District 7A-7
We swear this isn’t the written version of the hidden ball trick, but indulge us for a second. The Kathleen at Lakeland game is for the district championship, BUT there’s a catch if Lakeland wins. In order for the ‘Naughts to secure the crown, they will have needed a Bartow loss. If the Yellow Jackets defeated the Blue Devils, then you’ve got free football on a Monday between them, Kathleen and Lakeland for two spots. A Kathleen win means it’s their title outright and their most likely opponent is Sickles. Under that same outcome (a Kathleen win), if Winter Haven has beaten Bartow–then you’ve got free football on a Monday Night with a tiebreaker scenario in-place for the second spot only between Bartow, Winter Haven and Lakeland. Winner of that spot heads to Dad’s Stadium to face Plant.
District 7A-8
We mentioned Plant and Sickles–both have work left, but the Panthers will be prohibitive favorites in their remaining games with Freedom and Wiregrass Ranch. The Gyrphons sitting at 4-1 and off this week will control their own destiny with one game remaining with Freedom–who will either be sitting at 3-2, or 4-1 after this week and playing for all the postseason marbles in their game with Sickles on the 30th. Wharton has Leto left, and if they win could find themselves Freedom’s biggest fans if somehow the Patriots and Gryphons end up at 4-2. That would mean free football on a Monday Night between those three teams.
District 7A-9
Plant City are your champions even “if” a loss to Lennard on the 30th of October occurs. They will await the runners-up of the all-Pinellas district below. That could be Countryside, East Lake, Pinellas Park or St. Petersburg. Figuring out the runners-up? Not so much. Tampa Bay Tech hosts Durant this Friday in an enormous game that could send the Titans one step closer (if they win) to a win-and-you’re-in scenario with East Bay on the 30th. There’s a million scenarios to play out, including a second place tiebreaker scenario where Lennard, Durant and East Bay could finish at 4-2–or perhaps there could be no more drama and TBT finishes at 5-1. Either way, it’s going to be a circus these next few weeks–just like most thought it would when this district was announced.
District 7A-10
This one’s not even close to being settled. The top four teams all play each this Friday and the scenarios are endless if Countryside is one of the teams to lose. The Cougars sit at 2-0 with games against St. Petersburg and East Lake remaining. The Green Devils are 2-1 and play their final district game this week and a win puts them in at least a playoff-for-the-playoffs on a Monday. A St. Pete loss means they would need an East Lake victory over Pinellas Park in order to keep their postseason lives healthy. Pinellas Park and East Lake both sit at 1-1 and obviously their game on Friday is just as massive. A Patriots win coupled with a Cougars win means that with one game remaining it’s C’Side and P-Park #’s 1 and 2 with Countryside owning the tiebreaker. An East Lake win and Countryside win means those two would play for the champions/runners-up spot. A St. Pete win plus East Lake win means the Cougars and the Eagles play for the second spot outright on October 30th. **exhale** Got all that?
District 7A-11
Braden River defeated Venice to put themselves in the drivers seat last week at 3-0. They’ll host Palmetto this week, who is 3-0 in the district. It’s not that easy though, since Venice and Palmetto will face each other next week. Obviously, if Braden River wins this week, the district championship is all-but theirs as long as they handle their business against Sarasota on the 30th. If Palmetto wins, the Tigers will be facing Venice for the title and Braden River will be forced to root for Venice to win, which would force a three-way tiebreaker. Winner of this district gets the loser of South Fort Myers and Naples-Gulf Coast. Runners-up will travel to the winner of that game.
District 8A-6
Manatee sits atop this one at 4-0 with games remaining against Riverview and Newsome. Steinbrenner at 4-1 firmly controls their own destiny with one game remaining against Alonso. If the Warriors win, they’re in by virtue of their tiebreakers with everyone else in the district. Their only district loss was at the hands of Manatee. If Alonso wins, Pandora’s Box is opened and if they win against Sarasota-Riverview on October 30th, they would be the runners-up and earn a likely trip to Dr. Phillips–who appears to be in the drivers seat for 8A-5. The Panthers have a chance to clinch if they defeat Olympia this week. That would setup Oak Ridge vs. Olympia for second place and determine Manatee’s opponent in round one.
District 8A-7
Kissimmee-Osceola went a long ways towards securing the title with a defeat of Kissimmee-Gateway last week. The Kowboys are now 2-0 with Haines City and George Jenkins left on their schedule. In control of their own destiny however is Ridge Community at 1-1. They own the tiebreaker with Jenkins and face off with Gateway this week, who sits at 2-1 and Haines City, who is winless in the district thus far. Winner of this district will is most likely to host Treasure Coast, who upset Fort Pierce Central earlier this month. Vero Beach is undefeated with one game remaining on their district schedule.