Here is the breakdown of tonight’s area Class 3 region final matchup in the Metro Division. The winner advances to next week’s state semifinals.
Tonight’s Area Region Final Matchup
Class 3M
For the full MaxPreps bracket click here.
Region 1
No. 4 Orlando Jones (9-3) at No. 2 Tampa Bay Tech (10-2), 7:30
Last week, the Titans beat Armwood to avenge a regular season loss to their rival. After losing its final two games of the regular season, Tampa Bay Tech has turned things around in the playoffs, winning its first two postseason games by a combined 78-56. Xzavier Jackson, in his first full season as the Titans’ starting quarterback, has thrown for at least two touchdowns in seven of his last eight games. But the biggest matchup tonight will be Jones quarterback Dereon Coleman going up against Tampa Bay Tech’s ball-hawking secondary. Coleman, a sophomore who transferred from Plant City, has split time a quarterback with Trevor Jackson throughout the season. Showing off his strong arm, Coleman has thrown for 1,718 yards in a limited role. His emergence is a big reason the Tigers overcame a 1-3 start in a brutally tough early season schedule to win eight straight games. But Coleman has to face a Titans’ secondary that picked off five passes against Armwood, including two each by Rukeem Stroud and Se’an Sheffield. Those two also turned their turnovers into points by each returning one of their interceptions for touchdowns.
Stat leaders
| Category | Orlando Jones | Tampa Bay Tech |
| Passing yards | Dereon Coleman, 1,718 | Xzavier Jackson, 1,736 |
| Rushing yards | Jerrian Parker, 1,117 | Rod Gainey Jr., 1,087 |
| Receiving yards | Vernell Brown III, 1,018 | Dallas Wilson, 795 |
| Tackles | Lamarius Fair, 96 | Ja’quez Estera, 76 |
| Sacks | D’antre Robinson, 10 | Tre’variez Jacobs, 9 |
| Interceptions | James Chenault, 4 | Rukeem Stroud, 6 |
Region 2
No. 6 Gaither (7-5) at No. 1 Jesuit (10-2), 7:30
This is a rematch of a regular season game the Tigers won 36-35 in overtime. Will Griffin scored on a bootleg, then hit Peter Pesansky on a two-point conversion for the win. Since that heartbreaking loss, the Cowboys have won five straight games. Their turnaround is due in large part to an improved defense that has allowed a combined 70 points during Gaither’s current streak. The resurgence has been particularly noticeable in the playoffs. The Cowboys gave up just 14 points in a quarterfinal victory over St. Petersburg and shutout Largo in last week’s semifinals. Against the Packers, Antonio Henley had six sacks and now has 20 on the season. Now, an even bigger challenge of slowing down Jesuit. Led by Griffin, running back Justin Thurman and receiver Willy Suarez, the Tigers have scored 30 or more points seven times during its current nine-game win streak. In the playoffs, the Tigers have been even more dominant, outscoring Pinellas Park and Northeast by a combined 78-14.
Stat leaders
| Category | Gaither | Jesuit |
| Passing yards | Jayce Nixon, 2,817 | Will Griffin, 3,145 |
| Rushing yards | Elija Mason, 1,202 | Justin Thurman, 755 |
| Receiving yards | Latrell Taylor, 768 | Willy Suarez, 1,117 |
| Tackles | Jaron Gun, 71 | Connor Dooly, 118 |
| Sacks | Antonio Henley, 20 | Peter Pesansky, 6 |
| Interceptions | Serious Stinyard, 2 | Drew Woodaz, 3 |
