Drive to Doak is on.
The Florida Athletic Association of High Schools announced Friday that Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, home of Florida State University, will be home to this year’s 8 state football championships.
The finals will be played from December 19 to 19, with two consecutive matches per day.
“Creating opportunities for our student-athletes has been one of our most sensible priorities this year and locating a facility giant enough to safely accommodate everyone who needs to attend is a dream come true,” FHSA CEO George Tomyn said in a statement.
The FHSAA had been looking for a position for categories 4A through 8A since the summer, when it ended its agreement with Daytona officials. The 2019 finals of those categories, at Daytona Stadium west of Daytona Beach, have been plagued by logistical problems.
The 1A to 3A finals were scheduled for Gen Cox Stadium, also at Tallahassee, but will now be played in the Seminoles’ largest space.
With a capacity of 79560, Doak Campbell Stadium will provide enough area for social estating while football continues with the coronavirus pandemic.
Tickets cost only $15 in advance and $18 purchased on game day.
Doak Campbell in the past held the State Finals in 2001 and 2002. Last year he included a Class 2A Bolles Championship opposite Hollywood Chaminade and a Class 1A name for Trinity Christian opposite Delray Beach American Heritage, the first State Championship. for the Pathfinders.
St. Augustine qualified for the 2001 state championship, losing to Rockledge.
The FHSAA said the schedule of the matches has not yet been determined.
No team in Jacksonville has won a state name in 2019, the first time since 2007. The last state champions in the city were Raines and Mandarin, who won the FHSAA championships in 2018.
The FHSAA Finals held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, now Camping World Stadium, from 2007 to 2018. Previous headquarters Miami Dolphin Stadium and FIU Community Stadium, 2005-06; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, 2003-04, 1997-2000 and 1991-92; Doak Campbell Stadium, 2001-02; Daytona Municipal Stadium, 1989-90 and 1993-96.
Prior to 1989, the championship sites were connected to the host school, in some cases a site was decided from a stadium near the campus. For example, Wolfson’s last of 1967 against Coral Gables was played at the Gator Bowl, and Doak Campbell’s own stadium hosted Tallahassee Leon’s last matches in 1969, 1972 and 1974.