Florida High captures elusive complete game in playoff rout vs Jackson

Every year the postseason rolls around, the saying goes, “win and advance.”

No. 4 seed Florida State University School (9-2) did just that on Friday, beating the visiting No. 5 Andrew Jackson High School (7-4) of Jacksonville 42-6 in the FHSAA Class 2A Regional Quarterfinals at Mike Hickman Stadium.

“I’ve seen this for this group and been excited to try to put it all together,” Florida High head coach Jarrod Hickman told the Tallahassee Democrat. “Which is what we needed to do and have to do this time of the year.”

Hickman added that he wanted his team to get off to a “fast start,” something that eluded the Seminoles in their two losses this season. Most recently, in their 31-27 shortfall to James S. Rickards in the Oct. 29 regular season finale.

“We pushed through adversity,” said quarterback Jayme Miller. “It was hard, but we knew what we had to do.”

If one looked down, by the second quarter the Florida High Seminoles were already up 28-0 on the Jackson Tigers.

Miller, a junior, tossed four touchdowns on the night. Two went to four-star wide receiver Ar’Tavian ‘Bubba’ Brown. Running back Brisyn Brown and receiver Messiah Anariva caught the others.

On the ground, running back Mike Jones reached the end zone, and Brisyn Brown got him one too.

Friday was the fifth time the Seminoles cracked 40 points. They average 34.4 points per game.

“Lighting up the scoreboard is a big part of the game,” Miller explained. “You just got to go shot for shot. We’re playing good football, but it could be better. There are some things we got to capitalize on.”

Florida High also stonewalled the Andrew Jackson Tiger offense that entered Friday averaging 26.9 points per game.

Defensive back Gavin Brown notched a fumble recovery at the expense of Jackson quarterback Hans Price. Special teams also forced some turnovers.

The lone score for the Tigers was a touchdown pass from Price to Malkiel Pierce.

Next for Florida High is a trip to Jacksonville to face the No. 1 seed and Florida high school football powerhouse Bolles School Bulldogs (8-2) in the regional semifinals. They eliminated Freeport 49-7 on Friday.

“The test is going to continue to get more challenging,” Hickman said. “And you have to be even that much sharper on the road.”

It’s a rematch from the 2025 playoffs, when the Bulldogs defeated the Seminoles 51-27 in last year’s semis.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida High captures elusive complete game in playoff rout vs Jackson