Florida High School Athletic Association to crown champions in eight classes.
Video: Demarkcus Bowman highlights Future Clemson Tiger running back leads powerhouse Lakeland.
Florida's high school football season will come to an end this weekend with five state championship games.
Friday night it was Class 8A's turn and it didn't disappoint. Columbus (11-4) scored twice in the final five minutes to stun Apopka (12-2). The Explorers scored their second touchdown in that span with 13 seconds left and elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win.
Mission accomplished.
Thursday night's championship game in Class 6A was not as competitive. Miami Central (12-3) blasted previously unbeaten Escambia (14-1) 62-27 for its sixth state title since 2010.
Another Miami power won the 4A title on Wednesday as Booker T. Washington (13-2) beat Bolles (11-2) 25-21.
Saturday will feature two games, starting with Jones (13-1) hooking up with Northwestern (12-2) in 5A then Edgewater (13-1) battling nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (13-0) in 7A.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) won its first state title since 2016 beating Edgewater (Orlando) 28-23 and it is the school's 11th Florida championship.
Northwestern capped off the sweep for Miami winning the 5A state championship over Jones, 34-17. Miami went 4-for-4 in state titles.
Three other state championships were decided last weekend.
In Class 1A, Madison County (12-2) couldn't be stopped in a 70-35 win over previously unbeaten Blountstown (13-1). The Cowboys won their third consecutive state crown and improved their record to 50-4 since 2016.
Chaminade-Madonna (12-2) downed Florida State University (12-2) 35-20 to capture the Class 3A state championship.
Junior running back Thad Franklin powered the victory, rushing 47 times for 333 yards and five touchdowns as Chaminade-Madonna won its third consecutive state title.
Champagnat Catholic (10-3) rolled past Victory Christian Academy (11-2) 35-14 for the 2A title. With the win, Champagnat erased the stinging memory of a 28-0 loss to North Florida Christian in last year's championship game.
Classes 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A and 8A finalists will go toe-to-toe at Daytona Stadium in Daytona.
Champions in 2018 include Madison County (1A), North Florida Christian (2A), Chaminade-Madonna (3A), Raines (4A), Cardinal Gibbons (5A), Northwestern (6A), Lakeland (7A) and Mandarin (8A).
