After weeks of planning and getting all the contract to align right, things are finally set for a doubleheader showdown for Week Zero (August 23) for a defending state champion and a state runner-up from the 2013 season.
In a deal first reported by NationalHSFootball.com, Miami Central officially agreed to play Alabama powerhouse, the Hoover Buccaneers, pitting the Rockets in a powerful season opening matchup. Also at the same time Niceville will participate in the doubleheader, matching up against Clay-Chalkville, another strong and well known Alabama powerhouse team.
The deals include possible rights for both games to be shown nationally on one of the ESPN Networks, which will have the Niceville-Clay-Chalkville shown first followed by the Miami Central-Hoover contest, most likely in primetime. Contract negotiation for those rights are still on going with ESPN and Paragon Marketing.
“The opening contest is intriguing as well because both teams are nationally relevant and provide the quality depth within the states. Both games register nationally and that us just great planning,” NationalHSFootball.com’s Dallas Jackson said.
However, the Miami Central-Hoover game will be closely eyed by many high school football fans around the country. The game has the potential to end the hopes of a national championship for either team.
“I think this is a national title eliminator. Hoover is probably a team that will be ranked in the Top 5 of the Preseason HSFB100 and Miami Central is Top 5 in Florida which almost always puts you in play for a national title,” Jackson said.
Miami Central has its work cut for themselves to start the season with three games that could set the tone for a possible quest towards a national championship. The Rockets will play against Stephenson, Georgia in Week 1 before finally coming home to face defending National Champion, Booker T. Washington in Week 2.
For Niceville, opening with Clay-Chalkville means its kickoff classic game is off against Pensacola Washington as well as home game against Greene County High from Mississippi.
Defending Class 6A State Champion Miami finished the season ranked No. 4 in the HSFB 100, while Niceville finished the season as the Class 7A State Runner-up, but unranked nationally.
