text: One week of football remains in 2017.
  Palm Beach County doubled the number of state finalists from last season following Atlantic’s come-from-behind 28-21 win over Miami High Friday night in a Class 8A state semifinal.
  The Eagles join Oxbridge Academy at next week’s Florida High School Athletic Association state football championships in Orlando.
  The ThunderWolves clinched a Class 3A berth Nov. 24 with a 41-0 win over Tallahassee-Florida State University School.
  Oxbridge faces Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna Saturday at 10 a.m. at Camping World Stadium, while Atlantic plays Orlando-Dr. Phillips at 8 p.m. We preview those games below.
  Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna (10-2) vs. Oxbridge Academy (10-1): This state championship-clash between the Lions and the ThunderWolves was not unexpected, as both have dominated this season. Oxbridge comes into this contest on a 10-game winning streak, and has not given up more than 14 points in a game all year. The ThunderWolves dominated their three previous playoff opponents, winning by a combined 115-14 and not allowing an offensive touchdown. Chaminade-Madonna, however, has been even better. Ranked No. 1 in the state to close the regular season – Oxbridge was No. 2 – the Lions have outscored their three playoff opponents by a combined 143-3. Chaminade-Madonna has lost twice this season – to perennial powers Miami Central and Plantation-American Heritage. Oxbridge’s lone loss came in Week 1 to a state-ranked team from Pennsylvania. Both the ThunderWolves and Lions can score, and both dominate on defense. A key for the ThunderWolves will be shutting down Chaminade-Madonna running back Shaun Shivers, an Auburn commit who has torched opposing defenses during the postseason. Oxbridge, though, has plenty of incentive after losing to the Lions in the regional finals last year. This one is going to be good.
  Atlantic (12-1) vs. Orlando-Dr. Phillips (12-2): Unlike the Class 3A state title game, this contest between the Eagles and Panthers is a surprise. Both teams ended the regular season unranked in the Associated State Press state poll – each received one vote – and both were seeded fourth in their respective regions going into the playoffs. Still, these are two very good teams that have beaten other very good teams on the way to earning a berth in the state title game. Dr. Phillips defeated state-ranked Kissimmee-Osceola and Wekiva earlier in the postseason, while the Eagles knocked off 10-win Davie-Western and 11-win Miami High in consecutive weeks. Atlantic has a defense to be reckoned with, and the Eagles proved it against Miami High, returning an interception 101 yards for a score Friday. The Eagles also got a 70-yard kickoff return for a score, plus two TD runs from Henry Bryant. The Panthers are the only hurdle remaining for Atlantic in its drive for the school’s first state football title – but they’re a big one. Stay tuned.