Let us be transparent and up front and be a fly on the wall. When voting for the new classifications for football took place, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) had south Florida and the large metro areas of Florida in mind.

You can say what you want, but the thought of any region of this state having six or seven champions was something that gnawed at the smaller communities of Florida. It’s a fact and if someone wants to deny it, there are dozens of people who will step up and say it’s true. But the larger metro areas played the game and saw many programs take each other out on the way to the state title.

Nowhere was that more evident than south Florida with two-time defending state champion Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, longtime powerhouse Miami Northwestern, yearly power Miami Booker T. Washington, and if they had stayed open, Hollywood Champagnat Catholic, which had advanced to the 1A state title game six consecutive years.

But what happened is the cream rose to the top in classes where there were multiple powers – and the end result is Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will advance six teams to the state championships – starting this week in Tallahassee and culminating at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale next weekend.

In 4 Metro, No. 1 seed Miami Christopher Columbus (13-1) advanced with a thrilling 41-36 win against Ocoee and will play Apopka.

In 3M, it will be the first time ever that a Miami-Dade and Broward County teams will meet for a state championship when three-time defending state champions Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (13-0), a No. 1 seed, will play the Homestead Broncos (11-2), also a No. 1 seed making their first ever appearance in the state finals.

In 2M, it was predicted as soon as the new classifications were revealed. No. 1 seed and three-time defending state champion Miami Central – (13-0) the No. 1 team in the country, against No. 1 seed Plantation American Heritage (13-1), which had one setback all year.

When Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (12-0) heads to Tallahassee this Thursday night to play Clearwater Central Catholic, the Lions will tie a state record for the most (seven) consecutive trips to the state finals, a record that is amazing for the No. 2 team nationally.

Here is a look at the south Florida results from the State Semifinals this past week:

Class 4-Metro

No. 1 Miami Christopher Columbus 41, No. 3 Ocoee 36

Class 3-Metro

No. 1 Homestead 30, No. 2 Orlando Jones 24

No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 45, No. 1 Tampa Jesuit 3

Class 2-Metro 

No. 1 Plantation American Heritage 21, No. 3 Jacksonville Bolles 14

No. 1 Miami Central 39, No. 4 St. Petersburg Lakewood 21

Class 1-Metro

No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 56, No. 3 Miami True North Classical Academy 0

TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2023-2026. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects

For the past 52 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..