by: Marty Pallman
Believe it or not, this is the final week of the district season for high school football in Northeast and North Central Florida. Here’s a look at local districts and scenarios going into the games Thursday and Friday…
District 8A-1
First Coast (Jacksonville) (7-1, 3-0) – clinched playoff berth – at Sandalwood (Nov. 1)
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (7-1, 3-0) – clinched playoff berth – vs. First Coast (Nov. 1)
Mandarin (Jacksonville) (4-4, 1-2) – eliminated – at Flagler Palm Coast (Nov. 1)
Flagler Palm Coast (4-3, 1-2) – eliminated – at Mandarin (Nov. 1)
West Port (Ocala) (0-8, 0-4) – eliminated
The skinny: This district is cut and dry as First Coast plays at Sandalwood Friday night for the district title. Both teams have clinched playoff spots.
District 8A-2
Lake Mary (8-0, 5-0) – clinched district title – at University (Nov. 1)
Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) (6-2, 4-1) – clinched playoff spot – vs. DeLand (Nov. 1)
Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (4-4, 3-2) – eliminated – at Lyman (Nov. 1)
Lyman (Longwood) (4-4, 3-2) – eliminated – vs. Spruce Creek (Nov. 1)
DeLand (2-7, 2-3) – eliminated – at Lake Brantley (Nov. 1)
Seminole (Sanford) (2-7, 1-5) – eliminated
University (Orange City) (2-7, 0-5) – eliminated – vs. Lake Mary (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Lake Mary has clinched the district title and Lake Brantley will be runner-up even with a loss Friday, as they have tiebreakers against Spruce Creek or Lyman. Lake Mary beat Lake Brantley 37-28 in their regular season meeting to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker.
District 7A-3
Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7-0, 4-0) – district champion
Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6-2, 2-1) – vs. Oakleaf (Nov. 1)
Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (4-4, 1-2) – at Buchholz (Nov. 1)
Oakleaf (Orange Park) (4-4, 1-2) – at Fletcher (Nov. 1)
Buchholz (Gainesville) (3-5, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. Atlantic Coast (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Fleming Island clinched the district title with win at Atlantic Coast last week. Fletcher clinches runner-up spot with win over Oakleaf. An Oakleaf win and Atlantic Coast loss would put Oakleaf in as runner-up. If both Oakleaf and Atlantic Coast win, a three-way tiebreaker will be held Monday, Nov. 4 to decide the runner-up spot. Buchholz is the only team eliminated in this district.
District 6A-3
Ed White (Jacksonville) (7-1, 5-0) – district champion – at Parker (Oct. 31)
Columbia (Lake City) (7-1, 4-1) – at Middleburg (Nov. 1)
Middleburg (3-5, 3-2) – vs. Columbia (Nov. 1)
Orange Park (5-3, 3-2) – eliminated – at Englewood (Oct. 31)
Parker (Jacksonville) (3-5, 2-3) – eliminated – vs. Ed White (Oct. 31)
Englewood (Jacksonville) (2-6, 1-4) – eliminated – vs. Orange Park (Oct. 31)
Lee (Jacksonville) (2-7, 0-6) – eliminated
The skinny: Ed White clinched the district title with 49-0 win over Middleburg last week. Commanders have tiebreaker over Columbia based on head-to-head win. Columbia clinches runner-up position with win at Middleburg. Same for Middleburg if they beat Columbia.
District 6A-4
St. Augustine (7-1, 3-0) – district champion – vs. Matanzas (Nov. 1)
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (3-5, 2-1) – vs. Nease (Nov. 1)
Creekside (St. Johns) (3-6, 2-2)
Nease (Ponte Vedra) (4-4, 1-2) – at Bartram Trail (Nov. 1)
Matanzas (Palm Coast) (2-6, 0-3) – eliminated – at St. Augustine (Nov. 1)
The skinny: St. Augustine clinched district title with 44-8 win at Creekside last week. Bartram Trail clinches runner-up position with win over Nease Friday. A Nease win would force three-way tiebreaker between Bartram Trail, Nease, and Creekside for the runner-up spot next Monday, Nov. 4.
District 6A-5
Gainesville (7-1, 4-0) – district champion
Citrus (Inverness) (7-1, 2-1) – clinched playoff spot – at Lake Weir (Nov. 1)
Forest (Ocala) (3-5, 1-2) – eliminated – vs. Vanguard (Nov. 1)
Vanguard (Ocala) (4-4, 1-2) – eliminated – at Forest (Nov. 1)
Lake Weir (Ocala) (1-6, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. Citrus (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Gainesville clinched district title with 38-16 win over Citrus last week. Citrus clinched runner-up with Lake Weir loss at Vanguard.
District 6A-9
Mainland (Daytona Beach) (7-1, 3-0) – clinched playoff spot – at Seabreeze (Nov. 1)
Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6-1, 3-0) – clinched playoff spot – vs. Mainland (Nov. 1)
New Smyrna Beach (3-5, 2-2) – eliminated
Deltona (0-7, 0-3) – eliminated – at Pine Ridge (Nov. 1)
Pine Ridge (Deltona) (0-8, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. Deltona (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Mainland plays at Seabreeze for district title this Friday. Both teams are in postseason regardless of outcome.
District 6A-10
Lake Minneola (Minneola) (3-5, 2-0) – at Leesburg (Nov. 1)
South Lake (Groveland) (6-2, 1-1) – vs. Edgewater (Nov. 1)
Leesburg (6-2, 1-1) – vs. Lake Minneola (Nov. 1)
Edgewater (0-8, 0-2) – eliminated – at South Lake (Nov. 1)
The skinny: We will be heading for a three-way tiebreaker here if South Lake beats Edgewater and Leesburg knocks off Lake Minneola this Friday. Lake Minneola wins the district title outright with a win, and Leesburg could take the district with a win over Lake Minneola and a South Lake loss to Edgewater. South Lake can only win the district title through a three way tiebreaker, but is definitely in line to be a runner-up with a win this week.
District 5A-3
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (7-0, 6-0) – vs Baker County (Nov. 1)
Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (7-2, 5-1) – at Bishop Kenny (Nov. 1)
Ribault (Jacksonville) (6-2, 5-1) – vs. Wolfson (Oct. 31)
Yulee (4-4, 3-3) – eliminated – vs. Stanton (Nov. 1)
Paxon (Jacksonville) (3-6, 2-4) – eliminated – vs. Forrest (Nov. 1)
Wolfson (Jacksonville) (2-6, 2-4) – eliminated – at Ribault (Nov. 1)
Forrest (Jacksonville) (1-8, 1-5) – eliminated – at Paxon (Oct. 31)
Stanton (Jacksonville) (0-8, 0-6) – eliminated – at Yulee (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Nobody has clinched a playoff spot yet in this eight-team district, but plenty will be decided this Friday night. If Bishop Kenny beats Baker County, BK wins the district and Ribault is runner-up with a win over Wolfson. If Baker County and Ribault win, there will be a three-way tiebreaker for two spots on Monday, Nov. 4.
District 5A-4
Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5-4, 3-1)
Palatka (4-4, 2-1) – at Ponte Vedra (Nov. 1)
Ridgeview (Orange Park) (4-4, 2-1) – at Menendez (Nov. 1)
Menendez (St. Augustine (5-3, 1-2) – vs. Ridgeview (Nov. 1)
Ponte Vedra (2-6, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. Palatka (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Plenty to be decided in this district. Clay is done with district play and will be district champion with Ridgeview loss. Palatka and Ridgeview wins will cause three way tie for two spots with Clay on Nov. 4. Wins by Menendez and Ponte Vedra will cause three way tiebreaker for runner-up spot between Menendez, Ridgeview and Palatka.
District 5A-5
Suwannee (Live Oak) (6-1, 4-1) – at Crystal River (Nov. 1)
North Marion (Citra) (6-2, 4-1) – vs. Belleview (Nov. 1)
Eastside (Gainesville) (4-4, 4-1) – at Santa Fe (Nov. 1)
Dunnellon (5-4, 3-3) – eliminated
Santa Fe (Alachua) (4-4, 2-3) – eliminated – vs. Eastside (Nov. 1)
Crystan River (3-5, 1-4) – eliminated – vs. Suwannee (Nov. 1)
Belleview (3-5, 0-5) – eliminated – at North Marion (Nov. 1)
The skinny: This district is still a mess. Suwannee, Eastside and North Marion wins set up a three-way tiebreaker on Nov. 4 for two spots. North Marion and Suwannee wins with an Eastside loss gives the district title to the Colts with the Bulldogs the runner-up. If Suwannee and Eastside end up tied, Suwannee wins the district title based on head-to-head win over Eastside. If it’s Eastside and North Marion, the Rams win the district based on head-to-head win over the Colts. Confused yet?
District 5A-6
South Sumter (Bushnell) (9-0, 6-0) – clinched district title
Zephyrhills (7-1, 4-1) – vs. Pasco (Nov. 1)
Pasco (Dade City) (5-3, 3-2) – at Zephyrhills (Nov. 1)
Hernando (Brooksville) (2-6, 2-3) – eliminated – vs. Central (Nov. 1)
Nature Coast Tech (Brooksvlle) (2-6, 2-3) – eliminated – at Weeki Wachee (Nov. 1)
Weeki Wachee (3-6, 1-4) – eliminated – vs. Nature Coast Tech (Nov. 1)
Central (Brooksville) (0-9, 0-5) – eliminated – at Hernando (Nov. 1)
The skinny: South Sumter clinched the district title with win last week. Zephyrhills clinches the runner-up spot with win over Pasco. A Pasco win gives them the runner-up position.
District 4A-2
Fort White (5-1, 2-0) – clinched playoff spot – at Taylor County (Nov. 1)
Taylor County (Perry) (4-4, 2-0) – clinched playoff spot – vs. Fort White (Nov. 1)
Fernandina Beach (3-5, 0-2) – eliminated – at Madison County (Nov. 1)
Madison County (3-5, 0-2) – eliminated – vs. Fernandina Beach (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Yes, believe it or not, Madison County has already been eliminated and will not be in the playoffs for the first time since 1994 (?!). The Fort White-Taylor County winner this Friday is the district champ, loser is the runner-up.
District 4A-3
Raines (Jacksonville) (6-2, 4-0) – district champion
Bolles (Jacksonville) (6-2, 2-1) – vs. West Nassau (Nov. 1)
West Nassau (Callahan) (4-4, 2-1) – at Bolles (Nov. 1)
Baldwin (3-5, 0-3) – eliminated – at Jackson (Nov. 1)
Jackson (Jacksonville) (0-8, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. Baldwin (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Raines clinched the district championship with win over West Nassau last week. The Bolles-West Nassau winner will clinch the runner-up spot.
District 4A-4
Keystone Heights (4-4, 3-0) – clinched playoff spot – vs. Bradford (Nov. 1)
Bradford (Starke) (3-4, 3-0) – clinched playoff spot – at Keystone Heights (Nov. 1)
The Villages (4-3, 1-2) – eliminated – at Interlachen (Nov. 1)
Umatilla (1-7, 1-3) – eliminated
Interlachen (1-8, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. the Villages (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Again, pretty simple. The winner of the Bradford at Keystone Heights matchup this Friday is the district champ, the loser is runner-up.
District 3A-1
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (6-1, 1-0) – clinched playoff spot – vs. Providence (Nov. 1)
Providence (6-2, 1-0) – clinched playoff spot – at Trinity Christian (Nov. 1)
Episcopal (Jacksonville) (2-7, 0-2) – eliminated
The skinny: In this three-team district, Trinity Christian and Providence both clinched playoff spots with wins over Episcopal. Winner of game Friday is district champ.
District 3A-2
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (6-3, 2-0) – clinched playoff spot – at Father Lopez (Nov. 1)
Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) (4-4, 2-0) – clinched playoff spot – vs. Trinity Catholic (Nov. 1)
PK Yonge (Gainesville) (3-6, 0-2) – eliminated – vs. Maclay (Nov. 1)
Maclay (Tallahassee) (2-6, 0-2) – eliminated – at PK Yonge (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Trinity Catholic-Father Lopez winner is district champ, the loser will be runner-up. Again, fairly simple.
District 2A-2
University Christian (Jacksonville) (6-2, 3-0) – vs. Cedar Creek Christian (Nov. 1)
Cedar Creek Christian (Jacksonville) (6-2, 2-1) – at University Christian (Nov. 1)
Harvest Community (Jacksonville) (5-3, 2-1) – vs. Duval Charter (Nov. 1)
Duval Charter (Jacksonville) (6-2, 1-2) – at Harvest Community (Nov. 1)
Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) (0-7, 0-4) – eliminated
The skinny: Not simple at all. Defending state champion University Christian isn’t officially in the playoffs yet, but will be heavily favored to beat Cedar Creek Christian and clinch district title. If Cedar Creek loses and Duval Charter beats Harvest Community, there will be a three-way tiebreaker for the district runner-up spot on Nov. 4. A Cedar Creek win and Harvest win would set up three way tiebreaker for two spots with University Christian. If University and Harvest win, those are your two teams.
District 2A-3
Warner Christian (South Daytona) (6-1, 2-0) – district champion
St. Edward’s (Vero Beach) (5-2, 1-1) – clinched runner-up spot
Trinity Christian (Deltona) (3-5, 0-2) – eliminated
The skinny: This district has been wrapped up with Warner Christian winning the district and St. Edward’s the runner-up.
District 1A-5
Hamilton County (Jasper) (3-4, 2-0) – vs. Jefferson County (Nov. 1)
Lafayette (Mayo) (6-1, 1-1) – at Branford (Nov. 1)
Jefferson County (Monticello) (1-6, 1-1) – at Hamilton County (Nov. 1)
Branford (3-5, 0-2) – vs. Lafayette (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Plenty to still be decided here. Hamilton County clinches district title with win. Lafayette will be runner-up with win. Jefferson and Lafayette wins force three way tie for two spots with Hamilton County on Nov. 4. Hamilton and Branford wins will force three-way tiebreaker with Lafayette for runner-up spot.
District 1A-6
Trenton (6-1, 3-0) – district champion – at Bronson (Nov. 1)
Bell (6-2, 2-1) – at Hawthorne (Nov. 1)
Hilliard (5-3, 2-2)
Hawthorne (2-5, 1-2) – vs. Bell (Nov. 1)
Bronson (5-4, 0-3) – eliminated – vs. Trenton (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Trenton has wrapped up the district title but still plenty to be decided for the runner-up spot. Bell clinches runner-up with a win at Hawthorne. A Hawthorne win would set up a three-way tiebreaker for the second spot with Hilliard and Bell on Nov. 4.
District 1A-7
Dixie County (Cross City) (6-0, 3-0) – vs. Chiefland (Nov. 1)
Union County (Lake Butler) (7-1, 2-1) – vs. Williston (Nov. 1)
Chiefland (6-2, 2-1) – at Dixie County (Nov. 1)
Newberry (4-4, 1-3) – eliminated
Williston (6-3, 0-3) – eliminated – at Union County (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Dixie County wins district title with win over Chiefland. A Union County win over Williston or Chiefland loss would make the Tigers runner-up. A Chiefland win over Dixie County and Union County win would set up three way tiebreaker for two spots on Nov. 4. If Chiefland wins and Union County loses, Chiefland is the district champ with Dixie County the runner-up.
District 1A-8
Crescent City (5-3, 1-0) – at Taylor (Nov. 1)
Wildwood (2-6, 1-1)
Taylor (Pierson) (2-6, 0-1)- vs. Crescent City (Nov. 1)
The skinny: Three-team district will be headed to a three-way tiebreaker for two spots on Nov. 4 if Pierson Taylor beats Crescent City. A Crescent City win makes them district champs and Wildwood the runner-up.
