FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 1A-Region 2 districts preview

District tournament week is here for Flag Football and there is a lot of exciting action about to go down in all 32 districts in two classifications across the Sunshine State with the preparation of regional playoffs starting next week.

Here is a look at the districts in Class 1A-Region 2 which includes Districts 5, 6, 7, and 8.

DISTRICT 1A-5

PLAY IN-GAME
at Weeki Wachee
Monday

No. 9 Clearwater Countryside (0-11) vs. No. 8 Weeki Wachee (1-5), 7

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Tuesday

Winner of Countryside/Weeki Wachee at No. 1 Lecanto (13-1), 7
No. 5 Inverness Citrus (2-8) at No. 4 Shady Hills Classical Prep (10-5), 7
No. 7 Dunedin (3-9) at No. 2 Crystal River (7-2), 7
No. 6 Brooksville Central (2-8) at No. 3 Tarpon Springs (8-6), 7

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Lecanto
Wednesday

Winner of Play-In/Lecanto vs. Winner of Citrus/Classical Prep, 6
Winner of Dunedin/Crystal River vs. Winner of Central/Tarpon Springs, 7:30

FINALS
at Lecanto
Thursday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: If there is anything to say, this district is a hot mess outside of Lecanto and Crystal River, both of which have played decent schedules this year and should be in the mix for a district championship or at an at-large berth. While Classical Prep and Tarpon Springs have done well with Classical Prep having double-digit wins, the strength of schedule comes into play and Classical Prep holds one of the worst strengths of schedules in Region 2.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Lecanto – District Champion
Crystal River – At-Large

DISTRICT 1A-6

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Blake
Monday

No. 8 Tampa Brooks DeBartolo (3-6) vs. No. 1 Tampa Freedom (6-4), 5

at Brandon
Monday

No. 5 Tampa Catholic (4-7) vs. No. 4 Tampa Carrollwood Day (-7), 7
No. 7 Brandon (1-8) vs. No. 2 Tampa Chamberlain (5-3), 5

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Brandon
Tuesday

Winner of Brooks DeBartolo/Freedom vs. Winner of Tampa Catholic/Carrollwood Day, 5
Winner of Brandon/Chamberlain vs. No. 3 Tampa Blake (4-5), 7

FINALS
at Brandon
Thursday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: If we thought District 1A-5 was a hot mess, this is even worse as the best team in the district is currently ranked No. 8 with Freedom in Region 2 while Chamberlain is just right being at No. 9. With that said looking at Freedom and Chamberlain being the two best teams in the district with Blake and Carrollwood Day ranked No. 14 and No. 15 respectively, the chances of this district only having one representative in the regional playoffs is very likely. With that said, don’t expect too many fireworks to come from this district during the district tournament.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION

Freedom – District Champion

DISTRICT 1A-7

PLAY IN-GAME
at Tampa Robinson
Tuesday

No. 9 Tampa Bayshore Christian (1-8) vs. No. 8 Seminole (3-7), 6

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Tuesday

Winner of Bayshore Christian/Seminole at No. 1 Tampa Robinson (14-1), 7:30
No. 5 Tampa Jefferson (1-7) at No. 4 St. Petersburg Lakewood (8-4), 7
No. 7 Clearwater (4-6) at No. 2 Seminole Osceola (8-1), 7
No. 6 St. Petersburg Hollins (2-8) at St. Petersburg Northeast (6-3), 7

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Higher Seed
Wednesday

Winner of Play-In/Robinson vs. Winner of Jefferson/Lakewood, 7
Winner of Clearwater/Osceola vs. Winner of Hollins/Northeast, 7

FINALS
at Higher Seed
Friday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: Robinson is by far the best team in this district hands down given the strength of schedule they have played and having only one loss to the hands of Lithia Newsome, the defending Class 2A state champion. Seminole Osceola is a decent team once again, but likely will face a huge battle against the Knights if they reach the district championship with Northeast and Lakewood seen as potential longshots and will need strong showings in the district tournament to be able to reach for an at-large playoff berth.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Robinson – District Champion
Osceola – At-Large

DISTRICT 1A-8

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Monday

No. 8 Riverview Bell Creek Academy (6-8) at No. 1 St. Petersburg Gibbs (10-1), 7
No. 5 Gulfport Boca Ciega (2-7) at No. 4 Bradenton Bayshore (5-6), 7
No. 7 Bradenton Southeast (2-6) at No. 2 St. Petersburg (7-4), 7
No. 6 Riverview Spoto (1-8) at No. 3 Parrish Community (8-2), 7

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Higher Seed
Wednesday

Winner of Bell Creek Academy/Gibbs vs. Winner of Boca Ciega/Bayshore, 7
Winner of Southeast/St. Petersburg vs. Winner of Spoto/Parrish Community, 7

FINALS
at Higher Seed
Thursday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: Gibbs has had a solid season and has itself in a position to make a run through the district tournament to claim the district championship. However, Parrish Community has been quite impressive this season and is holding the No. 3 seed, but what is even more impressive is St. Petersburg with their four losses getting the No. 2 seed thanks to a better strength of schedule the Green Devils have played this season. This is likely to be the one district in the region that is going to get three teams into the playoffs.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Gibbs – District Champion
St. Petersburg – At-Large
Parrish Community – At-Large