8A-6 District Match-up: Bloomingdale 7-1 (3-1) at Wharton 4-5 (2-2), Bulls will clinch district runner-up spot with win (would be first playoff appearance since 2008 and second overall), a Wildcats win and Newsome win over Riverview will result in a 3-way tie-breaker between Bloomingdale, Newsome, and Wharton. Wharton is attempting to extend its playoff streak to four years in a row. In 2013, Wharton’s 30-23 over Bloomingdale resulted in Wildcats snaring district runner-up and knocking the Bulls out of the playoff contention. Plant has already clinched district title.
7A-9 District Match-up: Pinellas Park 6-2 (3-1) at Countryside 7-1 (3-1), winner is district runnerup. Patriots attempting to extend their playoff streak to four years and Cougars last made the playoffs in 2011. In 2013, Pinellas Park won 46-10 knocking Countryside out of playoff contention. East Lake has already clinched district title.
7A-8 District Match-up: Brandon 6-2 (2-1) at Plant City 3-4 (2-1), Eagles will clinch district title with win (would be first playoff appearance since 2011), a Raiders win and a Durant loss to East Bay would give district title to Plant City and runnerup spot to Brandon, a Raiders win and a Durant win over East Bay would give Cougars the district title and the runnerup spot to the Plant City. Plant City is attempting to extend its playoff streak to two straight years. In 2013, Raiders won 26-3 over the Eagles.
7A-7 District Match-up: Sickles 5-3 (3-1) at Tampa Bay Tech 5-3 (3-1), winner is district champs, if Titans lose then they are district runnerup, if Gryphons lose and Gaither beats Steinbrenner, then Cowboys would be runnerup. Sickles looking to capture their second straight district title. In 2013, Gryphons won 35-8 knocking the Titans out of playoff contention.
7A-5 District Match-up: Lakeland 9-0 (4-0) at Kathleen 5-3 (3-1), winner is district champs, if Dreadnaughts lose then they are district runnerup, if Red Devils lose and a 3-way runnerup tie-breaker could result if Haines City defeats Jenkins and Bartow defeats Ridge. Lakeland looking for its first district title since 2011, Kathleen clinched district title last season with 24-3 win over Dreadnaughts.
6A-11 District Match-up: Winter Haven 7-1 (2-0) at Lake Region 3-4 (1-1), Blue Devils will clinch district with a win (would be sixth straight district title), a Thunder win and if Lake Gibson defeats Sebring would result in a 3-way tie-breaker for district title and runnerup spots. Lake Region last appeared in playoffs in 2007. In 2013, Blue Devils defeated Thunder 39-7.
5A-6 District Match-up: Zephyrhills 7-1 (4-1) at Pasco 5-3 (3-2), Bulldogs will clinch district runner-up spot with win (would be first playoff appearance since 2006), a Pirates win and NCT win over Weeki will result in a 3-way tie-breaker between Zephyrhills, NCT, and Pasco. Pasco is attempting to extend its playoff streak to eight years in a row. In 2013, Pasco’s 24-16 win over Zephyrhills resulted in Pirates seizing district runner-up and knocking the Bulldogs out of the playoff contention. South Sumter has already clinched district title.
3A-4 District Match-up: Fort Meade 6-2 (2-1) at Lakeland Christian 7-1 (2-1), winner makes the playoffs and if Berkeley Prep defeats Frostproof would be district runnerup, winner would be district champs if Frostproof upsets BP and loser would be in a 3-team runnerup tie-breaker with BP and TC. Vikings fighting for their first ever playoff spot and Miners attempting to qualify for playoffs for the 17th time in 18 years after missing in 2013. Last season, FM defeated LCS 28-25.
– Don Haggard