Florida high school football playoffs, Class 2A preview, top players, teams to watch

Are Cardinal Mooney and Bolles on a collision course in Class 2A or will someone else emerge in this talented class?

As expected, Cardinal Mooney and Bolles — the top two teams in the USA TODAY Florida Network all season — earned the top seed in Regions 3 and 1, respectively.

Bradford (Region 2) and Immaculata-La Salle (Region 4) also earned No. 1 seeds. The top seed in each region is guaranteed home field advantage throughout the regional playoffs.

Cocoa, the defending state champion, is the No. 3 seed in Region 2. The Tigers have won three consecutive state titles, 18 consecutive Final Four appearances and enters the playoffs on a three-game win streak.

Region 1

Bracket

(1) Bolles vs. (8) Walton

(4) Florida High vs. (5) Baldwin

(2) Pensacola Catholic vs (7) Bozeman

(3) South Walton) vs. (6) Freeport

Burning question: Can Bolles put together a state title run?

The Bulldogs certainly have the talent to do it, with major Division I prospects littering both sides of the ball. Bolles’ senior class is loaded, with players like Clemson WR commit Naeem Burroughs (No. 6 overall), Ohio State safety commit Simeon Caldwell (No. 18 overall), FSU TE commit Corbyn Fordham (No. 50 overall), and Miami OL commit J.J. Sparks leading the charge. There are few programs in the region that have the talent and size to withstand four quarters against Bolles, and the Bulldogs could use their elite talent to get back to the state title game for the first time since 2020.

Recruit to watch: Bolles 2026 WR Naeem Burroughs

Burroughs has dominated this year, and has tallied 839 receiving yards and nine scores on 38 catches. The four-star Clemson commit is ranked as the No. 6 player in the USA TODAY Florida Top 100 and No. 1 WR in the state.

Region 2

Bracket

(1) Bradford vs. (8) Avon Park

(4) Villages vs. (5) Berkely Prep

(2) Calvary Christian vs. (7) Santa Fe

(3) Cocoa vs. (6) Newberry

Burning question: Is there a true favorite to win Region 2?

The defending Class 2A State champion, Cocoa, has had a down year by the program’s normal standards under head coach Ryan Schneider — but the Tigers are by no means a team to overlook [if they make it] with elite talent like CJ Hester (Florida commit) in the secondary and junior Champ Smith at quarterback. Bradford has impressed in this year, rattling off five wins of 21 points or more to close the regular season with sophomore quarterback Cy Cubbedge up to 1,393 passing yards and 21 touchdowns with five picks on 50% completions.

Recruit to watch: Cocoa 2026 Safety CJ Hester

Hester, a Florida commit, has tallied 29 tackles and four PBU up to this point of the year. The 6-foot-1, 195 4-star is ranked as the No. 37 overall player in the USA TODAY Florida Top 100 and No. 5 safety.

Region 3

Bracket

(1) Cardinal Mooney vs. (8) North Broward Prep

(4) Calvary Christian vs. (5) Bishop Verot

(2) Lakewood at (7) Somerset Canyons

(3) Glades Central vs. (6) Kings Academy

Burning question: Is this Cardinal Mooney’s region to lose?

The Cougars, which have been a mainstay in the USA TODAY Florida Super 25 this year, enter the postseason simply firing on all cylinders at full power. They’ve rattled off [eight] wins since falling to Cherry Creek (Colo.) in August, including dominant wins over regional foes Bishop Verot (49-14) and Lakewood (35-12). Cardinal Mooney’s junior signal caller, Davin Davidson, is up to 1,827 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in the air while sophomore running back Connail Jackson has added 1,218 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. The Cougar defense has allowed more than 14 points just once in the regular season.

Recruit to watch: Cardinal Mooney 2026 DL Elijah Golden

Golden, who is ranked as the No. 26 overall player in the USA TODAY Florida Top 100, has been exceptional for a stout Cougar defense. The 6-foot-4, 275 pound Notre Dame commit is versatile up front, and has impressed off the edge and with a hand in the dirt. He’s up to 25.0 TFL, 11.0 sacks, and 50 tackles.

Region 4

Semifinal games

(1) Immaculata La-Salle vs. (8) Somerset Charter

(4) Gulliver Prep vs. (5) Ransom Everglades

(2) Cardinal Gibbons vs. (7) Monsignor Pace

(3) Miami Killian vs. (6) Miami Carol City

Burning question: Is this the most open region in class 2A?

[The region’s top seed, Immaculata-La Salle, will have just one game played against an opponent that finished the year above .500, and how their strength of schedule impacts their playoff readiness is worth keeping an eye on.] Gulliver Prep has a regular season win over Killian, while Killian closed the season with four-straight wins.

Recruit to watch: Killian 2028 CB Zion Davis

Davis has tallied an impressive seven PBU, one forced fumble, and one pick to this point of his sophomore campaign. Davis (6-foot, 160 pounds) is ranked as a 3-star on Rivals, and holds offers from Miami, Nebraska, Cal, UCF, FAU, USF and Syracuse.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida high school football playoffs 2025, Class 2A preview