The top four teams in Florida get cut down to two Saturday with the state semifinals.

Naples takes on Weston in one semi. The Bears finished their South Pool #1 season undefeated at 6-0, scoring about 27 points a game and allowing just under ten. Their 26-14 win over Key Biscayne to finish off the season was just about average, but a nice, crisp defeat of their closest rivals.

What Naples does well in part is use the boot to control field position. Flyhalf Brandon Roklea did that superbly against Key Biscayne - a team that can kick a little, too. With their lineout functioning well they can use the boot to keep up the pressure.

But Weston is a tough team. Idle last weekend, Weston had already clinched South Pool #3 with a 4-0 record, holding their two in-pool opponents to 19 points in the four games. Scrumhalf Alex Ruiz is a talent, with quick service from the base of the scrum and ruck. As a result, backs such as Arturo San Segundo, Evan Barada, and Ramiro Fernandez have enjoyed some big-scoring seasons. 

So this game could well be the contest between the Bears’ ability to pin an opponent in their 22, and Weston’s ability to break out.

Meanwhile, in the second semifinal, Orlando plays Riviera Beach Maritime Academy. Orlando has had probably the toughest road for anyone coming into the semifinals. Yes they won five out of six, but those games included a humbling loss to Daytona, and close wins over Tampa (29-20) and Daytona (23-22), as two tough games against the Cape Pirates. It has seemed like every game in the North Pool has had a playoff quality about it.

The Orlando forwards were huge in the final games, with No. 8 Anthony Coello leading an effort that led to three forwards’ tries in the final league game against the Pirates. Hiram Miranda is a hugely active hooker in the open field, while Jimmy Davis is a lock who showed he can cover the field as a flanker, too.

“I have not seen a player dominate defensively like that in a while,” said Coach Chris Quigley.

They face up with RMBA, a specialty marine trades and sciences charter school where coach Dave Sellepak is a science teacher. Curtis Green has been an outstanding leader for RBMA and Anthony Ferera is a tough-running center. The key to RBMA is their team speed. Orlando has the power and defense, while RBMA has the pace to counter it.

The teams have not met this year, but they have four common opponents. For the most part their results against Daytona, Cape Pirates, and St. Thomas Aquinas are comparable. The major difference is that Orlando swept Tampa, and Riviera Beach lost their non-conference game against the Krewe. On that thin, thin evidence, Orlando is favored.

The winners of this game will play in the finals day in a week.

Plate Semis

Also playing this weekend are the Plate Semifinals. Jupiter (4-2 in South 2) plays Cape Pirates (3-3 in the North pool), and Cardinal Gibbons (2-2 in South 3) faces Key Biscayne (4-2 in South 2). 

Jupiter pushed RBMA twice in their two losses to their rivals, and their loss to the Pirates in January was only by three points. But the Pirates are tough and battle-hardened, and have some solid goal-kicking to help them along with Brock Roper, and Elvis Espanal is a talent. Despite having a worse record, the Pirates may well be the favored team.

Cardinal Gibbons has struggled to get wins outside of their pool, while Key Biscayne has beaten everyone they’ve played except Naples. But if you want to be picky, you might point out that Key Biscayne’s wins have come against teams with a combined record of 2-15-1, while Gibbons has lost to teams with a combined record of 7-8-1. They also beat the Mavericks, a team Key Biscayne also beat, but lost to St. Thomas Aquinas, a team Key Biscayne defeated.

Overall, it’s probably Key Biscayne’s day, but it’s not a foregone conclusion.

On finals day, there will also be championship matches for the Plate, Bowl, and Shield.