Here are our predictions for the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Last Week: 9-7 – 6A
Choctawhatchee (8-3) at Navarre (7-4)
Here is a district rematch that could go the other way this time around. Choctawhatchee has proven out to be the stronger team in the end for District 6A-2 and Navarre is not the same Navarre team from last year and just managed to get through visiting Milton last week.
Prediction: Choctawhatchee 28, Navarre 14
Bartram Trail (6-5) at Columbia (10-1)
Columbia is healthy again and is national ranked again according to Dallas Jackson’s HSFB100 rankings. With that said this game could be the end of the road for the Bears of Bartram Trail as they face a strong defense and will have a hard time trying to contain the rushing attack of Lonnie Underwood. However, do give credit to the Bears who have won six straight games to get to this point.
Prediction: Columbia 45, Bartram Trail 17
Gainesville (9-2) at Springstead (10-1)
This Springstead team is truly better than the one that reached the playoffs last year while Gainesville is not the same Gainesville team everyone saw last year get to Orlando. This game will be a battle, but homefield advantage will likely fall in the favor of the Eagles to get to the regional finals, likely against Armwood or possibly Jefferson.
Prediction: Springstead 28, Gainesville 20
Jefferson (10-1) at Armwood (11-0)
The rematch is here..can Jefferson knockoff Armwood or will the Hawks win it all again against the Dragons? To be honest though Armwood is a stronger team than Jefferson is and at this point, we would not be surprised to see the Hawks win and move on to the regional finals against either Springstead or Gainesville.
Prediction: Armwood 35, Jefferson 17
Mainland (10-1) at Leesburg (8-3)
Mainland is no surprise making it to the second round, but Leesburg sort of is considering last week we thought Seabreeze was the strong of the two teams. However, Leesburg must have saw our prediction and used that has bulletin board material to get the win. And they might use this prediction again as bulletin board material. We truly think here that Mainland is a lot stronger than Leesburg and Mainland’s schedule this season can attest to that. Leesburg will have a harder time saying that about their schedule.
Prediction: Mainland 35 Leesburg 14
Winter Haven (9-2) at South Fort Myers (8-3)
Winter Haven and South Fort Myers are playing some of their best football at the right time and for South Fort Myers we might be able to turn and say that they have played a stronger schedule and experience that should lead them likely winning this game, but it also likely be close at the same time as well.
Prediction: South Fort Myers 27, Winter Haven 24
Naples (9-2) at Heritage (11-0)
Naples is a well seasoned team with tons of playoff experience, but Heritage has not been able to be stopped yet by anyone this season and that could hurt Naples as they don’t have some of the key pieces of a team from last year that helped them go deep in the playoffs. Until someone knocks off Heritage, it is going to be hard to pick against them.
Prediction: Heritage 30, Naples 21
Dillard (8-3) at Miami Central (9-1)
Dillard won nicely against Miami Carol City last week, but this week they face the giant of all giants in the name of Miami Central. The Rockets have only been bested once this year and that was at the hands of Nationally-ranked No. 1 Booker T. Washington. Other than that no one has really come close to put them under and most points scored against Miami Central last week was not against the first team defense. We see another game where things could get out of hand early if the Panthers don’t find a way to keep the Rockets in check.
Prediction: Miami Central 45 Dillard 14
