s No. 13 MaxPreps rankings.

The Bulldogs are averaging 49.8 points per game and allowing 17. They scored 65 and 70 in their two previous playoff games.

Lake Mary is averaging 46.3 points in its four-game winning streak.

No. 2 Lakeland (10-2) at No. 1 Edgewater (12-0)

Coverage by Steve Gorches

Edgewater offense goes 3 and out, but on first play for Lakeland, it’s an interception by the Eagles’ Octvaius Lewis.

Edgewater defense continues its stingy play after the first drive. The Eagles force another Lakeland punt, Edgewater ball with 3:09 left in Q2.

Edgewater QB Carter Emanuel tried to connect with his brother fr a long TD, but the pass was intercepted in the end zone. Lakeland takes over at the 20.

Edgewater defense stops Lakeland again, and after the punt the Eagles start at their own 43.

Edgewater got a pair of first downs before failing to convert a 4th down. Lakeland gets the ball at its own 35, ahead 6-0 with 10:37 left in Q2.

Lakeland moves into Edgewater territory, before a holding penalty and sack doom the drive.

Edgewater got a big pass play from Carter Emanuel to Saphir Miller for 45 yards, but the drive stalled at the Lakeland 27 yard line.

TOUCHDOWN: Lakeland scores on a 12-yard QB keeper. Edgewater blocked the PAT try. 6-0 Lakeland with 8:02 left in Q1.

Lakeland got the first down with a Wildcat formation play

Edgewater was stopped on its first possession after a holding penalty wiped out a first down. Lakeland has moved into Edgewater territory with a 4th and 1.

PRE-GAME NOTES:

This is a Class 5A Region 2 championship game.

Edgewater is No. 2 behind 2024 state champ St. Thomas Aquinas in the FHSAA rankings, just ahead of Lakeland, last year’s state runner-up. The MaxPreps rankings have Lakeland No. 2 behind Aquinas, with Edgewater third.

The Dreadnaughts only losses were 10-6 to California power De LaSalle (12-0) and 35-28 in double-overtime against The First Academy.

Lakeland has won nine state championships — a Florida public school record.

Edgewater is hunting its first football state title after five runner-up showings (2002, 2003, 2004, 2019, 2020).

No. 3 Lake Wales (10-2) at No. 1 Jones (10-2)

Coverage by Jean Racine

TOUCHDOWN: Jones converts. Tigers score on a 46-yard TD pass by QB Dereon Coleman to WR DJ Hicks. Extra point is good. Jones lead is 21-0 with 6:02 remaining in the second quarter.

Lake Wales RB Kamari Smith fumbles the ball away on Lake Wales’ 46-yard line and Jones takes over.

TOUCHDOWN: Jones senior RB Daunte Wallace punches it in for a 1-yard TD. Extra point is good. Tigers lead Lake Wales 14-0 with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter.

End of the first quarter: Jones leads Lake Wales 7-0.

Lake Wales punts and Tigers get great field position, starting the drive the Highlander’s 47-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN: Tigers score on an 11-yard run up the middle by Kameron Lee. Extra point is good. Tigers lead 7-0 with 1:15 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Highlanders turn it over on downs. Jones takes over on its 41-yard line.

Jones stalls and punts. Highlanders start their first possession on their own 32-yard line

Jones won the coin toss and elected to receive. Tigers start the game on their 24-yard line.

PRE-GAME NOTES:

This is a Class 4A Region 2 championship game. It’s a rematch of an Oct. 22 district game Jones won 48-22.

Jones is ranked No. 2, Lake Wales No. 5 in the FHSAA 4A rankings.

Jones, seeking its first FHSAA state title, was the 4A runner-up to American Heritage-Plantation last year and made the final four in each of the past four seasons.

The Tigers have won eight in a row since losing back-to-back games against Evans, 28-25, and Edgewater, 20-17, in September.

Lake Wales was the 2022 state champ in the Suburban division in a format that was revised last year.

No. 3 Eau Gallie (9-3) at No. 1 Bishop Moore (11-1)

Coverage by Chris Martucci

Johnson is 8 yards away from reaching 2,000 yards rushing. That would be a first for Bishop Moore.

TOUCHDOWN Amar’e Johnson takes it himself and rumbles into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. Extra point good. 17-14 Bishop Moore. 8:04 3Q.

TOUCHDOWN: Xavier Lherisse finds TJ Monroe across the middle for the 41-yard touchdown pass to put Eau Gallie ahead. Two-point attempt good. 14-10 Eau Gallie. 9:25 3Q.

Amar’e Johnson fumbles a handoff and Eau Gallie recovers. First down Commodores at the Bishop Moore 39.

Bishop Moore receives the kickoff to start the second half. Underway.

Amar’e Johnson had 13 carries for 110 yards 1 touchdown in the first half for Bishop Moore.

Bishop Moore leads Eau Gallie at halftime 10-6.

The Bishop Moore defense stands strong and forces a turnover on downs close to their 10-yard-line. Hornets take over at 9. 1:12 to play before halftime.

Bishop Moore’s Blake McCullough tries to pick up the first down himself on 4th and 13, but comes up just short. Turnover on downs. Eau Gallie takes over with 3:07 to play in the first half.

TOUCHDOWN: Eau Gallie quarterback Xavier Lherisse carries it himself for the 2-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-goal. Extra point is blocked. Bishop Moore leads 10-6 at 5:18 of 2Q.

Bishop Moore leads Eau Gallie 10-0 after the first quarter.

FIELD GOAL: Nico Salas’s 28-yard field goal attempt is Good for Bishop Moore. Hornets lead 10-0 with 2:55 to go in 1Q.

Bishop Moore forces a fumble on the kickoff and recovers. Hornets ball at the Eau Gallie 36 yard line.

TOUCHDOWN: Amar’e Johnson turns on the jets and into the end zone and into history as he rushes 67 yards for the Bishop Moore touchdown. He broke the 21-year-old school record for rushing yards in a season along the way. Extra point good. 7-0 Bishop Moore. 5:31 to go in 1Q.

Bishop Moore forces a turnover on downs after Eau Gallie’s run falls just short. First down Hornets at their 33 yard line.

Bishop Moore wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. Eau Gallie will receive.

Bishop Moore running back Amar’e Johnson needs 14 yards to break the school record for rushing yards in a season. He has 1,853 and 26 touchdowns on 277 carries going into tonight. A.J. Brooks set the record.

Checking in from Bishop Moore. A crisp fall night here as the Hornets hope the fourth time is the charm against the Commodores of Eau Gallie.

PRE-GAME NOTES:

This Class 3A Region 2 championship game is a rematch of last year’s region final, where Eau Gallie pulled out a 26-24 win at home. The Commodores also beat the Hornets 20-17 and 12-10 in tight 2022 and 2023 regular season games.

Bishop Moore’s loss was to Lake Mary, which is alive in 7A.

The Hornets won state titles in 1970 and 2015 and are in a region final for the third year in a row.

No. 2 South Lake (11-1) at No. 1 Armwood (12-0), 7:30 p.m. 

This is a Class 6A Region 2 championship game.

Armwood is ranked No. 1 in 6A by MaxPreps and is third in the FHSAA power ratings.

South Lake is No. 11 in the FHSAA rankings and No. 12 by MaxPreps.

The Eagles have won nine in a row since losing to Villages Charter and posted a second round playoff win for the first time in program history last week — defeating Kissimmee Osceola 19-13. That broke the school record for wins in a season.

Armwood won state titles in 2003, 2004 and 2011 — but the third of those was stripped by the FHSAA due to recruiting violations.

No. 7 Dr. Phillips (9-3) at No. 1 Vero Beach (12-0), 7 p.m. 

This is a rematch of the 2024 Class 7A Region 3 championship game, won by DP 21-14 at home. That gave the Panthers a 3-0 record in playoff games vs. the Indians since 2016.

Vero is rated No. 1 in 7A by MaxPreps, No. 2 in the FHSAA power rankings.

DP is rated No. 12 by MaxPreps and No. 13 by the FHSAA after scoring a wild 22-21 road win at Fort Pierce Central last week.

The Panthers were 2017 state champs and are making their ninth region final appearance.

Vero Beach won a FHSAA final in 1981.

FHSAA football playoff what-ifs: 7 Orlando-area teams eye Miami state finals

Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.Â