Class 3M

2022 FHSAA Football State Championships 3 M

Tonight’s area region semifinal matchups

Class 3, Region 1

No. 5 Tampa Bay Tech (9-2) at No. 1 Orlando Edgewater (11-0), 7:30

The Titans, who reached the state final last season, got off a solid start in the playoffs with a 34-3 road win over Neptune Beach Fletcher.

On offense, Tampa Bay Tech displayed plenty of balance in its region quarterfinal win with Xavione Washington throwing for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns and Rod Gainey rushing for than a 100 and a score.

Now comes perhaps the Titans’ toughest test in the region.

Edgewater is ranked No. 2 in the class, No. 5 overall in the state and No. 38 nationally by MaxPreps.

The biggest task is slowing down Eagles running back Cedric Baxter Jr., a four-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 2 running back in the nation according to 247Sports.

Tampa Bay Tech has faced highly touted backs before. In last year’s region final, the Titans got past Lake Gibson and running back Jaylon Glover, now at Utah.

Stat leaders

Category	Tampa Bay Tech	Orlando Edgewater
Passing yards	Xavione Washington, 1,717 (16 TDs)	William Carter, 596 (4 TDs)
Rushing yards	Rod Gainey, 1,393 (14 TDs)	Cedric Baxter Jr, 1,213 (11 TDs)
Receiving yards	Dallas Wilson, 744 (8 TDs)	AJ Howard, 278 (1 TD)
Tackles	Two tied with 62.	Daimon Troutman, 53
Sacks	Antonio Camon, 9	Three tied with three.
Interceptions	Corey Lucius Jr., 2	Three tied with one.

Class 3, Region 2

No. 4 Gaither (7-4) at No. 1 Jesuit (7-4), 7:30

This is a rematch from a game the host Tigers won 42-21 last year in what was arguably one of their most complete performances of the season.

After going through stretch in which Jesuit lost three of four games, the victory over the Cowboys helped win the district title and turn around the season. The Tigers have won four of their last five games, the lone loss coming by a point to rival Tampa Catholic.

Last week, Jesuit quarterback Will Griffin was stellar, throwing for 303 yards and five touchdowns in a region quarterfinal win over St. Petersburg.

Since losing to the Tigers last month, Gaither has rebounded, winning three of its last four games. A big reason for the Cowboys’ late season surge has been the return of Eugene Wilson III from injury. The Florida commit came back after the Jesuit game has hauled in a combined 26 catches for 585 yards and eight touchdowns in the last four games.

Stat leaders

Category	Gaither	Jesuit
Passing yards	Jayce Nixon, 3,066 (35 TDs)	Will Griffin, 1,282 (17 TDs)
Rushing yards	Emmanuel Arrango, 336 (3 TDs)	Joquez Smith, 1,170 (14 TDs)
Receiving yards	Ladainian Farrell, 854 (6 TDs)	Jarriett Buie Jt., 589 (6 TDs)
Tackles	Antonio Henley, 67	Cyrus Aboud, 86
Sacks	Antonio Henley, 16	Peter Pesansky, 13
Interceptions	Two tied with three.	Two tied with two.

No. 7 East Bay (10-1) at No. 2 Largo (8-2), 7:30

The Indians are in the region semifinals for the first time since 2012.

Their success is due in part to run game that has racked up more than 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns. Three players — quarterback Nathan Carter and running backs Jaelin Sneed and Vincent Ketchup — each have more than 650 yards on the ground.

And East Bay’s defense has tightened up, allowing a combined 12 points in the past two games.

The host Packers have the defense to potentially slow down the Indians’ rushing attack. Last week, Largo recorded its fifth shutout of the season in a region quarterfinal win over Northeast.

The strength of that unit is at linebacker with Adarius Hayes and Zayvion McCluster each recording more than 90 tackles so far this season.

Stat leaders

Category	East Bay	Largo
Passing yards	Nathan Carter, 947 (12 TDs)	Jeremy Thomas, 1,344 (7 TDs)
Rushing yards	Jaelin Sneed, 929 (12 TDs)	Malachi Peterson, 886 (9 TDs)
Receiving yards	Aiden Showers, 419 (4 TDs)	Preston Church, 319 (1 TD)
Tackles	Emanuel White, 67	Adarius Hayes, 105
Sacks	Two tied with 2.5.	Fotu Nafitali, 7
Interceptions	Kaleb Jones, 4	Two tied with four.