
WHO: New Smyrna Beach (6A-9) at Palm Beach Central (8A-10)
WHEN: Friday, May 24
WHERE: Palm Beach Central Stadium, Wellington
WHY: New Smyrna Beach which had a great season (9-0), but a disappointing exit from the playoffs last season, is ready to step up for another challenge. That challenge will have the Barracudas on the road and take on one of the emerging teams in Class 8A with Palm Beach Central. The Broncos of Palm Beach Central have been rising up through the ranks the last few years, winning their first district championship this past season when it stunt rival Park Vista. Now the challenge will be to keep things in this direction and take the next step to become one of the more dominate teams in Palm Beach County. However, the Broncos will have to replace some talent at a few positions, but they do have some returning playmakers that will help lead the way once again in a more crowded district. For New Smyrna Beach, the key for them will be to find the talent that can rise up to the challenge and fill the holes left open due to graduation.









![Robinson (Tampa), Miami Edison, Wildwood, Seminole Ridge, and Alonso lead with the best probabilities for winning a flag football state championship in 2026. [Robinson Flag Football/Instagram; Miami Edison Flag Football/Instagram; Wildwood Flag Football/Instagram; Seminole Ridge High School/Instagram; Alonso Flag Football/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Preseason-2026-State-Championship-Probabilites-According-to-the-Florida-Power-Rankings-Index-Preseason-Rankings-120x86.jpg)
![Robinson (Tampa) looks to make a run towards a 10th consecutive flag football state championship and 11th overall in program history this spring. [Robinson Flag Football/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Tampa-Bay-Preseason-Flag-Football-Preview-Rankings-Robinson-120x86.jpg)
![Miami Edison, which captured their first flag football state championship in 2025 will be among the top teams in South Florida to start off the 2026 season. [Miami Edison Flag Football/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/South-Florida-Flag-Preseason-Top-25-Analysis-2026-120x86.jpg)
![Spruce Creek (Port Orange) looks to lead the way in Central Florida as they start on top of the rankings to start the 2026 Flag Football Season. [Spruce Creek Girls Flag Football/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Central-Florida-Flag-Football-Preseason-Preview-Featured-120x86.jpg)
![Clay (Green Cove Springs) apppears poised to be one of the top teams in Northeast Florida for the 2026 Flag Football Season. [Clay High Athletics/Instagram]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Northeast-Florida-Flag-Football-Preseason-Rankings-Featured-120x86.jpg)
![Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) will start off at the top of the Panhanlde Region rankings to start off the 2026 season. [Choctaw Flag Football/X]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Panhandle-Flag-Football-Preseason-Preview-Featured-120x86.jpg)