Class 6A playoff point averages & projected seeds after Week 7

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After seven weeks of football, the FHSAA has once again updated the playoff point averages for all teams in all classifications.

There are big changes across the board this week as some teams have entered the projected playoff picture while others have fallen out. In Classes 5A-8A, district record was taken into consideration except on certain exceptions which are noted.

For Class 6A, you will find a breakdown of point averages for each team in every region and a projected seeding (including tiebreakers) based upon the guidelines as published by the FHSAA (click here to view), as well as quick thoughts about each region.

REGION 1

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Pine Forest (6A-1)
No. 2 Niceville (6A-3)
No. 3 Navarre (6A-2)
No. 4 St. Augustine (6A-4)

Wildcards

No. 5 Escambia
No. 6 Crestview
No. 7 Gulf Breeze
No. 8 Pace

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Pace at No. 1 Pine Forest
No. 5 Escambia at No. 4 St. Augustine
No. 6 Crestview at No. 3 Navarre
No. 7 Gulf Breeze at No. 2 Niceville

QUICK THOUGHTS: Panhandle is in total domination mode, but Hurricane Michael is going to play an effect potentially on this week’s schedule as it is a big district week for all the teams inside the projected seeds as well as those just outside trying to stay in contention. However, if Ed White gets an upset win over St. Augustine, it will likely end a playoff streak for the Yellow Jackets dating back to the mid-1990s.

REGION 2

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Armwood (6A-7)
No. 2 Vanguard (6A-5)
No. 3 Mitchell (6A-6)
No. 4 Lake Wales (6A-8)

Wildcards

No. 5 Gainesville
No. 6 South Lake
No. 7 Hillsborough
No. 8 Lake Weir

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 Lake Weir at No. 1 Armwood
No. 5 Gainesville at No. 4 Lake Wales
No. 6 South Lake at No. 3 Mitchell
No. 7 Hillsborough at No. 2 Vanguard

QUICK THOUGHTS: It is going to be a back and forth the effort I feel between Armwood and Vanguard for the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in this region, leaving Mitchell and Lake Wales to settle likely between the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. The Wildcards are play I feel are the not final set and I think South Lake will eventually fall out of this list just because Lake Weir has been playing much better this year and will get some wins people didn’t see coming. However, keep an eye on Sebring and Land O’ Lakes as both teams fight to try to get their way in for a possible wildcard berth.

REGION 3

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Barron Collier (6A-12)
No 2. Fort Myers (6A-11)
No. 3 Charlotte (6A-10)
No. 4 Clearwater (6A-9)

Wildcards

No. 5 Lehigh
No. 6 Largo*
No. 7 Cape Coral*
No. 8 North Fort Myers*

*Largo wins the first tiebreaker with more Category 2 and Category 3 wins combined over Cape Coral and North Fort Myers which at that point would result in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers needing to go to a coin flip for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. But for this instance, we will take the better overall record to see with Cape Coral taking the No. 7 seed and North Fort Myers taking the No. 8 seed.

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 North Fort Myers at No. 1 Barron Collier
No. 5 Lehigh at No. 4 Clearwater
No. 6 Largo at No. 3 Charlotte
No. 7 Cape Coral at No. 2 Fort Myers

QUICK THOUGHTS: I think this entire region is at play when it comes to seeding and who is actually going to make it into the playoffs. With this being a big district week, almost anything is bound to happen, and I don’t feel anyone is potentially locked in anywhere. I do feel several teams outside the top eight have a legitimate shot to be in and that includes Naples, Boca Ciega, Golden Gate, St. Petersburg Northeast and even Port Charlotte. So, get the popcorn out as you will need for the race through turns three and four.

REGION 4

PROJECTED SEEDS

District Champions

No. 1 Miami Carol City (6A-16)
No. 2 Heritage (Palm Bay) (6A-14)
No. 3 Dillard (6A-15)
No. 4 Mainland (6A-13)

Wildcards

No. 5 Miami Central
No. 6 Miami Northwestern
No. 7 Jensen Beach
No. 8 New Smyrna Beach

PROJECTED REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

No. 8 New Smyrna Beach at No. 1 Miami Carol City
No. 5 Miami Central at No. 4 Mainland
No. 6 Miami Northwestern at No. 3 Dillard
No. 7 Jensen Beach at No. 2 Heritage (Palm Bay)

QUICK THOUGHTS: District 6A-16 is almost for sure not taking four teams to the playoffs this year allowing for a district like 6A-14 to get one additional team in. The biggest thing here is that nothing is really decided on the possible top seed until Miami Central and Miami Carol City play. I feel either one of those will be your top overall seed with Heritage, Dillard and Mainland jockeying for position. I feel also that the Wildcards are all in play here except Miami Northwestern. With Miami Norland and Eau Gallie knocking on the door, New Smyrna Beach and Jensen Beach surely cannot afford to slip up here at this point