With the state semifinal round having now passed, all that is left to do in the 2024 Florida high school football season is to officially decide state champions, some of which have already been decided in the Rural classifications.
Here are the remaining state champions set to be decided this week in Florida high school football and our prediction as to who wins each.
Venice vs. Lake Mary
We begin with the Class 7A state championship that will be decided Saturday afternoon between the Venice Indians and Lake Mary Rams.
The Indians come into Saturday with a 13-1 overall record on the season and are riding a seven-game winning streak. Lake Mary sits at 12-2, having won 10 straight.
Venice and Lake Mary are also largely unfamiliar with each other as the two programs have not met in recent years.
Prediction: Venice 33, Lake Mary 27
West Boca Raton vs. Osceola
The Class 6A state title will be decided Friday afternoon when the West Boca Raton Bulls collide with the Osceola Kowboys.
West Boca Raton enters the state championship sitting undefeated at 14-0 overall, while Osceola is 12-2, having won nine straight.
Similar to the two teams in Class 7A, the Bulls and Kowboys are largely unfamiliar with each other as they have not met in recent years.
Prediction: West Boca Raton 24, Osceola 23
Lakeland vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Arguably the biggest matchup statewide this week is the Class 5A title game Thursday night between the Lakeland Dreadnaughts and St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders.
Lakeland enters at an undefeated 13-0 overall. St. Thomas Aquinas is 11-3 and riding a four-game winning streak, but has played two close games consecutively against Atlantic and Manatee.
The Dreadnaughts and Raiders last met back in 2018 to play for the Class 7A state title, which Lakeland won by a final score of 33-20.
Prediction: Lakeland 30, St. Thomas Aquinas 27
American Heritage vs. Jones
The Class 4A state title will be decided between the American Heritage Patriots and Jones Fightin’ Tigers on Friday night.
American Heritage comes into this game sitting at 11-2 on a 10-game winning streak, while Jones is currently undefeated at 14-0 overall.
These two programs are also largely unfamiliar with each other, as the two have not played in recent years.
Prediction: American Heritage 27, Jones 24
Raines vs. Miami Northwestern
The Class 3A title game will take place Saturday night when the Raines Vikings and Miami Northwestern Bulls meet.
The Vikings are in the midst of a stellar season in which they are undefeated at 13-0 overall, but they will be facing a Bulls team that is 11-2 and has won nine straight.
Coming from opposite ends of the state, Raines and Miami Northwestern have not played in recent years.
Prediction: Miami Northwestern 33, Raines 20
Gadsden County vs. Cocoa
The Class 2A state championship will be decided Thursday afternoon when the Gadsden County Jaguars and Cocoa Tigers face off.
Gadsden County sits at 13-1 overall for the season, having yet to lose against an in-state team, while Cocoa enters the match at 10-3 on a seven-game winning streak.
Gadsden County and Cocoa have not met head-to-head in recent years.
Prediction: Cocoa 30, Gadsden County 27
Chaminade-Madonna vs. Clearwater Central Catholic
We conclude with the Class 1A showdown Wednesday night between the Chaminade-Madonna Lions and the Clearwater Central Catholic Marauders.
Chaminade-Madonna and Clearwater Central Catholic both enter this game at 12-2 overall. The Lions are riding a 12-game winning streak, while the Marauders have won five-straight.
The two teams met just last season in the Class 1M state title game, which Chaminade-Madonna won by a final score of 56-0.
