/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68454673/1181485361.jpg.0.jpg)
After four Miami Hurricane verbal commitments won a region title with their respective teams last week, six more will look to join them by earning a spot in their classification’s FHSAA final four tonight.
Hollywood-Chaminade-Madonna and Hialeah-Champagnat Catholic each won a region title in Class 3A and 2A respectively last week. That leaves four games to be played tonight featuring Miami verbal commitments in which a region title will be won.
Plantation-American Heritage, Orlando-Edgewater, Miami Central, and Miami Palmetto all will play for their respective region championships tonight. In total, ten Hurricane verbal commitments could play in a state final four game this season if all of those teams win.
COVID-19 has made this December’s playoff schedule very different in South Florida. In addition to the FHSAA playoffs, the tri-county football championship will begin this weekend as well.
Since so many teams in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties opted out of the FHSAA playoffs because of COVID-19, a separate playoff system was created so that teams that have opted out can continue playing games.
NEW: It’s here! The brackets for the tri-county football playoffs are out! https://t.co/LpfpmmfDTv
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) November 27, 2020
This will allow several Hurricane commitments to continue their senior seasons despite not playing for an FHSAA state title.
Counting the FHSAA and tri-county playoffs, Miami has 14 commitments set to take the field tonight. That number is normally about half that size or less in December. Only six of Miami’s 23 committed players (in the 2021-2023 classes) have seen their seasons end because of a loss in the FHSAA playoffs.
The number of commitments in action tonight would have been 17 but Miami-Columbus and Parkland-Stoneman Douglas was cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns.
NEW: The Stoneman Douglas vs. Miami Columbus Gold-bracket playoff game has been canceled due to COVID-19. Columbus will advance to the next round.https://t.co/kcBGBfwVL1
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) December 4, 2020
The cancellation prevented Columbus’ Ryan Rodriguez and Jabari Ishmael from taking on Douglas’ Michael McLaughlin. All three are 2021 Miami verbal commits.
Tonight’s full schedule of games for Hurricane commitments:
2021 running back Thad Franklin, 2021 defensive lineman Allan Haye, 2022 defensive lineman Jamaal Johnson: Hollywood-Chaminade-Madonna at Tampa-Berkeley Prep, 7:30pm, Class 3A state semifinal
2021 defensive lineman Leonard Taylor, 2021 wide receiver Brashard Smith: Miami-Palmetto at Vero Beach, 7:30pm, Class 8A-Region 3 final
2021 offensive lineman Laurence Seymore, 2023 wide receiver Lamar Seymore: Miami Central at Fort Myers-Dunbar, 7:30pm, Class 6A-Region 4 final
2021 athlete James Williams: Plantation-American Heritage at Melbourne-Eau Gallie, 7:30pm, Class 5A-Region 4 final
2021 linebacker Deshawn Troutman: New Port Richey-Mitchell at Orlando-Edgewater, 7:30pm, Class 7A-Region 2 final
2021 kicker Andres Borregales: Hialeah-Champagnat Catholic at Seffner Christian, 7:30pm, Class 2A state semifinal
2021 defensive end Thomas Davis: Kennesaw (Ga.)-North Cobb at Valdosta (Ga.)-Lowndes, 7:30pm, AAAAAA Quadrant 1 semifinal
2021 tight end Elijah Arroyo: Frisco (Tx.)-Independence at Frisco (Tx.)-Heritage, 8pm
2021 wide receiver Jacolby George: Hialeah-American at Plantation, 7pm, PAL Field, Class 7A gold level quarterfinal, tri-county playoffs
2021 linebacker Tyler Johnson: Fort Lauderdale-Stranahan at Miami Killian, 6pm Saturday, Traz Powell Stadium, Class 6A-1A gold level quarterfinal, tri-county playoffs